“Nature prevails enormously over nurture” …English scientist Francis Galton in the late 19th Century. Natural Selection & Survival of the Fittest Hip dysplasia is not common in wild animals because of the continuous processes of natural selection and survival of the fittest. In an environment where society removes or inhibits these means of selection, the …
Revised December 2011. There has been renewed interest in the subject of “abnormal” bone lengths, joints, angles between limbs, and related phenotypic variations from what I have called “the ancestral type.” We need to establish some definitions of terms before entering into a discussion of the subject. The “ancestral” phenotype in my arbitrary definition (which, …
Revised December 2011. Dwarfism is a condition of abnormally small stature, and usually is characterized by altered body proportions. There are several causes and types. Dachshunds, Basset Hounds, and Corgis are examples of achondroplastic dwarfs; they have more or less normal-sized torsos and heads but shortened limbs, and are accepted as typical of their breed. …
Return to Part 1 Adding the Row ‘Emma’ Now that we have added a second row to form a column, a comment is in order that will greatly reduce your labor. Look ahead to the completed Table 3e, for a moment. If you draw a diagonal line down the matrix from the cell Edmund-Edmund to …
Return to Part 2 In Part 2, we were in the middle of a discussion of inbreeding’s dependence on relationship. You need to read Parts 2 and 3 in close consecutive timing. The following is a continuation of that subject. Let us say, for the sake of argument, that we are thinking about mating Emma …
The following is based on an excerpt from the 1999 edition of The Total German Shepherd Dog by Fred Lanting, and may not be reproduced without approval. © 2003. Contact the principal author at for permission to quote. Some of the following charts and calculations have been contributed by a geneticist friend, John B. Cole, …
updated November 2011 The German Shepherd Dog is a very popular breed. In fact, it is Number One worldwide although in the U.S. it ranks much lower partly because of AKC clubs’ non-adherence to the international Standards—usually in the AKC top ten, though. As a result of there being so many GSDs, veterinarians and others …
Revised December 2011. A disorder sometimes easily mistaken for hip dysplasia is Legg Calvé Perthes disease, perhaps more frequently referred to by the dog fancier as Legg Perthes. This is an avascular (pertaining to inadequate blood supply), aseptic (not infected), developmental osteonecrosis (dying of bone tissue) of the femoral head and neck, found almost entirely …
Many German Shepherd lovers have seen, known, or loved a dog that suffered great pain, even had to be put down at a young age due to Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD). Though we love this huge breed, the question begs to be asked-Is it worth the risk to purchase and fall in love with a …
Very honored Professors, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to submit to you today what is in all probability the most detailed study you have ever obtained in reference to German Shepherd Dogs. This study had begun with the summary of the HD-diagnoses of all dogs of one large breeder in particular, and now finds …