Three Things to Know
Driven by social media and the pandemic, which fueled online puppy trading, there has been a significant shift towards breeding dogs primarily for appearance. This trend, as outlined by the researcher in their study, has grave implications.
The researcher highlighted the negative consequences of current breeding practices, including the rise of inherited disorders, a loss of biodiversity, and behavioral divergence within breeds. These issues are compounded by commercialization, leading to overpopulation, poor conditions in puppy mills, and criminal activities in the pet trade.
While some European countries have implemented regulations for commercial dog breeding, more action is needed globally. Kennel clubs, veterinarians, and other animal welfare organizations must play a crucial role in promoting transparency and guiding potential dog owners towards ethical sources.
For Dog Welfare Practitioners:
Ethical breeding practices are a major concern for dog welfare. The consequences are significant: shelters are overwhelmed with unsellable dogs, veterinarians grapple with inherited disorders, and countless dogs suffer from these conditions and weakened immune systems due to a loss of genetic diversity.
To address these issues, robust regulations are crucial. Successful countries like the UK have established industry consortiums, such as the Canine & Feline Sector Group (CFSG), to provide expert advice to the government. Where such bodies are absent, their formation should be prioritized.
These consortiums can play a vital role in coordinating efforts to promote ethical dog sourcing and raising consumer awareness. By creating resources like “puppy contracts”, they can standardize and increase transparency in the dog acquisition process.
The Full Picture
The human-dog relationship boasts a history spanning over 100,000 years. Through selective breeding, humans cultivated diverse dog breeds, solidifying their position as indispensable companions. However, domestication has had consequences. Dogs have lost certain problem-solving abilities and retained juvenile traits, fostering dependence on humans. While these traits strengthen the bond, the rising popularity of certain breeds based solely on their physical appearance raises significant ethical concerns. Moreover, commercial breeding practices frequently prioritize profit over dog welfare, resulting in overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and a disregard for genetic diversity.
This study, “Ethical Concerns about Fashionable Dog Breeding,” examines the implications of breeding dogs primarily for appearance. It emphasizes the urgent need for prospective owners, breeders, and regulators to prioritize the health and behavioral well-being of dogs over their appearance. By shedding light on these ethical concerns, this study aims to encourage responsible dog ownership and breeding decisions.
Historical Context
Dog breeds have evolved alongside humans for millennia, reflecting our changing needs and desires. Ancient breeds like Greyhounds, Basenjis, and Salukis, bred for endurance and hunting, demonstrate this long history. Developed across the globe, these dogs were essential partners, their traits carefully refined for specific tasks.
More recently, the last two centuries have seen a dramatic increase in the diversity of dog breeds, driven primarily by human-directed selection. While working dogs remain vital, the focus has shifted towards aesthetics. Breed standards now heavily emphasize appearance – size, color, ear shape – often to the detriment of a dog’s health. This emphasis on visual appeal has transformed dog breeding into an industry focused on creating specific looks, even if it requires surgical interventions.
Issues with Fashionable Dog Breeding Practices
1. Neoteny
The concept of neoteny, the retention of juvenile traits into adulthood, has profoundly influenced the evolution of dog breeds. Traits such as a youthful appearance, smaller size, and friendly behavior have made dogs more appealing to humans, increasing their likelihood of being bred and adopted as companions.
Neoteny has led to changes in dog behaviors, such as increased social tolerance towards humans, a stronger desire for human attention, and a greater reliance on human cues for guidance. While some specialized breeds retain problem-solving skills, the average dog’s dependence on humans reflects the long-term consequences of domestication and selective breeding.
2. Inherited Disorders
The pursuit of specific physical traits in dogs often prioritizes appearance over health. Breeds like Bulldogs, with their flat faces, exemplify this trend, aligning with human preferences for “baby-like” features. However, these traits frequently come at a high cost.
Brachycephalic breeds suffer from respiratory problems, eye issues, and spinal problems. Large eyes, favored for emotional connections, increase injury risk in breeds like Pekingese. Dachshunds are prone to back problems due to their elongated bodies. Wrinkled skin in breeds like Shar Peis can lead to infections.
Breeding for specific traits, often driven by breed standards, increases the risk of inherited disorders. This includes conditions like syringomyelia in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, spinal issues in curly-tailed breeds, and deafness in Dalmatians. Size also influences health risks, with larger breeds more prone to musculoskeletal issues and smaller breeds at higher risk of respiratory problems.
Efforts to raise awareness include resources like the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare’s website, which provides information on genetic welfare issues in over 40 breeds, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing health over aesthetics in breeding practices.
3. Loss of Biodiversity
The pursuit of specific physical traits in fashionable dog breeds has led to a significant loss of biodiversity within the species.
Breeders often rely on inbreeding or breeding from a limited number of individuals with the desired traits. For example, in Border Collies, half of their genetic variability is traced to fewer than ten animals. Despite the increasing number of purebred dogs over the past three decades, the inbreeding coefficient has doubled, and approximately 70% of genetic variability has been lost. This has resulted in dogs with lower intraspecific variation than humans or mice.
