I Dog Person Am

I've been reading about various dog breeds on Wikipedia from time to time recently, and I've discovered a few things.

First, there are notable differences in the temperaments of different dog breeds. Some dog breeds make excellent family pets, while at the far other end of the spectrum, other breeds are very good with children.

(OK, no, it's not quite that bad. But almost!)

Second, breed standards are harming the breeds by making the breed-leading dogs virtually clones of each other, leading to a vast profusion of genetic disorders and generally weakening the breeds dramatically. Genetic diversity, phenotypic diversity, and hybrid vigor are good things. (In humans, too.)

Third, I think that the states and provinces of North America should outlaw docking and cropping. This isn't exactly a new position, because I've been uncomfortable with it since I learned why the traditional Doberman silhouette is the way it is, but I think my opinion, as with so many of my opinions as I fade past adulthood, has hardened into inflexibility. Sort of like my opinion on torture.

I've heard people claim that some breeds are docked because the tail is fragile and will break with normal usage (e.g. by getting wagged against something hard) and become gangrenous. This, I think, is not compelling. Not all dogs will do this and the breeds that are prone to it should have it bred out of them.

Posted by Greg at August 20, 2007 10:11 PM