According to Wikipedia “Purebreds, also called purebreeds, are cultivated varieties or cultivars of an animal species, achieved through the process of selective breeding. When the lineage of a purebred animal is recorded, that animal is said to be pedigreed.” In other words, if a German shepherd mates with another German shepherd, their pups will have similar characteristics to their parents and not to other breeds in their gene pool. However, just like human babies may have congenital defects due to their parents being related, breeding from too small a gene pool, especially direct inbreeding, can lead to the passing on of undesirable characteristics. It may even cause a collapse of a breed population due to inbreeding depression. Therefore there has always been a debate about when to allow ‘outside’ stock for breeding purposes as this can improve the overall health and vigor of the breed. Purebred animal breeds are also susceptible to a wide range of congenital health problems. Then why do humans demand for purebred pets? Why is an animal, whose ancestry has been recorded, considered a better pet than a mutt? These questions are simply beyond me, especially after knowing the ill effects of pure breeding. My article is going to focus on the effect of this, especially on dogs.

Genetic conditions are a particular problem for dog breeds that do not accept any outside breed or blood. Most kennel clubs make a dog breed with its parents or siblings, which is morally as well as genetically disgusting. Some of the most common conditions arise from inbreeding. These include hip dysplasia, seen in large breed dogs, von Willebrand disease, a disease that affects platelets that is inherited in Doberman Pinschers, entropion, a curling in of the eyelid seen in Shar Peis and many other breeds, progressive retinal atrophy, inherited in many breeds, deafness, and epilepsy, known to be inherited in Belgian Shepherd Dogs, German Shepherd Dogs, Cocker Spaniels, and St. Bernards. Many dogs are bred with exaggerated features to please dog show judges! In reality, not only do ‘purebred’ dogs riddle with genetic diseases, but dog breeds are not even a real thing! We have made them up! We often talk about dog breeds as if nature created them that way and as though every mutt were just a mix of different purebreeds. But in reality, mutts are healthier than the so called ‘purebreds’ and pure-breeding is a sort of genetic manipulation humans made up just to amuse themselves. 90% of all dog breeds have been created in the last century! Because our ancestors thought that dogs should live upto our arbitrary standards, even though it causes them to get sick and die.

In 2008, the BBC ran a documentary on the health problems in pedigree dogs.A summary of the main points of that documentary are as follows:

• 60% of Golden retrievers die of cancer.
• 1 in 3 of King Charles’ Spaniels have skulls that are smaller than their brains!
• Great Danes are so huge that their hearts cannot support their bodies!
• Male Dalmations have difficulty in urinating due to stone formation.
• Bull dogs are a total genetic failure and are victims of borderline animal abuse! They can barely breath due to their squashed noses, their heads are so big that they can only give birth through caesarian, their tails can become ingrown, they have hip dysplasia and their average life expectancy is 6 years!
• The Bull Terriers have respiratory diseases due to their oversized snouts, supernumerary teeth and are compulsive tail-chasers.
• The Basset Hound has suffered too many changes to its rear leg structure that has made it stand so low that its stomach nearly touches the ground! It also has excessive skin, vertebra problems, droopy eyes prone to entropion and ectropion and excessively large ears.
• The Boxer have an extremely short snout, has difficulty in breathing, has lower hindquarters and has difficulty controlling its temperature in hot weather. It also has one of the highest cancer and many of them suffer from seizures.
• The Dachshunds are prone to dwarfism and do not have properly functional legs or necks for their size. There is barely any clearance between their chest and the floor.
• The mutations in German Shepherd Dogs serve no purpose but have made it an imbalanced breed that is more prone to cancer.
• The St. Bernard is oversized, has difficulty breathing and has too much skin due to which it quickly overheats and cannot work like thebreed was meant to. Their common diseases include entropion, ectropion, Stockard’s paralysis, hemophilia, osteosarcoma, aphakia and fibrinogen deficiency.
• Pugs have high blood pressure, heart problems, low oxygenation, difficulty breathing, tendency to overheat, dentition problems, and skin fold dermatitis. Even their double curled tail is a genetic defect that leads to paralysis in serious cases.

When new born puppies don’t fit the ridiculous and harmful breed standards imposed by us humans, who like to play God all the time, they are culled by the breeder. Completely healthy puppies are euthanized, just because they don’t look perfect. This is sick. The next time you feel like bringing a pup home, pick up a stray or adopt one from the animal shelter. But I beg you to not ask for a ‘purebred pedigreed’ dog, because that is just wrong and against the laws of nature.

