It’s all in the breeding
How can your dogs breeding contribute to his health?
With such an array of dog breeds there are a multitude of attributes which can cause our dogs great advantages. However there are also those which cause problems and some breeds are more susceptible to particular conditions. Mixed breeds tend to avoid some of the problems associated with purebreds however what is interesting is to see photographs of dog breeds and how their shapes have changed over the last century. There are many examples on-line.
Shorter faces affect breathing and the ability to shed heat, skin folds can lead to dermatitis and hip dysplasia is more common in larger breeds.
Who controls what a breed looks like? Is this an attack on breeders or the breed of dog you have? Not at all. I just pose the question – Who decides whether for example breeding a coat curlier than before or ears shorter than before is to our dogs benefit or ours?
Is ‘longer or bulgier’ more aligned with what is comfortable for a dog or what pleases our eye. Should bodies who oversee judging in dog shows play a part in encouraging breeds not to be ‘tweeked’ too far? And what is too far?
Could a breed be subjected to a lifetime of struggle due to features bred into, or accentuated by human intervention? And have they?
Leah & Angela OMeara
Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)