Tag Archives: breeds

New Research Identifies Additional Dog Breeds at Elevated Risk for Respiratory Diseases

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Pekingese and Japanese Chin Dogs

Pekingese and Japanese Chin dogs are at an increased risk for respiratory diseases.

Michael Schultze, Catamount/Alamy

Dog owners are urged to consider a broader spectrum of breeds when seeking a puppy, as recent studies indicate that serious breathing issues are more common than once believed.

Brachycephalic breeds—dogs with short snouts and flat faces—have surged in popularity, according to Francesca Tomlinson from Cambridge University.

However, along with their rising popularity, these breeds face increasing health concerns, primarily Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), which can present as noisy or labored breathing. This condition severely hampers activities like exercise, sleep, and managing heat and stress.

While concerns about BOAS frequently focus on breeds like English bulldogs, French bulldogs, and pugs, research led by Tomlinson explored 898 dogs from 14 breeds including the Affenpinscher, Boston Terrier, Boxer, and Pekingese.

All subjects underwent comprehensive respiratory evaluations and detailed body and facial measurements.


Findings revealed that Pekingese and similar breeds are exceptionally vulnerable to BOAS, with over 80% affected. Breeds like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Shih Tzu, and others showed moderate risk, while only the Maltese and Pomeranian showed no significant health concerns.

Three major factors contribute to breathing issues: excess weight, narrow nostrils, and extreme facial flattening. Other traits, such as short or screw-shaped tails, may also be linked to BOAS-related anatomical changes. “It’s not solely flatness that influences risk; various factors play a role,” explains Tomlinson.

Prospective dog owners should seek puppies from health-tested parents and familiarize themselves with the potential health consequences of extreme physical traits, particularly those affecting the face.

“Our goal isn’t to eliminate defining breed characteristics but to support breeding that promotes function over mere appearance,” Tomlinson emphasizes.

She adds that the severity of physical trait exaggeration is crucial in determining health outcomes. “This suggests a practical approach: opting for less extreme physical traits may help lower disease risk.”

Anna Quine from the University of Sydney highlights that “cute” flat-faced dogs are more susceptible to chronic respiratory distress and heat stress.

Breeding dogs for a flat face is akin to “designing a car without a radiator,” she warns. “If we’re introducing dogs into the world, our first priority should be their welfare, not merely satisfying human aesthetic preferences.”

Paul McGreevey, also from the University of Sydney, concurs that the study validates what many veterinarians already suspect: compromised airways are common in flat-faced dogs, with variations across and within breeds.

“For dogs struggling with airway issues and carbon dioxide expulsion, breed labels become irrelevant,” he states, noting that classifications are human decisions.

Yet, he raises concerns regarding the study’s methodology, pointing out the subjective nature of classifying respiratory sounds. “This raises questions about consistency across the 14 distinct breeds,” McGreevy states. “Moreover, the authors admit that athletic assessments depend on individual speed and temperament.”

Tomlinson countered that the evaluation incorporates objective measures, including abnormal breath sound detection, following a standardized protocol. “The intention of the exercise test is not to assess exercise capacity but to observe how airways react to mild exertion,” she clarifies.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Study Shows Nearly Two-Thirds of Dog Breeds Share Ancestry with Wolves

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A dog (Canis lupus familiaris) and a wolf (canis lupus) can interbreed to create fertile offspring, but such occurrences are far less common than in domestic and wild populations of other species. In a recent study, researchers from the American Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, and the University of California, Davis, combined localized ancestry estimation with phylogenetic analysis of the genomes of 2,693 ancient and modern dogs and wolves. They discovered that 64.1% of contemporary purebred dogs possess wolf ancestry in their nuclear genomes, stemming from admixture that occurred nearly 1,000 generations ago, while all analyzed free-ranging dog genomes showed signs of ancient wolf ancestry.

German shepherd puppy. Image credit: Marilyn Peddle / CC BY 2.0.

“Modern dogs, especially those kept as pets, seem quite distant from the often vilified wolves,” states Dr. Audrey Lin, a postdoctoral fellow at the American Museum of Natural History.

“However, certain wolf-derived traits are highly valued in our current dogs, and we have intentionally preserved them in this lineage.”

“While this research focuses on dogs, it reveals much about their wild relatives, the wolves.”

Dogs evolved from a gray wolf population that faced extinction due to human influence during the late Pleistocene, approximately 20,000 years ago.

Though wolves and dogs inhabit overlapping areas and produce fertile offspring, instances of interbreeding are infrequent.

