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Date Posted: 14:10:37 03/21/10 Sun
Author: Norman Epstein
Subject: Re: Fixing Poor Physical Structure
In reply to: Jenny W 's message, "Re: Fixing Poor Physical Structure" on 00:15:50 03/21/10 Sun

Jenny I agree with the thrust of your post in that a dog must both be mentally as well as physically sound in order to be of real use. The question then becomes how best to quantify those two essential qualities. I think we can both agree that neither can be measured in a show/appraisal ring. The one advantage in evaluating conformation is, at least the evaluator can see a physical form. Unfortunately the disadvantage is that evaluation is by in large, subjective and because of that has lead to the exaggerations we now see in all pure breeds. The examples of this are to numerous to list here. Again if the show community used the tried and proved maxim i.e., correct form follows function, these crippling phenotypic exaggerations would in time disappear. This isn’t rocket science, all a community would have to do to improve the orthopedic health of a breed is to take a look at a group of healthy functioning examples and draw up a loose standard based on the physical structure of those dogs. Not based on what we think they should look like, not what the market wants them to look like but what nature demands they look like and use them as a template for that breed. This same selection process has proved successful for all living things. Then we wouldn’t have to guess if straight stifles exacerbate cruciate ligaments ruptures or do straight shoulders predispose elbow problems because if those dogs can perform their function for a long time frame then one might surmise that they shouldn’t be excluded from a breeding program. There is no guess work in nature, either it works and because of that is selected or it doesn’t and is excluded.

I noted you expressed a concern that these maladies might not show up for years and because of that a breeder might use them before those same maladies could be identified or because the breeder might want to breed that dog for its other attributes. First, what other attributes, and second are those attributes necessary for the breeds healthy future. If they don’t have any bearing, should we really care? It’s true that if the breeder kept that dog from taking part in strenuous exercise they might not show up. But if a breeder is that irresponsible IMO they deserve what they get and unfortunately the breed will pay for that breeder’s stupidity. David Harris has a saying, that if a dog can’t keep up for any reason it is not used in his breeding program. Sometimes the most difficult problems can be so easily solved.

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Replies:

  • Re: Fixing Poor Physical Structure -- Lucinda, 16:37:35 03/21/10 Sun
  • Why either or? -- Jenny W, 01:28:17 03/22/10 Mon
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