We have been considering a list of dog breeds that some control freaks in England want to render extinct, demanding that dog shows stop admitting them, media suppress pictures of them, and so on. We have found some of those dog breeds, or crossbreeds, up for adoption on Petfinder. Since shelter dogs are not going to be reproducing in any case, the position of this web site has been that adopting these dogs is a good way to see firsthand whether breed characteristics are produced by dysfunctional genes (as with Manx cats and Araucana hens). While we might even agree that some genes should be bred out of the pool, we don't think it's good for control freaks to give them any suggestion that they can dictate to other people which kind of pets to keep. Advise, yes. Warn, yes. But not dictate.
So, moving down our list, I turned to Petfinder for information about the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. This is a small, long-back, stub-legged, long-haired, floppy-eared animal that does need special care from the people who think it is cute enough that they're willing to are for it. Few Americans do, in this case. The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a regional specialty in Scotland. Elsewhere there seems to be a consensus of opinion that having a terrier who can't be allowed to jump, climb, and dig, which are most terriers' favorite things, defeats the purpose. There was a Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club of America, once, but they've disbanded.
It's hard to imagine this ridiculous little fluffball being kept as a rat catcher in the Cheviot Hills, but so they were. Their dysfunctionally short legs made it easier for these terriers, who stand less than a foot high, to dig into prey animals' burrows. Walter Scott invented a fictional character, Dandie (Scotch for Andrew) Dinmont, based on a real man called James Davidson, who bred and loved these dogs. Scott's novels were bestsellers in the nineteenth century and created a market for Davidson's dogs, six of whom appeared in the novel
Guy Mannering under their real names. The dogs were tough for their size and would dig out badgers and even otters, as well as rats and rabbits.
Apart from the obvious continual job of keeping the ears and coat clean, and the dog's difficulty in keeping up with anybody or staying sanitary on a walk, the main problem with Dandie Dinmonts was found to be their long backs. The dogs tend to try to bend their backs as if they were cats; their backs often fail to take the strain. Keeping a DDT alive for its rightful twelve or fifteen years means keeping it indoors, away from steps, and walking it only on flat smooth ground.
This is generally a healthy breed when people help compensate for its physical peculiarities. It needs brushing and ear cleaning on a daily basis but is not especially prone to genetic diseases. Most owners rate their DDTs good with other children and animals. Most also consider them good watchdogs with a loud big-dog bark. Terriers are not the easiest dogs to train; they need patience. Though small, they can be dangerous to other pets as they aggressively attack other small animals.
Next on the list comes the Dogue de Bordeaux. At least it's easy to see why this breed is not for everyone. Long-haired terriers look like stuffed toys to humans while having the instincts of miniature wolves. The Bordeaux Dog is one of the huge mastiff breeds. You can look at one and know that, despite their reputation as gentle giants, this dog will not be easy to load in and out of the car, take to the vet, or bathe. A show-quality Dogue weighs at least 100 pounds. And it has a bulldog-like face, too, with all the problems that entails.
(All photos from the American Kennel Club.)
Genetic problems the Dogue de Bordeaux can inherit include bone and joint defects, susceptibility to cancer, heart disease, epilepsy, and a tendency to swell up, sometimes fatally, when they've eaten the wrong thing. They drool continually, allowing infections to form in their wrinkled faces. For their size they don't seem to have a lot of hair, but they shed a lot each year. They have to be well trained to be manageable at all. Their backs are not especially long, but may be damaged if the dogs are allowed to jump or run up and down stairs.
They live five or six years, on average. Give or take three years. This means that, if someone does everything right for one of these dogs, it might die while only two years old.
Right. So I'm convinced that people should stop breeding Dogues de Bordeaux. To me it looks as if no dog should have to be that big and that ugly. Nevertheless, although Petfinder has a page for these dogs (it does not have a page for Dandie Dinmonts), and that page theoretically lists five adoptable dogs in NY and one in DC, Petfinder refuses to open those pages. Maybe the control freaks think that seeing a picture of a shelter dog up for adoption is going to make people open puppy mills just for the purpose of breeding more animals that look like steroidal bulldogs?
