| Social media furore over breeding concerns
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Issue: 18/08/2023
A top agility competitor, who captained Team GB, has apparently decided to 'stop breeding (dogs) with immediate effect' after it was revealed on social media, they had bred 884 dogs in 15 years.
Social media discussions have run for days with many comments and shares apparently showing how Lauren Langman, dog trainer, author, agility exhibitor and businesswoman had bred 167 litters using 76 dams in this time.
Lauren made a statement recently on social media which said, 'Some of you will have heard the upsetting rumours on social media concerning my breeding of dogs. I think it's important to clarify things.
'I have personally bred dogs since 2007, independently of any companies or other parties I am associated with.
'Reading the heartfelt testimonies of fellow dog owners this past week has given me a pause for thought and self-reflection. I have taken a long and hard look at my decisions with respect to breeding.
'I have always been extremely passionate about dogs and everything that dogs involve including lineage. When it came to breeding, I accept that this led to me getting carried away and in hindsight I feel I simply bred too much. I can categorically say we do not have any barns here.
'On reflection this is not aligned with my values or how I wish to serve the world, and I'm sorry I didn't recognise this sooner.
'I have always held a top-level breeding license with 5-star in recent years. Ultimately, however, what matters most is that I have been blind to the values and expectations of my community and myself and in light of this I have decided to stop breeding with immediate effect.
'I have, without question, always adored my dogs and health and welfare of my dogs is paramount and my top priority. I have retired some of my own dogs into calm and kind pet homes appropriately and reflectively, when I have felt it has been in their very best interests.
SORRY
'I am deeply sorry it has taken me so long to come to this realisation. It takes courage to call out your peers and colleagues, and I am grateful to my community for raising their concerns with integrity. My only hope is that in the coming time, I can rebuild any trust that has been lost in me, within the communities that means so much.'
A whistleblower, who worked for Langman in 2018, had made various allegations on social media concerning the age of puppies being sold and conditions where the dogs were kept.
They also alleged that as Langman was 'only allowed a certain amount of dogs on her licence… she made people who worked there take dogs home as their own to avoid being caught.'
Lauren captained Team GB at the 2019 FCI World Agility World Championships with her Cocker Spaniel Blink, who she described as a 'one in a million dog'. In 2022, Lauren and Blink won The Kennel Club Singles Agility at Crufts. The whistleblower also made a number of allegations regarding the condition of 'Blink'
We have attempted to contact Ms Langman for her reaction to these allegations but we have not received a reply at the time of going to press; however, we have reprinted her additional social media statement below.
BUSINESSES
Lauren Langman has been involved in a number of businesses including Absolute Dogs, Ultimate Agility and Dog Training and A-OK9, a dog supplement company, with her fiancé Mathew Rouse.
In 2022 she received planning permission from West Devon Borough Council for a new exercise area for her dogs at her farm in Okehampton, Devon. The top was be dressed with sand and a new hedge erected to screen the area.
Amongst the objections to the expansion there were notes that the 'current noise management plan is not effective.'
An e-mail from Ian Little, an agent from Exbourne Planning Services, acting for Langman, said, 'The objections are again based on supposed 'intensification of use and noise' but are not substantiated as the numbers are limited to 11 dogs across the entire site at any one time (so there cannot by definition be an intensification of use) and there is no statutory noise nuisance.' In that year 135 puppies were birthed by 23 litters and there were 23 dams used.
The conditions for the expansion included adherence to a noise management plan and that 'The total number of dogs utilising the existing training barn, existing outdoor training area and the application site shall not exceed 11 at any time.'
LEAVING
Matthew Rouse is also a director of dog toy company Tug-e-nuff and, following the social media revelations regarding Lauren Langman, his brother Danny Nelis-Rouse announced he was leaving the company.
He also took to social media, on August 6th saying, 'Some of you may have seen a social media storm brewing over businesses and individuals seemingly connected to Tug-E-Nuff.
