Three Things to Know
To understand the challenges facing pet dogs today, a study compared the lives of village dogs to those of owned dogs. While village dogs continue to live a lifestyle similar to that of their ancestors, owned dogs have been significantly impacted by human desires, particularly regarding their physical appearance and expected behavior.
Owned dogs rely entirely on humans for their social interactions, with humans completely controlling which other humans and dogs they interact with. In contrast, village dogs have the autonomy to choose their own social companions. This highlights the need for owners to be more mindful of their dog’s individual socialization needs and preferences.
Selective breeding for desired traits has significantly reduced the gene pool, increasing the risk of inherited health problems within breeds. To address this, breeders must increase the number of dogs used for breeding, promote the use of underutilized breeding lines, and consider controlled crossbreeding in some cases.
For Dog Welfare Practitioners:
While those working in dog welfare are well-versed in the challenges facing companion dogs, many owners are less informed. Few people fully grasp the significant changes that humans have demanded of dogs throughout the last decades, with dogs transforming from working mates to stay-at-home companions.
For dog welfare professionals, from shelter adoption managers to veterinarians, sharing this perspective is crucial. Simultaneously, providing a strong support system for addressing behavioral challenges from the very beginning of the human-dog relationship is paramount.
Furthermore, the decentralized nature of the dog breeding industry makes self-regulation difficult for breeders. Although well-intentioned breeders are taking steps to improve genetic diversity, their efforts are often constrained by consumer demands and the actions of unethical breeders. While regulation may offer a partial solution, addressing the underlying demand for specific breeds and traits remains the key to long-term improvement.
The Full Picture
In the last two centuries, industrialization and urbanization have dramatically changed the lives of dogs, especially in wealthier countries. They used to work as guards, herders, and hunters, but now most dogs are companions living indoors. While modern dogs enjoy a thriving industry dedicated to their well-being, with specialized care and services, their lives are vastly different. They often have limited freedom, struggle to socialize, and spend long periods alone due to their owners’ busy schedules. Furthermore, selective breeding, often focused on appearance, has significantly altered dog breeds, leading to welfare concerns.
This paper, titled “Pampered pets or poor bastards? The welfare of dogs kept as companion animals,” examines two key welfare challenges for pet dogs: behavioral problems arising from their social needs and issues linked to selective breeding. The authors contrast the lives of pet dogs with modern village dogs. Village dogs live a lifestyle more closely resembling dogs’ evolutionary past. While village dogs face unique welfare challenges, such as limited resources and access to veterinary care, this comparison offers valuable insights for improving the well-being of pet dogs.
Social Demands
Village Dogs
For thousands of years, village dogs have lived alongside humans, mirroring the lives of early dogs who freely roamed near human settlements. Unlike selectively bred companion dogs, village dogs evolved naturally, with a key characteristic being a reduced fear of people. These medium-sized dogs share a similar appearance worldwide, with some regional variations, such as larger, long-haired dogs in colder climates.
Village dogs typically form bonds with one or more human families and exhibit common traits globally: high population turnover, a male-dominated population (due to human preferences and the killing of female pups), and a high pup mortality rate (40-70%) caused by competition for food. Despite a short lifespan of 3-4 years, village dogs thrive in their environments, maintaining healthy body conditions and breeding up to twice a year.
Socialized from a young age, village dogs interact with other dogs and humans in various ways, from playful engagement to avoidance, depending on their individual experiences and the local culture. They scavenge for food, often competing with other animals, and adapt their behavior to the local human customs. This adaptability allows them to live semi-independently, interacting with humans while maintaining their freedom.
Companion Dogs
While village dogs rely on humans for food and sometimes enjoy their company, they retain control over their social needs. In contrast, companion dogs are increasingly viewed as family members, expected to be sociable, friendly, calm, and well-behaved. This shift has favored dogs that are approachable and communicative with humans, but it has also increased their dependence on their owners. This dependence frequently leads to behavioral and welfare issues, such as separation anxiety, which is common but often overlooked. These issues are worsened by lifestyle factors, such as long work hours for owners and inadequate preparation for being alone, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when puppies had constant contact with caregivers and limited time alone.
Socialization presents another challenge for companion dogs, as their interactions with other dogs are often limited and controlled. Unlike village dogs, who freely choose their social encounters, companion dogs may lack proper socialization, potentially leading to aggression towards other dogs. While excessive or premature forced interactions can also cause aggression, the restricted social choices of companion dogs may contribute to their behavioral problems.
Furthermore, unrealistic expectations about how dogs should tolerate close or prolonged human interaction further strain their well-being. Owners often misinterpret or ignore distress signals, escalating situations that could lead to aggression. These challenges are compounded by the expectation that dogs tolerate long periods of social isolation and exhibit perfect behavior when interacting with family or unfamiliar dogs.
Ultimately, few dogs meet the idealized expectations of a companion dog, and unmet owner expectations often result in compromised welfare, strained relationships, and, in severe cases, the dog being given up or euthanized. In comparison, village dogs maintain greater autonomy in their social relationships, allowing them to avoid many of the serious conflicts faced by companion dogs. These differences highlight the need for more realistic expectations and better management of companion dogs’ social needs to ensure their well-being and foster healthier human-dog relationships.