Aside from rare cases of intentional interbreeding, there is limited evidence of genetic exchange between the two groups following dog domestication, which separated their gene pools.

“Prior to this study, prevailing theories posited that for a dog to be classified as such, it would need to have minimal or no wolf DNA,” remarked Dr. Lin.

“Yet, upon examining the modern dog genome closely, we found wolf DNA present.”

“This indicates that the dog’s genome can incorporate wolf DNA to varying extents without losing its identity as a dog.”

The researchers scrutinized historical gene flow between dogs and wolves utilizing 2,693 publicly accessible genomes from wolves, purebred dogs, village dogs, and other canids from the late Pleistocene to the present, sourced from the National Center for Biotechnology Information and the European Nucleotide Archive.

The findings revealed that 64.1% of breed dogs possess wolf ancestry in their nuclear genomes, a result of crossbreeding occurring about 1,000 generations ago.

Moreover, all genomes from village dogs (free-ranging canines residing near human settlements) displayed detectable wolf ancestry.

The Czechoslovakian wolfdog and Saarlos wolfdog, which were purposefully crossbred with wolves, exhibited the highest levels of wolf ancestry, ranging from 23% to 40% of their genomes.

The breeds considered most “wolf-like” include the Great Anglo-French Tricolor Hound (4.7% to 5.7% wolf ancestry) and the Shiloh Shepherd (2.7% wolf ancestry).

The Shiloh Shepherd is the result of breeding efforts that included wolf-dog hybrids aimed at producing healthier, family-friendly sheepdogs in the U.S., while the origins of the significant wolf ancestry in the Great Anglo-French Tricolor Hound (the prevalent modern hunting dog in France) remain enigmatic.

The Tamaskan is another “wolf-like” breed that emerged in the UK during the 1980s by selectively breeding huskies, malamutes, and others to achieve a wolf-like appearance, containing roughly 3.7% wolf ancestry.

Researchers identified several patterns within the data. Larger dogs and those bred for specific tasks, such as arctic sled dogs, “pariah” breeds, and hunting dogs, exhibited higher levels of wolf ancestry.

Terriers, gundogs, and scent hounds typically have the least wolf ancestry on average.

While some large guardian breeds have wolf ancestry, others, such as the Neapolitan Mastiff, Bullmastiff, and St. Bernard, showed no signs of wolf ancestry.

Interestingly, wolf ancestry was also detected in a variety of dog breeds, including the miniature Chihuahua, which has around 0.2% wolf ancestry.

“This shouldn’t surprise anyone who owns a Chihuahua,” Dr. Lin noted.

“What we’ve discovered is that this is actually common. Most dogs have a hint of ‘wolfishness’ in them.”

The authors also analyzed the frequency with which personality traits were assigned to breeds labeled with high versus low levels of wolf ancestry by Kennel Clubs.

Breeds with lower wolf ancestry were often described as “friendly,” followed by terms like “eager to please,” “easy to train,” “courageous,” “active,” and “affectionate.”

Conversely, dogs exhibiting higher wolf ancestry were more frequently characterized as “independent,” “dignified,” “alert,” “loyal,” “discreet,” “territorial,” and “suspicious of strangers.”

Traits such as “smart,” “obedient,” “good with kids,” “dedicated,” “calm,” and “cheerful” appeared with relative consistency across both groups of dogs.

The researchers clarified that these traits reflect a biased assessment of behavior and that it’s uncertain whether wolf genes directly influence these characteristics, though their findings lay the groundwork for future explorations in canine behavioral science.

Additionally, significant adaptations inherited from wolves were uncovered. For instance, the wolf ancestry in village dogs enhances their olfactory receptor genes, crucial for locating human food waste, and distributions of Tibetan wolf-like genes assist Tibetan mastiffs in surviving low-oxygen conditions on the Tibetan Plateau and Himalayas.

“Dogs are our companions, but it appears that wolves significantly influenced their evolution into the beloved partners we cherish today,” commented Dr. Logan Kistler from the National Museum of Natural History.

“Throughout history, dogs have tackled numerous evolutionary challenges that arise from living alongside humans, such as thriving at high altitudes, foraging for food around villages, and safeguarding their packs. They seem to leverage wolf genes as part of their adaptive toolkit for an ongoing evolutionary success story.”

For more details, check the findings published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Audrey T. Lin et al. 2025. The legacy of genetic intertwining with wolves has shaped the modern dog. PNAS 122 (48): e2421768122; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2421768122

Source: www.sci.news

Breeds Most Prone to Overeating, According to Study

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If your dog is overweight, it’s important to note that certain breeds are more prone to this issue than others. According to recent studies.

