One of the biggest advantages of choosing a purebred is the promise of certainty of its temperament, behaviour, health and appearance...Crufts 2016: 'Sloping back' German shepherd owner claims her life has been 'made a misery' Following media outcry, owner Susan Cuthbert said Crufts has been 'the worst nightmare of my show life' Tuesday 15 March 2016 09:06 BST The owner of the controversial Crufts best in breed winner at this year's show has hit back against criticism of her dog’s supposed deformed back. The Kennel Club, which organises the dog show, received hundreds of complaints following the footage of Cruaghaire Catoria, which showed the dog in the arena with a sloping back and a deformed gait. The owner of three-year-old dog, Susan Cuthbert, who was also criticised, issued a statement describing the incident as "the worst nightmare of my show life". Ms Cuthbert added she was "both deeply shocked and terribly upset" by the public’s response, describing the comments as "horrendous".

The statement went to on say: "Words cannot express the heart-wrenching experience that I have suffered. "This is so unreal I want to believe it is untrue and to wake up. The comments made on television about my lovely shepherd were unbelievable especially when one considers the brevity of the images. "How can you judge a dog on such a brief observation? There is a clear lack of tolerance and knowledge of our German shepherd breed. Crufts Dog Show 2016 "It should not be a surprise to anyone why the GSD bred in the UK are being strongly drawn towards the German SV system – Germany being the founders of our breed just over a hundred years ago and they have established the most comprehensive system of any other breed in the world. "At Crufts 2016, the vet examined my bitch before she was presented with her Best of Breed certificate and deemed her to have no visible condition which adversely affects her health and welfare. "This is the second Kennel Club required vet check she has passed in the last six months.

As if it was not upsetting enough that my bitch faltered under the heavy media coverage in the arena on what should have been the happiest day of my show life to then be tried and convicted on social media and the press, this has now become the worst nightmare of my show life." Along with her statement, the owner also shared a letter from the Kennel Club, confirming the dog had a clean bill of health and a summary of the dog’s achievements, which dated back to 2013. Viewers took to social media to condemn the competition and questioning how the dog was allowed to enter. German Shepherd judge at Crufts should have gone to specsavers. Disgrace and so sad for the breed — Ernest Dillon (@erniedillonfbhs) March 13, 2016 Really upset seeing the German shepherd on #c4crufts Hoping that crufts will release more details, why was this allowed to happen? — Lyndsey Morse (@LyndseyMorse) March 13, 2016 #c4crufts disgusting that Crufts allowed the German Shepherd to enter class let alone win.

Integrity of Crufts management is nonexistent. — Sharon Earp (@sharon_earp) March 13, 2016 #c4crufts judges at crufts need to be held responsible for their decisions following the German shepherd issue this year. — Lindsey Macdonald (@Linzimac519) March 13, 2016 If my dog stood and moved like the German Shepherd who won best of breed at Crufts, I'd be taking them to the vet...Uv Filter For Ac Unit — Sam Maher (@dottyteakettle) March 13, 2016Sony Digital Camera Prices In Germany The dog's sloped back of show-line dogs is different to the work-line dog backs, which generally have straighter backs.Oem Gmc Seat Covers The BBC's documentary, Pedigree Dogs Exposed, highligted the difference between the two breeds of German shepherd in 2008.

Kennel Club Secretary, Caroline Kisko, said: "It’s very disheartening to see one breed looking so very peculiarly out-of-step with the others." She added the club will look into whether judges were disregarding rules. The RSPCA said it was "shocked and appalled" to see a German shepherd with "such poor conformation that it could not move freely winning Best of Breed". The statement said: "We would question how the dog had been allowed to have qualified for Crufts.Fault cannot lie solely with the judge at Crufts but is also the responsibility of those who have previously awarded this dog." More From The Bark Study on Dogs’ Preferences for Praise Versus Treats Dog Training: Operant Conditioning What are the Differences Between Male and Female Dogs? Understanding Canine Social Hierarchies Coevolution of Humane-Dog Bonds 7 Amazing Facts About a Dog's Ears Smell Test Sniffing Out Cancer Get Healthy, Get a Dog Get Your Puppy Off to a Good Start

What Dogs are Saying with their Barks Q&A with Author Laurel Braitman German Shepherd Dogs and Puppies in Bristol and South West The German Shepherd did not exist prior to 1899. The founder of the breed, Captain Max von Stephanitz, bred the dogs to work. This is still a priority with many breeders today, coupled with the need for a sound body, along with the trusted and loyal temperament that makes the German Shepherd such an ideal companion. Average size and weight Care requirementsBreed personality, characteristics & temperament Compatibility with other pets The ideal owners of German Shepherds are people who are able to be assertive and command respect from their dog - while respecting the dog back in return. These people are usually very active and enjoy the company of their dog without making a fuss or expecting lap dog behaviour. Click here for advice on adopting a rescue dog and finding a breeder. All information has been provided by the Kennel Club.