Pedigree Dogs Exposed

[Miss Z]

Giselle, I agree 100% with you.

It's wonderful that we have such a variety of breeds, but if we are creating animals with looks in mind over health - well, maybe we should not allow a breed like that to continue.

Danny the peke, Crufts winner in 2003 (and featured in the documentary), looked more akin to a dustball than a dog. If that's a 'beautiful' creature, then beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder. The poor guy had to sit on an ice-pack to have his winner's photograph taken in case he over-heated, and it looked to me like his face was so squashed up that he couldn't even get his tongue out his mouth to pant.

Ellie, I too found the images of the affected King Charles harrowing, as well as the epileptic boxer - simply awful. I can't imagine how much pain his owners must feel everytime they see their dog fit.

Catlady, you are very right - in the documentary it mentions that breeds like the King Charles spaniel now have skulls too small for their brains, and because the brain is so squashed up it is unable to pulsate as blood flows through it, which leads to such awful brain and nervous conditions. The only hope for affected animals is to have the back of their skull removed to give the brain room, but the procedure has a high mortality rate.

[Giselle]

So just for kicks and giggles (or sad and remorseful kicks and giggles), let's share what breeds looked like back then (how they were supposed to look) and how they do now:
Pekes



German Shepherd Dog



Doberman Pinscher (Dobes don't count as much because they've been crossed with many breeds over time, but you get the idea)



Rottweiler



Labrador Retriever

[Giselle]

Pomeranian



Need I go on?

Shows are meant to preserve breeds as they were originally meant to function. Do you feel like this is truly preserving the breed?

On the OTHER hand, there are dogs who have been bred to maintain their original functions:

Greyhound


(Westy Whizzer ~1960's)

(HB's Commander ~1980-1990. Virtually unchanged)

Saluki (just imagine it with all the hair)



So what are we doing with some and not others that causes such a dramatic difference in form and health???

[Miss Z]

Add to that list, the pug....



.... is now this.



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2005/...g?v=1204434008

[cali]

the original BC, Old Hemp


Wiston cap, the father of todays working BC


working BC now


now...a show BC
this was the BOB winner at the world dog show this year
http://www.tkdogs.com/dog/database/I...kory+Incognito

[IRescue452]

Last time I was watching a dog show I was wondering how obesity became a dog breed standard for pugs, pekes, norfolk and norwich terriers, westies and so on. Why do they have to be fat? I see plenty of skinny pugs at the dog park, but not at shows.

[CathyBogart]

Working in a vet clinic I don't think I EVER saw a pug that wasn't fat fat FAT! It made me so sad. There are two that come to my dog park that are in great shape, and I always say something to the owners about how wonderful they look....it's pathetic IMO that we have bred them to the point where fat is "normal".

Brachycephalic syndrome breaks my heart too. Pugs and Pekes in particular have a very special spot in my heart for their wonderful temperaments, but the problems we've bred into them in the name of good looks....it's awful.