Researchers from Texas A&M University assessed “food motivation” by surveying over 15,000 dog owners about their pets’ eating habits and reviewing veterinary records regarding the dogs’ weights.

This assessment showed that dogs identified as overweight by vets indicated a strong preference for food.

The study revealed that sporting breeds, such as spaniels, retrievers, setters, and pointers, were 10% more likely to exhibit higher food motivation scores than mixed-breed dogs, with Labradors and Golden Retrievers making up the majority.

Hound breeds came in second, with a 5.3% increased risk of food motivation compared to mixed breeds. This group included Greyhounds, Dachshunds, Beagles, and Basset Hounds.

On the other hand, non-sporting breeds showed a lower likelihood, with scores 4.1% less than mixed breeds. Common breeds in this category included poodles, bulldogs, Dalmatians, and terriers.

“Overweight dogs face various health risks, including skin diseases, diabetes, and arthritis,” noted Dr. Kate Creevey, Chief Veterinary Officer of The Dog Aging Project and Professor of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University.

“It’s crucial for veterinarians to understand the factors influencing dog obesity, including social, environmental, and demographic contexts.

The likelihood of a dog being overweight can vary by breed, with larger dogs generally exhibiting higher food motivation scores than smaller ones.

Moreover, dogs residing in urban areas are more susceptible to weight gain compared to their rural counterparts.

Additionally, dogs living in multi-pet households face a greater risk of obesity than those in single-pet environments, possibly due to less individualized attention from humans.

“These variables can impact a dog’s exercise levels and food access,” Creevey explained. “Some dogs may seek out food due to boredom, especially in settings with limited opportunities for exercise and engagement.

“Furthermore, owners with multiple dogs may adopt specific feeding practices, such as free feeding, which increases food availability.”

Hound breeds show a 5.3% likelihood of a higher food motivation score, indicating overweight – Credit: Wakira via Getty

To determine the food motivation score for each dog, owners filled out a survey detailing their pets’ food responses, pickiness, bloating, and general food interest.

This data was combined with veterinary assessments of each dog’s “physical condition,” where vets evaluated areas like the ribs and hips to determine the amount of fat relative to size.

This evaluation aids in calculating the dog’s physical condition score (BCS).

“BCS is essential for helping veterinarians discuss weight issues with pet owners, so it’s important to increase the use of these scores,” Creevy stated.

If your Irish Setter seems a bit heavy, what’s the solution? Creevy mentioned that weight loss interventions can frequently falter if the veterinarian and owner aren’t aligned.

“Based on our study, some breeds may need stricter feeding guidelines,” she added.

Thus, researchers recommend consulting your veterinarian for personalized advice tailored to your furry friends.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

How social media breeds a fear of violence: The desensitization effect

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It took around 90 seconds for Liana Montag to witness the violence on her X account. The altercation in the restaurant escalated into a full-fledged brawl, with chairs being smashed over heads and bodies strewn across the floor.

The “Gang_Hits” account features numerous similar clips, including shootings, beatings, and individuals being run over by cars. This falls into a brutal genre of content that is frequently promoted by algorithms and appears on young people’s social media feeds without their consent.




Liana Montag: “It’s normal to see violence.” Photo: Martin Godwin/The Guardian

Montag, an 18-year-old from Birmingham, also active on Instagram and Snapchat, has connected with several other teenagers at the Bring Hope charity in Handsworth. She shared, “If someone mentions they were stabbed recently, you don’t react as strongly anymore. It’s become a normal sight.”

Violent content is becoming more relatable in many cases. Iniko St Clair Hughes, 19, cited the example of gangs filming chases and posting them on Instagram.

“Now everyone has seen him flee, and his pride will likely push him to seek revenge,” he explained. “It spreads in group chats, and everyone knows about the escape, so they feel the need to prove themselves the next time they step out. That’s how it goes. The retaliation gets filmed, sometimes.”

Jamil Charles, 18, admitted to appearing in such video clips. He mentioned that footage of him in fights had been circulating on social media.

“Things can escalate quickly on social media as people glamorize different aspects,” he commented. “Fights can start between two individuals, and they can be resolved. But when the video goes viral, it may portray me in a negative light, leading to a blow to my pride, which might drive me to seek revenge and assert myself.”

All this had a worrying impact, as St. Clair-Hughes pointed out.

