The Horrifying Truth About Purebred Dogs
June 21, 2016
By Morgan Clark
Every dog lover has their favorite breed. Ask any dog lover, and they will eagerly respond, “I'd love to have a Husky!” or “Shiba Inus are so adorable!” With dozens and dozens of breeds that vary in size, fur length, and temperament, there is a dog breed to fit every lifestyle and preference. It is difficult to imagine a world without this huge variety of breeds, but modern dog breeding is actually a fairly new practice that has had some unintended side effects.
History and registration
Most people know that early human beings domesticated wolves thousands of years ago for the purposes of herding cattle and hunting. But it wasn't until recently that the dog breeds we know and love came into existence. Dog breeding became popular in the early 20th century as a hobby among the wealthy in England. People treated breeding as a fashion statement with the goal of creating new, unique bloodlines by intentionally breeding dogs with similar characteristics that they wanted to accentuate.
Owners registered these dog breeds with certain pedigree organizations (such as the American Kennel Club in the U.S.), and thus, modern dog breeds were born. In order to keep the blood lines pure, dogs could only be bread with other dogs that were registered with a kennel club as the same breed. Unfortunately, this narrowed the gene pool for many breeds and resulted in shared health problems associated with inbreeding.
Health Problems and Inbreeding
Because the gene pool is so limited for certain breeds, many official dog breeds have developed health issues. For example, dog breeds with sloped backs or narrow hips often suffer from hip dysplasia and other bone issues. Dachshunds tend to develop intervertebral disc disease due to their sloped and elongated backs. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel hosts a variety of health issues, including Syringomyelia, in which the brain does not have enough room in the dog's skull and may force itself out through the spinal column. Other breeds also have a higher risk for cancer, sight and hearing loss, and a generally shortened lifespan.
One shocking health issue that occurs in breeds with larger skulls and narrow hips, such as bulldogs, is the inability to give natural birth. That's right: almost all bulldogs, pit bulls, and chihuahuas are born through cesarean-section. This can also occur when a smaller dam (female) mates with a larger stud (male) and the resulting puppies are larger than the mother can birth naturally.
Because natural selection is not allowed to take place within purebred populations, the resulting dogs are bred solely for appearance rather than physical fitness. A study of dachshund litters discovered that inbreeding has caused a phenomenon called “inbreeding depression”, which results in reduced biological fitness (or survivability) and larger numbers of stillbirths.
Dog Breeds to Avoid
When picking out a new best friend, the best thing to do would be to go to a shelter and rescue a mutt, but if you are dead set on owning a purebred, stick to breeds classified as “working dogs”. Working dogs are any canines that were bred to perform a specific task, rather than for appearance, and usually have fewer health issues than companion dogs.
When looking for a dog, avoid breeds with flatter faces, as they tend to have difficulty breathing and regulating body temperature in hot weather. Make sure that the breed you select looks fairly proportional throughout the head, neck, legs, and hips. Body parts that are too large or too small can cause a variety of health issues as well as limited mobility. Extremely large dogs, such as the Great Dane and St. Bernard, have shortened lifespans and rarely live to double digits due to the strain their large size has on their hearts.
If you have a specific breed in mind, you may want to do additional research on that breed to check for any health problems.