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It’s soft and cuddly. It’s absolutely adorable. It comes in so many colors. It is always there. These are just some of the common qualities between a cocker spaniel and a cloud, primarily the appearance. Its mainly because of their curled up thick coat. These cute little darlings are become extremely common everywhere. They are incredibly friendly and lovable. Their size makes them a viable choice in with the reducing home sizes in the growing cities. They are beautiful in their own right, and so poised, no wonder they are a regular feature at dog shows and the like.

Originally bred as hunting dogs, their name was derived from their use as a preferred choice for hunting the Eurasian Woodcock. It was first bred in the United Kingdom, where they were known as the English Cocker Spaniel. Eventually they were brought in to the USA and there a new breed originated, called the American Cocker Spaniel, where they were trained to hunt the American Woodcock.  Both the breeds have similar coat colors and health issues with a few exceptions. Their existence can be dated to as far back as the 14^th century. From here they were exported to various other countries in time and their popularity began its ascent. Spaniels may be considered related to hounds and originating from Spain, lending it the name. They were often bred as gun dogs. With their strong sense of smell they could not only find prey and instigate them into flight, only to be shot down by the gunmen, but the cocker spaniels sight smell were so sound, that they could also find and retrieve the bird with a soft mouth.

Cocker spaniels were first classified as such, if the Spaniels weighed less than 25kgs. This was until the year 1901, after which the weight range changed and accommodated larger or heavier dogs too. According to the current standards, a typical male grows to a height of 37-41 centimeters, whereas a female could grow as tall as 34 to 39 centimeters, based on their breed. The English Cocker Spaniel tends to be taller than its American counterpart. The English variety has a narrower head and chest, whereas the American has a shorter back and muzzle and a domed head.  An English cocker spaniel weighs from 13 to 15 kilograms and the American breed weighs between 11-14kgs. There have been several instances when a cocker spaniel was awarded the best in show at some of the most prestigious dog shows of the world.

Cocker spaniels come in a variety of colors to satisfy and indulge all preferences. Black, liver, white, red and golden are some of the most common solids. But at the same time, cocker spaniels are available as a blend of these colors as well, such as roans, tans and sometimes even tricolors. All- white cocker spaniels are extremely rare, and are often specially bred, but sometimes a darker parent could also give birth to an all-white cocker spaniel. Cocker spaniels are ranked amongst the most popular breeds, both in the US and the UK, and it only seems to be increasing. Cocker spaniels are also categorized as those with show strains and working strains. Show strains as the name suggests, are bred almost exclusively for the purpose to conform to standards as part of dog shows. The working strain on the other hand is meant only for their working ability. They tend to be larger with flatter heads, shorter ears, and less feathering compared to their show strain counterparts.

Cocker spaniels with their long floppy ears are prone to several defects of the ear canal along with the regular ailments common amongst dogs. The fold of the ear prevents air from entering the ear, making the atmosphere warm and susceptible to growth of unwanted organisms. Ear inflammation, swelling, can cause the ear to get shut. This can be caused due to parasites, microorganisms, foreign bodies, tumors, ear mites, ticks or even fleas that live and fester in a dog’s ear canal. Yeast infections are extremely common, hence adequate care needs to be taken, if you notice inflammation or pus-discharge. A foul odor, unusual shaking or scratching of the head by the dog is also a sure sign of something being wrong. Other common ailments include hip displasia, cancer, and even eye disorders. PRA or progressive retinal atrophy has been documented in many dogs, and affect’s a dog’s eyesight. In severe cases, it could even cause blindness, which could also be caused by glaucoma. Cataracts are also fairly common.

Cocker spaniels with their joyful, friendly demeanor, love the company of humans. They are playful and energetic and are loved by kids especially because of that soft, shiny, huggable coat. Their size and adaptability makes them a favorite choice as pets in most households, as that signifies that they are low maintenance. This does not reduce the rewards that one reaps as a sign of their love, loyalty and gratitude towards you. They can be amazing companions for individuals, and are amazing family dogs. They love to play outdoors and are amazing partners to health fans. one really doesn’t need any other reason to fall irrevocably in love with this breed.

