I’ve long known certain dogs were specifically bred with others to get desired traits, but I hadn’t realized how far back it had all started. Which is pretty remarkable considering science hasn’t always been as advanced as it is now.
A few months back I caught part of an episode called “Science of a Dog” on the National Geographic Channel which addressed the topic in depth. It was about how certain breeds have come to be, why, and where they go from here. Because for some breeds their health-future isn’t too bright.
That was a really sad part of the show and one that kind of got me mad. People messed with nature specifically to indulge their vanity. Some wanted the prettiest dog while others wanted the best hunter or herder.
Well, in their quest to “keep it in the family” so to speak (meaning keeping the gene pool “pure”), they’ve created a bit of a mess. Because of all the breeding, the gene pool’s been pretty well tapped, which has led to a lot of health problems for most pure-bred dogs. Which is something I was also vaguely aware of, but didn’t realize how prevalent or extensive a problem it was.
Besides health problems, the “Science of a Dog” also talked about mental problems many purebreds have. Like severe separation anxiety or obsessive/compulsive disorders.
With today’s science, they’re now trying to breed these traits out by eliminating certain genes and such. Or by introducing new traits.
Interestingly, this issue was touched on over in the forums. I posted a thread asking if anyone had ever had a deaf dog to see if I could get some answers for a friend of mine who’d adopted a deaf dog.
I think it was Oweirdo who first brought up how Dalmatians have problems with being deaf because of so much in-breeding. Then DivasMomma backed that by saying how almost any full-bred dog will have some kind of problem, and in her opinion it’s why new breeds like Cockapoos, Puggles, and Schnoodles were coming out. And that many were being bred with poodles because poodles have hair rather than fur.
I admire purebreds, but I’ve never been the sort who needed papers and other fanciness for my pooches. Which is why I’m probably one of the few dog lovers in the world who’s not all that keen on dog shows. (Too exclusive for my liking.)
Don’t get me wrong, I’d like to go see Westminster or Crufts for the experience of it, but I’m not into the pretentiousness of it all.
Just give me my good old pound hound with his mixed blood and paperless lineage. He doesn’t need all that other stuff to be top dog in our show –or hearts. And (knock on wood) hopefully he’ll continue not having any inherited health problems.
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