RECOVERING CANINE HEALTH AND THE NATURAL DOG By Michael W. Fox
The burden of genetic abnormalities in Canis familiaris, the first animal species humans domesticated, has reached a critical state due to selective breeding for extreme, abnormal traits and subsequent inbreeding. “An associated cost of selection for specific traits in breed dogs is an enhanced likelihood of (inherited) disease,” the authors state in a new study published in December 2015 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. UCLA geneticist Clare Marsden and her colleagues examined the genomes of 46 dogs from 34 distinct breeds and compared them with the genomes of 19 wolves, 25 village dogs and one golden jackal (a more distant relative of wolves and dogs). They found that compared to wolves, breed dogs had 22% more cases of genes that had not one but two copies of a harmful mutation, because it was inherited from both parents. Compared with wolves, breed dogs averaged about 115 more mutations that posed some risk to their well-being.
They conclude their results “highlight the costs associated with selective breeding and question the practice [of] favoring the breeding of individuals that best fit breed standards,” and that “Considering that many modern breeds have been selected for unusual appearance and size, which reflects fashion more than function, our results raise ethical concerns about the creation of fancy breeds.” GENETIC DISEASE SURVEY OF 100,000 PUREBRED & MIXED-BREED DOGS In this largest ever, to date, DNA study of the frequency and distribution of 152 genetic diseases in dogs, approximately 2 out of 100 mixed breed dogs were at risk of becoming affected and 40 out of 100 were carriers for at least one inherited disease. In contrast, 5 out of 100 purebred dogs were at risk and 28 out of 100 were carriers of at least one disease.
The authors state: “Mixed breed dogs were more likely to carry a common recessive disease, whereas purebreds were more likely to be genetically affected with one, providing DNA-based evidence for hybrid vigor. The disease prevalence information we generated during this study is made available online (www.mybreeddata.com), as a free tool for breed and kennel clubs, breeders, as well as the veterinary and scientific community.”
On May 8, 2018 the newly formed International Partnership for Dogs announced the launch of a new database providing guidance on genetic testing of dogs as part of the much -needed Harmonization of Genetic Testing of Dogs Initiative. For details including basic guides for dog owners on types of tests and testing information to aid veterinarians in advising clients go to www.dogwellnet.com
A genetic analysis found 216 of 227 different dog breeds have levels of inbreeding that are “well above what would be considered safe for either humans or wild animal populations,” said veterinarian Danika Bannasch, who led the study. Dogs of highly inbred breeds are predisposed to complex diseases including cancer and autoimmune diseases and have an average 24.4% more nonroutine veterinary visits than mixed breed dogs, the researchers reported. See Bannasch, D., Famula, T., Donner, J. et al. The effect of inbreeding, body size and morphology on health in dog breeds. Canine Genet Epidemiol 8, 12 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-021-00111-4
Every pure bred and “designer” puppy sold should come with a purchase agreement that includes the known list of genetic and related health problems that the particular breed and particular lineage may carry, the estimated veterinary costs for treating each condition and their probability of developing, plus an objective quality of life assessment score from zero to 5 stars (See Jonas Donner et al (2018) Frequency and distribution of 152 genetic disease variants in over 100,000 mixed breed and purebred dogs PLOS Genetics).
University of Copenhagen bioethics professor Peter Sandoe in a conference on the human-animal bond (Veterinary Record Dec 5th 2015 p 558-559) observes that some people are attracted to and exhibit higher attachment to breeds with extreme (inherited) health problems requiring a higher level of care compared to owners with healthy dogs. This observation implies there may be a Munchausen –by-proxy dynamic in some peoples’ choice of particular pure breeds, stating that “an owner’s love towards an animal does not necessarily translate into good welfare for that animal.” He concluded: “There is a dark side to human attachment to companion animals, alongside some of the benefits of ownership.” One favored dog gene has a human counterpart that has been implicated in Williams-Beuren syndrome, where it causes exceptional gregariousness and friendliness toward strangers. ( See vonHoldt, B.M. et al, Genome-wide SNP and haplotype analyses reveal a rich history underlying dog domestication Nature. 2010 Apr 8; 464(7290): 898–902. Published online 2010 Mar 17. doi: 10.1038/nature08837). Selective Breeding, from Size to Hypersociability & Perpetual Puppies.
In a new study, geneticist. Bridgitt vonHoldt and colleagues compared the sociability of domestic dogs with that of wolves raised by humans. Dogs typically spent more time than wolves staring at and interacting with a human stranger nearby, showing the dogs were less fearful and more social than the wolves. Comparative genetic analysis of those dogs and wolves, along with DNA data of other wolves and dogs, showed variations in three genes associated with the social behaviors directed at humans: WBSCR17, GTF2I and GTF2IRD1. Interestingly All these are associated with the Williams-Beuren hypersociability syndrome in humans. (Structural variants in genes associated with human Williams-Beuren syndrome underlie stereotypical hypersociability in domestic dogs. Science Advances 19 Jul 2017). Not all dogs, fortunately, are so affected to become what I have long-called “perpetual puppies”. Veterinarian Prof. Wayne H. Riser was one of the first to identify health problems arising from selective breeding for sizes and shapes (see Fig.3 below) that did not conform to what he saw as the ancestral aboriginal/ pariah dog. (See his monograph The Dog: His Varied Biological Makeup and Its Relationship to Orthopaedic Diseases, 1985, American Animal Hospital Association. For further details see M.W. Fox, The Dog: Its Domestication & Behavior, Dogwise Publications).
Inherited disorders are seen in both mixed-breed and purebred dogs such as hip dysplasia, lens luxation, adrenal gland abnormalities and various cancers, while others are seen in clusters in more recent and more closely related purebred varieties. The shared disorders seen in mixed and purebred dogs are thought to originate from distant lineages of common ancestries prior to the development of modern breeds according to Thomas P. Bellmori et al ( JAVMA, 242: 1549-1555, 2013).
Several of the 200-300 genetic and developmental disorders so far identified in pure breed dogs are virtually identical to those seen in humans. So the dog continues to serve humanity (and be further exploited) as a source of genetic models of various human maladies for biomedical research. ( For genomic research on dogs see Jessica J. Hayward et al Complex disease and phenotype mapping in the domestic dog Nature Communications 7, Article number: 10460 doi:10.1038/ncomms10460 Jan 22, 2016 and Luca Penso-Dolfin et al An Improved microRNA Annotation of the Canine Genome PLOS April 27, 2016 http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0153453).