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Dalmatians as we know:

Dalmatians or (Dalmatiner) are known to be one of the best watchdogs and fire-escape hunters since time immemorial. They are known to be famous for their mysterious black spots on their velvety-smooth white fur skin. Making them one of the most easily recognizable dogs of the world.

Known as one of the most entertaining yet energetic dogs, Dalmatians tend to be hyper active more or less all the time and because of which they are generally used in the circus extensively as well as they act like one of the better playmates for young children at home.

Dalmatians have a huge mystical arena around them when one tries to investigate into those black spots as well as when it comes to talk about their origins. They are known to be friendly yet ferocious and thus the whole personality of the Dalmatian breed makes them one of the most fascinating canines throughout the world.

Origins of Dalmatians:

Dalmatians are one of those breeds whose origins are even now to the present day unknown because of which the curiosity is developed around them most of the times. Originally, these dogs are known to come with the nomadic bands of Rome who are now knows as gypsies to us. Although it is still a façade that they were found there. They are known to have adopted their name from the eastern shore of Adriatic Sea which is now known as Croatia to us. The Republic of Croatia was accepted by the F.C.I to be the county original of these Dalmatians. Since the 18^th century this breed was massively cultivated in the backdrop of England and their unusual coatings and markings seemed to become popular in Europe during the latter half of the 19^th century. But even this theory on these Dalmatians being from Croatia has been debated over the years because the country is yet to call these breeds a product of their territory and thus many theories of these dogs being from Asia(as the Bengal dog) and from Africa have been lurking since their very existence.

It is believed that this breed has been related to the Pointer and because of their stamina they are known to be greatly affiliated to having very pleasant and sharp searching abilities with themselves.

All in all, although the topic of Dalmatians origins has been disputed since years, their existence in the lives of many has been pertinent.

Dalmatians as Mascots:

It has still not yet been absolute whether it was for what purpose this breed was used for but at the outset it was believed that Dalmatians were utilized for the work of being a carriage dog in the 1800’s for the gypsies. Running behind the coach or being under the coach axles being their primary job. They were guard dogs for the horses and coach when at rest. Because of their comfortable proximity with the horses and the stags; they became the guiding canines for the stags and helped out clear out their paths.it is said that during that time when a fire would be started, these Dalmatian dogs helped clear out the way for the horses in order to make way for the horses to reach the place caught with fire on time and even helped rescue people in dire need of help during the fire to escape.

Utilized as fire-fighting dogs in the United States

They would then direct the horse’s way back to the stations and would carry out the responsibility of being a watch dog. Because there was a heavy possibility of thievery being carried out in those local areas of the fire engines and hoses, these Dalmatians would serve their purpose of being responsible watch dogs, efficiently. Even now Dalmatians are used as guard dogs for protection of eminent institutions as well as homes. Protection with this breed is guaranteed.

Dalmatian’s Personality:

Known to be entailing very high energy with themselves, Dalmatians are known to be able to travel long distances on their limp in a day (known to cross counties within a day’s time). Thus, it is well advised to not have them stuck in the backyard for too long. They are known to have a sly sense of humour and could behave well with unknown entities if treated properly at the time of them being a puppy. They are known not to have many issues when around familiar entities and if taught well from the beginning, they are known to be adjustable enough to fit in. Dalmatians are known to fit in well with young kids and are branded playful when treated with toys, food etc. being very smart in nature, it knows how to entertain everyone from every age group, well and could be the perfect watchdog for your house.

The Mystery behind the SPOTS:

Whenever we see the infamous movie 101 Dalmatians, we all at one point had wondered “where do these spots come from?”

Dalmatians being the only canines having such spots that ranges from their whole body (they even have spots in their mouth) makes them a unique animal to have. Believe it or not, the reason for their spots is still unknown. Some believe that the spots on these Dalmatians come about because of selective breeding that caused the liver-color spots on them. Whereas, some say the spots arrived due to the genetic mutations on the skin of these dogs, called the PIEBALD GENE which bring about these spots.

It is said that these spots do not come out only in the black color- there are Dalmatians with blue, light green and lemon colored spots as well. They might not even have any spots at all!

Dalmatian with brown spots!

Dalmatians are even known to have variance in their eye colors- having amber or blue eyes.