'I have run Tug-E-Nuff for several years alongside my mother, during which time we have built a strong brand with ethical training methods at its core.
'My relationship with Mathew Rouse has been practically zero since a falling out between myself and the directors of Absolute Dogs in 2018. Mathew has not received any profits from Tug-E-Nuff since.
'Following the allegations and the inclusion of Tug-E-Nuff and myself personally on Facebook in comments, I contacted Mathew on Friday and asked him to resign his directorship in order to distance Tug-E-Nuff.
'I asked him to do this within 48 hours, or I would need to resign as a director of Tug-E-Nuff. This action was not forthcoming.
'I, therefore, am resigning my directorship of Tug-E-Nuff. I am unwilling to allow my name and the name of the business I have spent almost a decade building to become tarnished.
'I'd like to thank everyone who has worked alongside me over my time at Tug-E-Nuff.'
In another post, dated August 9th, he stated 'As the name of the business I love and people close to me are continuing to be affected (including the employees of Tug-E-Nuff whom I feel have not been considered) by the inaction of my brother, Mathew Rouse and Lauren Langman and their unwillingness to take responsibility for their actions, I feel it's time for me to tell my side of this story.'
A long personal statement then followed on his personal Facebook page.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENT
In an additional statement Ms Langman and Mr Rouse sought to distance their activities from their businesses, writing on social media also on August 6th 2023:
'Update from Lauren and Matt. We have mutually agreed today to step down from AbsoluteDogs.
'Many of you will know that recent social media allegations about our past dog breeding have begun to muddy the waters between the training business of AbsoluteDogs, and the dog breeding we carried out privately and entirely separately from AbsoluteDogs. We are deeply sorry that AbsoluteDogs has been placed in this position, and it needs to stop. Our breeding was ours alone, and although we have now decided to step away from any breeding permanently, it is not fair for the company to suffer when we are being unjustly attacked for it.
'We have been devastated by the allegations made about us online. Our mental health and private lives have severely suffered, and we need to take time to address that properly. Attacks on social media, and these impacts, will be dealt with separately: what we are trying now to do is protect the absoluteDogs business, which has nothing whatsoever to do with those allegations. We could not be sadder to leave under these circumstances, but it's the right thing to do.
'We know that Tom and the rest of the AbsoluteDogs team are committed to training and caring for dogs to the same high standard we've always had. The business deserves to flourish under his leadership, and that is why we are stepping down.'
KENNEL CLUB STATEMENT
In a statement The Kennel Club said, 'The Kennel Club is aware of this recent social media speculation and complaint. Whilst we have not previously received any official complaints of this nature, we take any concerns over animal welfare and the breeding of dogs extremely seriously, and we will assist the relevant authorities and enforcement bodies with any investigation.
'Any concerns regarding the welfare of dogs, including those being bred from, must be reported to the RSPCA as well as the relevant local authority who have the power to revoke breeding licences. The Kennel Club does not have the jurisdiction to revoke breeding licences.
'For those that register puppies with The Kennel Club, there are a number of welfare safeguards which will mean registration with is disallowed, for example, we will not register more than four litters from a bitch in its lifetime or from a bitch under 12 months old, and we will ask for proof of a local authority licence if a high-volume breeder seeks to register puppies with us.
'A breach of our regulations may result disciplinary action by The Kennel Club, exclusion from The Kennel Club registration facilities and/or reporting to the relevant authorities as appropriate, including the local authority whose remit it is to ensure compliance with the laws that are in place to protect puppies.'
COUNCIL STATEMENT
West Devon Borough Council's Lead Member for Licensing, Cllr Tony Leech, said: 'As a Council we take all allegations seriously. An investigation is currently underway and we are treating this as a matter of priority.
'Devon Dogs, the premises in question, is a licensed breeder and they hold a five-star licence. This is the highest rating a licensed breeder can get and was based on an inspection when the license was issued in January 2022.
'We are not able to comment on operational issues, however depending on the outcome of the investigation appropriate action will be taken, if deemed necessary.'