The following websites provide details about these inherited disorders: http://www.hsvma.org/assets/pdfs/guide-to-congenital-and-heritable-disorders ■ University of Cambridge Inherited Diseases in Dogs Database: www.vet.cam.ac.uk/idid ■ The Kennel Club: www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/570 ■ Universities Federation for Animal Welfare: www.ufaw.org.uk/dogs.php ■ Dog Breed Health: www.dogbreedhealth.com/ ■ Canine Inherited Disorders Database: www.upei.ca/cidd ■ University of Sydney: www.vetsci.usyd.edu.au/lida ■ Some Breed Club websites also report common and important inherited conditions in the breed. Veterinary eugenics is evident in the holistic approach of some veterinarians addressing genetic influences and documented dysgenics on their patients’ health and well-being, notably immunogenetics and nutrigenomics. (See Canine Nutrigenomics by W. Jean Dodds, DVM and Diana R. Laverdure, 2015, Dogwise publications).
The growing popularity of “designer dogs”, cross-breeds of two or more pure breeds, which is evident on the dog adoption website www.petfinder.com, is in part generated by consumer demand for certain traits such as non-shedding and small or large size. The probability that such mixed breeds may have fewer inherited disorders than pure breeds because of “hybrid vigor” is undermined by the possibility of both parental lineages from two separate breeds carrying similar recessive harmful genetic mutations.
So it is advisable for people purchasing a pure breed or designer dog to have assurances of progeny testing for hereditary diseases from the breeder/supplier, and when purchasing either very small or large breeds and those with extreme body conformation and skull shapes to purchase a veterinary health insurance policy that covers pre-existing conditions of hereditary origin. Every pure bred and “designer” puppy sold should come with a purchase agreement that includes the known list of genetic and related health problems that the particular breed and particular lineage may carry, the estimated veterinary costs for treating each condition and their probability of developing, plus an objective quality of life assessment score from zero to 5 stars.
Some breeds, notably Great Danes, Retrievers, Boxers and Rottweilers, are prone to develop certain cancers which in some instances are more likely to develop in association with being neutered, so purchasers should be aware of such risks and costs. The science of Nutrigenomics— developing specific preventive diets for these and other maladies of possible genetic origin—is still in its infancy. But genetic screening for gene abnormalities in male and female parental lineages (including mitochondrial diseases from the maternal side such as myopathy in German shepherds) with significant advances in canine and human genomics, are now being marketed.
Research into the incidence of cancer in various breeds has identified the following breed susceptibilities summarized in a review by the Morris Animal Foundation, June, 2016: 1. Bernese mountain dogs – A recent study looked at Bernese mountain dogs with a history of joint problems and found a relationship between joint disease and later cancer development in the same joint 2. Golden retrievers – Researchers have found two genes that are related to cancer development in golden retrievers. This finding could lead to diagnostic tests to find at-risk dogs before they develop cancer. 3. Boxers – A recent survey of brain cancer in 435 dogs found that brain cancer was more common in dogs than previously reported, and boxers were one of the most commonly affected dogs. 4. Scottish terriers – A study looking at the effect of adding vegetables to the diet of Scottish terriers, who are at higher risk of bladder cancer, showed a 70 percent reduction in the risk of developing a common type of bladder cancer when vegetables were added to the diet. 5. Bouvier des Flandres – Bouviers are predisposed to gastric carcinoma, a type of malignant stomach cancer. A cooperative study from Denmark and Norway looked for breed predisposition to gastric carcinoma, and they found that Bouviers fell into the high- risk group for developing this type of stomach cancer. 6. Bullmastiff –Bullmastiffs are reported to have a significantly increased incidence of lymphoma, one of the most common cancers affecting dogs. Lymphoma can spread to a dog’s eye, causing inflammation, glaucoma and bleeding. 7. Rottweiler – Rottweilers are predisposed to developing bone cancer because of their large bone structure. Bone cancer is almost always fatal, and unfortunately, therapy against this cancer has not advanced significantly in the last 20 years. However, there is new evidence that bone cancer stimulates a vigorous anti-tumor immune response, and researchers are hopeful that by manipulating this response they can find new and better ways to treat this deadly cancer more effectively. 8. Rhodesian ridgeback – Rhodesian ridgebacks have a high incidence of several types of malignant tumors, including soft tissue sarcomas. As the name implies, these cancers arise from connective tissues like muscle and fat. Because they tend to form in the skin or in the area just below the skin, they can look like benign fatty tumors. It is important to get all lumps and bumps checked out by a veterinarian. 9. Airedale terrier – Nasal cancer is the most common cause of chronic nasal discharge and bleeding from the nose, and Airedales may be predisposed to nasal tumors. It is important to get any nasal discharge that lasts longer than a week checked by a veterinarian. 10. Irish setter – Irish setters are predisposed to the development of insulin-producing tumors called insulinomas. These tumors arise in the pancreas, and produce excessive amounts of insulin. Too much insulin results in low blood sugar, leading to collapse and sometimes seizures.
U.K. INVESTIGATION OF GENETIC HEALTH PROBLEMS IN DOG BREEDS According to the Kennel Club Genetics Centre at the Animal health Trust their initial survey launched in Jan. 2016 of health issues prevalent in various breeds, prior to their selecting individual dogs from 75 breeds for genome sequencing to identify mutational abnormalities, epilepsy was the top concern voiced by most dog breeders in the U.K. The second most commonly listed health concern identified through the breed health summary was hereditary cataracts, listed by seven of the breeds. The Kennel Club Genetics Centre at the AHT has had success launching DNA tests for hereditary cataracts in the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Boston Terrier and French Bulldog and is currently investigating hereditary cataracts in several more breeds, including the Labrador Retriever. Overall, 80 different disorders were reported with the following conditions listed by multiple breeds: progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia, lymphoma and patella luxation (listed by six breeds) as well as autoimmune disorders and dilated cardiomyopathy (listed by five breeds). ( For more details and updates visit www.aht.org.uk/gdg ).
A genetic analysis found 216 of 227 different dog breeds have levels of inbreeding that are “well above what would be considered safe for either humans or wild animal populations,” said veterinarian Danika Bannasch, who led the study. Dogs of highly inbred breeds are predisposed to complex diseases including cancer and autoimmune diseases and have an average 24.4% more nonroutine veterinary visits than mixed breed dogs, the researchers reported. See Bannasch, D., Famula, T., Donner, J. et al. The effect of inbreeding, body size and morphology on health in dog breeds. Canine Genet Epidemiol 8, 12 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-021-00111-4
I would give a star to all breeders who are cognizant of the epigenetic effects of nutrition provided to the parent stock on the offspring and feed biologically and breed-appropriate (nutrigenomic) diets rather than high cereal and soy manufactured kibble. The epigenetic effects of maternal and paternal stress on offspring, well documented in laboratory animal studies, call for the highest standards of canine care and housing which are not evident in commercial puppy mills.
