(Deliberately) deformed German Shepherds
It's heartbreaking.
http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/1791/pedigree-dogs-exposed-filmmaker-releases-extended-footage-of-german-shepherds/
We (people) purposely did this to a dog. All in the name of human vanity.
http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/1791/pedigree-dogs-exposed-filmmaker-releases-extended-footage-of-german-shepherds/
We (people) purposely did this to a dog. All in the name of human vanity.
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I *think* (I'm tired and it's late so won't check) this is one of the things that the KC has changed in their revised breed standards.
really gets to me. dogs with wrecked legs, brachycephallic dogs that cant even breathe, dogs so small they cant even give birth to their own young...
makes me sick to the stomach
I think these people have lost sight of the dog in all of this... tail docking and breeding to extremes is not healthy.
What do we do?
I own a dog - a Glen if Imaal Terrier - where the 'working' version is identical to the show version - aside from prettying up the coat (but that is stripping, not breeding). However, my dog is numerically small in numbers if you look at the KC or IKC registrations - to the point that it is an 'endangered' breed. Yet there are lots of unregistered Glens in Ireland still used as ratters and farm dogs. Most of whom are breed standard or close, and healthy (Show Glens should be tested for PRA although it is thankfully rare)
IMO, the approach is two fold.
1. Join the breed clubs. Join the commities. Fight for your breed. Many working types are KC registered, so join up.
2. Campaign for an open stud book. By shutting the stud books, KC registered dogs have only a small genetic pool to play with in any breed, even the popular Lab, GSD or Cav. An open stud book could bring in unregistered working lines (new blood) or even a well considered out cross to a different breed.
In many breeds, this has happened 'under the table'. The Chinese Crested has (allegedly) been outcrossed to the TT (a good cross) but also to the poodle - introducing PRA and Perths.
In a breed with a numerically small original gene pool, it doesn't matter how many health tests you do - which further restrict the breeding pool - you are always moving towards a smaller pool with the greater potential for genetic disease. Open the stud book and get some new blood in. Join the breed clubs and make your breed what it should be - a dog that can function in its role be it companion, guard, herder or ratter.
Watching that dog walking was like seeing my last rescue dog Taz who was born with badly deformed back legs (his back legs splayed in at the knees then back out again) and the pain and trouble it caused him throughout his life was devastating. By the time he was 7 his hips were pretty much knackered because of the pressure of walking so strangely, one had even dislocated simply through him walking on it! He had to be put to sleep aged 10 when his hips completely gave way. To be honest the vet was amazed he made it to 10. I was warned by the first specialist we saw that we shouldn't expect him to have many good years before we'd have to make tough decisions.
He never had a 'normal' life and was on regular pain medication for several years of it. He couldn't run and play for hours like a dog of his breed (border collie mix) should have done, although of course we did everything we could to make him as active as possible, happy and comfortable.
Why anyone would actually choose to breed an animal with such obvious problems, considering the misery it's likely to cause them beggars belief.