Elsevier

Journal of Veterinary Behavior

Volume 4, Issue 5, September–October 2009, Pages 180-186
Journal of Veterinary Behavior

Guest Editorial
The welfare of pedigree dogs: Cause for concern

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2009.06.002Get rights and content

Section snippets

Morphological extremes

Trends in the breeding of specific breeds have often led to the accentuation of what are perceived, by some, to be desirable traits. In some cases, physical features have been exaggerated to such an extent that they severely limit dogs' quality of life and are likely to cause pain and suffering. Although there are few peer-reviewed papers documenting these effects, the fact that the veterinary literature describes a whole suite of palliative and surgical procedures developed explicitly to

Increased prevalence of inherited disorders

The indirect effects of selective breeding for appearance include very significantly reduced genetic diversity unevenly spread across the genome, resulting in elevated prevalence of specific diseases within particular breeds. Coupled with ill-advised breeding practices (whereby breeders inadvertently select regions of the genome that contain a disorder as well as the trait they actually desire) and insufficient selection pressure on health and welfare, this has led to certain breeds becoming

Effects on behavior

It is important to note that the effects of selective breeding are not limited to physical health alone. The behavior of certain breeds has also been adversely affected, and the report gives several examples. Considering the direct effects, selection for exaggerated features has resulted in dogs that are anatomically restricted and hence unable to behave normally. For example, severely reduced limb lengths may restrict dwarf dogs' ability to run freely; and breeds with respiratory deformities

The future

We believe that there are 7 key objectives that need to be met to improve the situation:

  • 1.

    The public must be well educated about the issues surrounding the welfare of pedigree dogs and so able to make informed choices.

  • 2.

    Culture shifts need to occur such that dogs that are perceived as the most desirable are those that are fit, healthy, and well suited to the lifestyle they lead and have a high quality of life.

  • 3.

    All those who breed pedigree dogs must prioritize the health and welfare of parents and

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      Breeding dogs with exaggerated morphologies in an attempt to conform to breed standards has been linked with the increased likelihood of a range of disorders, including breathing difficulties, cardiovascular issues, skin conditions and musculoskeletal disorders (Asher et al., 2009). These problems are not unrecognised, and a number of Kennel Clubs around the world have started to take a proactive approach in enhancing pedigree dog welfare and improving breeding practices (Rooney, 2009). However there has, to our knowledge, been no systematic attempt to promote the breeding of purebred dogs with the temperament and behavioural predispositions best suited to the role of companion dog.

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