Modern Day Eugenics in Dog Breeding

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It is a pleasure to have you with us.

Each weekday, the Dire Wolf Project brings you relevant information about dogs as it relates to our work in recreating the extinct, prehistoric dire wolf in a loving family companion dog using only domesticated dog breeds.

Every day I put my head down and work hard.

After all, The Dire Wolf Project does have a very serious mission that is quite involved and takes a lot of research and preparation.

But every so often, I lift my eyes for a moment just to make sure the greater world still exists.

Haha!

Sure enough.

It’s still there. *wink, wink

I haven’t been feeling well this week.

I think I have a little cold.

My head hurts and I am pretty tired much of the day.

I slept for 12 hours straight two nights ago!

I must’ve been exhausted.

Well, when I don’t have much energy, I find myself mindlessly scrolling through Facebook or YouTube like a zombie searching for its next meal.

Not the most productive thing to do, I have to admit.

But it does a good job of occupying my mind without having to actually think.

Yesterday, as my eyes wandered down the screen, I had a brilliant idea.

I thought to myself, “Wouldn’t it be a good idea to join a dog breeding community? Surely, I will find lots of information of interest there, since it is my passion.”

Well… maybe you can guess how that went. *snicker

WELL…

Being in my own world set apart from the larger dog breeding community, I sometimes forget what it’s really like out there.

It’s hard for me to believe some of these outdated, archaic ideas still exist.

To see it so blatantly, though, brings it all back for me.

It’s why we are here and why Lois’s vision all those years ago means so much.

The Dire Wolf Project is nothing short of revolutionary.

Maybe you aren’t as enthralled with dog breeding as I am, so you might not know just how extraordinary the Dire Wolf Project really is.

Yesterday’s encounter was eye-opening, to say the least.

Folks, eugenics is still alive and well… thriving all around us.

And, when I say “eugenics”, I don’t simply mean “perfecting a species through planned breeding.” Obviously, every responsible breeder aims to improve their dogs through selective breeding.

No. What I mean by eugenics is the notion of how to “deal with the unfit or unworthy by way of racial purity”.

Basically, racism in “pureblood” dogs.

These purists can’t help themselves.

I suppose it’s because it’s the only way they know.

And, unfortunately, they won’t change their racist purist ways without being shamed and ridiculed for their atrocious practices.

We should no longer tolerate these extreme appearance ideals.

Even today, knowing all we do about the science behind sustainable breeding for genetic diversity and longevity, many elitist purebred dog breeders “in the club” cannot understand the crossbred trend.

They actively vilify crossbred dogs like the Goldendoodle (and the many other doodle types out there), the Puggle, or the Cheweenie as somehow tainted.

What they fail to grasp is how disillusioned the average person is with purebred dog appearance extremes.

No dog breed should require human intervention in order to procreate, give birth, walk, trot, run, see, breath, eat, drink, or regulate its bowels.

And yet… so many of man’s best friends live unnecessary short lives full of pain and ill health.

In my opinion, some of these extreme purebred beauty ideals should be outright banned. Breeders promoting unhealthy extreme looks should be prosecuted for animal cruelty.

It’s animal abuse… plain and simple.

At the very least, educating the public and changing the culture surrounding dog breeding is a requirement to save these innocent deformed creatures from living short, painful lives.

The Dire Wolf Project believes it is the duty of every dog breeder to promote the overall strength and well being of the dog as a species and not just single-mindedly focus on any one particular breed or specimen.

Consistent with our ideals of a permanently open studbook, no breed can be considered in isolation. Rather it is our belief that every breeder must accept the grave responsibility of the role they play in the future of the canine species.

So…

I won’t be joining this dog breeding community.

They wouldn’t accept me anyway.

And that’s perfectly fine with me.

But, it’s important for you to know the American Dirus dog is not simply a crossbred designer dog.

While we do support crossbred breeding at strategically planned moments in the breed for improved genetic diversity among other things, we also adhere to a specifically strict standard.

This healthy, natural structural ideal is neither purebred nor crossbred.

Instead, we capture the old way of breeding. Nature’s way of sustaining all of life.

Not purebred. Not Crossbred. Strongbred!™

Learn more about what makes up a strongbred dog breed at the link below:

https://direwolfproject.com/direwolf-dogs/direwolf-dogs-intl/strongbred-dog/

And…

if you want to learn the science behind the breed in a down-to-earth, easy-to-read approach, there is no better way than to read the book:

https://www.amazon.com/Dire-Wolf-Project-Creating-Extraordinary/dp/1950333019

Jennifer Stoeckl is the co-founder of the Dire Wolf Project, founder of the DireWolf Guardians American Dirus Dog Training Program, and owner/operator of DireWolf Dogs of Vallecito. She lives in the beautiful inland northwest among the Ponderosa pine forests with her pack of American Dirus dogs.