Dogs Bred To Be Miserable

Breeding dogs is really getting out of hand these days. The only way it's going to stop is through public awareness so we can aim to fix these breeds and get them back to being healthy happy dogs.
Best Multi-Level DNA Test For Dogs
wisdompanel.pxf.io/5gDjD9
Holy & Hugo Online Dog Training
holly-and-hugo.sjv.io/DKZo5q
Osa's Blog
keeneye123.wixsite.com/osathe...
Osa's Instagram
/ osathegermanshepherd
As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
Sources:
Years of Breeding Ruined Popular Dog Breeds (youtube. com)
The Purebred Crisis: How dogs are being deformed in the name of fashion (youtube. com)
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38473...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
Photo Credits:
-German Shepherds from www.pedigreedatabase. com
-St. Bernard & Newfoundland images from r/doggy DNA
-Modern Bull Terrier and featured tan Bulldog picture from Pixabay
-Original Bull Terrier, Modern Bassett Hound, Dachshunds, Old English Bull Dogs from "Jaw Dropping Facts" KZbin
-Original Basset Hound From pedigreedogsexposed. blogspot
-Munchkin Cat from cats. com
-Arabian Horse from newscientist. com

[@Cuttuttlefish]

I think every single one of the older school dogs looks better :(

[@OffGridDogs]

That’s because they do. Have you ever noticed that nature creates beauty (wolf for example) and man creates hideous abominations (frenchies, pugs, crippled German Shepards)

[@user-zl8mg3ll2j]

Same, i just don't understand why they had to change them, they were perfect the way they were.

[@notmaureen]

The OG Chow looks more or less like every generic Chow mutt in our shelters 10-20 years ago. Soooo cute!

[@trex2621]

I like the working line GSD more than old breed, but agree about all the others

[@lizzieb6311]

Me too….they do the same thing in the horse world….they divide what “looks good” to the people with zero consideration as to how FD up it makes the animal.

[@barryhancock9558]

It's disgusting what they have done to the backs of the German Shepherd

[@Peter-km7hb]

American breeders have always bred for a size and cosmetic not function

[@alfatejpblind6498]

It's why I want a VEO (Eastern european shepherd)

[@my8villains]

​Check out RMD Shepherds based in Toronto, Canada. We are based in Seattle, USA. Purely VEOs from bred from working lines from eastern Europe. We bought one our girl from them 6 months ago. They have puppies available now​@@alfatejpblind6498

[@Rebecca-qx1et]

My GSD female has a straight back, I am so glad that she doesn't have this crippling issue.

[@JimMaher-ky3fo]

This only applies to showline GSDs. Working Line GSDs don't generally have these issues.

[@D.von.N]

I call it animal abuse.

[@carcionpetto]

Generational abuse

[@Protect_all_ljf3forms]

All breeding for “pure breeds” is abuse generic diversity isnt a suggestion

[@Steezy_Marx]

Generational animal abuse

[@mendmywings7238]

Because that's what it is

[@b0ltun0]

exactly

[@dawert2667]

I’ve noticed a very recent trend in trying to turn Rottweilers into a snub-nosed breed. I never understood the appeal of such a grotesque look and it makes me so sad

[@carlodanao8131]

Yep! Snub-nosed with big and high foreheads and their eyes are severely close set and their bodies are muscular but in a chunky, lumbering non functional way. They call those Rottweilers as the Serbian Rottweilers. It is sad what people are doing to dogs.

[@tylociraptor8131]

@@carlodanao8131I had to google those and I've never seen a more ugly fucked up looking dog. Like someone photoshopped a dog to look goofy.

[@eviesso4214]

Bad breeders create hypertypes. Good ones don’t, not many are used to seeing this anymore…

[@marleneclough3173]

Shorter muzzles St Bernard too

[@Plantsandtoyhorses]

I also kind of feel that Rottweilers, and any other dog shouldn't have docked tails. Dogs need their tails for body language communication.

[@NormOGdes3]

Not sure how a sloped back is supposed to look "desirable" or "attractive"

[@Smithpolly]

I guess it's kind of like how foot binding was considered attractive in China back in the day.

[@AbiSaysThings]

It's to exaggerate that pose they do. Stupid though, they look like frogs. I hate show dogs.

[@maxpaoo]

​@@Smithpolly that practise had to do more with the fact that it made impossible for a woman to be independent as she could barely walk, so she was easier to control for the man in her family.

[@Smithpolly]

@@maxpaoo That may well be but it was still considered to be desirable and attractive back in the day.

[@GanadoFO]

@@maxpaoo You are referring to *one of* the feminist perspectives of foot binding, but that doesn't mean that was the majority cause of the phenomenon. Even before foot binding, smaller feet were considered more "dainty" and attractive, and this carried into foot binding. The gait of women with bound feet caused smaller steps and a sway that was considered to be attractive to men. There were further myths that said it caused different smells, heavier thighs, and tighter parts. There's even another, almost opposite feminist perspective that argues that foot binding let women have pride in the "mastery" over their own body. The fact that it also made women with bound feet more dependent on their family may very well be a contributing factor, but it takes a lot more evidence to say that it's "more with the fact" of making women not independent than other factors. Point being, it's very bold to say "X is *the majority reason* for Y" without qualifications or nuance.

[@LordGecko9291]

The silliest thing of all is the fact that all of the modern breeds for the sake of aesthetic do not look as good as their original breeds

[@TheBooban]

She said they breed to what is “popular”. Only popular among some very sick people.

[@Sweetlittlehugs]

Wow, the older versions look so ok much nicer and healthier. What’s been done to these animals is so sad. 😢

[@JesusLovesEVERYTHING]

Inbreeding will do that

[@maryeckel9682]

Even in show stack, the difference is obvious.

[@OscarOSullivan]

Out of all those the healthiest is the West Highland terrier and all the ones I know of here in Ireland are very active dogs until their deaths.

[@OscarOSullivan]

Out of all those the healthiest is the West Highland terrier and all the ones I know of here in Ireland are very active dogs until their deaths.

[@OakwiseBecoming]

This is why I’m 100% ANTI KCs!!! Any KC or AKC registered dog is a breeder I AVOID! Dogs ought to be bred at home within families like we did for 200,000 years before we handed it over to “experts.” Buy a puppy from a family whose pet had puppies, NOT from a KC breeder!

[@satishxoxox]

There should be an animal rights campaign against those judges of the dog shows who destroyed these breeds.

[@zackwalker664]

There should be a campaign against everyone buying the deformed dogs and marketing them (like the OP) as well!!!

[@ember9361]

PETA should be doing this instead of stealing people's pets to euthanize them by force and creating bad vegan games of popular franchises

[@andyabel3072]

@@foolishlyfoolhardy6004 how is not going after the judges not doing anything?? they would vote based on a healthy dog... strange.

[@undefinederror40404]

​@@andyabel3072 Going after the judges can help to some degree, but it is much more difficult to justify writing into law and enforcing rules for individual contests than to write into law that all dog breeders must undertake xyz steps for the benefit of the dog's health. And when breeding the jury's preferred stupid ideas becomes illegal, the jury has no way around it. If someone wins with a recently bred dog that breaks the rules then the breeder can often be trackes down. While setting up rules for the jury gives breeders more space to get around/avoid those rules.

[@undefinederror40404]

​@@foolishlyfoolhardy6004The rule that made public headlines in my country, and generally made anyone who cared happy, is that all dogs regardless of breed must have a nose length of at least 1/3rd of the sideview of their head. I think a transition period might still be going on, but soon enough at least all the dogs bred here should have a decent nose to breathe through!

[@vmitchinson]

Any German Sheppard that has a back that is not parallel to the ground is deformed.

[@weallmakechoices7456]

It's actually "shepherd". As is a human shepherd. Herder of sheep. Don't know what a "sheppard" is.