Pre-requisites before buying a Dalmatian:

• Need to be taken for daily long and brisk walks, allowing for them to walk behind so as to instil in them the feeling of being lead, or else they could turn out to be the leaders and be aggressive in future.
• About 30% of every Dalmatians are deaf, and must go through the BAER test for the one who wants to adopt/own them.
• Have a tendency to lose a lot of hair- must be brushed at least 3-4 times a week so as to avoid losing hair on things
• Must be combed regularly- make them have a bath 3-4 times in a year.
• Can live up to the age of 18 years if take care of properly- have a possibility of getting health issues during their last years regarding the urinary bladder stones- proper medication can help avoid the same
• One must get a health clearance from the breeder before opting for this breed.

All in all, Dalmatians are worthy of being a care-taker of your house and could very well help you with guarding the family!

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Many breeds of dogs popularly kept today are said to be ‘Spitz’ dogs or ‘Spitz type dogs’. If you’ve been looking at a variety of different breeds and types of dogs with a view to finding out the perfect future pet or companion for you and the entire family, you may have possibly heard the term in usage and wonder what kind of a dog it is and also, whether, a Spitz dog might be worthy of consideration as a future pet.
Spitz is generally characterized by their pointed ear and elongated muzzle and thick, dense fur which often contains a significant amount of white pigmentation. Their tail naturally curls up over the back of the dog to some degree. The term Spitz is not a breed in itself, nor does it refer to dogs of any particular breed. It’s more of ‘type’ identification and dogs of the Spitz type often bear a passing or sometimes strong resemblance to wolves. Recent genetic testing of a range of dogs of Spitz type shows that they originate from both deliberate and accidental mating of both domestic and wild dog packs with wolves. A significant number of dogs classed as Spitz originate from East Asia and the Arctic regions. While the word Spitz is Germanic in origin and a significant number have been bred in Germany during their relatively recent history, various factors that make up the Spitz typing are not believed to be indigenously Germanic

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Dogs which fall under the heading of Spitz type may come from a wide variety of different breeds. The range of dogs most usually considered to be Spitz and having the universal traits of that type include Alaskan Malamute, American Akita, Canaan Dog, Chow- Chow, Finish Spitz, German Spitz, Greenland Dog, Labrador Husky, Siberian Husky, West Siberian Laika.
Spitz is extremely cute dogs. One of the most distinctive and uniting factors common to all of them is their dense, often luxurious coat, which comprise of two layers; a long fine tapcoat and a thick insulating undercoat of coarser hair. A dog with a coat of this type requires considerable grooming to avoid matted fur and associated problems. Dust ad licks found in their fur makes it uncomfortable for the dogs. Brushing is not enough because a brush takes care of only the top layer of fur and a comb, if used to groom the dog down to the skin, will have to deal with knots and mats within the fur.
Spitz is loyal, good natured and inquisitive and relatively easy to train, although they can be prone to stubbornness and need firm direction and consistent handling. They inherently have a lot of stamina and endurance which helps them run over long distances etc. They are always brimming with excess of energy and hence need a large amount of space to walk around, roam freely and do energetic exercise for proper utilization of their energy. They are generally good with children and other pets. They are very active since they are bred for work. Spitz love to bark and we adore a barking Spitz at home, although outsiders and guests can find it scaring. Some people are too petrified of Spitz because of their ‘non-stop barking nature’. They are real smart animals; they get bored easily, try to grab your attention and if not given, they know well how to manage it from you. It will not eat unless you feed it. It will hover all around you until your attention falls on him and if guests are at home, they sniff so carefully from head to toe unless they make sure that you are perfect and not an evil intruder.

In warm seasons, it is of utmost importance for you to perform regular checks on your Spitz for fleas and ticks. There are numerous ways to avoid this problem which includes shredding the fur, using flea comb to find fleas etc. If she is exposed to mosquitoes often, she may carry heat-worms with her. As a result, she might die early. In some moderate climatic areas, veterinarians advise preventive worm medication throughout the year. Male Indian Spitz need to be neutered-and the females sprayed- removal of ovaries and uterus by 6 months of age. This reduces female breast cancer possibility. Prostate diseases, testicular cancer, some Hernias and certain types of aggression can be prevented by neutering males. The yearly cost of rearing the Indian Spitz- to include food and snacks, to vet bills, toys and license- is not much high.

