As Josh Billings once said ‘a dog is the only thing on Earth that loves you more than he loves

himself’.
After school, a Golden Retriever meets his owner and is eager to play fetch. A Doberman Pinscher
accompanies it’s owner as she jogs at night around the park. Every person has a dog that is ideal for
them; once you own a dog, you can't fathom your life without it. Have you ever considered the
possibility that your dog had a life before you? What was their past like? Where did they originate?
Like many others, I purchased my puppy from a breeder, as I specifically wanted a light cream-
colored Labrador. As time went on, I became aware of several health problems he was developing,
including sensitive skin and a propensity for ear infections. I rapidly understood that many breeds of
dogs experience common and worse illnesses.

People have been breeding dogs for certain features for approximately 4,000 years. Over time, this
resulted in breeders becoming too driven to produce what was perceived to be the most perfect
breed. In this effort breeders have turned to line breeding, because of this the vast majority of
current breeds have been proven to have genetically caused issues. In fact, most of the top 10
diseases plaguing all dogs are controlled by single genes which, when identified, are easy to
eliminate in the next generation. Many of these genetic disorders include mitral valve disease,
canine syrigomyelia, heart conditions and more which result in premature death. For instance, the
bulldog of the 1850s resembled the pit bull terrier of today more because it was robust, active, and
athletic with a longer muzzle. But by the early 20th century, when dog competitions gained
popularity, the bulldog had acquired a huge head with a flattened muzzle and squat, bandy legs.
Their altered physical characteristics making it practically impossible for them to procreate naturally,
give birth, and a third of all bulldogs experience significant respiratory difficulties as a result of the
altered facial structure. More than half of them come from puppy mills, where dogs are kept in poor
living conditions. They are bred and kept in cramped spaces then sold without much regard for the
well-being of the dog. These breeders can make false claims about the dog’s breed and origin to sell
them at a higher price. Often these dogs will have behavioural and health issues associated with
their early development in this kind of environment.

All of this can be prevented, by going to a good, trustworthy breeder who will give you information
on the entire breed's history, your dog's background and ancestry, which will let you know whether
their genes have experienced line breeding and if they are likely to suffer from any genetical
problems. When it comes to line breeding methods, linebreeding is a double-edged sword. While it
can cause health problems, it can also increase in uniformity and a better ability for offspring to pass
on any desired traits. Furthermore, it can come in handy when there is a shortage of dogs and a
limited gene pool.When a new dog breed is created because of an attractive mutation, the gene pool
is initially small which causes the need for mating closely related dogs.

Looking ahead at the future of dogs, the goal is to put the health of the animals first. I don’t think
anyone wants the famed traits to disappear, I don’t want the bulldog appearance to change, I just
want the bulldog to be transformed back into an animal that can function properly and is reasonably
healthy. Healthy! That’s what i want, that’s what every individual should want. A healthy by nature
dog with all its beautiness and ugliness combined together.