We should never reward control freaks by giving them what they want. I think it would be cruel to breed any more giant bulldogs. However, if for some reason other people want a Dogue de Bordeaux, the AKC page for each breed does have a list of breeders who are informed ab, out lethal genes and are conscientiously not breeding dogs with genetic defects. The best way of doing that is to sterilize purebred dogs with genetic defects and let them be adopted on the sort of terms shelters usually offer. If Petfinder is refusing to help shelters place these dogs, people might want to ask breeders about them. It may be not only more humane to adopt a neutered dog directly from his breeder, but also cheaper.
Moving down the list of dogs the busybodies hate, we come to French Bulldogs. This breed has the same problems American Bulldogs and, to some extent, even Dogues de Bordeaux have, except for the ones caused by being oversized. French Bulldogs are a miniature breed, standing about one foot high and weighing up to 30 pounds. They have the chunky build of American Bulldogs.
At least Petfinder is not trying to prevent anyone seeing and adopting these dogs. What you need to know about the breed is that they can't swim--their distinctive body shape won't stay afloat when they paddle as all dogs instinctively do--and are genetically vulnerable to bone, heart, eye, and skin diseases. They don't shed much and need brushing only once a week, but their faces need careful cleaning and drying every day. Being small, they usually need only short walks and play sessions to keep fit. They have more trouble breathing in hot or humid weather than most dogs have, and should not be allowed to overexert themselves. They like food treats; you may have to warn people not to give them too many, because overweight will bring out all of those genetic medical issues and will aggravate snoring and flatulence. They like a good game and may do well in size-appropriate dog athletics.
The cat breed most physically analogous to bulldogs might be Persians, but they're not often found in shelters. If I don't find Persian cats I'll pick Manx. Again.
Zipcode 10101: Sunny from NYC
Nobody knows much about Sunny but she has a French Bulldog body shape.
Zipcode 20202: Porsche from Texas by way of Brookeville
Her other ancestors include Miniature Schnauzers. Porsche is a spring puppy who can give the right family fun and games and snuggles for years to come.
Vanilla from Connecticut
Abandoned by humans who suddenly left the US, Vanilla was given to the doorman with instructions to "throw her out." She had a hard time as a stray, not being built for survival, but she's been rescued now. They recommend some of the pricier brands of cat food--Purina Pro Plan not Purina Cat Chow.
Sezar from Fairfax
Though rescued from what seemed to some people in Fairfax like a bad situation (some people in Fairfax have extremely high standards so it's important to ask them to define these terms), Sezar is said to be a cool, well-mannered cat who gets on well with people and other animals because he's a follower. They would prefer that he go to a home where the humans have experience brushing a long-haired pet every day. Some people in Fairfax can be so adorable.
Zipcode 30303: Valley 22912 from Cumming
...has a photo gallery. In some of his photos it's quite clear that he's a dog, but this picture, which made me think "Is it a dog or a piglet?", also made me smile. Valley has more than the usual share of problems for a French Bulldog. He is also deaf. His family will have to protect him from dangers a normal dog would hear and fear, like traffic. Dogs can learn sign language; deaf dogs can learn to do tricks in response to signs just as well as hearing dogs do in response to words. Valley is friendly, loves to play, and can play just a bit rough. He is not recommended to families with small children. He will always need a lot of protection, even from himself.
Mason from Powder Springs
He would have had a chance at the prize for best photo of a Persian cat in a shelter near Atlanta even if his hadn't been the only photo of a Persian at in a shelter near Atlanta. Mason is not very snuggly but solicits neck massages. If you are not an emotionally needy person, Mason is a well-mannered low-maintenance cat who might be the pet for you.