Also Breed Clubs need to change those breed “standards” that amount to extreme physical characteristics associated with various health problems such as giantism, dwarfism, acromegaly, long backs, sloping hind-quarters, heavy, pendulous ears, abnormal skulls, shortened muzzles and protruding eyes. Routine ear cropping and tail docking as a breed “standards” should also be prohibited. With the support of breeders, kennel club organizations and an informed public, advances in veterinary eugenics will do much to correct the anthropogenic diseases and physical/structural abnormalities of hereditary origin arising from unnatural (human) selection in dogs and other domesticated animals.
EAR CROPPING & TAIL DOCKING
Certain pure breeds continue to be subject to medically unnecessary surgeries,—ear cropping and tail docking– which can cause suffering and are being questioned and in some countries prohibited. (See Katelyn Mills et al. A review of medically unnecessary surgeries in dogs and cats. JAVMA, 248: 162-171, 2016). A research study published in PLOS on-line, June 27, 2016 by Katelyn E. Mills and colleagues at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, entitled Tail Docking and Ear Cropping Dogs: Public Awareness and Perceptions, found that “Modified (tail docked and ear cropped) dogs were perceived as being more aggressive, more dominant, less playful and less attractive than natural dogs”. They also presented the first evidence that owners of modified dogs are perceived as being more aggressive, more narcissistic, less playful, less talkative and less warm compared to owners of natural dogs. Since 2008 the American Veterinary Medical Association has encouraged “the elimination of ear cropping and tail docking from breed standards” it is only the breeders and dog show clubs like the American Kennel Club (AKC) and their “official standards” for those breeds like the Boxer, Doberman Pinscher, and Miniature Schnauzer, that stand in the way of ending such mutilations in the U.S. Such practices are outlawed in Australia and several European countries.
Perhaps one way to bring about change for dogs’ sake is for all dog lovers, animal rightists and protectors to boycott the big pet food companies like Nestle’s Purina and Alpo and IAMS that seek to profit from supporting dog shows until all responsible parties come together and change breed standards for the better: No ear cropping or tail docking as from a specified date, all dogs after that date not being accepted into the ring without their tails and ears intact.
The puppy mill “factory” breeding enterprises are an added burden of suffering, abuse and propagation of genetic abnormalities in popular pure breeds, first exposed by dog writer Herm David and co-investigator Fox in the early 1970s and remain little improved under government inspection, local sanction and registration of puppies produced by the American Kennel Club (see below).
Man’s best friend is getting smaller (and more deformed) Public Release BIOMED CENTRAL April 4⁄16 (www.eurekalert.org) “Lead researcher, Kendy Teng, from the University of Sydney, Australia, said, ‘Australians are favouring brachycephalic breeds, dogs with shorter and wider heads, such as the Pug and the French bulldog, more than those with longer and thinner heads. Looking at data spanning 28 years, we found that the demand for smaller dogs has increased every year from 1986.’”
” ‘Veterinarians are concerned about brachycephalic dogs’ welfare, as these breeds commonly suffer from breathing difficulties, skin and eye conditions, and digestive disorders. In New Zealand, brachycephalic breeds are number four of the top five dog breeds considered by veterinarians to be unsuitable for continued breeding due to compromised health and welfare. We expect to see vets in Australia treating more dogs with the conditions described.’” “This trend is also apparent in the UK, where bulldogs, boxers and pugs have become increasingly popular in recent years. UK kennel club registrations of pugs and bulldogs have climbed from 2004 to 2013, the number of pugs has increased from 1675 in 2004 to 8071 in 2013, and French bulldogs also rose from 350 to 6990. In the US, numbers of bulldogs and French bulldogs registered with the American Kennel Club have increased by 69% and 476% respectively, in the past decade”.
PROBLEMS WITH PUGS, BULLDOGS & FRENCH BULLDOGS These and other dog breeds with pushed-in faces, a deformity called brachycephaly (to which we can add Pekingese and many Boxers and Boston terriers) suffer from many related health problems which a recent study in PLoS One, confirms: ( Packer, M.A. et al Great expectations, inconvenient truths, and the paradoxes of the dog-owner relationship for owners of brachycephalic dogs. PLOS Published: July 19, 2019 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0219918)
And most disturbingly finds that breeders and owners are generally in denial about the harmful consequences of deliberately breeding and purchasing such animals or do not appreciate the seriousness of their dog breed’s conformational problems and necessary surgeries. The most common diagnoses that respondents shared from veterinarians were allergies (27% of dogs), corneal ulcers (15%), skin fold infections (15%) and brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) (12%). In addition, 20% of dog owners reported that their dogs had undergone one or more conformation-related surgeries. The most frequently reported surgeries were nostril widening (8%) and eyelid surgery (8%). One-third of all pregnant dogs required medical or surgical intervention to give birth. 71% said their dog was in “very good health” or “the best health possible,” and just 7% said their dog was less healthy than average for its breed. Nearly 40% of the dogs could be experiencing airway obstruction problems, but only 18% of owners of those dogs considered their dog to have a breathing issue.
“These contrasting and paradoxical results support the influence here of the ‘normalization’ phenomenon,” explain the researchers in the study, “whereby owners of brachycephalic dogs may be consciously aware that the dog is struggling to breathe but not consciously accept that this is a specific problem, instead considering it a ‘normal’ and therefore somehow acceptable feature of the breed…..It is likely that many owners do not recognize sleep problems as a welfare issue and may instead interpret signs of sleep-related airway impairment as benign ‘normal’ phenomena, For example, sleeping with a toy in their mouth or in a sitting position (strategies to avoid upper airway obstruction) may be considered as just cute quirks of their dog rather than indicators of true pathology.”
Another survey of health issues in Bulldogs in the U.K. found that this breed was especially prone to ear, skin, eye and respiratory infections, obesity and gastrointestinal problems. ( O’Neill, D.G. et al Disorders of Bulldogs under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2013. PLoSONE, 2019, 14 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0217928). Brachycephalic dogs are especially prone to developing painful corneal ulcers.
A BOOK FOR ALL REASONS-TO STOP BREEDING FLAT-FACED ANIMALS
Health and Welfare of Brachycephalic (Flat-faced) Companion Animals A Complete Guide for Veterinary and Animal Professionals Published August 6, 2021 by CRC Press SBN 9780367207243 418 Pages 117 B/W Illustrations https://www.routledge.com/Health-and-Welfare-of-Brachycephalic-Flat-faced-Companion-Animals/.
