In 1990, I wrote an article entitled, Eugenics or Dysgenics, for my Behavior column in the American Kennel Club’s Gazette. Since then, the problem of inbreeding and the resultant health problems and decreased life-expectancy of pure-bred dogs have worsened considerably, largely due to the over-breeding of a small number of males in any breed.
Last night, the BBC aired a documentary entitled Pedigree Dogs Exposed — the results of a two-year investigation into dog health. The program showed Boxers with epilepsy, Pugs with breathing difficulties, Bulldogs who were unable to mate or give birth without assistance, plus a prize-winning Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with a condition that occurs when the dog’s skull is too small for the brain.
The BBC documentary comes on the heels of report of a study released from the Imperial College (London University). Researchers analyzed the Kennel Club database for 10 breeds — Akitas, Boxers, Chow Chows, English Bulldogs, English Springer Spaniels, Greyhounds, German Shepherd Dogs, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers and Rough Collies. With the exception of Greyhounds, all the other nine breeds were found to be extremely inbred, resulting from numerous father-to-daughter and brother-to-sister matings. For example, Boxers were so closely related to each other, that the 20,000 Boxers in the study were estimated to have the genetic variation of a population of just 70 individuals.
Professor Baldwin hopes that “…dog breeders will make it a high priority to increase the genetic diversity within different breeds. Otherwise, we will see growing numbers of dogs born with serious genetically inherited health problems.” The report emphasizes the need to breed from a larger number of males in order to lessen the dog’s chances of inheriting genetic disorders. Of the ten breeds studied, Golden Retrievers had the smallest percentage of dogs that were sires (5%).
Ruthless selectively breeding for conformation, coat color and cuteness has had extremely deleterious effects on health and life expectancy. I love purebred dogs as much as I love mixed-breeds, but I would love for them to be healthier and live longer. Surely, it would be a no-brainer to breed for health and longevity at the same time as breeding for conformation. The solution, of course, is simple — only to breed from unrelated healthy male dogs that are at least seven years old. Longevity is simply the very best overall indicator of health, fit genes and good behavior and temperament.
For more information, check out the BBC story or read Beverly Cuddy’s blog.
What are your thoughts on the issue of breed health and diversity? Do you have a purebreed dog with congenital health problems? Do you know what health issues are common in your breed or breed-mix?
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'improving the breed'
Thanks for highlighting this Dr D, its become a huge issue over here (Ireland and I'm sure the UK too) after the documentary aired. I am a pedigree fan and have been showing dogs since I was 9. I remember when 'improving the breed' meant developing the breeds working abilities and temperament, now all of that seems to have been forgotten by many many people. 'Improve the breed' has come to mean refine the interpretation of breed standards so much that the dog cannot possible carry out a job, any job, even give birth or live a happy doggie life.
Kennel clubs need to take a stand and look at breed standards; reassess breeds and their current function. There is not much use for 'shyness' or 'aloofness' in most breeds as the majority are expected to live as friendly pets. Just because a dog is no longer needed for a particular function doesn't mean that they shouldn't be healthy enough to carry one out - happy, friendly pet is pretty important job nowadays too!
Maybe breed standards should have extra criteria in relation to known hereditary health issues for each breed, dogs should be tested and then be eligable for points and available for siring?
Plenty to think about...
Anne Rogers
Pet Central, Ireland
Hybrid Vigour
I was shocked to see some of the dogs on the TV documentary the other night. The one which really should ring alarm bells to anyone was the German Shepherd with the wobbly legs. How could anyone not see that there was a serious problem with that dog, and yet it won best of breed and was allowed to compete at Crufts. I am the proud owner of a wonderful mutt of 'mixed parentage' he is 12 years old, fit, healthy and wonderful. I am also a keen gardener who can tell you that when you cross pollinate two varieties of plant (a tomato for example) the resulting offspring will be an F1 hybrid which will usually be stronger, bigger and healthier than the parents. QED. Let's hear it for the mixed breed doggy (and can we please stop using the term mongrel..it's offensive!)
Dachshund
So, I had thought a while ago that the sort of obsessive focus on breed that dog shows promote is kind of unhealthy. I don't think that breeding "cute" dogs is bad. I don't think that the love of a breed is necessarily unhealthy. But how many dogs with hip dysplasia are created to create a show winner? Is that worth it?
Anyway, I'm truly not an expert at all, however, I also thought that a good solution would be to wait to breed dogs as long as possible. It's OK to want to breed a "winner", but wait until they are older to make sure they're healthy and will hopefully produce healthier offspring.
If it were up to me it would be primarily about health/happiness/quality of life, and secondarily about cuteness, and breed would be the last thing I would care about. I have a Dachshund/Yorkie mix which looks like a full Dachshund. It feels kind of weird to say this, but I'm pretty sure my dog would be happier with longer legs. We live in the Seattle area and his belly gets all wet if it's raining. I guess I can only assume he doesn't like this, I guess for all I know he loves it, but he doesn't appear to love it.