“When fear is instilled through social media, you’re placed in a fight-or-flight mode, unsure of how to proceed when leaving your house – it’s either being ahead of the game or lagging behind. You feel prepared for anything… It’s subliminal; no one is explicitly telling you to resort to violence, but the exposure to it intensifies the urge.”

Leanna Reed, 18, shared a story of a friend who started carrying a knife post an argument on Snapchat. While mostly boys were involved, there was also a female acquaintance who carried a weapon.

“It’s no longer a topic of discussion,” she noted. “He who emerges victorious with his weapon is deemed the winner. It’s about pride.”

Is there a solution? St. Clair Hughes expressed pessimism.

“People tend to veer towards negativity… [Social media companies] want us using their platforms, so I doubt they’ll steer towards a more positive direction.”

Reed mentioned hearing about TikTok being more regulated and education-focused in China, leading her to ponder different approaches taken by various countries on the same platform.

O’Shaun Henry, 19, directed a candid message towards social media companies, urging them to utilize their power to make positive changes, especially through AI. Limits need to be set, considering the influence on young individuals. It’s time to introspect, conduct research, and bring about improvements.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Research Finds Out Which Dog Breeds Have the Longest Lifespans

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The Shiba Inu is one of the longest-lived dogs.

Ammu Photography/Getty Images

An analysis of more than 580,000 dogs in the UK found that small dogs with long noses, such as miniature dachshunds and Shiba Inu dogs, lived the longest. On the other hand, medium-sized dogs such as English bulldogs and Shih Tzus have the shortest lifespans.

“Despite the UK being a nation of dog lovers, we don't have a good handle on the dog population in general and the expected lifespan of dogs in particular,” he says. Kirsten McMillan At the British welfare charity Dogs Trust.

To create a comprehensive analysis of dog lifespans, McMillan and his colleagues collected data from a variety of sources, including veterinarians, pet insurance companies, and animal welfare charities. The data included 584,734 dogs belonging to 155 breeds, of which 284,734 died.

The average lifespan of dogs was 12.5 years. Female dogs had a slightly longer life expectancy at 12.7 years compared to 12.4 years for male dogs.

When the researchers divided dogs into categories based on size and facial shape, they found that small, long-nosed dogs had the highest life expectancy of both sexes, living an average of 13.3 years. Male and female medium-sized flat dogs fared worst, with expected lifespans of just 9.1 and 9.6 years, respectively.

“Many flat-faced breeds, both small and large, such as French bulldogs, St. Bernards, and Presa Canarios, do not perform well,” says McMillan.

Flat-faced dogs are known to face a variety of health problems, including breathing, digestion, and even sleeping problems, which may explain their short lifespans. there is.

One of the most surprising findings was that purebreds had a longer life expectancy than mutts: 12.7 years compared to just 12 years.

“Due to the concept of hybrid vigor, it has long been believed that mixed-breed dogs live longer than purebred dogs,” he says. audrey rule from Virginia Tech was not involved in the study. This refers to the idea that hybrid animals and plants may be healthier because of their genetic diversity, but Lupul says this needs to be investigated further.

“We hope that this study will spur further research into the exact reasons why some breeds die at a young age, ultimately improving the lifespans of our dogs.” McMillan he says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New research determines the longest living dog breeds

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Researchers studied the lifespans of 500,000 dogs to determine which species live the longest. The answer? Whippets, or dogs shaped like whippets. Research indicates that small dogs with long noses have an average lifespan of 13.3 years (source).

Another study looked at data from over 580,000 individual dogs in the UK, classified as purebreds or mixed breeds, to find out more about the lifespan of different dog breeds.

In addition to breed, the researchers collected data on the dogs’ sex, date of birth, and, if applicable, date of death. This data helped determine mortality rates as well as calculate the median life expectancy for different categories of dogs.

The study found that small, long-nosed dogs have the highest average lifespan at 13.3 years. Conversely, medium-sized short-nosed dogs, especially males, had the shortest average lifespan at 9.1 years.

Interestingly, purebred dogs generally lived longer than mixed breeds, and Labradors were found to have the highest life expectancy at 13.1 years.

The researchers hope that these results will help dog owners better understand the factors that influence their pets’ health and longevity, and they also suggest that future studies should investigate designer breeds due to their different genetic diversity levels.

Dr. Kirsten McMillan, one of the authors of the study, believes that future research should not simply classify dog breeding into pure and mixed categories and emphasizes that this is a complex issue.

Dr. Kirsten McMillan is a DataSEA (Science Engineering and Analysis) Manager at Dogs Trust, and her research has been published in various scientific journals.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com