Purebred Health-A Common Myth Debunked
As breeders of purebred dogs, we have long been countering common myths about purebreds being less healthy than crossbred and mixed breed dogs, particularly intentionally crossbred so-called "designer breeds". In our opinion, when deciding which dog is right for your family, it's important to make decisions based on data and facts. This is why a very recent study by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) triggered this blog.
For clarity, the term “mixed breed” refers to a dog with undocumented, often unknown parentage whereas “crossbred” refers to a dog that is intentionally bred with known parentage. A crossbred dog’s origin is the crossing of two different purebred dogs.
RVC and DAP Studies
The RVC study researchers surveyed over 9,000 dog owners about the health of their dogs. The dogs in the study included three of the most common intentionally crossbred dogs in the UK as well as their purebred parent breeds. The survey data analysis focussed on the 57 most common health disorders found in dogs, and the researchers compared the prevalence of these disorders in the purebred and crossbred samples. Their work revealed that the purebred group was not more widely afflicted with the disorders than the crossbred group.
CH Stannyfield's Sun Dog Ice "Edwin"
While the RVC study looks at just three crossbred dog types and their purebred parent breeds creating a somewhat narrow focus, the study's findings are aligned with a larger study in the US designed and led by the Dog Aging Project (DAP) and involved researchers from across the US. The group’s sample was drawn from data collected by the DAP over a specified time period. The sample encompassed just over 27,500 dogs including the top 25 AKC recognized breeds as well as non-purebred dogs. The researchers focussed on the prevalence of the top 10 medical conditions in each group. The overall results, published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science in 2023, did not indicate a higher prevalence of medical conditions in the purebred sample than the non-purebred dog sample.
Health as a Consideration When Deciding on a Dog
“When it comes to the current and future health of our dogs, ethical, purebred dog breeders are part of the solution.”
The two studies mentioned above debunk the common myth about poorer health in purebred vs. non-purebred dogs so we'll leave that here and focus the remainder of this post on the broader discussion about health as a consideration when choosing the right fit between dog and owner. Any dog can be affected by health conditions during their lifetime with many differing causes--environmental, accidental, quality of care, genetic and more and the DAP study captured many of these. Some breeds can be more susceptible to certain illnesses just as some humans can be more susceptible. Anyone who is in the market for a dog should carefully take a number of steps to understand the health risks associated with the dogs they're interested in. This might involve using online tools such as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals' database, official kennel club data if available, published research findings, seeking the advice of veterinary medical professionals as well as speaking with breeders/rescue organizations directly and reaching out to families who have dogs from them. A reputable breeder or rescue organization will provide references if requested. Seek out sound sources of information you can trust and if something seems off and you can't verify a source or back up a piece of information, don't rely on it to make your decisions.
Purebred Dogs and Their Breeders
Stannyfield's Perfect Crime "Dexter", loved and owned by Beth DeVries Photographer: J. Klein Photos
As you know, we breed both German Shorthaired Pointers and Welsh Springer Spaniels and register our dogs with the Canadian Kennel Club and in most cases, the American Kennel Club. We put a tremendous amount of our resources into raising sound, healthy and worthy breeding parents. This includes health testing by veterinary specialists to ensure we only breed dogs that have cleared their breed-specific recommended health tests. We have studied pedigrees to understand the dogs behind our dogs and we are part of a community of breeders who share information with one another and who share our commitment to being responsible stewards of our breeds. Does this mean health issues don't affect any of the dogs we breed? Absolutely not, that's unrealistic. But, as responsible, ethical and committed breeders, we do everything we can to control for this.
The value of purebred dogs to our society is impossible to quantify. I wrote about their cultural, historical and biological significance in my post about Preservation Breeding, citing the alignment of purebred dogs with that of our historical monuments and sites and as an unparallelled "animal genetic resource". Furthermore, because purebred dogs were created and are bred with purpose, we can predict their natural strengths, needs and drives, making it far easier for one to determine if their lifestyle is a good fit with a particular breed. Add to that the generations of health data on purebred dogs available to breeders and prospective buyers and we just start to understand their value.
When it comes to the current and future health of our dogs, ethical purebred dog breeders are part of the solution. We take pride in our work to preserve the health and longevity of not only our breeds but also all breeds and all dogs for that matter. Breed Clubs, breeders and the owners of purebreds have collectively played a significant role in many research studies by fundraising and donating funds to support canine health research, taking part in studies by sending in blood and other samples to researchers, submitting surveys and more. Universities and research institutes across Canada are engaged in research on canine health and wellbeing, much of which requires the participation of dog breeders and owners. The AKC Health Foundation (AKCHF) is a US non-profit organization that is dedicated to canine health research. AKCHF is always looking for participants to get involved and purebred dog clubs and breeders have supported this research for decades. A more recent initiative to support the respiratory health of brachycephalic breeds was developed by The Kennel Club and University of Cambridge in the UK—The Respiratory Function Grading Scheme. This test is used by kennel clubs and breeders globally, including in Canada, as it assesses Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) and gives advice to owners on how to manage it and to breeders on how to minimize their risk of producing affected puppies. These are just a few examples of the initiatives that purebred dog breeders participate in and care deeply about. The outcome of these initiatives is significant--they not only support the health of purebred dogs, but in many cases all dogs as well as humans.
So separate fact from fiction when deciding on what dog is best for you and your family and don't base your decision about whether to purchase a purebred on the health myth-it's been busted. Contrary to this dated, popular, unfounded belief, purebred dogs bred by reputable, ethical breeders are a healthy alternative to mixed breed or crossbred dogs. If you take anything away from this blog, please remember that ethical, responsible purebred dog breeders are part of the solution when it comes to dog health so have a conversation with one. You'll probably be blown away by their profound dedication, passion and sense of responsibility for not only their dogs and the puppies they produce, but also the broader dog population and community.
References
AKC Canine Health Foundation. (n.d.). https://www.akcchf.org/
Dog aging project. (n.d.). Dog Aging Project. https://dogagingproject.org/
Forsyth, K. K., McCoy, B. M., Schmid, S. M., Promislow, D. E. L., & Snyder-Mackler, N. (2023). Lifetime prevalence of owner-reported medical conditions in the 25 most common dog breeds in the Dog Aging Project pack. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1140417
New RVC research debunks belief that designer crossbreed dogs are healthier than purebreds. (n.d.). https://www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass/news/new-rvc-research-debunks-belief-that-designer-crossbreed-dogs-are-healthier-than-purebreds?fbclid=IwY2xjawE-39ZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZ8-NB8QbAMGj-hwhfGeJz6wOL7ZBJ5hU4CYL6X8bDgKH0FoeCSrE8ypFA_aem_pRFwFnxEo1UWa1bGr0jjyw
The Kennel Club Respiratory Function Grading Scheme. (n.d.). https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health-and-dog-care/health/getting-started-with-health-testing-and-screening/respiratory-function-grading-scheme/