Should people quit breeding dog breeds that couldn't survive on their own?

[Pat and Traveler]

This is a comment from a discussion about bulldogs:

"Honestly, I think breeders would be smarter if they BRED OUT those characteristics that make them difficult to survive. A large number of bulldogs have breathing difficulties, and need soft palate resections (reduces the amount of "roof of the mouth" so they can breathe better). If breeders would stop with the stocky, big head types, and try to breed in the smaller head, taller dogs, then maybe the breathing difficulties would start to improve as well as birthing difficulties. People are stupid though and they want those stocky big-headed bulldogs because they look tough and manly. Bulldogs actually have anatomically smaller and shorter airways as well because of all the muscle and meat in their necks. If breeders would start breeding out the bigheaded ones, then bulldogs would have more of a chance.

I don’t think any breeds should be bred out except for the designer breeds (labradoodles, etc). Think about it- not many of our breeds of dog would survive without us anyway. Tiny chihuahuas wouldn’t make it 5 minutes in the wild without getting eaten. Long-haired breeds wouldnt last in the summer, and short haired breeds may not last the winter."

 

Note that this poster does believe that designer breeds such as labradoodles should be bred out--though no reason is given!!

[Sharon & Monty]

I second this.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Yup!!!! :)

[Pat and Traveler]

Good plan!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

What about hokum stealers?? LOL

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think we have solved this problem. See previous page.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

All breeds are designer breeds - dogs started off as wolves and were selectively bred for calmness, loyalty etc and eventually looks. All dogs, from bulldogs to chihuahuas are selectively bred for certain characteristics. Alot of dogs may not survive on their own, but I dont think thats the point. I think the point is that you shouldnt selectively breed any animal in a way that makes some component of living difficult - such as breathing, or giving birth. It breaks my heart to hear then struggle to breath. just 2 days ago I saw 2 overweight pugs, who were very friendly, but couldnt breath very well. it was so sad

[Lori, Rooney & Zuzu]

Thank you, Kaytlin!  That's exactly the point I always make.  Do people think that thousands of years ago there were perfect German Shepherds, Irish Setters and other so-called "pure breeds" running around wild?  ALL dogs were designed at some point, by someone, and who is to say that the book is closed on any and all possibilities for producing a healthy dog with a great temperament?  It seems ironic that this author is talking about selectively breeding certain types of bulldogs in order to mitigate health problems but offers no justification why the selective breeding of labradoodles (which results in generally healthy dogs) is so terrible.

[Pat and Traveler]

Lori--good points all.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good point Kaytlin.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I disagree that all dogs were selectively bred. Nobody is sure exactly when the first domestic dogs appeared, but it is thought that they evolved from a domesticated subspecies of the grey wolf at least ten thousand years ago. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_the_domestic_dog

 Varieties of species develop naturally over time. That's a principle of evolution, survival of the fittest. The animals who have eluded extinction did so by adapting to their environments physically.

Think about wild birds; nobody selectively bred them, yet there are thousands of different varieties. The same is true of some dog breeds. Yes, some were developed from established breeds, (Black Russian Terriers are a good example) but the vast majority evolved naturally. Hundreds and thousands of years after that, selective breeding did help to shape the various breeds, but some remain very similar to their ancestors. The Pharoah Hound (the breed is known to be at least 3000 years old) comes to mind.

 I am not defending the show breeders who deliberately breed dogs to exaggerate certain features, but many people seem to be under the impression that every breed originated with somebody deciding to mix X established breed with Y established breed, as was originally done with Labradoodles, and that just isn't so. Do some research into the backgrounds and histories of German Shepherds or Poodles as examples. Nobody mixed X & Y to create them. I think it's important to clarify this.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Yes, I agree with Karen's points here.  There is a 2 hour specal on Animal Planet about the origin of dogs and it concentrates HEAVILY on how the cave men relied on wolves to warn them of danger, etc...and how some have evolved after years and years and have become our little chihuahuas, etc....

[Pat and Traveler]

I hadn't realized that GS and Poodles just sort of happened.  Interesting.