Breed development
Most breeds were originally developed by the careful combination of several distinct breeds to develop new characteristics. Then the dogs are line-bred for generations until the dogs will produce offspring with only the desired characteristics of the 'new' breed. I've long been concerned that the original diversity is given up once breed standards are set. Even though the original lineage was developed by the combination of a variety of breeds, in order to register your dog as purebred, they must have only family members from their own breed. This automatically limits the gene pool to dogs that are closely related. Thus magnifying health and behavior problems of the selected sires.
It's no wonder that puppy mills are taking advantage of the newly popular 'designer dogs' such as Yorkie-poos, Puggles, Labradoodles, Schnoodles and the like. Even they have learned that cross-breeding produces healthier puppies than line-breeding.
Why doesn't the dog show/breeding world support the occasional cross, back to a 'founding' breed?
Dawn Pribble
Positive Pups Dog Training
"Training for your best friend"
Columbus, Ohio
Founding Breed
When looking for a replacement for my beloved Hammy, I set out to find animals without the dreaded "Pure Breed" genetic train wrecks. American line GSDs in my opinion are almost deformed cripples. My Vet echos the same thoughts. I found a regional source for Czech GSDs. After research I visited the breeder. Wow hind legs that work & animals that can actually run. I may be spoilled but I beleive in animals that are as close as possible to how nature created the prototype. As Ian says, "Never insult an owner's breed". My opinions are mine. My guys have magnificently functing bodies and extremely clever minds. Form Follows Function, or it should.
Lynn D. Andrade
Healthy and Happy Dogs - Help us to promote responsible breeding
We have just launched our competition to create a new slogan - like the "Dogs are not just for Christmas" - that the Dogs Trust have used so successfully over the years, to help to promote the importance of responsible breeding in making sure that all of our dogs are happy and healthy.
The BBC documentary, "Pedigree Dogs Exposed" broadcast earlier this month was watched by a huge audience who we feel want to help to find solutions to the problems raised. We hope this competition will help promote positive solutions to the problem so that all of us with the best interests of dogs at heart can help spread the message to the general dog buying public how they can help by making careful choices when they bring a new dog into the family.
As well as the irresponsible breeders referred to in the programme there are also very many breeders out there doing the right thing. This is our opportunity to explain to the general dog owning public and people looking to buy a puppy, how to find and support the breeders, who go out of their way to make sure they are responsible and only breed dogs that are healthy and well socialized and that they find appropriate homes for them as well.
We are setting out a challenge to create a new slogan for an advertising campaign explaining how to find a responsible breeder and to help people remember what questions to ask before they choose a new dog. We are asking people to send in a video clip or drawings or photos and text – it is up to you. There will be prizes for the best entries for breeders and also the best entries for dog owners too. We will also need to chose a "face" a dog to be the personality to carry the campaign so any healthy happy dog photos will be welcome.
The prizes will include a Whelping Box and Mat from New Dog, CLIX Sounds and Noises CD’s from Company of Animals, A Weanafeeda bowl set from Weenafeeda and some copies of our DVD, Well Balanced Pup. Any other companies wanting to support us in this competition will be very welcome please just email us.
Sign up for entry instructions and to get on the competition mailing list by emailing Healthy & Happy Dogs Competition to competition@wellbalancedpup.co.uk.
We would welcome entries from across the Dog Loving World as I am sure its not just an issue of interest in the UK
Rose Bugler
www.wellbalancedpup.co.uk
Breed standards versus diversity
I have a 5-month-old malamute male. His father is an import, so presumably this is adding diversity to the UK population of malamutes, and should be a good thing. Both parents were hip-scored and eye checked as hip dysplasia and glaucoma (I think) are genetic traits of the breed. So far so good. The pup seems healthy so far, and of good temperament. I've never intended to be a breeder, but it has occurred to me that he and his brothers could be good dogs to breed from, because their father is an import and this should add genetic diversity. But the breed standard is that they should have erect ears, and one of his ears has a cute bend at the end. So, unless it stands up, all is lost! Of course, the solution used by many breeders is to stick the ear up with cardboard and glue, which eventually comes out leaving an upright ear. So if we do this then he is a good specimen to breed from, and if we don't he is a faulty specimen with a bent ear! Nevermind if he is healthy, and can pull and do all malamute things. His ear has a slight flop at the end, so that's that. It seems crazy to me, because surely the mahlemuts didn't choose their sled dogs on that basis, and cardboard doesn't change genetics.
Breed standards versus diversity
I hate to see a documentary that focuses on the bad--so many breeders of pure bred dogs spend tons of money testing for genetic defects and will not knowlingly breed a litter of pups that might, much less will, have problems. There are plenty of genetic issues that still cannot be screened for, but if as a breeder you find such a problem you don't perpetuate it. My veterinarian is one who doesn't like purebreds, but has no comment on the many mutts that have inherited issues: one friend has a heinz 57 with hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia, epilepsy and allergies--not to mention a rotten disposition! Another friend has a mutt with bilateral patellar luxation severe enough to require surgery. The solution perhaps is careful breeding.