This new book edited by Drs Rowena Packer and Dan O’Neill with chapters written by 29 internationally recognized experts addresses the serious and multiple health problems associated with selectively breeding dogs, cats, rabbits and now even horses to have flat, so-called brachycephalic faces. Their appearance is appealing to many people but in reality, appalling to the informed.
Year ago I was on the Oprah Winfrey show to talk about dogs. One of her invited guests came on with her 6-month-old Bulldog who could barely get up the low steps to reach us on the stage. I politely asked the breeder how could she deliberately breed an animal who had such great difficulty breathing and walking. While Oprah visibly stiffened at my taking away from the cuteness of her doggy show, which included a parade of various breeds wearing designer dog clothes, the breeder’s response was immediate: “I love them.”
Now flat-faced dogs are the rage, especially French bulldogs and Pugs. One-fifth of all dogs in the U.K. are brachycephalic. This new book will help rectify this tragic deforming of companion animals as per the publisher’s promotional statement: “This book will equip veterinary professionals, animal welfare scientists, breeders and owners with the fuller story about brachycephalic health and welfare. The first half of the book provides the context of how and why we are in this crisis, offering in-depth historical, social, ethical, communication, nursing, welfare, epidemiological, genetics and international perspectives. The second half shifts towards the clinical arena, with chapters that cover the background, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the many unique healthcare needs of brachycephalic animals. Cutting-edge knowledge is shared on a range of disciplines including respiratory disease, ophthalmology, dermatology, dentistry, neurology, obesity, reproduction and anesthesia.”
In my opinion breeding dogs with the extreme forms of this deformity is unethical. It can mean, after a Caesarian birth, a lifetime of partial asphyxiation, limited exercise tolerance and enjoyment of life compounded by chronic eye, skin and respiratory and oral cavity infections along with a host of inherited diseases affecting the heart, joints, brain and other organs and systems. With abnormally large heads, many litters of puppies can only be delivered by surgical Caesarian section.
Regardless of their appeal and appealing dispositions, those who really love them should stop breeding them, and the informed never consider purchasing a purpose-bred one regardless how adorable the puppies may seem.
Selectively breeding for appealing, puppy-like domed heads and shortened skulls and muzzles ( with associated dental problems) as we see in Toy poodles, Yorkshire terriers and especially Cavalier King Charles spaniels can result in much suffering. Essentially the skull is too small for the brain which means pressure on parts of the brain and even displacement which can trigger seizures, various neurological problems and chronic pain. Identified conditions include Syringomyelia/Hydromyelia, Hydrocephalus and Cerebellar herniation.
The winter of 2017 the World Small Animal Veterinary Association urged veterinarians to become informed and actively involved in opposing the breeding of dogs with extreme traits such as brachycephaly which can lead to health and welfare problems, notably obstructive airway syndrome. Recommendations for veterinarians to follow are available at http://jav.ma/WSAVAbrachy
EXTREME PAEDOPSYCHOSIS: THE PERPETUAL PUPPY SYNDROME.
Small dog breeds have varying degrees of paedomorphosis—the perpetuation of puppy-like physical traits into adulthood, —ranging from disproportionately large heads, protruding, “appealing” eyes, malformed jaws and dentition to misshapen and misaligned limbs. All these paedomorphic traits can lead to a variety of health problems later in life.
Many dogs, and not just the smaller breeds, also inherit, through human selection, what I term paedopsychic traits. The behavioral repertoire associated extreme paedopsychosis consists of predominantly infantile/puppyish behaviors normally seen just in brief episodes of spirited playfulness and moments of anxiety in most adult dogs. These behaviors include often almost continuous attention-seeking behavior, puppyish yapping and crying, excessive oral (chewing and licking) and searching- behaviors which can become obsessive compulsive disorders.
Along with the physical ailments associated with concurrent paedomorphosis, these poor dogs do not have the best quality of life without constant attention and often considerable veterinary expense. They are especially prone to separation anxiety, and many suffer, often alone all day in a crate in an apartment in the more affluent urban communities world- wide where they are currently popularized status symbols, fashion accessories and a source of emotional gratification. Abnormal behaviors related to boredom/hypostimulation often develop in dogs confined in such unstimulating environments.
These hyper-dependent perpetual puppies, whose attention-seeking behavior is rewarded by the devoted attention of owners highly conditioned by their dogs, in some instances bordering on Munchausen by proxy, are notably hyperactive , hypervocal, hypersensitive, hyperexcitable ( and seizure-prone) and hypersocial. Many such dogs may carry the gene responsible in humans for the Williams Beuren syndrome, affected children being exceptionally gregarious and friendly toward strangers. Since extreme forms of paedomorphism and paedopsychism can lower the quality of life of such animals, their deliberate and continued propagation should be seriously reconsidered. Those caring for such dogs, many of which are very adorable but are challenged physically and emotionally, should not over-indulge since that only reinforces over-dependency. Apart from not breeding dogs with such extreme traits, joining a regular play group with other dogs may be the best medicine to help let the real dog emerge by reinforcing more mature dog-dog interactions.
THE GENETIC BOTTLE-NECK & DEMISE OF THE ENGLISH BULLDOG
A new paper in Canine Genetics and Epidemiology from a team at UC Davis school of veterinary medicine documents the lack of genetic diversity in the English Bulldog which is so extreme that there isnot enough genetic diversity to allow breeders to selectively breed-out the health problems that plague these poor dogs. These issues include severe lifelong breathing and self-cooling difficulties, corneal ulcers, skin disease, a screw-shaped tail which is linked to painful spine abnormalities, deformed joints, defective immune systems, dental problems and the inability to give birth naturally. The lead author of the paper, Professor Niels Pedersen, said in the Independent newspaper : “The English bulldog has reached the point where popularity can no longer excuse the health problems that the average bulldog endures in its often brief lifetime”.
The only humane and ethically acceptable solution is for people not to purchase an English Bulldog and for breeders and breed clubs internationally to make a concerted effort to outcross with one or more “correcting” breeds such as the Staffordshire and English Bull terriers.
The Nationwide® Brachycephalic Breed Disease Prevalence Study Short-nosed breeds from pugs to mastiffs are more often affected by common conditions, not just known issues associated with brachyephaly. A biostatistical analysis of the pet health insurance claims of more than 1.27 million dogs over a nine-year span shows that even after removing conditions linked specifically to brachycephalic breeds, dogs with the structure common to these animals are less healthy than dogs with a more normal canine appearance. Common conditions include greater prevalence than seen in dogs with normal muzzles and skulls of: Digestive and respiratory problems, cancer and other skin diseases and various eye, ear, anal gland, dental, bladder/cystitis and heart issues, patellar and intervertebral disk luxations and other spinal conditions and greater susceptibility to hyperthermia/heat stroke. In summary, the flatter a dog’s face is, no matter how appealing or standard for the breed, the more general health problems in addition to serious ones specifically caused by the facial deformation they will suffer compared to dogs with normal skulls and length of muzzle. For details visit www.nationwidedvm.com/studies-and-research.
