The True Cost Of Pedigree Dog Breeding

Pedigree dogs, contrary to popular belief, are some of the most unhealthy dogs alive. Devastated by selective breeding, in many cases inbreeding, certain breeds of pedigree dogs are now facing genetic diseases and painful existences solely because of certain people’s vanity.

This article highlights the true cost of pedigree dog breeding.

A large number of dogs are pedigree breeds (purebreds with a recorded lineage). As many as three-quarters of the United Kingdom’s total number of dogs are pedigrees.

Inbreeding: The Downfall Of Pedigrees

What makes pedigree dogs so prone to genetic disease is inbreeding. It is not uncommon for grandfather-grand-daughter, father-daughter and brother-sister breeding.

As with any species of animal, humans included, such inbreeding has horrific consequences. Ultimately, if such practices were to continue the breeds would end up infertile by destroying their immune system and becoming extinct.

Imperial College London examined ten breeds of dogs. They found that only ten per cent of the genes found in the same breeds 40 years ago had made it into today’s dog. The ten breeds had lost 90 per cent of their genetic diversity.

Dog Shows: Death Of The Breeds

One of the greatest threats posed to dogs comes from the show-ring. In which huge pressures are placed upon breeders to conform to nonsensical aesthetic codes.

Insurance Industry: The Ultimate Arbiters Of Pedigree Health

The mongrel is much healthy and lives longer. One way to test this is to check out insurance prices. Insurance companies set the leading industry standards when it comes to risk assessment. Insurance prices reflect this fact.

Insuring a cross-bred is much more inexpensive than insuring a purebred pedigree dog. In fact, in some cases the cost of dog insurance can be two to three times higher.

Recommended Reading From Amazon

For those who are interested in discovering more about the myriad of problems that surround pedigree dog breeding, the BBC Pedigree Dogs Exposed is an excellent place to start. It is freely available on Youtube.

If you would like to know more about the history of the dog, check out Yellow Magpie’s post on dogs.

For people who care about their dog’s health, Victoria Stilwell’s book, It is Me Or Your Dog: How To Have The Perfect Pet is the ultimate bible on the subject.

Amazon.co.uk
For people living in Ireland or the United Kingdom you can access It Is Me Or Your Dog: How To Have The Perfect Pet here.

Amazon.ca
For those living in Canada you can obtain It Is Me Or Your Dog: How To Have The Perfect Pet from here.

Amazon.de
For Germany: It Is Me Or Your Dog: How To Have The Perfect Pet.

Amazon.fr
For France: It Is Me Or Your Dog: How To Have The Perfect Pet.

Related posts:

1. Dog Breeds That Have Been Devastated By Careless Pedigree Inbreeding
2. Dog Breeding: A Brief History Of What Has Turned Into An Obsession
3. Dog Inbreeding: The Possible Death Of The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
4. Inbred Dogs: Dogs Who Pay The Price For People’s Vanity
5. Dog Obesity: Owners Who Are Killing Their Pets With Kindness
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