[@Myella1703]

@@weallmakechoices7456I guess you never make a spelling mistake do you

[@alicenatalja2991]

@@weallmakechoices7456 not everybody has English as their native language. let people make mistakes.

[@spook6394]

@@Myella1703it’s not a spelling mistake, it’s clearly a misunderstanding of how it’s spelt.

[@chickenapplepie3141]

@@spook6394 "Clearly a misunderstanding of how it's spelt" My friend that is still a spelling mistake. Not knowing how a word is spelt and spelling it wrong is quite literally a spelling mistake.

[@krumpits]

Im a chow owner and i was SO careful when looking at breeders. She DOESNT have a squished face, her coat is quite lean and she has had zero health problems. She is also super sweet and loves to cuddle as a bonus!

[@OscarOSullivan]

So closer to the originals

[@OscarOSullivan]

So closer to the originals

[@chelliebear4]

Man i love chow chows! But right there is why ive been wary to get one. If you wouldn't mind sending me a link to ur breeders, thatd be awesome!

[@sofialaya596]

never heard of something like that on that breed nowadays, amazing. please support that bussiness

[@krumpits]

@@chelliebear4 id love to recommend the breeder I used, but it unfortunately seems they retired. So im sadly researching for a new breeder myself

[@B-B-W-Engel]

The old dog breeds look way more aestheticaly pleasing than the overbreed modern versions.

[@jarvissense2211]

When money is involved, people are capable of anything. Including cruelty.

[@MrRAGE-md5rj]

Especially cruelty.

[@tiktokmfr]

I hate people

[@joshuasummers7554]

There's two sides to this problem; Vendor(aka breeder) - willing to warp the entire biological development of a species for profit Customers, Showrunners, etc - Willing to warp the entire biological development of a species for their own arbitrary and selfish wants. This video also leaves out that all "purebred" animals have a higher risk of health issues.

[@blahblahgdp]

Money = survival in our heads. If food was scarce like it was before, I'm sure we would be killing each other or more for food. Were at the point in humanity where we have a lot of problems to solve while the common person tries to live like we're in a world where violence isn't needed, but here we are, suffering. Because of the few at the top.

[@MisterCynic18]

Money isn't real, we are cruel entirely by choice

[@ihatehandleswtf]

These poor modern dogs look like they've been melted in a microwave. Not once in my life have I EVER looked at a droopy/wrinkle-faced dog and thought "aww!" instead of "ew."

[@berrymint6384]

I do aww since the animals themselves(the person/personality) are perfect! It is not their fault that they were deformed. The IDEA is ugly.

[@Jungaloowi333]

my sister was given a pug as a birthday gift. we all loved him dearly. it is sad though that their beed is prone to health issues but many live long, healthy lives.

[@Freaky0Nina]

​@@Jungaloowi333yeah. Do not give pets as gifts. They are a commitment for several decades.

[@Jungaloowi333]

@@Freaky0Nina that's true. my sister wasn't even able to care for him. my mom and I did. unfortunately, our pug died recently. it sent me in the worst depression ever. didn't think it would hurt to lose an animal like this

[@hoaxygen]

I don't know how people find pugs cute.

[@nogames8982]

I know somebody that used to breed and show Doberman pinchers. But the rules got so insane that it started hurting the dogs health. She still breeds them, but not to show because she does not follow the show guidelines anymore. She cared enough about her breed to stop Producing what the judges wanted. Her emphasis is health. I wish more people would do that. But money talks.

[@XDWX]

Can you give the name of the breeder? I am very interested in Dobbermans but I am very concerned about DCM that a lot of them get.

[@thekatt...]

As a lover of Doberman's , thank her for me. 👍🇨🇦

[@nogames8982]

@@XDWX I won't put her name on here, but she is located in the state of Mississippi. I don't know if she is listed under the American kennel club listings for breeders or not. just ask a lot of questions before you buy a puppy. Ask the breeder everything you want to know and if they won't answer you then move on. Every breed has its inherent issues and there's never 100% guarantee but at least try to find breeders that are decent and that actually care about their dogs. it's tough nowadays.

[@TedH71]

@@XDWX Talking about the heart issue? All of them have it to some degree because the original founder of the breed liked a certain dog and bred multiple females to him and didn't know that the stud dog carried the genetic variant of DCM.

[@HardinProuductionsOriginal]

Beauty of a Dog should definitely not be based on these standards that the AkC has made up but rather their natural appearance and how healthy they look. Sadly the AKC hasn't been that way in decades

[@mayosmayo4738]

The fact that these dog breed standards exist prove that “weird” interests are only a question of money and rethoric

[@josephsheranda]

My neighbor gave me a DDR German Shepherd. Fortunately DDR shepherds are working line and she had a nice straight back. Even so, she got hip dysplasia later in life. She still lived a happy healthy life in spite of that.

[@vladimirlegrand2917]

Mine too have a straight back. It's a security GSD

[@charcushman9507]

The AKC SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE!!!!! THEY SHOULD BE DISBANDED FOR ALLOWING THESE CHANGES😡😠🤬

[@janhankins911]

I agree. The AKC is certainly not my favorite organization and they proclaim they care so much about dogs; they do not care about dogs at all. If they did, they would not allow many of these dogs in the show ring and they certainly wouldn't reward these horrible changes by "putting those dogs up" (where they win their class, best of breed, etc.). They would not tolerate such breeding practices (instead of rewarding these breeding practices). And they would certainly not tolerate cosmetic surgery (such as ear cropping and tail docking) for the breeds, but when is the last time you saw a Great Dane with natural ears "win" anything in the show ring in the United States? That rarely, if ever, happens. So judges need to shoulder some of the blame, as well. Cropping ears and docking tails has so many repercussions for the dog (like, other dogs are often unable to read their body language because the ears are cropped or the tail is totally missing and this can cause aggression between the dogs). The ONLY excuse for cropping ears or docking tails should be medical necessity (we actually had a Great Dane come through rescue that had an extremely infected tail which ended up having to be removed--traditional and aggressive antibiotic treatment was unsuccessful and it was either get rid of the tail or the dog died; so we had the tail removed)

[@TheGypsyVanners]

Yep

[@lindsaydrewe8219]

Not just in America. Poor dogs. People have a lot to answer for

[@mare6419]

The AKC is a registry body, they guarantee the purity of the breeding. They do not control how you breed, that's on the individual.

[@janhankins911]

@@mare6419 Your response is absolutely true. The AKC is a registration body. However, the also recommend breeders and they are in charge of many dog shows. They could help a great deal by ensuring that breeders adhere to some standard before recommending them (it's my understanding that just about anyone can get signed up to be a "recommended breeder" with the AKC, you just have to breed a lot of puppies. Do let me know if I am mistaken). They also control dog shows and can deny breeds entry if the breeders are harming those breeds. Yes, they'll loose money if they do that. But if they truly cared about dogs, they'd be willing to miss a few dollars now and again. But they aren't.

[@BR-dn7hw]

I'm glad someone is talking about the problem with these breeds

[@truecynic1270]

In the large picture, other than breeding that HORRIBLE SLOPE in the back rear, the problem is NOT the breed. It's the OWNERS who perceive the breed to be aggressive and use EVIL training methods.

[@vikkirobertson2568]

I agree @BR-dn7hw! Working as a vet nurse over many years it was very hard to have to be correcting these “human improvements”. Coping with animals struggling to breathe, see and even walk due to people thinking it looks cute, beautiful or whatever with complete disregard for the animals potential suffering leaves me aghast! ❤🐾🐾🥰

[@robertscheinost179]

Seriously? They have been talking about this for as long as I can remember and I'm 70.

[@debbylou5729]

People have been talking about this mess for decades

[@TedH71]

@@truecynic1270 you would be surprised with working line GS. Esp the direct imported dogs from Germany. They are bred to guard property and herd livestock. One of their traditional jobs was to guard property while the owner wasn't home. The working line GS are far more serious about this than the showline ones.

