By Zazie Todd, PhD
English linguistic communication Bulldogs simply alive vi years, according to a recent newspaper that highlights the lack of genetic multifariousness inwards this breed (Pederson et al 2016). Karin Brulliard of the Washington Post spoke to ane of the authors of the study, Niels Pederson. “There are genetic diseases that [breeders] could evidence for, but they take away non to. Which agency they’re to a greater extent than interested inwards the coat colors of their dogs,” Pedersen said. “The owners’ wishing to ain them, either equally a status symbol or because they similar them — as well as they are likable dogs — has exceeded their concern well-nigh the wellness as well as longevity of the dog.” (Read dogs amongst squashed faces, English linguistic communication Bulldogs tin endure from brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, which agency they take away keep difficulties breathing. The wrinkles of their faces are prone to pare infections if non cleaned often. They tin take away keep oculus problems. Most English linguistic communication Bulldogs are born past times Caesarian department because the puppies are also large for the nativity canal.
Despite these problems, Bulldogs are the fourth-most pop breed of domestic dog inwards the US, according to the AKC.
Bulldogs aren’t the simply breed amongst genetic problems. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 study of the top 50 domestic dog breeds inwards the United Kingdom of Great Britain as well as Northern Ireland found that every unmarried ane had at to the lowest degree ane inherited disorder related to its conformation (i.e. the physical characteristics that are a requirement of the breed) (Asher et al 2009). Inbreeding within domestic dog breeds leads to a lack of genetic diversity.
Trends inwards popularity of domestic dog breeds
Health problems amongst a breed tin hateful larger vet bills as well as the devastating loss of a pet far also soon. Doesn’t this pose people off detail breeds?
This doesn’t seem to live the case, according to the results of a study past times popularity of domestic dog breeds is affected past times temperament (measured past times C-BARQ scores) as well as wellness (assessed past times lifespan as well as the number of inherited weather associated amongst each breed).
“If anything, our results advise that breeds tin locomote pop despite problematic behaviour, rather than because of expert behaviour,” they write.
“We found, likewise, that breeds amongst to a greater extent than inherited disorders take away keep been to a greater extent than popular, rather than less popular, suggesting that wellness considerations take away keep been secondary inwards the determination to larn dogs equally good equally inwards domestic dog breeding practices.”
An increasing tendency for smaller, brachycephalic breeds has also occurred inwards Australia. According to Kendy Teng et al (2016), “Compared to taller as well as larger breeds, shorter as well as smaller breeds take away keep locomote relatively pop over time. Also, the information advise that Australians increasingly favour dogs amongst shorter as well as wider heads for whose welfare veterinarians often limited concern.”
Fashions for domestic dog breeds are affected past times dogs that appear inwards the movies, although non equally much equally they used to live inwards the past, (as explained hither past times Julie Hecht writing well-nigh farther inquiry past times Ghirlanda et al). On the other hand, if a breed wins ‘Best inwards Show’ at Westminster, this doesn’t touching on the popularity of the breed, says Prof. Hal Herzog.
Problems amongst puppy mills
Another way inwards which fauna welfare does non ever play a role inwards people’s decisions to larn a domestic dog is the number of dogs obtained from commercial breeding establishments, also known equally puppy mills. Dogs from pet stores come upwards from puppy mills (and recall the mesh is essentially a pet store too).
Many people know weather inwards puppy mills tin live real pitiable or fifty-fifty dire from an fauna welfare perspective.
“Puppy mills ordinarily work solid dogs inwards overcrowded as well as unsanitary conditions, without adequate veterinary care, food, H2O as well as socialization,” says the ASPCA. “Puppy manufactory dogs do non larn to sense treats, toys, exercise or basic grooming. Dogs are often kept inwards cages amongst wire flooring that injures their paws as well as legs—and it is non odd for cages to live stacked upwards inwards columns.”
Fewer people realize they also touching on the puppy’s behaviour inwards their novel home. Dogs obtained equally puppies from pet stores are to a greater extent than probable to live aggressive to their possessor as well as take away keep other behaviour problems than those obtained from breeders (McMillan et al, 2013). Owner-directed aggression is to a greater extent than mutual inwards puppies from pet stores fifty-fifty when possessor differences are taken into work organisation human relationship (Pirrone et al 2016).
People may proceed to purchase dogs from these sources due to lack of awareness. The sellers sometimes locomote to groovy lengths to disguise where the dogs genuinely come upwards from. Offering to run into the buyer inwards a convenient auto commons may expect similar groovy client service (rather than a way to shroud pitiable fauna welfare) to mortal who is non informed.
What do people expect for inwards a dog?
So what are the factors that people take away keep into work organisation human relationship when choosing a puppy or dog?