Birthing Difficulties & Brachycephaly.
Of brachycephalic breeds surveyed for birthing problems because of pups’ large skulls, French bulldogs were 15.9 times more likely to suffer dystocia, Boston terriers 12.9 times, Chihuahuas 10.4 times and pugs 11.3 times compared to the norm according to D.G. O’Neil et al ( Canine dystocia in 50 UK first-opinion emergency-care veterinary practices: prevalence and risk factors. Veterinary Record June 19.17, p 559.
SOME USEFUL LINKS: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cruffa/ The BBC documentary called Pedigree Dogs Exposed, which caused considerable furor when it aired in 2008. You can view it online here: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/pedigree-dogs-exposed/ The Norwegian Kennel Club has recently come out extremely strongly (http://pedigreedogsexposed.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/breaking-news-norwegian-kc-admits-we.html See also www.unethicalbreederawareness.com
THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB (AKC)
Advances are needed in veterinary eugenics to correct the documented dysgenics and associated physical and behavioral problems in dogs (as well as in other domesticated species) arising in part from selective breeding for desired but often extreme and abnormal traits. The AKC has neglected its potential role in facilitating veterinary eugenics for decades in spite of my and others appeals to them, by selling their AKC official breed registration papers to commercial puppy factory or mill breeders and others who do not engage in progeny testing.
Dog-writer/reporter the late Herm David and I were the first to blow the whistle on puppy mills in the 1970s and we shared our concerns with the AKC and the dog breeding community at large. The AKC’s new voluntary Breed With H.E.A.R.T. program, which ostensibly addresses this issue, is essentially too little too late: or at least forty years after the issue was first presented to all involved.
According to Bob Baker, Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation (in a personal communication, April 30, 2016) “The AKC inspection program is a sham. Their standards of care are bare minimum and can best be described as “survival standards” and certainly not humane standards of care. For example, the dog’s primary enclosure only needs to be large enough so the dog “can sit, stand, lie down or turn around.” This tiny space is the required living space for a breeding dog for her entire existence. Most troubling, there is no enforcement of the standards of care. According to AKC, the breeder is given at least one-week notice before the inspection. One need only review the paltry number of suspensions handed out by AKC based on the findings of their inspectors to recognize the lack of enforcement. The vast majority of suspensions that are handed down are the result of investigations by federal and state inspectors or local humane agents. Interestingly, many dogs rescued from puppy mills are AKC-registered and the facilities previously inspected by the AKC.
Shockingly, while AKC promotes the fact that they have promulgated “standards of care” for AKC breeders, when legislation was introduced in North Carolina to codify similar basic standards of care, the AKC actively worked in opposition to the legislation. The AKC is okay with standards of care as long as they are never enforced or codified into law.
What most people don’t realize, the entry fees for dog shows do not cover AKC expenses for sponsoring the shows and thus registration fees subsidize AKC dog shows. The next time you watch the Westminster Dog show, be aware that this show is being supported on the backs of puppy mill dogs, and the registration fees generated by puppy mills are subsidizing this, and all of the AKC dog shows.
SHOULD THE AKC STAY IN THE DOG HOUSE?
DEAR DR.FOX, I am a law student and writing a paper for my animal law class on the pitfalls of the AKC and the lack of regulation leading to detrimental health effects of dogs. In my research, I found an article that mentioned your friend Herm David as an “ombudsman” of the AKC. After further research I understand that you also joined the good fight against puppy mills and the “purebred problem.”
I would love to receive any input from you about my paper, your perspective on the AKC, and your perception of the problem over the years (has it gotten better? worse? stayed the same? Can we do anything about it? C.F., address withheld
DEAR C.F., I have written about my concerns about the fate of many pure breed dogs on my website and in this syndicated newspaper column urging people NEVER to buy a puppy on-line without seeing the parent dogs and how they are being kept. Often regarded as a kind of equivalent to some guarantee of quality and reliability the official “papers” of puppies registered with the American Kennel Club, just like other national club registries in other countries, are of dubious value for reasons I document. Check out these reviews: https://drfoxonehealth.com/post/recovering-canine-health-and-the-natural-dog/ https://drfoxonehealth.com/post/concerning-puppy-and-kitten-breeding-mills/ https://drfoxonehealth.com/post/dog-mutilations/ https://drfoxonehealth.com/post/dogs-need-their-whiskers/ https://drfoxonehealth.com/post/animal-eugenics-for-better-or-for-worse/
Aside from the questionable ethics of breeding dogs for profit when there are dogs and puppies in shelters needing homes there is the reality of the linkage between commercial dog breeders “inspected” and licensed by the USDA under standards of animal care equivalent to those applied to farmed animals; and the united support of the livestock and poultry industries of commercial puppy mills in the face of legislative initiatives limiting the number of dogs being kept and improving standards of care which they fear may be imposed next on them. Their overcrowded factory farms are inhumane, environmentally harmful and a serious threat to public health and wildlife.
Many illnesses and behavioral problems in dogs, cats and other companion animals can be prevented, and others cured by their caretakers/guardians adhering to six basic principles. These principles combine to make a simple formula to help insure animals’ health and overall well-being: Right Understanding+ Right Relationship + Right Breeding/Genetics + Right Nutrition + Right Environment + Right Holistic Veterinary Care. = Animal Health and Well-being.
In practical terms I see these basic principles as essential, ethical, animal health and welfare standards all breeders of pure breed dogs (and cats) and their dog clubs, Kennel Club registries and dog shows in all countries need to adopt. A designation of veterinary- confirmed “6R Certification” is feasible. It would be applied to both male and female dogs used for breeding purposes to ensure they are kept under conditions satisfying their behavioral, social and emotional needs with genetic screening to avoid/eliminate diseases of hereditary origin, breeding for extreme traits (e.g. flat face/ brachycephaly) and documented progeny testing; good nutrition of bitches to give pups epigenetic benefits, healthy gut microbiomes and immune systems as part of holistic veterinary care with judicious use of vaccines and antiparasitic medications.
Only dogs who have such 6R Certification would be allowed to become “Best in Show” winners and all dogs entering the ring should not have their ears cropped or their tails or their whiskers trimmed! The so-called “Breeder of Merit Program Certification” of the AKC falls lamentably short on these six counts. ( See below).
