Is it Cruel to Breed Certain Dog Breeds?

Purebred dogs are very popular- and for a reason. When you buy a purebred puppy, you know pretty much what size it will be, and you usually know what the adult color and coat length will be. In addition, dogs of the same breed usually have similar temperaments.

There are obviously many benefits to getting a purebred puppy, but is it cruel to breed them, at least certain types? I think it is not necessarily, but sometimes the case.

Take the popular Boston Terrier for instance.

 They are friendly, loveable, and (many think) adorable. Few people know  that up to over 90% of Boston Terriers need a caesarian section do give birth.

In my opinion, it seems wrong to make the mother dog go through surgery almost every time she gives birth, especially since brachycephalic (flat faced, like a bulldog) dogs have been said to have more complications from anesthetic.

Aside from that, surgery is very expensive, and this in turn raises the selling prices for a Boston Terrier puppy. It could cost $700, $800, even over $1000 for a puppy from a "good" breeder.

This Boston Terrier pup was probably not born naturally.

 Two other dog breeds need a caesarian to give birth over 80% of the time: the Bulldog



 and the French Bulldog:

They often look like Boston Terriers, but they are different dogs

 Also, according to an article on Wikipedia "Statistics from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals indicate that of the 467 Bulldogs tested between 1979 and 2009 (30 years), 73.9% were affected by hip dysplasia, the highest amongst all breeds. Similarly, the breed has the worst score in the British Veterinary Association/Kennel Club Hip Dysplasia scoring scheme, although only 22 bulldogs were tested in the scheme."

Hip Dysplasia causes severe pain, sometimes constant, in the affected dog. The joint can become dislocated,  and the dog is often crippled.

With it's long body, the ever-popular Dachshund



is prone to degenerative disc disease, another painful and crippling condition, with an estimated 1/5 to 1/4 Dachshund having, or will have, the disease.

According the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, the Pug



 is second only to the Bulldog for Hip Displasia, with over 60% of Pugs having the disease. Pugs also are prone to breathing problems and overheating.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel



is yet another breed prone to health problems.

According a resent study, up to 1/3 of these dogs have a condition called syringomyelia, which is painful and can paralyze the affected dog.

It has been said that half of 5-year-old Cavaliers have heart murmur, and almost all "senior" Cavaliers have the disease.

In cases where the dog has a health condition such as Hip Dysplasia, the owner has to watch his dog suffer, often while deciding whether to pay for expensive (and often not helpful) surgery, or to have the animal "put down".

I personally believe that it is cruel to continue to breed dogs of breeds that are so unhealthy.  

This is not to say that all purebred dogs are unhealthy. Many dog breeds, probably most, aren't really any more unhealthy than the average other purebred dog or mutt, but it is something to consider when you are buying a purebred puppy.