It’s the whole packet that counts, according to a study past times Laurie Garrison as well as Emily Weiss (2014) that showed people profiles of dogs as well as asked how probable they would live to take away them. The mistaken profiles were created past times the researchers to compare unlike aspects such equally age, colour, breed, source, as well as euthanasia-risk.
They found that some less-appealing aspects of a dog’s profile could live mitigated past times other aspects. For example, although people by as well as large prefer puppies, a senior domestic dog could even so larn a expert response if other aspects of their profile were positive. Breed was role of people’s choices, amongst a rare or odd breed preferred over other pedigrees or dogs of unknown parentage, but it was simply a role of the package.
“Overall, these results demonstrate that people take away keep complex preferences, as well as which features are of import vary widely across people.”
What people expect for inwards shelter dogs
Humane societies take away keep an obvious demand to notice out what makes people to a greater extent than or less probable to adopt dogs, whether it’s features of the dog’s description or interactions amongst the domestic dog at the shelter.
And hither nosotros know quite a lot. Great photographs tin cut adoption time for dark Labrador Retrievers from 43 to xiv days (Lampe as well as Witte, 2014). Contrary to pop belief, black dogs are non adopted last after all (Svoboda as well as Hoffman, 2015). Puppies are typically adopted real quickly compared to adult dogs (Brown et al 2013) as well as pocket-size dogs are by as well as large adopted sooner than larger dogs.
Cuteness is a constituent too. Many adult dogs take away keep baby-like features. This ties inwards amongst a theory that cuteness may take away keep been selected for inwards the domestication of dogs. Dogs tin brand an eyebrow motion that makes their eyes appear larger (a to a greater extent than baby-like feature). Dogs who made this motion to a greater extent than often were adopted to a greater extent than quickly, found Waller et al (2013). They say, “Our existent the world information demonstrate that domestic dogs who exhibit paedomorphic characteristics are preferentially as well as actively selected past times humans equally pets from rehoming shelters.”
Behaviour as well as temperament are also important. In a large-scale survey of adoptions from Dogs Trust inwards the UK, Siettou et al (2014) found that descriptions referring to the domestic dog equally friendly to children, friendly to other dogs, and/or friendly to other pets led to higher rates of adoption. If the description said a domestic dog needed grooming or had behaviour problems, this led to lower rates of adoption (which translates equally a longer hold back time), despite the fact that behavioural advice was available. An existing medical status did non brand a divergence to the likelihood of adoption, although this could live because Dogs Trust has a scheme to assist amongst medical costs.
The dog’s behaviour when coming together people at the shelter is also important. If a domestic dog lies downwardly closed to a potential adopter, as well as doesn’t ignore their attempts to engage inwards play, they are more probable to live adopted, according to Protopopova as well as Wynne (2014). These results were used to develop a promising structured interaction betwixt shelter domestic dog as well as potential adopter that led to increased rates of adoption (Protopopova et al 2016).
Humane societies take away keep a potential hurdle to larn over inwards that some people take away keep a view of rescue dogs equally having behaviour problems (Mornement et al 2012). Garrison as well as Weiss’s study found people were to a greater extent than probable to state they would consider a shelter equally a rootage of dogs than to take away keep genuinely obtained a domestic dog from one.
Encouragingly, most people who adopt a domestic dog from a shelter found it a positive process as well as would do so ane time again (Mornement et al 2015).
What is an ideal domestic dog like?
Another way to investigate people’s preferences is to inquire well-nigh their ideal dog. Here at that topographic point is considerable variation too, but also some mutual threads. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 survey inwards Commonwealth of Australia (King et al 2009) found some interesting results:
“In summary, the ideal domestic dog inwards Commonwealth of Australia is de-sexed, has short/straight hair, is of medium size (10–20 kg), is acquired equally a puppy, as well as requires betwixt sixteen as well as thirty bit exercise per hateful solar daytime as well as betwixt 1 as well as xv bit grooming per week. The ‘‘ideal dog’’ is also prophylactic amongst children, housetrained, healthy, comes when called, does non escape the property, is non destructive when left alone, lives until at to the lowest degree 10 years old, as well as is obedient friendly as well as affectionate.”
These answers may vary past times location. An Italian study found a much lower preference for dogs to live spayed/neutered (Diverio et al 2016). Of course, questions well-nigh an ideal volition also demonstrate some distance from reality.
Nonetheless it seems that a friendly, sociable, salubrious domestic dog comes high upwards on the listing for most people.
Not everyone wants a dog
We also know something well-nigh why people don’t wishing dogs, cheers to a survey past times the American Humane Assocation as well as PetSmart. Veterinary expenses, full general costs of domestic dog ownership, as well as lack of fourth dimension are mutual reasons.