These are my hopes based on sound veterinary science and bioethics—and compassion which is in short supply in this consumer-society where the empathy deficit disorder appears to be reaching pandemic dimensions! Thousands of spectators enjoying watching racing Bulldogs and Dachshunds, who are not built to race, at the Canterbury Downs horse racing track annual summer event in Minnesota is illustrative of such ignorance-based empathy deficit.
DACHSHUNDS-ANOTHER EXTREMELY CHALLENGED BREED
All breed clubs with dogs having health and quality of life limiting physical traits need to emulate the initiative in the U.K. being taken by the Dachshund Breed Council’s Health Committee. Dachshunds do not have backs that are too long but rather, they have a form of dwarfism with shortened and deformed legs. According to this breed’s responsible and concerned council in the U.K., “During 2018, the Breed Council’s Health Committee has been working with the Kennel Club to agree our Breed Health and Conservation Plan (BHCP). The dangers of exaggeration have again featured in our discussions. By definition, the Dachshund is an “exaggerated” breed; the genes for dwarfism cause the breed’s characteristic short legs. The Breed Standard’s use of the word “low” relates to this dwarfism; the breed is low to ground at the withers compared with a non-dwarf breed. Low to ground does not mean lack of ground clearance and the standard specifically requires “body sufficiently clear of the ground to allow free movement.” Our Health Committee is concerned that, despite the many messages about desired proportions and ground clearance that have been communicated at seminars for over a decade, some breeders and judges still seem inclined to favour undesirable exaggerations. The Health Committee’s concerns are that dogs with excessive length and lack of ground clearance cannot be considered to be “fit for function” and that such exaggerations are likely to increase their health risks. IVDD ( Intervertebral Disc Disease) is one of those risks, as is Bloat which is reported in Dachshunds and other breeds with proportionately more depth of chest”. Citation from https://dachshundbreedcouncil.wordpress.com/uk-breed-standard/not-long-and-not-low-please-read-the-breed-standard/#:)
In contrast, the American Kennel Club’s Breed Health Testing Requirements ( https://www.akc.org/breeder-programs/breed-health-testing-requirements) are clearly deficient, the entry for Dachshund—”Recommended Health Tests from the National Breed Club: Patella Evaluation. Cardiac Exam. Read the Official Breed Club Health Statement.” Breeders completing these tests can gain the AKC Breeder of Merit Program Certification!
And for the French and English Bulldog Breed Clubs there is no mention of evaluating dogs’ ability to breathe and tolerate some physical activity! The AKC’s Bred with H.E.A.R.T. program “requires health testing of breeding stock in accordance with recommendations of their breed’s parent club. Breeders who meet the requirements of the Bred with H.E.A.R.T. program are eligible for many benefits, including a 10% discount on insurance for their puppies through AKC Pet Insurance.” All of this I see as window-dressing nonsense and advise all who are seeking some particular purebred to visit the breeding facility, never buy on-line: Or go to a breed rescue website and adopt. All commercial puppy mills should be closed down.
THE DOG MERCHANTS
In my professional opinion, most dogs embody more of the finer virtues that we admire in good people than I find in most of my own kind. This is surely why Australian aborigines say “Dingo makes us human,” It is also why so many people regard their dogs as family members. But this emotional bond is exploited by the multinational pet food industry that is still selling junk food and treats that sicken millions of dogs and sponsoring dog shows and shelter adoptions to boost ownership and sales.
But even more un-dogworthy are those who treat dogs as disposable commodities, mass producing them in cruel breeding factories called puppy mills and sold in pet stores or on-line or by dubious “rescue” organizations. This latter national disgrace and international atrocity is documented by Kim Kavin in her unforgettable and dirt-digging book The Dog Merchants. (Pegasus Books, NY. 2016). I highly recommend this book to all dog lovers to get involved in helping save “man’s best friend” from such exploitation and especially for those who are considering purchasing or adopting a puppy or adult dog.
BREEDERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES Patti Rasmussen a Samoyed breeder ( I would prefer “devote”) from Lincoln Virginia writes to me: “While the AKC does not keep health clearance records on dogs, there are places that do. A starting point for anyone wanting to know more about purebred dogs would be the parent club for that breed. (In the case of my breed - the Samoyed Club of America) Most breeds also have regional clubs that offer information on breeders and how to find a good one. (http://www.potomacvalleysams.com/Home.html) and (http://www.potomacvalleysams.com/Puppies.html) The puppy buyer section was just updated with some excellent advice. Provided within those articles are links to OFA and its registries, which are noted to be for almost all purebred breeds. OFA’s records are all public, as are CHIC results.( http://caninehealthinfo.org/chicinfo.html#goals) At worst, a person seeking information on a particular breed can learn what health issues there may be by seeing what breeders test for. They will at least know where to look for certification, in in most cases they can look up the parents by name to see what health tests they have had and passed. It is incumbent upon the prospective buyer to do some homework before seeking a breeder.
Although AKC has a health department (AKC Canine Health Foundation) and funds some studies, the majority of decisions about genetic testing is done by the parent clubs for each breed. I’m sure some are more rigorous than others, perhaps depending upon how many problems they have and/or how common. We now have DNA testing for many things, with more becoming available all the time. Adding that to the normal hips, elbows, eyes, heart, etc is making some more inroads. It’s helpful, but just another tool to roll into the mix when planning litters that will be healthy, sound, and good representatives of the breed. We are, perhaps, working toward a time when AKC will have some minimum requirements for each breed before a dog can be registered, but with most of their income coming from registrations (which are down, I think), I wouldn’t look for that to become a priority. I think the move will continue to be toward education of the breeder and prospective buyers, and making data available more so than toward making it more difficult to register a dog. But who knows?
The Orthopedic Foundation for animals. (OFA) (http://www.offa.org/breedtests.html) started out as a place to send hip X-rays for review by a panel of radiologists who would grade the hips and certify them as to fair, good, excellent (for the dog’s age, a minimum of 2 yrs) or mildly, moderately, or severely dysplastic. For years you did not breed anything that lacked an OFA clearance, or that didn’t CERF (pass all the requirements for your breed’s eyes). This foundation is now the repository for information of all sorts. Elbows x-ray results, eye exam results (That used to be registered with CERF - Canine Eye Registry Foundation), and so on.
The Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) (http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/chicinfo.html) is maintained by OFA with data bases available for all participating breeds on whatever issues they commonly check for. Most breeders now will want their breeding stock to have CHIC certification, which means they’ve been tested for hips, eyes, elbows, heart (and possibly whatever DNA things are now available). The only thing buyers need to keep in mind is that saying a dog has been certified as checked for those things, is not the same as saying he/she passed all the tests. Hence the data bases, as well as certificates issued to each dog that passes everything”.
