Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute in Seattle, Washington, have been involved in two recent studies of dog genetics. In March, the results of a study by Deborah Lynch of the Canine Studies Institute in Aurora, Ohio, and Jenny Madeoy, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute were widely reported. Lynch and Madeoy concluded that all contemporary dog breeds descend from "ten progenitor breeds" and propose groupings of contemporary breeds according to these ancestries, which differ from the American Kennel Club's seven groups.
In May the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center again made headlines. The center's Elaine Ostrander and colleagues confirmed that selective breeding has resulted in distinct genetic differences between breeds. Pedigree dogs, it turns out, may facilitate research into inherited diseases, because, unlike the human population, the inbreeding in pedigree dogs produces many subjects with "the same genetic disposition" to a given disease.
This boon to researchers, of course, is the bane of pure-bred dog owners. Take, for example, the Standard Poodle. The website, Versatility in Poodles lists a daunting number of congenital disorders in the Standard Poodle gene pool, including hip dysplasia, sebaceous adenitis, progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, Von Willebrand?s disease, thyroid malfunction, Addison?s Disease, auto immune hemolytic anemia, Juvenile Renal Disease, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, and gastric torsion/bloat. (John Armstrong writes, in "The Nature of Genetic Disease" (2000 rev.), available online at The Canine Diversity Project, that some "genetic diseases" are, in fact, conformational problems: "If the fancy as a whole decides that a taller, narrower dog looks more "refined," more of that description will be kept for breeding purposes, and the population will be shifted toward a more bloat-prone conformation.")
Through selective breeding of dogs, the modern breeds have been developed. Historically, selective breeding was practiced to achieve functional results: dogs who could hunt badgers, chasing them into and retrieving them from their underground holes, i.e. the Dachshund; dogs who could withstand the arctic climate and pull heavy loads, i.e. the Siberian Husky and the Alaskan Malamute; dogs who could kill foxes, i.e. the Fox Terrier. Today, as evidenced by the AKC's breed standards, selective breeding is concerned almost entirely with morphology, which is to say appearance. A sad example of this is the sloping hind-quarters of the German Shepherd Dog, which makes the breed highly susceptible to arthritis. Other sad examples include the stunted snout of the Pug, which causes respiratory problems, and the oversized skull of the English Bulldog, which exceeds the capacity of the birth canal, requiring surgery in order for puppies to be delivered. (See, for example, The Millennium Bulldog Club of Pretoria (South Africa), General guidelines for breeding Bulldogs, "Caesarian or not," and Celeste A. Clements' article "Breed Spotlight on Pugs: Not Just Another Pretty Face".)
In The New Work of Dogs: Tending to Life, Love, and Family (New York: Randon House [Villard], 2003), Jon Katz argues that most dogs in America today have the task of "attending to the emotional lives" of their owners. Yet, the ability to do this work is not something that is being selected for by dog breeders. In general, no one is selectively breeding for the qualities that make a good pet.
If you are looking for a good dog for a pet, you are just as likely to get one from an animal shelter or rescue organization as from a breeder. The Dog Owner's Guide offers several considerations of the pros and cons of owning a mixed breed dog. Rescue organizations differ from animal shelters in that the former do not have kennels, in which an assortment of dogs from which you may choose are housed. Rescued dogs are housed individually with foster families who socialize and train the dogs before the dogs are deemed "adoptable." Most likely, a dog adopted from a good rescue organization will be house-trained and will have the foundation of the basic obedience commands. Additionally, the foster family should have introduced the dog to a lot of different people and other household pets; therefore, the dog should have a rudimentary understanding of how to behave among humans in our homes and in our world.
All Breed Shelters
The Animal Rescue League of Boston has four adoption centers--in Boston, Dedham, East Brewster and Pembroke--and offers dog training classes (for owned animals and those adopted from ARL) at all of their animal centers.
At Buddy Dog Humane Society, in Sudbury, "adoption counselors work with potential adopters to match them with a friend for life."
Boston's captured strays, as well as pets that are unclaimed by their owners, are available for adoption at the City of Boston Animal Shelter, run by Boston Animal Control, in Roslindale.
The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) has seven animal care and adoption centers in Boston, Methuen, Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Brockton and Springfield.
All Breed Rescue Organizations
Boston Dog Rescue in West Roxbury rescues dogs from local pounds and shelters, as well as shelters in the south. All dogs available for adoption reside in foster homes.
Save A Dog rescues adoptable dogs from southern shelters. Their dogs reside in foster homes, but Save A Dog holds occasional adoption events at local pet service providers (kennels, pet supply stores), where you can "Meet and Greet" dogs that are available for adoption.