The lack of availability of rental housing that allows pets may also live a factor, equally it is for certain mentioned equally a argue for people surrendering pets to fauna shelters.
Should nosotros live breeding for friendliness as well as expert wellness instead?
We’ve seen that people take away keep quite private perceptions of what sort of domestic dog is correct for them, but at the same fourth dimension at that topographic point are sure characteristics that are widely preferred. Friendliness is of import inwards people’s pick of shelter dogs as well as also features highly inwards descriptions of people’s ideal dog.
Does this hateful dogs should live bred for expert wellness as well as friendliness instead of for their looks?
King et al say, “if the world are to a greater extent than concerned well-nigh wellness as well as behaviour than physical characteristics, as well as then it may live wise for domestic dog breeders to select for these attributes rather than placing undue emphasis on physical qualities. This may enable them to breed dogs who are best suited to live human companions.”
It seems this could locomote a long way to improving fauna welfare. At the same time, if dogs were friendlier (hence less probable to bite) as well as lived longer (less probable to get grief amongst wellness problems as well as an early on death) it would live improve for human welfare too.
Individual choices, consumer protection as well as fauna welfare
Variety is of import so that people tin notice the correct domestic dog for them.
We don't know real much well-nigh people's perceptions of fauna welfare issues inwards relation to getting a dog. We demand to a greater extent than inquiry into people’s decision-making as well as the emotional sense of choosing (and getting) a puppy from whatever sort of source. This would assist pattern campaigns to influence people’s decisions when choosing puppies. Evaluating the success of those campaigns could also Pb into improve campaigns inwards future.
If movies tin influence people’s pick of dog, mayhap widespread tidings coverage of wellness problems associated amongst detail breeds or sources of dogs volition also influence consumer choice.
But agreement private choices is simply role of the solution. Better rule of breeders is essential. Programs to improve the wellness of breeds are urgently needed too. Some people are making a lot of coin from breeding as well as selling dogs amongst wellness as well as behaviour issues.
People don’t think, “I wishing to larn a domestic dog amongst oculus problems who tin hardly breathe.” They in all likelihood think, “This type of domestic dog is cute!” When they locomote online to notice out to a greater extent than well-nigh the breed, some of the get-go information they come upwards across is probable from those amongst a vested involvement inwards selling the breed.
Garrison as well as Weiss’s operate suggests that if information well-nigh wellness problems was flagged upwards inwards the description of a dog, it would locomote role of the overall packet on which people brand decisions.
The BBC Panorama programme Puppy Dealers Exposed shows how hard it is for people to notice (and know they take away keep found) a expert rootage of puppies.
This is a province of affairs where improve consumer protection for domestic dog owners volition also do goodness fauna welfare.
The APGAW study A healthier hereafter for pedigree dogs says that “The success of irresponsible domestic dog breeders inwards selling puppies often comes from buyers’ ignorance as well as also the fact that the buyer is limited inwards the activity they tin take away keep if a puppy afterwards suffers from physiological or genetic problems.”
It also says, “Generally consumers do non take away keep a groovy bargain of information well-nigh the wellness or welfare of the puppy or its parents, thus they are non inwards a seat to live able to brand an informed determination well-nigh their purchase.”
People larn puppies because they beloved dogs as well as wishing a novel menage unit of measurement member. Choosing a domestic dog is a complex determination as well as it seems people weigh upwards many factors. Hopefully a greater awareness of the problems some breeds human face upwards as well as the terrible nation of puppy mills volition Pb people to give greater weight to fauna welfare.
How did yous take away your dog? Would yous brand the same pick today?
Further Reading
Death of the Bulldog past times Jemima Harrison at Pedigree Dogs ExposedWhat the pug is going on? by Mia Cobb at Do You Believe inwards Dog?
Pedigree domestic dog breeding inwards the UK: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 major welfare concern? RSPCA
Inside the puppy merchandise from start to finish past times Janetta Harvey
What tin I do to ensure I don’t purchase from a puppy farm? by Pupaid
A closer expect at puppy mills past times ASPCA
Getting a puppy as well as getting a dog past times Dogs Trust
This ship was nominated inwards the 2016 Dog Writer's Association of America Annual Writing Competition inwards the category Article or Blog - Health or General Care.
