Over the years, the physical appearance of dogs has drastically changed, with health issues appearing as a result. (Juliet Scallon, Courtesy of Tiffany Joseph)

8,000 years ago, the first recorded domestication of dogs appeared in the Pharaoh era. Since then, the looks, mannerisms, and overall health of these creatures have been drastically altered.  Although they descended from the same ancestors as wolves, the domestication of dogs has dramatically changed the features of the animals, primarily to enhance the experiences of the owners. Many people see these changes as beneficial because they lead to more obedient, smaller, and less aggressive dogs. Despite these perks, the health and well-being of countless dogs over the years has been compromised. From inbreeding to the selective breeding of certain looks, dogs have been permanently altered to cater to the ever-changing whims of humans. Dogs are often considered a man’s best friend, but the issue of the ethics of dog breeding leads many to wonder: do they express affection by choice or because they have been genetically modified to love us? 

In the Pharaoh era, dogs were first domesticated and selectively bred for endurance and hunting abilities. In the centuries to come, the purpose of dogs changed drastically. In the modern day, dogs have become useful not just as companions but also for transportation, guarding, herding, police, search and rescue, and even as service animals. As the purposes and the selective breeding changed, so did the looks and genetics of the dogs. 

The harmful consequences of dog breeding became evident when the purpose of dogs went from service/work to companionship or even just being an accessory. One primary way in which the problems inherent to dog breeding have manifested is the phenomenon of neoteny. This describes the troubling process in which dogs begin retaining their juvenile traits far into adulthood; the dogs have lost their problem-solving skills and ability to fight back as they have become more aesthetically pleasing to humans. 

The process of dog breeding also increases the probability of genetic hazards and disorders. For example, the Border Collie has at least 25 known hereditary conditions. The physical appearances of dogs help many people differentiate them, but this also triggers certain disorders. Dogs with smaller heads are susceptible to neurological conditions, and breeds with curly tails tend to have spinal issues. The differences in their appearances were made for the enjoyment of their owners, but they have a direct negative effect on the health of the dogs. 

Over the years, many dogs that have been selectively bred have been found in puppy mills. These controversial organizations give a small insight into the troublesome reality of dog breeding. 

United Against Puppy Mills is an advocacy group located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with the main objective of educating the public on the problems that come along with commercial breeding. Jackie Keeney, the President of United Against Puppy Mills, defines a puppy mill as  “anybody that breeds one or more breeds of dog just for them to make money. They don’t care how the dog is kept or treated or anything like that, as long as it is productive,” Keeney said. 

In these puppy mills, adult dogs are constantly forced to have puppies in horrific conditions. During her work as an advocate, Keeney has visited a number of puppy mills and has been horrified by her experiences. “They could hardly turn around. They could hardly stand up. Their food was moldy. If they had any food, they didn’t have much water. The puppies…would cower. …when they would clean their cages, they wouldn’t even take them out…They would just spray the cages down with water. They would just grab them by the scuff of their neck and pitch them into another kennel…There was just nothing nice about any of it,” Keeney said. 

Throughout Keeney’s journey as a dog advocate, she has met many people who say that they got their dog from a puppy mill and that the dog they have is healthy and happy. In response to this, Keeney wants to clarify that United Against Puppy Mills does not foster any hatred towards the individual dogs that come out of puppy mills. Instead, they only prioritize education on the treatment of the mother and father of said dog. In addition, there are a plethora of laws that have been recently passed to make the living conditions of the dogs better, but the conditions are still unacceptable. “There’s so many different laws that they’re supposed to have…They have made new dog laws so these dogs can actually have air conditioning…They can actually have heat in the winter… So essentially, we are educating [people that when] you buy that puppy, you keep [the] mother and [the] father in these awful conditions,” Keeney said. 

According to Keeney, one thing that perpetuates the problems in the dog breeding industry is the selfishness surrounding dogs in our society. Many people have the idea that they deserve the dog that they want whenever they want it. “To tell you the truth, I think the public is so selfish, they think, ‘Oh, look at that cute little eight week old puppy. We’re going to have it now’…I just feel personally that…we’re just a very selfish society, and we don’t think before we do anything. We’re just very impulsive as well,” Keeney said. 

When one considers rescuing a dog, Keeney recommends many strategies to ensure that you find your dog at a reputable establishment. An ethical dog breeder is one that has a passion for a certain breed and only focuses on the well-being of the animals. In addition, an ethical dog breeder will bring their dogs with them if they move locations, and they will never transport a dog. If you are receiving a dog from an ethical breeder, you will be required to pick up the dog in person. “They have a lifetime warranty if they decide [that they don’t] need that dog, or something circumstantial comes up for that dog: they can’t afford to keep it anymore, or they’re moving, etc. That breeder will always take that dog back,” Keeney said. 

However, Keeney recommends finding a dog from a site similar to Facebook Marketplace with the intent of choosing a pet that has been adopted into a situation where the owner can no longer take care of the dog. Within this, there are certain practices that are crucial to look out for. For example, if someone on a selling site states that they adopted an 8-week old puppy and their living situation has since changed, that is a red flag. You are only supposed to adopt a puppy once they are 8-weeks old. This means that the person is actually a breeder, not an adopter. “You have to watch their wording,” Keeney said. 

BSM English Teacher and Department Head Tiffany Joseph has rescued two dogs from a rescue center called Safe Hands Rescue. This center does not have a physical shelter, as they foster their dogs into private homes while they await adoption. Once the dogs have passed their health checks and are ready to be adopted, Safe Hands writes a bio on each dog and adds them to the Safe Hands website. Potential adopters then visit them in foster homes, and Safe Hands matches each dog to their perfect prospective owner, performing a screening on the quality of the homes of the adopters. Joseph recommends learning about an agency before adopting a dog from them. “Some rescues aren’t always reputable, so you need to do your research, just like you would with breeders,” Joseph said. 

Despite the issues that come along with commercial breeding, one of the main benefits that has come along with the concept of breeding is the specialized breeding of service dogs. In contrast to the cosmetic breeding of pet dogs, service dogs are bred to maximize even tempers, good learners, superior health, and confidence. Having a service dog can change the life of a person with a disability. For example, Annalisa Anderson, a customer service worker for a chemical company, has been working with guide dogs for over 30 years. Anderson prefers having a guide dog over a cane because she trusts a living creature with her safety over an object. “I feel a lot more independent, a lot more just confident traveling and things like that, with using that with a dog beside me. Plus, I feel safer just being a single person,” Anderson said. 

The selective breeding done by dog breeders to service dogs helps improve the safety of the owners, as well as the overall health of the animals. “They are very, very, very selective when it comes to their breeding…they breed for things like temperament…their physical health…they try to breed out things like hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia…they try to breed out, you know, a lot of allergy problems…They just try to make, you know, as sound of a dog as they can,” Anderson said. 

Dog breeding remains a complicated concept that leaves many people wondering how we can move forward. Genetic complications linked to breeding affect dogs around the world everyday, yet selective breeding has created valuable outcomes, like the impactful role of service animals. The best thing we can do to address the systemic problems within dog breeding is to take it one dog at a time and follow the advice of the experts on where and when rescuing a dog is appropriate. In a world of constant technological advancement, it can be hard to see the innovation right in front of us: the one we call our best friend.