sandgrubber

https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/08/15/1057697/scientists-extend-lifespan-pet-dogs-owners/?utm_source=Nature+Briefing&utm_campaign=0ee1356685-briefing-dy-20220816&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c9dfd39373-0ee1356685-45542558 Some interesting projects.

Not so different frto the situation with avocados. High prices. Established breeders breed a few more and newbies get drawn in. Oversupply. Prices crash. But dogs are sentient. Before dumping on backyarders, though, remember that many established breeders began as backyarders. And without new people coming into breeding, the kennel clubs will go extinct.

Can happen with all sorts of breeders. I knew a lagotto breeder (now deceased) who did a lot of showing who made a fortune selling pups.

I expect you'd fine most trendy dog breeds/colors have health problems. When prices are high, indiscriminate breeding increases, as does puppy buying by people buying for the wrong reasons. A recent study gave Frenchies a life expectancy under 5 years https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-10341-6

Color is determined by a few genes and there's no reason to think the color genes are cross linked to temperament. However human factors do influence color choice and may affect temperament via breeders decisions. A century ago, yellows were (according to my mother, b. 1923, USA) less common and considered ladies dogs. Guide dogs likes yellows because they are more visible. Chocolate, were extremely rare a century back. Two decades ago they became trendy and pricey, so no doubt there was some less good breeding going on, though there were also some lovely choco studs and frozen semen imported to Oz, and some breeding for chocolates was done quite well.

Black. It's the original. Plus I live in NZ and Kiwis have a thing about black.

https://fox4kc.com/news/missouri-spelunkers-find-missing-dog-in-cave/ old dog, missing for 2 months, found miles deep in a cave

Need more information. Ask for four numbers, eg hips 3/4 elbows 1/1. 3 is terrible for a single elbow and very good for a hip. Is this for a pet?

Puppy prices are dropping as well (in NZ anyway).

All sorts of stuff. I've read toxicology studies (herbicides, pesticides) where they were used. Beagles are standard as animal models. Low maintenance, easy to keep a pack of them. They'll eat anything. Laboratory strains have been developed.

Follow up Rescue groups begin work to rehome 4,000 beagles bred for research https://www.npr.org/2022/07/24/1112756300/envigo-beagles-research-rescue-groups-rehoming?sc=18&f=1001

https://www.humanesociety.org/4000beagles#partners looks like they are trying to farm them out to other rescues....and asking for support HSUS isn't as bad as PITA.

A little quick on the draw there, mate. 1. I can think of some bench lines that weren't bred for much other than looks, and the result is not great when it comes to health. 2. What's a breeder who doesn't breed dogs in the back yard? A kennel breeder? Some of them are pretty big on for profit, particularly in trendy breeds like Frenchies. (Not to say there aren't good Frenchie breeders. Just that very high prices attract people out for $$). And some cross breeders really are aiming for something.

also to rebuff the argument that dingoes are just wild dogs so there's no point to preserving them. Genetic research isn't that expensive these days and can have side benefits, for example by building up the knowledge base for understanding hereditary conditions/diseases.

I suspect the trend toward franchised practices, and the pressure of having a practice manager, contributes to the stress.

In all my years with dogs, I've never before had a neutered boy and an entire bitch. When a bitch came on season I've usually kept careful watch for a month. Yoli (entire) and Goofy (her son, desexed) started doing hanky panky at about day 7 and have stopped at day 17-18. She now tells him off if he looks at her the wrong way. Question: Is that an indication that she now safe to walk off lead?

If Guinness has it right

https://sheltermedicine.vetmed.ufl.edu/2019/10/15/tattoo-study/ maybe it's not as widespread as I thought Yes, it's done on male cats as well ...see photos

I have flop eared breeds so this isn't a problem. But I don't get the point of ear tattoos. In the US, vets routinely put a streak of green dye into the incision wound. It works like a tat,lasts forever, and never seems to cause problems.

How tragic...and infuriating. I thought VIC had pretty harsh laws about "restricted breeds". Why weren't the police called in immediately?

https://cgejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40575-022-00120-x#ref-CR1 Attempt to get evidence based understanding on the rise of designer breeds. Good lit review on the issue of 'hybrid vigor'.

BBC News - Pampered pooches ride Japan's Shinkansen in style https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-61543052 special coach for owners with pets on bullet train. Cute pictures.

Worth noting that this was from a vet practice in Arizona. Perhaps a region where big mean dogs are seen as weapons

No question, undisciplined biters are a menace. But it's not spare the rod and spoil the dog. Well behaved, lovable dogs are often taught in ways that are so soft you'd hardly call them discipline, and are treated almost as children. I doubt there's big overlap between vet-biters and dogs whose owners call them 'furbaby' and allow them on the bed and sofa. Formal training often isn't required to get a dog to be well mannered and reasonably polite. Just consistent gentle encouragement/discouragement by the owner. Often not much more than tone of voice and an occasional push or pull. Body language, tone of voice, treats for good behaviour, and patience cause puppies take awhile to catch on to some things.