Owner Expectations
Unlike free-roaming village dogs, modern companion dogs face unique social challenges, and adjusting owners’ expectations can significantly help mitigate these problems. Addressing issues like separation anxiety and aggression requires a comprehensive approach, considering factors such as breed, personality, past experiences, and environment.
For separation anxiety, owners must acknowledge that many dogs struggle with being alone for extended periods. Providing consistent social companionship, gradually accustoming dogs to spending time alone, avoiding abrupt changes in routine, and offering plenty of physical and mental stimulation are crucial strategies.
When dealing with aggression, owners must recognize their dog’s social limitations. While dogs benefit from social interaction, not all dogs are naturally sociable. Allowing less social dogs to approach interactions at their own pace or withdraw when needed can prevent aggressive behavior. Emphasis should also be placed on providing positive socialization experiences during puppyhood, fostering positive associations with humans and other dogs. Additionally, owners should understand that some interactions, such as hugs, nail trims, or being approached while eating, may be unpleasant for their dog. They must either help their dog avoid these situations or teach them how to cope with them appropriately.
By setting realistic expectations for their dog’s social needs and respecting their boundaries, owners can significantly reduce behavioral problems and enhance their dog’s overall well-being.
Selective Breeding
Genetic Issues
Selective breeding has significantly shaped the characteristics of companion dogs for centuries, driven by human needs and desires. While village dogs remain genetically diverse, most dogs in developed countries are purebred or mixed breeds descended from them. Currently, there are approximately 400 recognized dog breeds, all developed through selective breeding from relatively small gene pools. This has resulted in remarkable diversity and predictability in appearance and behavior, but it has also led to genetic bottlenecks, reducing genetic variation and increasing the risk of breed-related health problems.
Studies have shown a significant loss of genetic diversity in current dog breeds, which is linked to various health issues. Moreover, breeding for exaggerated physical traits, such as the flattened faces of breeds like Pugs and French Bulldogs, has resulted in severe health problems like Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). Historical comparisons demonstrate that these exaggerated traits have become increasingly extreme over time, worsening associated health issues. Addressing these problems may require introducing genes from other breeds to reverse the damage.
New Strategies for Responsible Breeding
To protect dog welfare and prevent further loss of genetic diversity, breeders must prioritize maintaining a large and diverse breeding population. This involves using a substantial number of breeding animals, especially males, and ensuring that all dogs have an equal opportunity to contribute to the gene pool. This approach is naturally observed in village dog populations but is less common in purebred dog breeding. However, excluding dogs with serious genetic health issues from breeding programs can make it challenging to achieve this balance. Sustainable breeding strategies are crucial to mitigate the negative consequences of selective breeding and promote healthier, more diverse dog populations.
Some breeds, such as brachycephalic breeds, may have reached a point where improving health and welfare is extremely difficult. However, many other breeds remain relatively healthy and even exhibit longer lifespans than mixed-breed dogs. This demonstrates that the problem lies not with purebred dogs themselves but with the breeding practices employed. To safeguard dog welfare, breeding strategies must focus on maximizing genetic diversity while continuing to eliminate inherited diseases. Genomic selection has been proposed as a tool to improve breeding outcomes, but without careful implementation, it could lead to an even stronger focus on extreme traits at the expense of genetic variation.
A promising approach is optimal contribution selection (OCS), which aims to balance genetic improvement with the preservation of genetic diversity. However, implementing OCS effectively can be challenging in the decentralized breeding systems commonly found in the dog world. Practical steps to improve breeding practices include:
- Increasing the number of dogs used for breeding.
- Limiting the number of offspring from popular sires.
- Promoting the use of underutilized breeding lines.
- Considering controlled crossbreeding in some cases.
By adopting these strategies, we can mitigate the welfare challenges associated with purebred dogs, bringing them closer to the health and resilience observed in village dogs while preserving their unique qualities.
Conclusion
Companion dogs, especially those living in suburbs or cities, generally have better living conditions than village dogs in terms of safety, nutrition, and access to veterinary care. This is reflected in their significantly longer lifespans, typically exceeding ten years compared to the average three-year lifespan of a village dog. However, companion dogs face unique welfare challenges, including breeding-related health issues, social isolation, and unrealistic social demands, which can lead to anxiety, depression, or aggression.
This analysis suggests that while companion dogs may have certain advantages, they don’t necessarily have better overall welfare than village dogs. Targeted initiatives are needed to address these challenges and enhance their overall well-being.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
–
Year of Publication:
2022
External Link:
Iben Meyer, Björn Forkman, Merete Fredholm, Carmen Glanville, Bernt Guldbrandtsen, Eliza Ruiz Izaguirre, Clare Palmer, Peter Sandøe, Pampered pets or poor bastards? The welfare of dogs kept as companion animals, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 251, 2022, 105640, ISSN 0168-1591, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105640