S7E3 Behind the Curve Gloomy, innit?

David Cavill joins Lez and Ross to chat about a life in dogs that spans well over 50 years. The man has a CV in dogs beyond imagination. It all started with a Finnish Spitz puppy, courtesy of his wife Angela, and led to an incredible journey through the dog world.

David and Angela’s Toveri Finnish Spitz are internationally renowned and admired, even by the Finns themselves.

From Animal Care College through Battersea, Our Dogs, and PETbc, you can’t have a journey like this without learning a huge amount about both dogs and people.

How has the world of show dogs changed over the last 50 years, and why? Do Pedigree Chum and Mars have anything to do with it?

How have the breeds we own changed? What about aesthetics and temperament?

Where have all the proper dog people gone? And what about designer crossbreeds and “hybrid vigour”? Genetics might be more complicated than that.

Rottweilers these days are said to be pussy cats. Not in West London for the working dog fanatic, but they’re certainly different from 30 years ago. More sound than ever? Maybe. Maybe not.

Big rescue charities, what’s really driving them? Saving dogs or paying staff? What does your donation actually do?

Popular breeds keep shifting. The Dachshund is top of the pops, and no, it’s not a “dash-hound”. Society itself feels a bit all over the place.

Plenty of questions here, not all the answers. But a fascinating, honest chat with one of the dog world’s most influential figures.

---- oOo ----Lez and Ross have both been in the industry professionally for well over 20 years and each has been involved with dogs for over 40 years. Whilst sensibly they have stayed away from the ‘limelight’ regarding TV offers, they have regularly been on national and local radio, spoken at national events at NDWA, CFBA, and Kennel Club / Crufts events as well as bespoke speaking engagements for the Dog Safety Education Executive (DogSEE). Ross wrote for Dogs Monthly Magazine for over 12 years and Lez was the first lady feature writer for a national Shooting Magazine (both Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter). They were also 'study buddies' and were the first in the UK to achieve a Masters Degree (Professional Practice) in Canine Behaviour and Psychology in 2011. They work well together and apart, support and work with dog rescue organisations and train professional dog trainers and behaviourists. Different as chalk and cheese, but maybe not as different as they like to think.Intrigued? want to know more? then check out our websites...www.rossmccarthy.com ~ www.lezgraham.com