Breeding - Bulldogs

Can The Bulldog Be Saved? is a thought-provoking article about the future and fate of the bulldog as a breed.  There are also other breeds that are in a similar state.  I think that there are a number of breeds that have been bred beyond the point where they can be healthy (either in the sense of physical health, or the sense of behavioural health, or both).  By our design, we have created dogs that have trouble breathing, overheat too easily, have hereditary diseases, and can't mate or give birth, among other problems.  And temperamentally, there are many breeds that are known to be genetically fearful.  I hope that the bulldog, and the other dog breeds that we have designed into disaster, can be saved.

The importance of puppies staying in their litter until at least 8 weeks of age

Puppies prematurely separated from their litters can develop behavioural problems in adulthood.  It is important that puppies stay with their litters until at least 8 weeks of age -- they gain so much from the socialization that being with their dam and littermates provides.  It is also extremely beneficial that the breeder (whoever that may be) provide as much other socialization as possible -- exposing the puppies to the sights, sounds and experiences of the human world makes the puppies more resilient and behaviourally healthy.  Remember that the socialization window closes somewhere around 12 to 16 weeks, so there is a lot to do in a short amount of time.

Some of the behavioural problems that this study found in pups prematurely separated from their litters include:

• destructiveness,
• excessive barking, 
• possessiveness around food and/or toys, 
• attention seeking, 
• aggressiveness, 
• play biting, 
• fearfulness on walks, and 
• reactivity to noises. 

Of course, some of these issues will have had multiple causes, but it is significant that the study found that they were more far more frequently noted in pups that were separated from their litter prior to 8 weeks of age.

So staying with the dam and rest of the litter is important, as is proper socialization while they are together.  Then once you get your puppy, you've got to continue socializing!

Is there a genetic component to separation anxiety?

Nicole Wilde has an interesting blog post on this topic.  As she points out, there are many different causes that can contribute to separation anxiety, but I think there's something to the idea that separation anxiety could be genetic.  I think that anxiety of all types and fearfulness have a genetic component, in humans and in canines.  The causes are undeniably complex, but the role that genes play in the condition can't be ignored.