Over the centuries, through selection and crossbreeding, man has greatly contributed to the evolution of dog species by creating many breeds with incredibly diverse characteristics that vary in size and personality. Historically, the concept of race appeared only in the 19th century. However, the fact that we now encounter an incredible variety of species (there are currently over 300 breeds of dog) attests to the extent of human intervention.
In fact, crossbreeding aims to produce breeds of animals with improved physical and psychological qualities. However, it must be recognized that the consequences of these transformations are not always well controlled. In this article, we invite you to discover 4 of the main strains that have been trafficked by humans.
bull terrier
It was created during the eighteenth century in England, The Bull Terrier is a breed of dog resulting from a cross between an English Terrier (an English white terrier) and an English Bulldog.. It was designed to be a fighting dog, especially for dealing with strong animals such as bears and bulls. His athletic abilities earned him a good reputation at the time when he was still allowed to fight with dogs in the UK.
Currently, Bull Terriers are only bred to make beautiful companion dogs. However, the effects of transformations over the centuries seem to have left significant sequelae (a very prominent skull, a prominent abdomen, susceptibility to numerous diseases, etc.) on certain individuals of the breed.
basset dog
The Basset Hound appeared in the twentieth century, and was initially created to be Hunting dog. This item Caused by several crosses between a Saint-Hubert dog and a basset d’Artois and/or Normandy dog It was soon adopted as a pet by many families until it became very popular in Europe, but also in the United States.
If at one time crossbreeding allowed to have dogs that were particularly effective at hunting with hounds, today Basset Hounds are fewer and slower in their movements. In addition, The structure of their legs and their excessive size expose them to various disorders and deformities (joint pain, back problems, infections and others).
English Bulldog
The English Bulldog is the result of several crosses aimed at producing a particularly strong and aggressive dog breed. The breeders who created this species at the beginning of the nineteenth century wanted to have an animal capable of facing bulls during battles.
today, Thanks to the new crossbreed, the bulldog has become a pet. The dog seems to have lost all of its past as a fighter despite retaining its formidable physique. However, the many transformations that the breed went through caused the dogs to develop many diseases: breathing difficulties, stenosis, tracheal hypoplasia, etc.
boxer
The Boxer belongs to the family of molossers, particularly the Bullenbeiser, a breed whose selection is believed to make an excellent defensive animal.. However, the species has, through many crosses, evolved into a breed prone to serious health problems including cancer.