While breed standards may produce dogs with uniform appearances and behaviors, they also concentrate recessive genetic disorders, increasing the prevalence of inherited health problems. Inbreeding also compromises a breed’s ability to resist disease and adapt. Responsible breeding practices must prioritize genetic diversity, including genetic testing and careful selection of breeding partners to avoid overusing a finite number of male dogs for breeding.
4. Behavioral Divergence of Breeds
Selective breeding has significantly impacted dog behavior, beyond just physical appearance.
Studies have shown variations in traits like noise sensitivity across breeds. Breed size also plays a role, with smaller dogs sometimes exhibiting higher levels of impulsivity and aggression. These behavioral differences likely stem from genetic selection or are linked to other desired traits.
While behavioral traits are crucial, especially considering their impact on relinquishment rates, aesthetic traits often dominate breeding priorities. Research has found that popular breeds are frequently less trainable and more prone to issues like separation anxiety and aggression.
5. Cosmetic Modifications
Cosmetic modifications, such as tail docking and ear cropping, driven by owners’ preferences for aesthetic breed appearances, raise serious animal welfare concerns. These procedures carry significant risks, including pain and infection, and can hinder a dog’s ability to communicate.
While Europe has banned most of these practices, they remain legal in some countries, such as the USA. Additionally, surgeries such as vocal cord removal, aimed at reducing barking, are controversial as they do not address the underlying cause of the behaviour and often lead to long-term health issues. Even seemingly “corrective” surgeries are often performed for cosmetic reasons, without true benefit to the animal.
Other cosmetic modifications, like fur dyeing and tattoos, pose health risks to animals. These practices treat pets as accessories, prioritizing human aesthetic preferences over animal well-being.
Issues Arising as a Result of the Breeding Commerce
1. Overbreeding
High fertility rates in dogs, coupled with low mortality, make breeding a profitable industry. However, excessive breeding has led to overpopulation, with millions of dogs entering shelters annually. Third-party sales, especially from unregulated sources, contribute significantly to this problem. Dogs rejected from breeding programs and retired breeding animals often end up in shelters.
Shelter stays can be prolonged, especially for older, large, and “dangerous” breeds with behavioral issues, often exacerbated by the stressful shelter environment. Long-term shelter stays can lead to chronic stress and behavioral deterioration, decreasing the likelihood of adoption. This creates a cycle where stress reduces adoptability, despite ongoing demand for dogs.
2. Poor Conditions of Puppy Mills
Puppy mills are large-scale commercial breeding operations that prioritize profit over animal welfare. Dogs in these facilities are often kept in cramped, unsanitary conditions with minimal socialization, human interaction, and veterinary care. This leads to significant welfare risks, including physical confinement, sensory overload, and chronic stress.
Puppies born in these environments face numerous challenges. Prenatal stress can disrupt their development, leading to lifelong issues such as heightened stress sensitivity, impaired learning, and abnormal social behaviors. Early social isolation further exacerbates these problems, resulting in long-term behavioral and cognitive deficiencies.
The unchecked practices of puppy mills, including inbreeding for rapid trait stabilization, have severe consequences for dog welfare, impacting their health, behavior, and overall quality of life.
3. Criminal Activities
Criminal activity thrives in the unregulated dog trade, fueled by high demand and the rise of online sales. Traders exploit loopholes, using forged documents and falsifying records to transport animals undetected. Organized networks operate on a large scale, often disguising their activities as rescue missions or legitimate sales.
Despite significant earnings, penalties for illegal trade remain insufficient deterrents. To combat this, the EU proposes mandatory electronic identification for all dogs and cats to improve traceability. his initiative aims to deter fraud and improve oversight of breeding conditions, offering a critical step toward combating illegal activities in the dog trade.
Conclusion
The increasing role of dogs in society, coupled with unethical breeding and trading practices prioritizing profit over animal welfare, presents significant challenges. A breeding system driven solely by market demand often overlooks preventable health issues and behavioral problems arising from poor conditions and genetic selection.
While research on breed-specific behaviors is growing, establishing definitive correlations remains complex. Factors like uneven breed representation in studies and the influence of environmental factors complicate our understanding.
Kennel clubs must play a more active role in addressing these issues, as seen in the European Union, Norway and the United Kingdom. Legislators need to strengthen regulations to combat puppy mills, online sales, and illegal international trade. Prospective owners should consider adopting rather than purchasing, reducing demand and supporting responsible breeding practices.
Recent legislative measures in some countries offer a starting point. Public registries, standardized regulations for animal transport, and increased transparency in the trade are crucial steps. Educating the public on breed-specific health issues, responsible breeders, and the welfare implications of their choices is vital. Media campaigns can also play a role in shaping public perception and encouraging responsible pet ownership.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
–
Year of Publication:
2024
External Link:
Menor-Campos DJ. Ethical Concerns about Fashionable Dog Breeding. Animals (Basel). 2024;14(5):756. Published 2024 Feb 28. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14050756