The AKC’s Bred With H.E.A.R.T. program requirements include statements to the effect that breeders must certify that their breeding stock is health tested, that they are responsible for the health and well-being of the puppies they produce and that they certify that health screens are performed on breeding stock. This program will not undo the damage done to many popular breeds over generations especially from puppy mills but is a step in the right direction. An excellent puppy purchasing contract agreement has been developed in the UK which is applicable in the U.S. and other countries. See http://puppycontract.rspca.org.uk
ALTERING DOGS & OTHER SPECIES BY “EDITING” THEIR GENES & CLONING Using what is called CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology (which enables multiple genes to be altered simultaneously) scientists in China have created two beagles that lack some or all of the muscle-inhibiting protein myostatin, resulting in dogs with larger-than-normal muscles. Dogs now join the list of species that have been genetically edited, including pigs, goats, monkeys, rabbits and rats. These activities raise profound ethical concerns as I document in my DVD concerning earlier developments in this Brave new world of genetic engineering biotechnology and where it all may lead, available at www.drfoxvet.net (See also my article Don’t Clone Your Dog).
Like it or not, the age of bioengineering cybergenetics is upon us. Chinese biotechnology firm Boyalife and South Korea’s Sooam Biotech are building what will be the world’s largest animal cloning facility in China. But genetically engineered/edited and cloned animals often have genetic and developmental abnormalities and new diseases which cannot be justified for the novel pet trade. In December 2015 Laura Jacques and Richard Remde of Yorkshire, England, received two new puppies, Chance and Shadow, who were cloned using their deceased dog Dylan’s DNA. The couple paid roughly $100,000 to have him cloned at the Sooam Biotech Research Foundation in South Korea.
Of the estimated one billion population of dogs in the world (See James Gorman, The Big Search to Find Out Where Dogs Come From, The New York Times, Science section, Jan 18, 2016) three quarters are still living under the relative freedom of being unowned community commensals or feral packs and loners, and as more symbiotic, often working dogs that share human habitation and usually have free access to the outdoors. Millions are poisoned every year to control rabies, skinned for the fur trade and raised and slaughtered for the meat market. The future of the remaining quarter kept confined under leash and animal control laws,— a population of increasing numbers of pure breeds and designer dogs— is biologically clouded by the emerging market for cloning puppies from dead dogs and the reality of gene editing to create totally new canine characteristics for biomedical and other commercial purposes.
A Profile of the Natural Dog Natural, aboriginal dogs can still be found in many developing countries, especially in rural communities as well as in the U.S. as detailed in the books Dog Body, Dog Mind and The Dog, Its Domestication and Behavior by Dr. Michael W. Fox. One example is the so called Carolina dog or American dingo, originally a landrace or naturally selected type of dog which was discovered living as a wild dog or free roaming dog by Dr. I. Lehr Brisbin. A breed standard has been developed by the United Kennel Club that now specifies the appearance of these dogs which could be their undoing if genetic diversity declines. We have met very similar dogs from some of the Native American Indian reservations in Minnesota and the Dakotas, many communities of which need urgent veterinary care and population control. Working in Africa and India, as well as in the U.S. and Europe, we have found a general attitude of preference for pure-breed dogs over local village/aboriginal dogs or “pariahs” and those of mixed breed who are seen as inferior, social status being associated with ownership of various pure breeds.
The “breeding-back” phenomenon in the Western world where free-roaming urban and suburban dogs, some of distinctive breeds, interbred with others to produce pariah/aboriginal dog-like phenotypes commonly called mutts or mongrels, has been significantly reduced in most communities where it is illegal to allow one’s dog to roam free and not be neutered. Conversely, concerted efforts to reduce indigenous/aboriginal dog numbers by various means humane and inhumane for public health reasons (especially rabies control) may actually lead to the disappearance of landraces and loss of genetic diversity in regional canine populations. In the U.S. some dog rescue networks are bringing dogs, many which are of the aboriginal phenotype, from southern states to more northerly and western states for adoption. This well intended humane activity calls for veterinary health certification to reduce the risk of canine diseases prevalent in the south spreading further into the canine community.
The aboriginal/native dogs in the Nilgiris, S. India, I came to know while my wife Deanna Krantz established an animal shelter and refuge and full community veterinary services for close to a decade in the late 1990s. These dogs vary in size from 25-50lb, many adults being undersized and underweight due to chronic malnutrition. They are long of limb and tail, with usually erect or semi-erect ears. Tails are normally long and straight and are curled upward or downward in display, but some dogs have more permanently up-and curled “Spitz” tails.
Normally all these dogs are protective and very loyal to their owners. They have a good musculature, and the males are clearly more robust and have more powerful jaws than the females. All have characteristically small paws relative to their size compared to most modern breeds. The females are more protective towards theirs puppies than non-native breeds, and will chose to whelp in a secluded place and may sometimes burrow a den. They will often nurse their pups for several weeks longer than other dogs, pups continuing to be accepted as old as 3-4 months of age.
Their sense of smell and tracking abilities are considered superior to other imported European breeds. They are skilled hunters. Tribal people rear these dogs to guide them in the forest and to hunt smaller animals. These dogs also instinctively alert to the scent tracks of potentially dangerous panthers and tigers, wild boar and cobras, and are especially on the alert after dark. They are noted for their courage and tenacity, defending their owners from wild boar and sloth bear attacks. Around other domestic animals with which they normally live in villages and Tribal settlements, like chickens, calves and goats, they are gentle and even protective, most probably a result of selective breeding and training.
They have great stamina and have better resistance to many diseases compared to imported breeds and cross-breeds. They are able to sustain themselves as scavengers, often existing on a subsistence diet that for other dogs would often mean rickets, stunted growth and other deficiency diseases. They show innate nutritional wisdom, often being seen eating mineral rich dirt and enzyme, bacteria and protein rich feces of suckling calves. (In Tanzania we learned that the village dogs are valued as a free diaper service for infants and that the licking of friendly dogs, owned and not owned, can help clear up skin infections. The Masai people selectively cropped some dogs’ ears “To make them more aggressive”).
These dogs vary considerably in their vocal repertoire which is generally rich and subtle in terms of sound combinations (like growl-whines, yelp-barks and pant-huffs) that give clear indication of animals’ emotional state and intentions. Some give low ‘huffs’ and growls when sensing danger, while others give full voice which is not preferred when in the potentially dangerous jungle where silence is desired. They will give different barks when alerting to wild boar in the bush versus monkeys in trees, and will engage in coyote-like yip-yap howls when they sing in choral groups. One distinctive sound that some make in greeting is a coo-like twitter sound with high notes that sound like whistling, much like the whistle-call of the Dhole or Asiatic Wild dog.
