Crufts returns under a cloud
Sara Wilde of the Kennel Club with, from left, huskies Laurel and Locket and four dogs who help those with disabilities – golden retrievers Sailor and Rupert and labradors Erin and Sophie – launches this years DFS Crufts 2010 dog show at Birmingham's NEC.
The BBC, which had been broadcasting Crufts every year since 1966, announced in December 2008 that it was dropping its TV coverage following concerns over severe genetic disorders caused by excessive in-breeding to produce show dogs.
Crufts will return to TV screens this year, but health and welfare issues surrounding dog breeding will be examined in a documentary Good Dog, Bad Dog when contest highlights are shown on More4 from March 11.