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In a recent study published in Canine Medicine and Genetics, an international team of researchers led by University of California, Davis, veterinary geneticist Danika Bannasch show that the majority of canine breeds are highly inbred, contributing to an increase in disease and health care costs throughout their lifespan.
"It's amazing how inbreeding seems to matter to health," Bannasch said. "While previous studies have shown that small dogs live longer than large dogs, no one had previously reported on morbidity, or the presence of disease. This study revealed that if dogs are of smaller size and not inbred, they are much healthier than larger dogs with high inbreeding."
The average inbreeding based on genetic analysis across 227 breeds was close to 25%, or the equivalent of sharing the same genetic material with a full sibling. These are levels considered well above what would be safe for either humans or wild animal populations. In humans, high levels of inbreeding (3-6%) have been associated with increased prevalence of complex diseases as well as other conditions.
"Data from other species, combined with strong breed predispositions to complex diseases like cancer and autoimmune diseases, highlight the relevance of high inbreeding in dogs to their health," said Bannasch, who also serves as the Maxine Adler Endowed Chair in Genetics at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
Journal Reference:
Danika Bannasch, Thomas Famula, Jonas Donner, et al. The effect of inbreeding, body size and morphology on health in dog breeds [open], Canine Medicine and Genetics (DOI: 10.1186/s40575-021-00111-4)
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 03 2021, @03:40PM (3 children)
You don't know what behavior characteristics you are getting with a YOUNG shelter mutt. As for an older mutt, still a bit of a gamble. Also, I don't mind if some guy breeds dogs to make a living. If nobody did, the dog would die out except for feral dogs we allow to live off our scraps, and let's be honest, nobody wants feral dogs.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Thexalon on Saturday December 04 2021, @11:58AM (2 children)
You don't know what behavior characteristics you are getting with a young purebreed either: Just because the breed has a certain behavioral reputation doesn't mean that the particular dog will match that reputation.
Just in my lifetime, I've met:
- A sweet, affectionate, pit bull
- A stand-offish not-at-all-friendly golden retriever
- A scared and rather stupid border collie
- A rather lazy beagle who hated running around
If you have a purebreed you raised from a puppy and love dearly, great, have fun, glad you got lucky with your best friend, but that's not a guarantee, at all.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 2) by Immerman on Sunday December 05 2021, @02:54AM (1 child)
I seem to recall hearing that pit bulls tend to be very sweet dogs when raised well, but due to their reputation and breeding they're a favorite of people who raise them as guard/attack dogs.
The fundamental problem is that regardless of temperament they are also extremely *dangerous* dogs - those combat instincts and that super-powered jaw is like giving a handgun to a two-year-old. First time they throw a proper tantrum, or mistakenly consider someone a serious threat, someone who doesn't deserve it is getting injured or killed. Many may never throw a tantrum, but you've still essentially got a toddler packing heat, and gambling other people's lives like that is... discourteous.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 05 2021, @11:09AM
Used to have a staffy. One of the friendliest, goofiest dogs out there. Great pets. One day I had a 2' length of 1.25" hardwood, and I had the ends and he had the middle and we were sort of wrestling with it. He got a bit too enthusiastic and suddenly I was holding two 1' pieces with teethmarks in one end. They are good natured lovable dogs, but if one puts some effort into it he'll take your leg off.