Do you have the perfect dog? Is it show worthy?? Do you ever wonder what your dog is suppose to look like? Let me just say, it might not be what you think!!
Now a days some dogs are pampered, and I mean PAMPERED! I personally love dogs but in my mind they are a dog and then a pet! Ryan, a friend of mine, showed me a video that opened my eyes on just how humans always get their way!
Now a days some dogs are pampered, and I mean PAMPERED! I personally love dogs but in my mind they are a dog and then a pet! Ryan, a friend of mine, showed me a video that opened my eyes on just how humans always get their way!
The Cocker Spaniel was originally bred as a working/hunting dog who was suppose to flush out and retrieve birds. The word "cocker" stems from them hunting Woodcock .1
Today cocker spaniels are bred as a companion/show dog. As you can see there is a big different in the look of the dog! Because we have bred them to look the way we want them, many health issues have also arose! They tend to live about 10-11 years which is on the LOW end for purebreds and about 2 years less than other breeds their size !1
I had a German Shepherd when I was growing up and I loved that dog more than anything! A very well known breed, German Shepherds are another working dog that are mostly known for their work in the police force! Along with the police they are also used for search and rescue, cadaver searching, narcotics detection, explosives detection, and mine detection. Originally they where used as herding dogs, but because of their strength, intelligence, and ability to be trained they are mostly used for police or military! 2
This is a perfect German Shepherd as of 2012! Notice how they are not as lean, and they have a sloping back! As of 2011, the Kennel Club has been in a controversial dispute with German Shepherd breed clubs about the sloping back! The sloping back is only bred into the show dogs, a working dog will look more like it's ancestor with a straight back! Having a dog with the sloped back will cause diseases in the hind legs.2
The sad thing is service dogs are very rarely German Shepherds any more! The breed Malinios (pictured below) is what is more commonly used3! They look similar to the German Shepherd but they are smaller and are bred with a straight back so they don't have the medical problems that Shepherds do! !
The sad thing is service dogs are very rarely German Shepherds any more! The breed Malinios (pictured below) is what is more commonly used3! They look similar to the German Shepherd but they are smaller and are bred with a straight back so they don't have the medical problems that Shepherds do! !
Now I could go on and on about the over breeding that we have done! But then a lot of people probably would stop reading this blog. And by all means if you think I am wrong then stop reading! I am not here to say you're a terrible person for wanting a pretty looking dog! It is nature to do that! What I am saying is people as a whole need to be careful how far they push things! Looking pretty is one thing but breeding a dog to look the way you want it to even if it is causing pain to the animal is another thing!
So as you sit here reading my blog, just remember I sat here writing this with a new puppy that we welcomed into our home wondering what will be in store for him in his future due to over breeding...
Check out this YouTube video about Over Breeding!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hex00WjSobE
So as you sit here reading my blog, just remember I sat here writing this with a new puppy that we welcomed into our home wondering what will be in store for him in his future due to over breeding...
Check out this YouTube video about Over Breeding!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hex00WjSobE
Common Health Issues Due to Over-breeding
Complexes: Due to humans focusing on only the physical appearance of the dog
Deafness
Allergies
Mitril Dysplasia: Heart murmurer
Heart Disease
Bloat
Hip Dysplasia
AND many many more!
Deafness
Allergies
Mitril Dysplasia: Heart murmurer
Heart Disease
Bloat
Hip Dysplasia
AND many many more!
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocker_Spaniel
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Shepherd
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hex00WjSobE
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Shepherd
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hex00WjSobE