The Indian Spitz is a dog type belonging to the utility group and was once an excellent farm worker found in India. As pets, they are playful and kind towards the humans. They love to chase their own tail and are quiet athletic. They adapt an aggressive nature if not treated properly. They learn to perform many impressive tricks and tasks. They are quiet clever and can understand human intentions very well. When properly socialized from a young age from a young age, the Indian Spitz gets along well with small children and other pets, often making friends quickly due to its social nature. These dogs adapt well to indoor and apartment living. They are obedient, loyal, loving and affectionate, making an excellent hunting dog, family pet and companion alike. They are superb watch dogs and strangers will be greeted with yapping shrill barks. Their diet is very adaptable and can include anything from milk, rice and yogurt to a rice and chicken diet. The point of obesity should also be kept in mind.

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We have read and heard enough about good pets, how friendly they are, how they are good to be around, how beautiful they are. We have read about unusual pets. From tigers to alligators, sharks to octopus, lizards to spiders humans try to tame everything and make a pet of it. But this habit of ours may not end up well always. Let’s talk about bad pets and how terribly bad they can get. We will start with –

Tigers and Big cat family:

There are more tigers kept as pets than there are tigers in the wild. They may behave like a cat if hand-raised from their infancy but they can go horribly wrong behind your back as they have no instinct of being tamed. From 1994 to 2012 in U.S 164 people got injured and 21 people were killed by their pet tigers. To defend from their attack people de-claw them. De-clawing results removing the entire last bone of each toe, the animal cannot walk properly anymore because of their weight and size and if not done properly he may get totally paralyzed. But it doesn’t help much. The big cat family kill their prey with their jaws and not with their claws. Even if the humans remove their teeth they’ll be able to kill just with the pressure of their jaws.

Reptiles:

Some people pet reptiles (venomous or anodyne). From 1994 to 2012 in U.S pet snakes have killed 19 people and 103 people got injured. It’s safer to stick to the species which don’t produce venom. But they are still capable of killing. Always keep it in mind by taking a snake as a pet you are putting your life and your neighbours’ lives in danger if the snake ever escapes.

Bears:

They can be trainable but never trustworthy. From 1994 to 2012 in U.S they have killed 4 persons and have injured 28 people. A full grown bear is 1500 pounds nearly. Bear cubs are the inspiration of our cuddly teddy bears but when they grow up they are not some cuddly instead they are animals with killer claws and jaws. They can kill a person just with a swift blow of their paw.

Primates:

Lemurs, monkeys, chimpanzees and baboons are in this section. They are intelligent and they may behave like a baby. People take care of them as their babies. They put them in diapers and perambulators like their baby but no way can they replace a human child. They can start a rampage without a warning as they don’t have any emotion of conscience. And the worst thing about them, they may carry Hepatitis A and HIV-1 which causes AIDS. So if they bite you, that may get life threatening. From 1994 to 2012 in U.S 129 people have injured by their loving “babies”.

Bats:

Bat

Bats carry Rabies and SARS virus. Bats are cute but they have sharp teeth and they fly in the house all night and there is no handbook to take care of bats. They eat insects, fruits and occasionally blood (just saying! You know, Vampire bats do!)

Alligators and crocodiles:

Crocodiles may look cute when they are tiny but once they grow up they acquire a killer jaw and a tail. Someone who pets an alligator has to be very cautious because crocodiles and alligators never really get tamed. They are wild and they remain that way. Their bites may cause serious infections and limb amputations even if it doesn’t kill you. They can knock you down by a whip of their tail and bite you with a force of around 2000 pounds.

Foxes:

Apart from tiny Fennec fox other all foxes are deadly predators. They may get tamed but they are never trustworthy. They are dangerous for children. Even if they get tamed they may bite when scared or resented. They are wild and they have canines like other wild animals. They spread and odour which worse than ferrets.

Kinkajous:

Kinkajous

Kinkajous are in the Racoon family. They have grown the popularity in the recent years. They are small but deadly. They weigh nearly seven pounds, they are cute but they have sharp teeth. They are nocturnal and they dislike being awake in the day time. They are highly active and can be aggressive at certain moments. When resented they scream and attack their owners by biting and clawing.

All of the above animals are extremely dangerous and best in the wild. When they get captured and domesticated they feel scared and locked. Wild animals are best in the wild. But some people keep them as pets for their happiness. There are other animals who love to be domesticated. People should not try domesticating those who are meant to be free. Our endless needs put them in danger.

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