Zazie Todd, PhD, is the writer of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy
. She is the founder of the pop weblog , where she writes well-nigh everything from grooming methods to the human-canine relationship. She also writes a column for Psychology Today as well as has received the prestigious Captain Haggerty Award for Best Training Article inwards 2017. Todd lives inwards Maple Ridge, BC, amongst her husband, ane dog, as well as 2 cats.Useful links:
- Check out what the Animal Book Club is reading this month
- Get merch
- Support me on Ko-fi
- Visit my Amazon store
Photos: everydoghasastory (top), Light Hound Pictures (midle), as well as Kristina Korotkova (bottom) (all Shutterstock.com)
References
Asher, L., Diesel, G., Summers, J., McGreevy, P., & Collins, L. (2009). Inherited defects inwards pedigree dogs. Part 1: Disorders related to breed standards The Veterinary Journal, 182 (3), 402-411 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.08.033
Brown, W., Davidson, J., & Zuefle, M. (2013). Effects of Phenotypic Characteristics on the Length of Stay of Dogs at Two No Kill Animal Shelters Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 16 (1), 2-18 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2013.740967
Diverio, S., Boccini, B., Menchetti, L., & Bennett, P. (2016). The Italian perception of the ideal companion domestic dog Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications as well as Research, 12, 27-35 DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2016.02.004
Garrison, L., & Weiss, E. (2014). What Do People Want? Factors People Consider When Acquiring Dogs, the Complexity of the Choices They Make, as well as Implications for Nonhuman Animal Relocation Programs Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 18 (1), 57-73 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2014.943836
Ghirlanda, S., Acerbi, A., Herzog, H., & Serpell, J. (2013). Fashion vs. Function inwards Cultural Evolution: The Case of Dog Breed Popularity PLoS ONE, 8 (9) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074770 King, T., Marston, L., & Bennett, P. (2009). Describing the ideal Australian companion domestic dog Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 120 (1-2), 84-93 DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2009.04.011
Lampe, R., & Witte, T. (2014). Speed of Dog Adoption: Impact of Online Photo Traits Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 18 (4), 343-354 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2014.982796
McMillan, F., Serpell, J., Duffy, D., Masaoud, E., & Dohoo, I. (2013). Differences inwards behavioral characteristics betwixt dogs obtained equally puppies from pet stores as well as those obtained from noncommercial breeders Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 242 (10), 1359-1363 DOI: 10.2460/javma.242.10.1359
Mornement, K., Coleman, G., Toukhsati, S., & Bennett, P. (2012). What Do Current as well as Potential Australian Dog Owners Believe well-nigh Shelter Practices as well as Shelter Dogs? Anthrozoos: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People & Animals, 25 (4), 457-473 DOI: 10.2752/175303712X13479798785850
Mornement, K., Coleman, G., Toukhsati, S., & Bennett, P. (2015). Evaluation of the predictive validity of the Behavioural Assessment for Re-homing K9's (B.A.R.K.) protocol as well as possessor satisfaction amongst adopted dogs Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 167, 35-42 DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2015.03.013
Pedersen, N., Pooch, A., & Liu, H. (2016). Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 genetic assessment of the English linguistic communication bulldog Canine Genetics as well as Epidemiology, 3 (1) DOI: 10.1186/s40575-016-0036-y
Pirrone, F., Pierantoni, L., Pastorino, G., & Albertini, M. (2016). Owner-reported aggressive deportment towards familiar people may live a to a greater extent than prominent occurrence inwards pet shop-traded dogs Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications as well as Research, 11, 13-17 DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2015.11.007 Protopopova, A., & Wynne, C. (2014). Adopter-dog interactions at the shelter: Behavioral as well as contextual predictors of adoption Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 157, 109-116 DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2014.04.007
Protopopova, A., Brandifino, M., & Wynne, C. (2016). Preference assessments as well as structured potential adopter-dog interactions increment adoptions Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 176, 87-95 DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2015.12.003 Siettou, C., Fraser, I., & Fraser, R. (2014). Investigating Some of the Factors That Influence “Consumer” Choice When Adopting a Shelter Dog inwards the United Kingdom of Great Britain as well as Northern Ireland Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 17 (2), 136-147 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2014.883924
Svoboda, H., & Hoffman, C. (2015). Investigating the role of coat colour, age, sex, as well as breed on outcomes for dogs at 2 fauna shelters inwards the the States Animal Welfare, 24 (4), 497-506 DOI: 10.7120/09627286.24.4.497
Teng, K., McGreevy, P., Toribio, J., & Dhand, N. (2016). Trends inwards popularity of some morphological traits of purebred dogs inwards Commonwealth of Australia Canine Genetics as well as Epidemiology, 3 (1) DOI: 10.1186/s40575-016-0032-2
Waller, B., Peirce, K., Caeiro, C., Scheider, L., Burrows, A., McCune, S., & Kaminski, J. (2013). Paedomorphic Facial Expressions Give Dogs a Selective Advantage PLoS ONE, 8 (12) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082686
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