[@altofdish]

they say dog is mans best friend but the relationship seems a bit one sided

[@JukeNnukem]

Pugs can't even breath these days due to over-breeding

[@Lilian040210]

Also their eyes are prone to falling out

[@sloopy420]

@@Lilian040210WTF..

[@vernonfrance2974]

There is no excuse for turning beautiful dogs into virtual cripples.

[@quitlife9279]

Actual cripples

[@Rick-pr4bc]

$$$

[@indoorkite651]

@@Rick-pr4bc not an excuse. It’s morally wrong, and makes you less than human to do these things. Literally condemning generations of dogs to suffering their whole lives

[@psychickumquat]

​@@indoorkite651 Money doesn't justify it at all, but they're right in that it's why. Some people will throw all morals out the window if cash is involved.

[@warrenvanwyk6249]

Deliberately breeding deformities into animals to reach a sought after look is terrible.

[@TheJosman]

Plus, many of those afterlooks are disgusting and un-aesthetic.

[@acbeaumo]

All of the dogs in the old photos look healthy and fit. You can't say the same about them now. Just look at that poor Dachshund. How is he supposed to live his best life if he can barely run?

[@Vespyr_]

This feels criminal. We can't fix this either! How horrible.

[@alexiadauvergne1903]

For dog already born we can't, but for future generation it is possible in theory. Breeders would need to select healthiest individuals and revert the horribly forced features. Like take the Shepherds with the straightest back and/or smallest weight every generation and breed them until eventually in 100-200 year we would revert to their original looks. Another way that is faster would be hybridation. Want a dog that looks like a German Shepherd but with less back problem ? Breed a regular German shepherds with a similar dog breed that have a better health (Husky or Border Collie for example) and you will get a super cute healthier cross-breed puppy ! On your scale, if you ever adopt a dog, prioritize shelters or eventually your neighbor's friend's relative whose dog got a litter but avoid breeders, especially the ones that produce pure-breed dogs.

[@Lilian040210]

@@alexiadauvergne1903 there are responsible pure-bred breeders, and not every breed is a blaring case of animal cruelty. I also don't mind people wanting a specific breed for their use, temperament, or look, but if your choice is a fucking pug-like disaster, you definitely deserve some violating🤛 You gotta do research and nitpick, not just apply pack-think yourself and hate EVERYONE in the group

[@bern9642]

​@@Lilian040210 Pure breed is nonsense, truth be told. It causes a lot of issues.

[@shepherds.pie.youtube]

As a German Shepherd girl, I agree whole heartedly. I have two working lines. I'm so used to the athleticism of my dogs that it kinda hurts to see those really badly sloped dogs plodding around.

[@thekatt...]

Agreed 💯

[@JimMaher-ky3fo]

As a working lines owner, I agree.

[@camillakruitbosch4016]

My German Shepherd is a working bloodlines from the East and the West

[@StormEyes1991]

If I ever get my own place I'm getting a working Shepherd pup. They're amazing dogs and total lovebugs to their person and respectful kids. And yeah, I know that they're a lot of work and need good training but they're worth every minute of it and I look forward to playing fetch with every slobber drenched tennis ball. ❤

[@virginiahollar2179]

I have two working-line German Shepherds and I agree 100%. It's frustrating to see the exaggerated slopes. Luckily some breeders are refusing to breed for that but it's getting sadly more common. Hopefully, we can go back to where they were healthier and more functional, as they were originally bred to be.

[@lolimapotato]

A 2017 study in the uk found that the most common cause of death for german sherpards was musculoskeletal disorders and inability to stand. This is a massive issue and so unfair on the dogs :(

[@Dreyno]

Not all related to sloped backs though. We had a German Shepherd who had degenerative myelopathy. It’s caused by a genetic mutation rather than bad skeletal mechanics.

[@lolimapotato]

@@Dreyno not all caused by the hunchback but it is a major health problem and increases the risk of things such as hip dysplasia. The hunchback is a deformity that significantly affects how their body works and functions - of course to varying degrees. In fact germany has just strengthened a law to ban the breeding of these characteristics

[@Dreyno]

@@lolimapotato I wasn’t disagreeing but rather pointing out that the breed’s figures for musculoskeletal problems are boosted by things unrelated to unethical breeding.

[@akumjh]

@@Dreyno The reason many dog breeds have common genetic issues is because of inbreeding. So, while it's not directly related to breeding for aesthetics, it's still caused by unethical breeding.

[@Dreyno]

@@akumjh Not necessarily. A genetic mutation isn’t inherent. It’s not a trait that people have bred towards for a goal. It’s just a mutation. When it’s discovered, it can be hard to breed out of the population because it doesn’t occur as a matter of course. Ethics aren’t the issue. The vagaries of life is.

[@azilbean]

Absolutely breaks my heart.😢 This should be illegal, not encouraged.

[@Myuuchu]

I remember hearing years ago about the King Charles Spaniel, that their heads were selectively bread to have the child-like cute face which comes at the cost of their skulls now being too small for their brains, so eventually, the brain will keep pressing against the inside of the skull, causing seizures and more. The doctor who explained it then had to remove part of the skull plate just to relieve the pressure... So horrible what we do to them just for our own benefit, truly cruel :(

[@AussieFossil]

One of my relatives used to breed Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and would pick the best male from a litter to breed it with its mother. It was cheaper than paying for a stud dog. 🥺

[@bmiles4131]

I thought those sloped shepherds were from puppy mills. Can’t believe anyone would breed them so dysfunctional, but knew they did it to bulldogs.

[@nogames8982]

Yeah, you expect sickly non-functional malformed dogs to come from puppy bills. But these are coming from million dollar show lines. Makes it even worse. They are purposely bred to look like that. Disgusting.

[@hisservants8003]

It is the show lines. Working lines usually will not have that slope. I have never owned one with a slope and never would. Personally, I think it is cruel.

[@VARY78]

@@hisservants8003 Any dog in a 3 point stack will have a "slope". I can literally put my well bred APBT in a 3 point stack and he will have a "sloped" back. Please look up 3 point stacks. There's no such thing as "straight back" and "sloped back" these are terms used by uneducated animal rights activists to get naive people to believe their lies.

[@mr.mayonnaise5488]

@@hisservants8003I was shocked to hear this woman say that she disagrees with the slope and thinks they should stop but at the same time she’s bought a Osa who has a sloped back. Why support the industry if it’s cruel??

[@crikeymikey8731]

@@mr.mayonnaise5488 Honestly it's pretty tough to get the 'perfect' GSD these days. Your options are either show lines or working lines. Show lines have physical deformities (in my opinion) even in their healthy dogs (hocks look awful) BUT working lines aren't perfect either and aren't suitable for everyone. If you buy a working line GSD as a pet, then chances are you're compromising on temperament. Working line breeders are selling their dogs for work (often security/police) and will send their most confident puppies there. That leaves the more anxious puppies to be sold as pets. I have a WL GSD who was a VERY anxious puppy (and still is sometimes) but also still has the same energy and drive that she was bred for. Caring for and training a high drive dog is a heck of a lot of work and it doesn't suit everyone's lifestyle, which is why lots of people purchase show lines even if they don't necessarily agree with the conformations they're breeding.

[@stephaniemccord6100]

Vets even call this German Shepherd disease. Their spines shrink causing paralysis. Terrible

[@kate_likes-horses6626]

vets almost purely see backyard bred dogs.

[@xtiebro]

@@kate_likes-horses6626yeah, because good breeders don't take their dogs to the vets?... if anything one could argue they likely see more well bred dogs as they are more likely to be taken care of properly and more thoroughly checked...

[@mararabb1]

My GSD has a flat back - my son intentionally searched for a breeder that was focused on working dogs and the original look.

[@sarahroth7034]

I'm so glad my shepherd is from a German line. Her back doesn't have a bad slope and I've noticed she has a more robust frame compared to American GSDs. She's the healthiest dog my family has ever owned.

