Breeding 'pure' dogs is the ultimate cruelty inflicted on the canine species. Their size, their structure, their self-defence systems are all tampered with to suit bizarre human tastes. And then, when their appearance doesn't suit you, you can go in for further mutilation—like the clipping of ears in a Doberman to make sure that its inside ears are no longer protected and insects can enter freely; or cutting its tail to an absurd stub so that the anus is open to maggots. What can you expect when you buy a purebred? Hyper behaviour due to the exaggeration of one trait after decades of artificial breeding, and hundreds of expensive visits to the vet.
Common Physiological Problems with Different Pedigreed Breeds
• Dalmatians are prone to deafness.
• Poodles to epilepsy.
• Lhasa apsos to fatal kidney failure and cataracts
• Alsatians to hip dysplasia.
• Boxers and bulldogs to malignant tumours.
Toy dogs are frequently high-strung and overactive.
• Mastiffs, German shepherds and Doberman pinschers are overly fearful and submissive.
• Chowchows, Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers are vicious because of inbreeding
Thousand of pedigreed dogs are killed by their owners every year before they reach the age of one year. A survey shows that the main reason is that the 'temperament has gone awry.' Was it their fault or the fault of those that have turned beautifully made living creatures into toys?
Selective breeding increases the likelihood, as it does in human beings, that a potentially harmful recessive gene will find its match and cause a defect. In nature, where the population is large and varied, harmful recessive gene pairings are rare. Natural selection removes from the breeding pool those that are disabled by such genes. Natural selection, for instance, would never allow the pug to exist—a breed that cannot even perpetuate itself without human intervention.
A breed completely crippled by man's quest for 'perfection' is the dachshund. The emphasis is on short legs and an elongated body. These truncated legs are inadequate supports for the dog 's long straight back. Consequently back problems are common. One fifth of dachshunds suffer ruptured vertebral disks which cause excruciating compression of the spinal cord. No engineer would design a bridge with so much roadway between its support legs and expect it to stand.
The pure bred has to have a prescribed look—and this is the source of numerous health problems. The 'perfect' basset hound should have short and thickened forelegs. Too frequently the legs bow, causing chronic elbow dislocation. A specification that the 'feet turn a trifle outward' endorses a splaying that often results in lameness. A standard that calls for eyes to be 'soft, sad and slightly sunken' creates a large gap between the lower eyelid and the eye and this becomes an ashtray ready to catch dust and debris.
Another crippled breed is the pug with wrinkles and huge skin folds that are sites of skin infections. The standard requires 'a nose set back deeply between the eyes.' The result is pathologically short and twisted air passages. An overlong soft palate and a narrowed trachea further obstruct breathing. The pug's life is a short one, marked by a ceaseless struggle against suffocation. According to the standard, the pug should have a low front and high rear, with a massive head and widespread shoulders with narrow loins. This makes mating extremely difficult, and whelping by natural means almost impossible.
All pedigrees have major problems. Deep chested breeds are more prone to bloat and to gastric torsion—a potentially fatal distention and twisting of the stomach. Bull mastiffs get mysterious gangrenous protuberances on their legs. The list goes on and on. Even temperaments have been radically altered by breeding and this has produced needlessly aggressive or overly shy animals.
Congenital heart disease is a frequent complaint in pure breeds and so are cataracts, glaucoma and retinal degeneration. As a result of inbreeding to create and maintain their appearance, each breed harbours over a dozen genetic defects. There are over 300 genetic disorders recorded in India, documented in the various breeds. These defects undermine psychological as well as physical health.
THE RAMPUR HOUND :
The Indian contribution to the pedigreed field is the Rampur Hound, the ultimate joke played by the Nawab of Rampur on dog breeders. He took strays and kept mating them till he achieved a uniform size and then entered them as breeds in dog shows where they won awards due to his status rather than theirs, and voila! The Rampur Hound was born.
Rampur is a hamlet between Bareilly and Delhi. His Royal Highness Ahmed Ali Khan Bahadur bred these dogs by combining the blood lines of very powerful but ferocious Tazi, brought in by the Afghans, and the English Greyhound that was more obedient but less resistant to the varying climatic conditions. He gave the name 'Rampur Hound' to the dogs he bred.
This hound is powerfully built with strong jaws. The skull is broad. A powerful dog can bring down a large bull. The hound also hunts vermin, deer and jackals.
The length from the withers to the base of the tail is about 36", the chest is deep in front but not very wide with well sprung ribsr. The tail is long and tapering slightly curving upwards and carried low, it is about 24"-27" in length. The circumference of the neck is about 12" and it's long arched and muscular and rather broad where it joins the body. The length of the jaw is 9" and are poweful with a scissor bite.
The animals were very popular about 100 years back when the Pathan Traders used to carry them to Rajputana, Central India and lower Bengal.
Hunting: This breed was used as a popular hunter an appropriate day was chosen and intimated to all hunters. These people met befor sunrise, had breakfast, and went on to hunt. Some people beat the bushes, and once the game was sighted, the hounds were let loose. After the hunt the animals were taken to a pond or water source and given a bath to refresh them.
Look at the beautiful sleek Indian dog . Neither too small nor too tall, wiry, with an elegant alert head, gentle expressive eyes, a well developed bone structure, no tendency towards obesity, well-formed running legs and ballerina paws. No health problems, no tick problems because of the short hair, no excessive skinfolds that attract disease. Talk to any family that has kept an Indian dog . What are their veterinary bills like? What is their stress level like?
An indian stray adopted by me at a pet care in pune. She gave birth to 7 pups.
Sheela ! Another adopted dog having a good sleep at 'Karuna' pet center.
Indian stray dogs are said to be the strongest breed which survives in harsh conditions and still they have a longer life. I request you all to adopt a stray dog or atleast respect them. Dont throw stones on them or dont hurt them.
