Whippets are racing dogs – bred to be sleek and lithe. But every now and then, amidst a litter of perfect whippet puppies, championship breeders get what’s called a “bully whippet.” It looks more like a long-nosed pit bull.
Here, pictured in the New York Times, is bully whippet Wendy (right.) Some of us might treasure this good looking girl. But breeders of championship whippets want to purge the trait from the breed.
Since the dog genome has recently been mapped, scientists are beginning to discover which genes are responsible for many specific traits. In the case of the bully whippets, scientists found that the “double muscling” is caused by a mutation in a gene that enhances muscle development.
Some Labrador breeders are using DNA tests for coat color to guarantee exotic silver-coated retrievers. Mastiff breeders are testing for shaggy fur to keep out the “fluffies,” long-haired puppies that occasionally are born to short-haired parents.
This is a far cry from creating cockapoos or labradoodles – breeding poodles with cocker spaniels or labradors. This is not about mixing, but purifying. On the horizon, says the Times report, could be tests for “big dogs, small dogs, curly-tailed dogs, dogs with the keenest senses of smell and dogs that cock their heads endearingly when they look at you.”
But (surprise, surprise) there are some consequences in dog breeders’ zeal for genetic perfection. Genes are often tied to multiple traits. Deliberate selection of certain ones can result in imperfection elsewhere. The gene responsible for those silver-coated Labradors is tied to skin problems.
And take the whippets. It turns out that the same mutation that pumps up some whippets makes others among the fastest dogs on the track.
New York Times reports: Free of most of the ethical concerns — and practical difficulties — associated with the practice of eugenics in humans, dog breeders are seizing on new genetic research to exert dominion over the canine gene pool. Companies with names like Vetgen and Healthgene have begun offering dozens of DNA tests to tailor the way dogs look, improve their health and, perhaps soon, enhance their athletic performance.
Hold on for a second. What exactly does this imply? “Free of most of the ethical concerns — and practical difficulties associated with the practice of eugenics in humans…?”
I’d say it means we can guess what’s likely to happen to the puppy that’s been genetically screened and found to have, say, the bully gene.
It ends up in the dog pound, and I adopt it.
Because my dogs will always be mutts. I have nothing against silver-coated labradors or super fast whippets, or brilliant border collies (though I do like to be a little smarter than my dog.) And it isn’t even that I’m especially kind and want to save a dog from death. I like the surprise. I don’t want to design my dog. I like to watch my own dog emerge, watch what sort of animal develops from that particular puppy. The beauty or the oddball, the mellow or the curious. How big? How hairy?
None of the dogs in my muttface gallery below would make the cut for any breed.
Is there such a term as dog nazi eugenics? Why can’t we let all forms of life develop as their genetic makeup was intended? I vote to outlaw this animal cruelty today.
Poor dogs. I feel sorry for a dog that has skin problems just because its owner wanted it to have silver hair.
My mutt is perfect the way he is!
We are such control freeks I can’t believe we would try to “create the perfect dog”. One day those people will wake up and realize that none of us are truly in control.
good thing people can’t control the weather or
the movement of the heavens.!!! scarry thought…….
I’m going to adopt mutts. It’s a shame they get neglected just because they’re not purebred. My girlfriend and I love Zoey to death (our spaniel/lab/eskimo mix).
[IMG]http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/swg222/Zoey1.jpg[/IMG]
I’m going to get another one in the near future but for now I’m going to do foster care. Mutts are great!
Shaun sent a picture of his mutt Zoey. She’s the white one with the black button nose.
By the way, the mutts in the muttface gallery are not all mine. I’ll put mine in today. I have a yellow one and a brown one.
Thanks Shaun!
I also think they should stop this animal abuse. Seems that purebred dogs are already the product of humananly selected genes, and many of these purebred breeds have been suffering from an array of issues/ailments due to in-breeding. The AKC should be more responsible and cease to be the enambler of this practice. Besides, it seems that a mutt is usually smarter than a purebred dog. As man’s companion and best friend this is definately a more rewarding/evolutionary correct quality.
the view,however,that is very good.
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Excellent article! I am definitely subscribing to your blog. One question..how often would you say you update? Thanks.
My dogs have all been mutts from the local animal shelter. Good, faithful dogs, every last one of them.
Aww, they’re so cute, I love mutts and I agree, they are faithful dogs.
I loved the pictures, mutts without a dout are the best.
thanx for the great article.
I also think they should stop this animal abuse. Seems that purebred dogs are already the product of humananly selected genes, and many of these purebred breeds have been suffering from an array of issues/ailments due to in-breeding. The AKC should be more responsible and cease to be the enambler of this practice. Besides, it seems that a mutt is usually smarter than a purebred dog. As man’s companion and best friend this is definately a more rewarding/evolutionary correct quality.
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My dogs have all been mutts from the local animal shelter. Good, faithful dogs, every last one of them.
I am very happy to visiting this web site. and it was very good and better to care a dogs health.
Do you not get that mutts are all combinations of purebreeds … they still have all the health problems you just have no idea which ones to look for …. true dog breeders pride them selfs on making the line as free of problems as posable if everyone really researched the person they were getting a dog from all the breeders that only breed for money would not be able to exist because no one would buy their dogs … its everyone that just buys a dog with out knowing what their doing thats the problem
“Designer Dog” – sounds like a horror film title. Dogs should be left alone. Or be prepared to pay the price.
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Seems that purebred dogs are already the product of humananly selected genes, and many of these purebred breeds have been suffering from an array of issues/ailments due to in-breeding.
I’d rather say that all purebreds originate from the human-directed breeding between mutts. So purebreds’ owners have nothing so big to fuss about. I’ve an aquitance of mine that starts to literally shoo away any mutt she sees, no matter if it has an owner or not, and she pets and squishes and huddles to purebreds. That’s simply not right. I personally don’t have a dog (and never have had), but I’d surely choose a mix of some kind or an unindentifiable mutt instead of an inbred pedigree… Don’t get me wrong, though. I’ve nothing against any dog, be it a purebred or a mutt, but the people’s attitude towards them.