[@FarmFreshIB]

THANK YOU!! When I was a kid, my family were the "terrible" backyard breeders. My mom bred German Shepherds. We belonged to a German Shepherd club and tried to show our dogs... To no avail. Our dogs were from a working line. My mom understood that the slouchy backend was an issue not a benefit. The dogs we bred were strong and square. They most resembled the photo you showed from the 1930's. They were athletic. Because of that OUR dogs never placed in the bench shows. After a while we quit trying and instead showed in performance events like obedience and drill team. Sometimes the backyard breeder cares more than the big kennel. We bred dogs for health and not just to make a buck. As I sit here I have a beautiful healthy 13 year old German Shepherd girl resting at my feet. You don't stay sound or live that long with show dog breeding.

[@Pita_Leela]

To me that's not a bad backyard breeder . Backyard breeders I know do it for the $$$ :( and now it's horrible because the designer dogs

[@FatherRina]

When people say backyard breeder they aren’t talking about people like you. Ironically, some of these breeders who are AKC approved could be considered backyard, since they just pump out litters with the bare minimum of health testing and a lot only show to get their dog the “champion” title (can be done in a few shows in about a year) so they can charge more, then never show that dog again once it’s in the breeding program. Your parents were not like this, and sound like healthy working line breeders! 🥰

[@sophiabreidfischer6242]

Your Mum sounds like a sensible person, thats awesome she kept true to what was better overall

[@lex770]

''backyard breeder'' isn't literal, it means people who breed animals for profit, without taking into consideration their health and quality of life. which means they have way too many litters, don't do health testing, don't socialize their puppies etc. there's enough dogs in the world, breeding should have the purpose of bettering the breed, not having more dogs around

[@Topdoggie7]

GSDs barely make it to ten if they don't have good breeding like you say.

[@katerinabentley5882]

So glad I have an East German working line Shepard. he built just like they were meant to be built. He doesn’t slope. His stride is incredible. His parents and grandparents lived to be between 14 and 17.

[@osathegermanshepherd]

Osa's breeder said her longest living dogs get to about 13 years old. That's not too bad but it should also be longer.

[@katerinabentley5882]

@@osathegermanshepherd a dog lifespan is never long enough.

[@FarmFreshIB]

Breeding good guard dogs is something communism did right. Form to function.

[@Gizathecat2]

My niece had a direct descendant of East German Stasi police dogs. She had a nice straight back! Loavely, goofy, and healthy dog! I have a very healthy mixed breed mutt.

[@singingstars5006]

Yes, they still breed traditional German shepherds in East Germany and take great pride in preserving the breed. (I'm an American in East Germany.)

[@RippleDrop.]

Thanks for spreading education about this. Please all, stop buying these breeds. 🙏

[@jerseattle0722]

I think breeding dogs this way should be criminal

[@biggeordie245]

The Kennel Club must step up and change confirmation from exaggerated looks to function.

[@evy684]

I could not agree more !

[@biggeordie245]

@@evy684 I would get rid of “show line” in its entirety. Working line and Pet line. Working line judged on temperament, health and function. Pet line judged on temperament, health and companionship. Looks are totally unimportant, exaggerated physical traits must be abandoned. Scrub it KC, start again.

[@evy684]

@@biggeordie245 Exactly ! I love dogs shows,sports and anything in between. Dog’s health should be the very first thing you think of if you are breading dogs. And what they were bred for in the first place. But none of this will change completely, until the AKC does the same thing. Get judges who believe in health and function first. AKC is supposed to be totally for the dog. Well they need to remember that !

[@thekatt...]

💯💯💯

[@annabackman3028]

First of all, THE JUDGES at the dog shows. As long as THEY give BiS to the worst dogs, that's how breeding will be!! In my opinion no dog would be the winner of a class, without a veterinarian's final opinion. Unfortunately, for pugs it has gone too far, the genome for a healthy dog is LITERALLY gone in the purebred dogs (genetics are tested) and the only way to save the breed is to cross breed with healthy and long faced dogs. The brachycephaly affects the muzzle, skull and the vertebrae too, and only a very long time of strictly selected breeding will correct this problem. Sometimes you can hear that a Retro Pug is a cross between Pug and Jack Russel, which isn't true. It is a serious way to restore the Pug to what it was before humans decided to destroy the breed. Look at photographs from 1890-1910. There were a few Pugs that were brachycephalic, but the majority had a snout, and a healthy agile body. This is the goal. You can often hear that Pugs are calm couch potatoes, which is easy to believe, when you see the overweight snoring animals with difficulties just with walking. Give the Pugs a fresh body, and foremost, free airways, and you will find the opposite. In Germany a serious breeding for a healthy purebred Pug has been going on for many decades, and managed to get a Pug with a visible snout (but not what you could call good enough to get rid of the breathing issues completely), and back problems are relatively rare, the 'Altdeutsche Mops, meaning 'Old German Pug'. (Hence the breeding for a solid Retro Pug has been most successful in Germany, where a large part is done when this type is very often used for breeding Retro Pugs.) Furthermore, it's not only Jack Russell Terriers, it's more often the variety with longer legs, Parson Russell but also other terriers, such as Patterdale. Beagle, Miniature Pinscher and the Danish-Swedish Farm Dog (Dansk-Svensk gårdshund) (not common outside these countries, but a healthy dog, in looks resembles much to Parson Russell, but not so extremely energized as Jack and Parsons can be). All those breeds are relatively healthy (not many breeds are!) have a long head and long muzzle, have 'well designed' body types and have a little different temper, that all together can contribute to the remaining of the original Pug energy and humorous mindset. After all, it's only a different body the Pug needs, not a new mentality. Don't immediately believe them who say a Pug-mix is a Retro Pug. To be in the breeding program a series of tests are done, overlooked by veterinarians, the breathing (running) is measured, a whole body X-ray is done (skull, throat, elbows, spine (studying every vertebra very thoroughly), hips and hocks) and no physical deformation is allowed on the skull, throat or back, hips a B is OK, and the same kind of status on the rest. So, ask that person if itself or the Pug parent is tested. If not, it's not a Retro Pug. It's a cross or mixed breed.

[@jameswaterhouse-brown6646]

Hopefully it becomes the cool new thing to breed them back to the originals.

[@sarah.s.flanagan]

There's some people doing this 😊 I worry that it won't catch on until shows change though

[@CrowCoded]

Theres a pug project thats breedinf pugs back to their older, more functional selves and uhg. They're so cute!

[@stephaniemccarthy5987]

Hopefully it becomes the "cool new thing" to adopt from a shelter/rescue.

[@cat-.-]

How can these people be both morally bankrupt and have terrible tastes in aesthetics

[@cmac3530]

Whoever thought a sloped back dog was more "aesthetically pleasing" was absolutely on some sort of drugs. They literally look like the canine version of the Hunchback of Notre Dame...

[@barbarabrown9269]

Over the years I had friends who shocked me when I discovered they were really into the deal designer dog craze. These were normally good friends… until I saw their dogs. Why would anyone think the more folds the better?? The flat pushed in faces with smelly runny fluids pouring off them?? Infections, sores that won’t heel because of the folds. Breathing problems! The poor things cannot move a few feet without becoming exhausted. Snuffling, snoring, constantly snuffing and making choking noises, the poor dogs live their entire miserable lives like this just because the idiot owners think it’s cute when then are young. Well! These cute puppies grow up! After a year or more they are a mess with extensive and expensive vet issues.

[@osathegermanshepherd]

There's a person I knew who wanted to get into breeding Pomskies (Husky/Pomeranian). The husky she picked out was cute and well-tempered but had known hip-dysplasia. I was pretty upset about that . . . Same person also bred working line German Shepherds and Malinois. Her puppies where often sick and she tried to use some of those pups to continue her breeding programs. Pups that grew up to have Megaesophagus and Cryptorchidism. Infuriating.