The Nilgiris native dogs come in different colors that include black, red, tan, white, piebald and brindle. The most characteristic coat color is red, (or ruddy tan), possible a parallel or convergent adaptive coloration seen in the indigenous Wild dog (Cuon alpinus) also known as the Dhole or Chennai, one of the few wild canid species that hunts in packs.
These Nilgiris native dogs are in state of potential extinction due to dog breeders introducing foreign ‘exotic’ European breeds that are seen as a status symbol. Many of these purebreds are deliberately crossed with the indigenous Nilgiris native dog, in part to help them adapt better to local conditions, but further diluting and ‘contaminating’ the genetic lineage of these wonderful indigenous dogs. Spay/neuter ‘birth control’ programs have further reduced their numbers.
Outside breeds contaminating the gene-pool of this native lineage in the Nilgiris are German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian), Doberman, Labrador retriever, Rottweiler, Terriers and Hounds brought in decades ago by British people and more recently by more affluent Indian citizens. A policy decision to not neuter classic phenotypes of this now threatened domestic variety of dog would be a wise move in this and other bioregions where there are viable populations of relatively “pure” indigenous aboriginal dogs.
The red “Country” dogs of the Nilgiris are predominant of those colors mentioned above. We would like to conserve the Nilgiris Native dogs due to their beauty and temperament. We also believe that this native, aboriginal variety of dog may well be the classic prototype of the earliest domesticated dog and belongs to that ancient lineage.
DOG ANCESTRY Scientist P.Skoglund and associates reported in the journal Current Biology, 25, 1515-1519, 2015, that they had recovered the genome sequence of a 35,000-year-old Siberian wolf. Calibration of the molecular clock suggests that the ancestors of modern dogs formed a distinct lineage prior to the peak of the last ice age. Siberian huskies and other northern dog breeds trace a part of their ancestry to the ancient Siberian wolf population.
Laura M. Shannon and an international team of 26 other scientists published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112, 13639-13644, 2015 a report entitled Genetic structure in village dogs reveals a Central Asian domestication origin. They concluded that “ Dogs were the first domesticated species, but the precise timing and location of domestication are hotly debated. Dogs today consist primarily of two specialized groups—a diverse set of nearly 400 pure breeds and a far more populous group of free-ranging animals adapted to a human commensal lifestyle (village dogs). Using genomic data from 5,392 dogs, including a global set of 549 village dogs, we find strong evidence that dogs were domesticated in Central Asia, perhaps near present-day Nepal and Mongolia. Dogs in nearby regions (e.g., East Asia, India, and Southwest Asia) contain high levels of genetic diversity due to their proximity to Central Asia and large population sizes.
Indigenous dog populations in the Neotropics and South Pacific have been largely replaced by European dogs, whereas those in Africa show varying degrees of European vs. indigenous African ancestry.
As I discuss in this review article these wonderful indigenous, “landrace” varieties of dogs are endangered by European (pure breed) dog crossbreeding. In the U.S. there are un-neutered mixed breed dogs especially in the Southern states where they are still allowed to freely roam and breed back to a more natural landrace type. But as municipalities enforce spay/neuter and leash laws for many good reasons and overcrowded shelters in these states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee, send these dogs up to shelters in northern states where there are insufficient local dogs and pups for adoption, we may be seeing the last of the natural, landrace dogs in north America, many on Indian reservations being crossbred with Pit bulls and other pure breeds.
From my Animal Doctor syndiated newspaper column June 2022
DEAR DR.FOX, Did you see this article about dog genetics and temperament?? What are your thoughts? https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2022-04-28/genetic-study-says-stereotypes-about-dog-breeds-are-wrong K.K., Northbrook IL
DEAR K.K., This study has generated a lot of publicity and I disagree with its conclusions .It asserts that a dog’s breed has less influence on its personality than is commonly thought. Researchers surveyed thousands of dog owners about their pets’ traits, ranging from whether they had a propensity to eat grass to how likely they were to chase toys. The researchers then sequenced the DNA of a subsection of the survey dogs and found that breed explained only around 9% of the variation in dog behaviour. “When you adopt a dog based on its breed, you’re getting a dog that looks a certain way,” says computational biologist and co-author Elinor Karlsson. “But as far as behaviour goes, it’s kind of luck of the draw.” (Science, Vol. . 376, No. 6592 Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges breed stereotypes).
The main point of this study that extreme physical rather than behavioral differences in dogs of various breeds and crosses are determined by heredity—nature– is evident and understandable. Certainly, we all know that nurture—puppy socialization— which I worked on years ago with Drs. Scott and Fuller at the Jackson laboratory, Bar Harbor ME —determines how dogs generally react to people later in life.
Perhaps these biologists were influenced by their own convictions, be they anti-racial or anti-genetic determinism. Specific traits like herding, protecting and retrieving, in my opinion, are more closely linked to nature—genetics—than to nurture. Nurture can reinforce such behaviors as Konrad Lorenz proposed and called instinct-training-interlocking. Much as I have tried with our Australian heeler-Boxer cross, she will not retrieve but tries to round up people on our walks! We are always on guard around Pugs-on-the-leash who are almost always pugnacious!
THE ANCESTRY OF DOMESTICATED DOGS The dingo does not appear to have descended from domesticated dogs, according to a genetic comparison of the wild Australian canid with five dog breeds. A key genetic sign that dingoes have never been domesticated is that unlike dogs, they lack multiple copies of a gene that allows them to digest starches such as rice, researchers reported in Science Advances. Full Story: New Scientist (free content) (4⁄22) This supports my long-held opposition to the contention that the sole ancestor of the domesticated dog is Canis lupus, the wolf.And I have raised and studied the behavior and development of both wolves and dingoes as well as other wild canids and various domesticated dog breeds. Coyotes, jackals, dingoes and wolves will cross-breed with the domesticated dog which produce offspring are fertile ( unlike horse-donkey crosses that produce sterile mules) which in the past created local breeds and variants of domesticated dogs.
Just as the human species cross-bred in Europe with Neanderthal hominids who eventually became extinct, dogs were cross-bred with wolves who are now extinct in many parts of the world they once inhabited.
BREED AND SEX DIFFERENCES IN CANINE LONGEVITY From Teng, K.Ty.,Brodbelt, D.C., Pegram, C. et al. Life tables of annual life expectancy and mortality for companion dogs in the United Kingdom. Sci Rep 12, 6415 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10341-6 Among 30,563 dogs that died between 1st January 2016 and 31st July 2020, life expectancy 11.23 years. Female dogs (11.41 years) had a greater life expectancy than males (11.07 years); Life tables varied widely between breeds. Jack Russell Terrier (12.72 years); and French Bulldog (4.53 years) had the longest and shortest life expectancy