I finally watched the whole show, it's good for forcing you to think, if nothing else.
Some thoughts:
Just because a problem is common in a certain breed, doesn't mean simply breeding those dogs outside of their own breed would solve anything. Take cavaliers, a breed I love, but haven't seriously considered because of some very real, very serious health issues. If affected dogs were bred to others, it would introduce those problems to other breeds/mixes.
I walk a lot of dogs, both mixes and breeds and many have health issues. The least healthy dog I walk is a mix, french mastiff mixed with an unknown dog, maybe lab, pitbull or something else. He has very severe allergies, that do impact his quality of life, he's been on medication his whole life and those meds have side effects of their own.
There are some breeds that have issues, and honestly I don't know how you can have a dog of these breeds, that looks remotely like it's standard and not have health issues......this is concerning. Some breeds really have become too extreme, bull dogs and German Shepard come to mind.
Pugs, pugs, pugs.........I have mixed feelings on some things with the breed I love. I've told most people about when I picked out Abby at her breeders. She was so spunky, right in your face, just gave me no choice but to pick her up....and I put her right back down after taking a look at her tiny, tiny nostrils and absolutely flat face. I wanted a pug that looked like a pug, but I wanted a dog that could breathe! Well, she was just meant to be mine, she wouldn't leave me alone and when she finally got tired she curled up on my foot. I was so in love, I forgot all about any rational thoughts and it's good that I did, because she breathes just fine. Hikes for miles, runs for miles, will work all day out in the heat and pants no more than any dog of any breed! So pug's breathing issues must be more related to the soft palate, than the nostrils themselves. The main point I'm making is it is possible to breed a pug with a correct head that breathes well.......many breeders just aren't looking at this enough though.
3 comments:
I was surprised that they didn't mention PDE as a problem with pugs. I actually found the show very interesting. There was definitely a bias there, but the parts mentioned about pugs are true. Those diseases in pugs are hereditary.
Jamie,
What's your opinion on breathing issues in pugs? I just hear of so many that need surgery to help them breathe, and I've heard of breeders who automatically do this with puppies. Do you think it's possible to have a correct pug head and nice, quiet breathing?
Jesse,
Hi. Unfortunately, I don't think it's possible to have the perfect flat face and completely quiet breathing. IMO, any noisy breathing in a pug means some degree of brachycephalic syndrome. Nixon is my only pug who breathes well, and he has a longer snout. Seamus, who also has a longer snout, even snores and snorts at times. Cash, by far, is the worse, and he has the prettiest head. I have met a quiet pug who has the perfectly-smashed face. They all make some kind of noise (some better than others). And, it does bother me to know that some pugs winning in the show ring have had their soft palates shortened, etc.
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