[@Patrick-857]

@osathegermanshepherd I'm from NZ and I know a guy who owns two highly trained dogs, a Malanois and a Doberman. Both appear very healthy, I think they are working line dogs. He competes with them doing that police dog style stuff where they attack a guy with a big protective thing on his arm. They are extremely agile and athletic. It seems some of these breeds still have lines that are healthy and built for doing work. Same with Border Collies. We are a farming nation and there's tons of working line Border Collies here, they look so different to them show line ones. Shorter hair, funny markings over their eyes, and full of manic energy. The show line ones seem impractical and high maintenance.

[@billycox475]

​@@Patrick-857 here in the US they just care about the dollars. There may be a few breeders who care about the breed(s), but they're the exception. I'm a vet, I see this all the time. She's spot on in her description about the dogs being bred to be miserable. Greed has ruined a lot of dog breeds

[@taylortanner37]

Most dogs have to be sedated when they have a breathing tube in their nose. Not flat faced dogs , they love it cause they can finally breath almost normal and that's really sad. Some even get depressed when you take it out and they realize the relief wasn't permanent. All just for a perceived "cuteness". Screw that , I'd rather have a happy healthy "ugly dog" thats genes haven't been bottlenecked so bad that its surprising it survived at all. Tons of people abandon their pure breed dogs at the park near me cause they can't/won't address their medical needs. I literally pay a rent sized retainer fee to a vet center so I can get them all taken care of. Its heart breaking and the dogs don't deserve to go through not only being miserable but also given up on and abandoned like garbage.

[@empty-voiid]

Only "good" way to have such a dog is by adopting one of them from a refuge, imho. The dog has a shitty health, might as well offer them a good and loving family. But I'll never understand the people who BUY (or those who breed) these poor dogs...

[@brandywineblogger1411]

I'm glad you mentioned bad breeding in cats too. In my childhood, the original Siamese cats looked like real cats with a strong body and round head. The show Siamese now looks emaciated with long spindly legs, overly thin face and ridiculously large ears. Instead of regal, they are a monstrosity. Thank goodness there are still breeders keeping up the old line. Dogs or cats. Breeders who breed in features for their vanity and egos should be cited for animal cruelty.

[@averycheesypotato]

Fortunately there are still many, many healthy Siamese cats. Cats just haven’t been messed around as much as dogs, and Siamese are such a popular breed that not all have been screwed up like those in the show circuit. I’ve had a couple of Siamese in the past, and they were very healthy, full of personality and mischief. Love them! The worst trends now seem to revolve around “munchkin” cats, and wild hybrid pets. Neither should even exist!

[@brandywineblogger1411]

@@averycheesypotato Yes, thank you. You're correct. Our dear "Tiki" (Hughes Mews Joy of Devon) was a modified wedge. She was beautiful and sassy! Lived to be 17-1/2. Four years after her death I still miss her.

[@marrmaladee]

Siamese cats are SUPPOSED to look lanky and thin (similar to the cats in the lady and the tramp). They are NOT intended to be ‘round’ and ‘strong bodied’

[@averycheesypotato]

@@marrmaladee who or what determines what they are “supposed” to look like? The original Thai cats did not then & do not now have such extreme features- after the cats were brought to Europe & North America in the 19th century, breeders sought to exaggerate their appearance through selective breeding. This increased their popularity as “purebreds,” hence their appearance in the media (like Lady & the Tramp)

[@a.p.5429]

​@@marrmaladeethe modern show Siamese cat looks immanciated compared to the old type. They have a slender build but not the sharp triangle head and ultra thin body of today. Old type was prettier and looked like a healthy cat.

[@Onkoe]

This kind of breeding shouldn't be legal. It's seriously hurting billions of dogs' lives... 😔

[@berserker3414]

Millions* there aren't that many dogs in Earth and lesser pure breed atrocities, thankfully. Most dogs that exist are mutts or mixed breeds

[@luvnotvideos]

So glad someone is getting this important message out. Thank you for sharing - the photos are super illuminating.

[@evy684]

I couldn’t agree more. I had 4 German Shepherds in the 70’s and 80’s. When I was going to purchased another one I. The 90’s I could not find a good one. Meaning a straight back. They look like big roaches with that back. I knew when. I saw the German Shepherd who won Crufts a few hears ago that the German Shepherds were ruined. I switched breeds. Every time I go to the shows I see those poor dogs. I also owned a Dachshund. One of the old type, thank goodness. And a Woman I know bred Boston Terriers. The old style. Beautiful healthy dogs. I hate what people are doing to these breeds. But what I hate most is that Judges keep picking them ! In my opinion the AKC should stand up for the dogs . I don’t care what anyone says. These changes affect the dog’s health. I could go on and on about this. Excellent video !

[@TedH71]

Go look for working bloodlines then. They're still out there.

[@llamasugar5478]

How does one find these breeders? Are these considered “heritage”?

[@down2this754]

Then you should know that the AKC doesn't set the standard, the breed clubs do.

[@Mutnut333]

Yes...like the cavalier that won years back who had that horrible brain condition that is 1000 times the pain of a migraine!!!!! Disgusting!! Years ago....I worked for a breeder/vet...who know judges and he was unethical to the enth degree!!!!

[@ChallieWallie]

We cant just blame the breeders and judges, we need to blame the buyers even more. If they don't buy those dogs, the breeding will quickly come to an end.

[@satishxoxox]

This has been my concern for so many years...that the American kennel club has disfigured so many fuctional dog breeds....its a shame..

[@down2this754]

Not the AKC. It's the individual breed clubs

[@skyeiron5872]

@@down2this754 And yet it's the AKC's judges that select the dogs that start the trends.

[@absue]

Thank you for speaking up for dogs.

[@Nadxheli]

Thank you for bringing awareness to this important ongoing issue. We love dogs, let's take care of them and breed for health and origin.

[@novanettle7497]

One of the biggest problem, I feel, is breeders absolute obsession with keeping the breed "pure". They insist on breeding within the breed, when the overall problem stems from inbreeding - the lack of a diverse genepool. My lovely neighbors in Norway, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I heard Norway has outlawd the breeding of English Bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as their deformeties are so severe as to be considered animal cruelty. Think I heard they wanted to outlaw pugs aswell. Honestly - humans have the absolute worst taste in what is considered "cute" 🤨

[@aftersexhighfives]

It's not that they outlawed those breeds specifically in another comment. They said that they made it law that the dog's nose must be one third of the length of the width of its head. Those breeds specifically have been bred for flat faces. So they don't meet that minimum nose to head ratio requirement.

[@martakavaliauskaite4566]

​@@aftersexhighfivesexactly they made that law that dogs could breath and bee healthy and not suffer from severe health problems

[@familhagaudir8561]

There is no problem whatsoever with keeping the breeds pure, as there are populations large enough to prevent inbreeding depression. All these problems in the video are caused by selectively breeding for those problems, because relatively recently. some dumbass judges ruled it "looked better".

[@user-ug2yz6vb7p]

Everything here is not false. People get emotional if you want and make your points, but she didn't come here without a reason.

[@mtgigi]

Why anyone would want to make a dog look like a hyena is beyond me. To breed them deliberately to be crippled is pure evil.

[@OffGridDogs]

Evil is correct

[@durabelle]

​@@mtgigi I get what you're saying, but they'd honestly be better off looking like a hyena than their current appearance.. Hyenas after all are fully functional animals that don't suffer from their weird structure. Then again hyenas' sloping backs are caused by the back legs being shorter than the front, not by having full length legs bent like frog legs behind a deformed back and bad hips. (And yes, frogs are functional too, before anyone can point that out 😆) Lots of different structures can work and even be beautiful in their own ways, but it needs to be developed through physical use and natural selection for their function rather than for how it looks to the eye. Kind of like how some monkeys have snuff noses but none of the issues that brachycephalic dogs have.

[@redpandah3309]

Please make a part two on the video when you talk about other breeds ❤ This type of videos are very useful for people who want to purchase a specific breed, but don't want to encourage unhealthy traits.

[@hassam363]

Breeders still defend this behavior.

[@johnhein2539]

I worry social media will make it worse because in truth, dogs are meant for running around and having fun, not for only taking cute aesthetic photos. The back on those old German Shepherds looks like they can do a lot of good, hard, and fun work for a really long consistent time.

[@OscarOSullivan]

If a dog is going to do something cute it must be natural like a Glen of Imal terrier sit.

[@OscarOSullivan]

If a dog is going to do something cute it must be natural like a Glen of Imal terrier sit.

[@blahblahgdp]

Could always just hire a dog for social media like a normal person.

[@MisterCynic18]

I think the issue is that most people don't do good, hard and fun work anymore and their dogs likewise suffer

[@pepperypeppers2755]

On the contrary, social media is making room for videos just like this one, calling out bad breeding trends. These breeds all came from a tiny, insular communities of rich weirdos breeding animals for contrived aesthetics. The fact you even have an opinion on dog breeding is a sign of that change.

[@francesnance9110]

I agree with you; they don't need to breed these dogs to be miserable! It is inhumane.

[@maddyg1820]

Loved the slideshow at the end! Amazing the photos go back that far. You can really see the difference in the dog’s form from one picture to another.

[@mrsone2000]

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU for bringing attention to this issue! My mother noticed this a long time ago with the German Shepherds, and she also had issues with every dog on this list for the same reasons. It is a shame that the greedy only focus on what they like and what brings them money rather than what is best for the animal. I am glad people like you are raising the alarm about this problem.

[@kristinetrott5087]

Back in the 70's and 80's there was a major dispute in the Australian Shepherd Club of America. The main reason for the dispute was that the majority wanted to stay away from AKC membership because the Aussie was a working dog and most breeders wanted to keep it that way. Unfortunately, a small off-shoot wanted "bench dogs" . They started breeding for longer, showier coats : pretty to look at but not all that good for working dogs. Then breeders got into the pet trade and started breeding Mini-Aussies. THAT REALLY MESSED THEM UP ! They ended up being neurotic, hyper-active, crazy dogs, useless for herd work or anything but annoying, crazy house pets. I have yet to see a single mini-Aussie that isn't annoyingly hyper-crazy. That just happened within a 20 year span of AKC breeding. And that's just one example.

[@rhythmandblues_alibi]

Wow so that explains why all the Australian Shepherds I've ever seen have been absolutely irredeemable psychos. Being Aussie myself, I loathe that they have our country's name while not having originated in Australia.

[@aftersexhighfives]

I mean, I would be pretty crazy too if my brain was twenty percent too large for my head cavity.

[@coor0kun]

As a Lab person, yes. Even the "default dog" looking Labrador Retriever's breed standard has changed dramatically over time, and I am concerned that some lines of show lab are becoming chunkier and with more loose skin.

[@kurtbecker9609]

not just labs. look at (my favorite breed) the Austrailian Cattle Dog.. the specimens I see in dog shows have short thick muzzles and are way too stocky. would never make it all day in the field working live stock. Not a fan of AKC breeding and the way this goes. guess I'd really love to see who the 'they' is that makes these decisions that 'this' or 'that' characteristic is popular.

[@austyn5004]

@@kurtbecker9609AKC ACDs are weird looking. I have 3 (same breeder, different litters) and they’re fairly slim (still stocky) and look like dingos. If you put them up against a show dog, they’d run circles around it

[@coor0kun]

I should be clear that I think breeding for behavioral differences or energy level differences is entirely valid. Labs are often service animals, and those lines tend to be a lot more chill and couch-potato compared to hunting lines or search and rescue working Labs. But in 1991 (I think) the AKC actually set a new limit on the lower height of show Labs because they saw that line getting shorter and shorter. It upset a lot of bench breeders because they lost money on their short breeding stock. The AKC did a good thing there, and I hope they will continue to adjust breed standards for the health and wellbeing of all dogs.

[@TedH71]

@@coor0kun Ironically the service dog trainers now breed their own dogs because they couldn't find the suitable ones out there. Esp the big time trainers.

[@coor0kun]

@TedH71 Yes, I love service line Labs! Absolutely the perfect balance of athlete and intelligent companion IMHO! My first Lab waaay back was a guide dog dropout from one of those programs, so I'm biased in favor of *any* service-bred line of any breed.

[@JosephsCoat]

I have a working line GSD. She’s weighs 55 pounds, has a straight back, and she’s the best! I’d never want a show line dog.

[@nicolemarcak9021]

My freshman year in college i had to write a 10 page argumentative paper on any subject of my choice, i actually wrote my paper on this exact subject and doing the research then was so eye opening to me i actually had no idea it was so bad, and this was 13-14 years ago 😞

[@karld1791]

I adopted a rescue puggle who’s half pug and has a semi long snout. As she grows older she gets more problems breathing in cold because her snout isn’t long enough to warm the air before it enters her lungs. A pure pug must have much worse trouble.

[@TheChaoticStorm]

It's really sad. My shelter mutt wanted to play with a Pug friend. The poor Pug couldn't breathe and was exhausted after a few minutes. We were also indoors, so not in the summer heat!

[@RshadowA]

As a new owner of a 9 month old German Shepherd, I am so glad to know that my dog's back is okay. It's disgusting to see what some breeders are doing.

[@user-zn9ke8um8s]

Why would someone ever want their dog to have a sloping back? Especially if it brings discomfort to the dog. How cruel.

[@palikariena7292]

My German Shepherd as a kid, born in 1978, looks like that old one in the pic. Amazing strong dog could jump 8 feet from a standstill. We could go hike in the woods for hours and get lost and she would find our way home. I could go on and on. Very healthy dog.

[@jansilverthorn777]

The neighbour had an absolutely gorgeous shepherd. Until you saw it walk. The base of the tail was mere inches off the ground and it paddled with its back legs. 😢

[@nancyrodwell7589]

German Shepherd should look like “Bullet” with Roy Rogers and “Rin Tin Tin” !!

[@evy684]

Thats exactly how they should look !

[@noheroespublishing1907]

Everyone trying to make German Shepherds into Hyenas.

[@SuaveHousexx]

I grew up with German Shepherds, Akitas, and pitbulls mostly. I have never liked the look of the highly exaggerated slopped rear end and knew it just couldn't be good for them. I think AKC and breeders should get together and put an end to that.

[@grits8284]

We are working line German Shepherd breeders. I hate what some breeders have done to these dogs, and you are spot on with the health issues some breeders have caused. Great information, and thank you for putting it out there. We have 6 wonderful and beautiful shepherds that I love dearly. We bought one of our males as a puppy that is a bi-color Czech working line that came from an excellent lineage . As he matured his back took on a bit of that slope. We love him as much as the others but we do not use him for breeding. It's sad what people have done to these majestic dogs.

[@psommer4218]

In Germany it is illegal to do so-called Qualzucht, which translates to something like torture breeding. Is this more of an American thing? I have only seen the slouched back German Shepherds in pictures and it looks completely wrong to me.

[@RaewCZ]

I'm from Czechia and yeah, this is first time seeing that weird show GS for me...

[@vallytine]

Americans just do things differently I guess.

[@Tiffany-lo6hc]

It's very much an American thing. My husband and I are in the process of buying a GSD puppy from a breeder who specifically breeds to strengthen the American Showlines by breeding in West German Showlines. That being said, part of the photos you see are exaggerated by the "show stack" which refers to the stance GSDs are expected to take during conformation shows. That one leg back, one leg half crouched stance, plus the natural pattern of their saddles gives the illusion of utterly crippled dogs. It's like when women pop a hip out to the side, we're putting most of our weight on one leg and it changes the way our bodies look for a moment, but we can definitely still walk. 😅

[@OscarOSullivan]

As someone who is Irish all the German Shepherds I have seen have straight backs

[@OscarOSullivan]

As someone who is Irish all the German Shepherds I have seen have straight backs

[@jdobe9461]

After more then 50 years of working with and training dogs I am convinced that show breeders are the greatest enemy of dogs!

[@NextToToddliness]

It's disgusting what we do to animals, and this isn't even the worst of it.

[@harrywoodman2988]

I am the proud owner of a female boxer direct from the origin of boxers in Bavaria Germany. We chose her since the (responsible) breeders have been selecting for the older traditional form as of late and she has a longer, fuller snout that helps tremendously with breathing and slobber. Thanks to that, she doesn't have nearly the same health problems as my last boxer that we rescued from Spain. We also see more pugs with the traditional form these days in Germany and they too have longer legs and snout and they are much healthier and sportier... thanks for bringing attention to this and lets hope more breeders aim for health!

[@XinaTheGM]

We rescue all our GSDs, and we've had to put all of them down before the age of 10 due to hip and back problems causing extreme pain. They tended to slow down around age 6 or 7. It's heartbreaking. The difference became even more obvious when we adopted a Malinois and a German bloodline GSD, both of which were active, playful, energetic, and far longer-lived.

[@chrisroper2731]

My daughter inherited a full blooded shepherd from her grand father. She lived to age fourteen. She had to put her down because of mammorygland cancer. She was just beginning to show signs of the hip arthritis.

[@Kostr184]

"Oh, you see, breeders make dogs sick and ugly, but **I don't blame them in any way**, they're silly, they don't know what they're doing, they love their dogs, and they just follow fashion." That's why the problem will only get worse. These breeders understand everything perfectly well, and purposefully do the most cruelty to animals possible. We have to blame them and put it on display, and that's the only way to stop it.

[@theapexpredator157]

Thanks for bringing awareness to the masses. Hopefully people will learn and change.

[@ghggp1]

Thank you for being honest to bring these terrible breeding practices that hurt the dogs to our attention! Seeing the historical images side by side to the current day breeding highlights the exaggerated deformities. I find it so terribly sad for the animals sake.

[@lucysnowe31]

I hate that sloped back on GSDs. I don't know why breeders thought it looked better. I think it looks horrible. I love dogs but I've never found GSDs attractive for that one reason. How awful that these dogs and others have been compromised. I hope they'll go back to their previous standards where they were all healthier and better looking.

[@niIIer1]

Mongrels usually have better genetic diversity and honestly look better than 90% of pure dog breeds. Getting a pet to be pure just so you can "show off" is the wrong reason to get a pet. I would never go for pure bred.

[@DrunkenDemon]

Dude, the breeders can be as angry as they want. They did the damage. This goes beyond any claim to preserve the breed. Its the exact opposite.

[@edl653]

100% correct and what you have said needs to be said more often. Yes the breeder lover their dogs, but they are complicit in causing all the degenerative breeding. Dog are not toys subject to the fashions of the day, but living things whose health and functioning needs to be a priority. - I have owned many GSD and the extremely sloped back is ridiculous and cause much discomfort and pain later in dogs' lives. This needs to be bred out by changing the AKC's standards and specifically callouting out Roach Back as a defect.

[@user-fe7mg5ot9z]

I'm surprised you didn't mention the Scottish Collie (Lassie). They have been bred to have unnaturally narrow skulls, and a ruff so heavy it pushes the skin down over the eyes. The eyes themselves are also smaller. My great grandfather used to breed them, many, many years ago. He stopped, because he said they were breeding the brains out of them. They used to be brilliant sheepdogs. If you look at a modern Collie, and compare it to photos of the original Lassie, you will see what I mean! It's because of things like this that many supporters of the Border Collie did not want the breed admitted to the show ring. They're afraid of the same nonsense happening. I'm glad you put up this video. I've been saying for years that the GS is no longer the strong dog it used to be. Fads should not be permitted to influence breed standards, and exaggerated features on dogs in the show ring should be penalized, not encouraged.

[@sage_silvestris]

I wholeheartedly agree with your grandfather, I find the current collies' mental capabilities derogatory. I used to breed show collies 20 years ago, they were intelligent, athletic dogs with a sweet and calm character. Today what I see even in no-show lines that they are constantly yipping like a pomeranian and when you look into their eyes you see only utter emptiness. I don't think that genetics is the main issue, my collies too were from English show lines. It's how people treat them. I used to do a variety of sports with them and treated them as a full-value working dogs. They competed against german shepherds and rottweilers with very good results, yet when we met a toddler who just learned to walk but wanted to walk my two adult male dogs, they were so cautious not to pull on their leash the slightest, so the boy would not fall. They did that instinctively. They were very differently intelligent than a border collie, I daresay that they surpassed them. I miss their calm and good natured demeanor.

[@skyeiron5872]

You can still find the true Scotch Collie today. You just won't find them in show rings.

[@sage_silvestris]

@@skyeiron5872 Unfortunately I am a very special case. I had show dogs who were very adept, kind and intelligent. Is it really such a bad thing to want both?

[@skyeiron5872]

@@sage_silvestris I'm not sure what you mean by this? My issue with the show ring is that they _claim_ to preserve the breed, they _claim_ to want to improve the breed but their actions are in direct opposition to what they claim. I have seen the same thing happen time and again to useful, beautiful and intelligent breeds. They box them up, they floof the coat, they pick a particular eye and ear set, and face shape and all the dogs end up looking the same as each other, and all the while they do not select for temperament however much they may claim to do otherwise, they do not select for health however much they claim to do otherwise and as much as they like to wave the breed 'standard' in your face, they blatantly ignore it when it does not suit their rhetoric. In the end all you have left of what was once a stable, sweet natured, intelligent and physically varied breed, is a vapid, vacant, cookie cutter dog that is high strung more often than not and is for the most part completely useless for the task it was intended for, combined with an ever shrinking gene pool which allows for a sometimes deadly concentration of unknown nasty recessives and even progressive dominants (such as DCM in Dobermans). Essentially, the dog found in the show ring is completely unrecognizable as the breed it supposedly belongs to. Some have completely lost their ability to work, others have simply had their instincts dulled, and the unlucky few have had a 'desirable' defect bred into them by fanciers which has a negative impact on their ability to live comfortably, never mind _work._ I have absolutely no issue with the rare individual who keeps true to the breed (and I do mean the _breed,_ *not* the arbitrary 'breed standard'), but who also likes to show their dogs.

[@sage_silvestris]

@@skyeiron5872 I completely agree with what you said, dog shows have an unhealthy competition where everything is about the owners and nothing about the dogs. That and the mindless fads turn breeds into disasers. And unfortunately it is about making money, much they like to deny. The greatest breeders live solely from breeding and that results in politics worse than we see in the parliament. Everyone has interests, but the dogs' get ignored in the end. What I meant about collies: I never met a real Scottish farm collie, but I think they are closer to border collies in temperament. What I really love in rough collies is their sophisticated and gentle behaviour, they are if the Victorian grace had been encapsulated in them. They weren't patroned by Queen Victoria for nothing. Unfortunately this gentle and kind temperament does not work well in today's brute world and collies often end up as a shy, and untrusty dogs. It really just takes a like-minded owner and proper socialisation.

[@eyemallears2647]

I’m an English Staffordshire Bull Terrier breeder. Doing my best to keep ‘em healthy!

[@kimfleury]

Love the slideshow! That's so amazing! Thank you for bringing this to light. Though you're not the first, it's important to keep the philosophy in the conversation. The older breeds look so much better than the show dogs. Breeders might emotionally love their animals, but true love is a verb. Love is to will the good of the other.

[@debramedina5756]

Thanks for calling attention to this. Dog shows in other countries are denying entry to some American bred dogs because of cruel and unethical breeding practices. Get a mixed breed from a shelter if you want a healthy, happy dog.

[@down2this754]

This is a common misconception. Mixed breed dogs aren't inherently healthier. It's just that no one tracks the health issues of mutts. Additionally most of these dogs are just two breeds, and often have the issues of both. Adopt because you want to, not because you think you are getting something better. It's a good thing to do, but it also needs to be done for the right reasons.

[@VARY78]

I will go to an ethical breeder who proves their dogs structure, temperament, and health if I want a healthy and happy dog. Not an unpredictable shelter mutt.

[@a.p.5429]

I agree. Mutts are usually very healthy. We have to admit at some point that all the specialty mix breeds like the labrador/poodle, yorky/Maltese etc are essentially mutts. Look for good confirmation and attitude for any dog you take home, train them and you'll be happy.

[@GoldBean2752]

@@down2this754 You are correct, but on average, more genetic diversity leads to less health problems. A dog of only two breeds would be called a cross, at least in the livestock world.

[@GoldBean2752]

@@a.p.5429 Crosses, not mutts.

[@k4vms]

My German GSD is a working K9 and is a registered service K9. I am told he is one of the best looking GSDs ever. He has a nice straight back not a slopping back end breed for the dumb show ring. My GSD, my buddy works for a living and is one of my best friends and the love of my life. People literally come from miles around to the shop where I repair Guitars, Banjo, amplifiers, etc to see him. They bring him biscuits. Wyatt Earp has been taught not to accept any food from people he does not know. In actuality he only accepts food from only 3 people. He also goes to the ER as a therapy dog and has stayed with me when I have been in the hospital. Wyatt is 110lbs and loves all types of animals and is very friendly with all good people Ricky from IBM(and Guitar Tech)

[@Chad-Giga.]

Dobermans are also littered with health problems due to bad breeding. I had two Dobermans I got as puppies, a brother and sister. They both didn't live past 6. One had to be put down due to cancer and the other died suddenly of a heart attack. We did the dna testing for bad genes and they both had the bad gene for heart problems and were put on medication for this.

[@nastybug6747]

If you are talking about problems different dog breeds have, there will always be angry breeders/owners in the comments telling you, that, despite all odds, THEIR dogs are not affected by the problems 99% of dogs of that breed have and thus, this must not be real. just ignore them.

[@BonganiMagadu]

I'm Zimbabwean and I'll swear by our native Southern African dogs like the Africanis. We have left them alone and not bothered with breeding it into what it was NEVER meant to BE. And certainly we don't consider a dog by its looks or cuteness Rock paintings going back 10000 years show the Africanis is virtually unchanged to this day Basically we have like 3-4 basic commands for our dogs 1. Come 2. Voetsek/go away 3. A low level whistle which is a call to arms 4. Saaa an expression to attack a person or chase an animal/game

[@maryeckel9682]

And they're beautiful dogs!

[@livingfinance]

Yes because you are African. Africans generally do view dogs as pets like westerners do. We see animals as animals.

[@BonganiMagadu]

@@maryeckel9682 They are and very underrated as a pet or guardian 🐶🐩🐕🐾

[@snowiecat456]

Dog shows in the UK were heavily criticised several years ago and a few celebs made documentaries about how different some dogs look now compared to what they used to look like. The Kennel Club was blamed for encouraging these show dog standards and the BBC stopped showing Crufts on their channel. Since then the show dog standards have improved and Crufts now have the proviso that all dogs must be healthy( able to walk, breathe and function properly). Things are getting better but there's still a way to go. My first GSD was a pedigree and had problems with elbow dysplasia even though he wasn't a show dog.My 2nd was a rescue with no pedigree papers all and he was perfectly shaped and never had any joint problems at all.

[@maryeckel9682]

Good on the BBC!

[@mathewritchie]

I have a vague memory of hearing that the Australian German Shepherd breeders association had introduced a requirement that all registered dogs had to have x-rays for both parents to show good hips to eliminate hip dysplasia in the breed ,years later I saw an article about a Shepherd owner in England suing the breeder for selling shoddy goods.The breeder claimed that it was impossible to eliminate hip dysplasia but when a report on how it was now not a problem in Australia was entered in evidence the judge found the breeders claims laughable and found him liable.

[@JayP-kd5rc]

Thank you for this info. German Shepherd is my favorite breed, but what a difference they have made in them. When you show the comparison pics, I think they all looked better before they messed them up. It's sad really. What is wrong with people? They care more about money than the health or life of the animals. Thank you again.

[@jav842]

I got my bulldog from a breeder concerned with their health. She has been a great dog and has no typical bulldog health issues. We need more breeders who do this.

[@sage_silvestris]

I would also like to mention the mental problems, that is a huge issue as well. For example: hyperactivity in aussies and borders. Breeders claim that this is the natural behaviour of their breeds, but trust me it isn't. Hyperactivity is still a brain dysfunction and puts a huge weight on the owner. It does not get better with exercise, on the contrary, they often just get hysterical. I can liken it to an unrest of the damned. An animal like that would only harm the livestock, not letting them a minute rest to graze. Yet what these breeders say to sell their dogs: these dogs are perfectly healthy, YOU are unfit for them. Me: yeah, thank god!

[@osathegermanshepherd]

Yes, I agree. I've noticed this too where these dogs aren't just driven workers anymore. But they seem to have something mental going on. Real nervy and odd behaviors.

[@tyr4106]

As someone that owns a working line BC/Heeler mix, I agree. Everyone was all like, "He's going to be really, really hyper! You won't be able to keep up with him!" Can he be hyper? Yeah. But some good exercise, along with some good mental stimulation, works wonders. He also has an off switch. He knows when to be calm. He's one of the most laid-back dogs I've had in my life. And from reading, that's how they are supposed to be. They aren't supposed to be these hyperactive 'demons' that everyone complains about.

[@singingstars5006]

We had a rescue Assie. He had an obsessive prey instinct where he could not leave alone anything living. He played with the neighbor's kittens until they died, for example. He bothered the chickens all day. The neighbors hated him and let him starve and that's why my mother's reluctant decision to take him was a "rescue". If we hadn't, he'd have been dead.

[@parkerbrown-nesbit1747]

I've noticed that a lot of Border Collies (working ones) are hyper-focused on livestock to the point of ignoring everything else. My grandfather bred, raised, and trained Border Collies for over 30 years. I started helping when I was 3 or so by socialising the pups and giving them their first lessons in herding. I was assisting with training at 5, and got my first dog to train by myself at 9. We bred only when we found a stud who we thought would enhance our line, which meant that we only breeding a specific dog twice at the most (we didn't breed after a certain age). We were among those who didn't agree with the AKC's decision to include them. There's a Border Collie mix in my neighbourhood who's absolutely hyper (he's incredibly friendly and wants to meet everyone. My Belgian Malinois is highly offended). Some of that is his owner, and I think that some is just neglectful breeding.

[@Wisepati]

Right now, due to the popularity of French bulldogs everyone is producing puppies with no fault of their health. I do not understand how people can want a dog that struggles to breathe.

[@melissagagnon1213]

It's so important that this kind of thing gets talked about. There's no reason we need to breed features that in the end hurt our animal friends. We should be breeding for health and nothing else!

[@Kitsune1989]

Breeders: why do they have so many hip issues? Also Breeders: Triangle! I need less square.

[@emilka2033]

Another breed that has been largely destroyed by backyard breeders is the American bully - the pocket bullies, XL bullies, and most abhorrently the "goblin" or "toad-line" bullies are not functional physically or mentally. A toad-line bred bully only lives around 5 years max. Those dogs are so deformed they can barely walk. Sad. The people behind those breedings are just terrible human beings.

[@morrigambist]

Even bullies that appear healthy wheeze as they breathe.

[@nettejakobs2501]

Thanks for highlighting these issues 😊

[@JaxJayDoe]

Thanks for this! Every single former iteration of those breeds seem so much more elegant imo