The making of a (dog) movie star: The effect of the portrayal of dogs in movies on breed registrations in the United States

The media is a powerful force that can affect the welfare of the domiciled dog population. Dogs have long been in human stories and their depictions can create demand for the breeds shown. While previous research has found that this effect can last for up to ten years after the release of a movie, how this phenomenon occurs is unknown. This paper examines if how a dog is portrayed in a movie is associated with a subsequent change in American Kennel Club breed registrations for that breed. Following a systematic literature review, four key themes were identified in how dogs are portrayed in the media; dogs portrayed as heroes, as anthropomorphised, as embodying the ideals of Western societies (Whiteness and heteronormativity) and as boundaries between wilderness and human society. Forty movies from between 1930 to 2004 were analysed, resulting in 95 dog characters scored, and hierarchical multiple linear regression was run. Movies with dogs portrayed as heroes were followed by significant increases in the number of American Kennel Club breed registrations for the breed shown, while anthropomorphised dogs were followed by significant decreases in the number of dogs registered for up to five years after a movie’s release. These results indicate that how dogs are portrayed may be an important driver of demand for breeds. Future work should investigate whether these portrayals may have negative welfare implications for real dogs by leading to owners having unrealistic expectations for dogs or increasing demand for dogs with in-breeding related disorders.

Peculiarities of Inheriting Coat Colour Shades in the Breed “Golden Retriever”

The Article describes the peculiarities of colour shades in the Golden Retriever breed. The separate attention was given to nowadays existence of different standards of coat colour in this breed across the world, and these standards admit a broad variety of different shades in golden colour. Herewith it has been established that the white pigmentation colour of golden retrievers is unallowable in any of “Kennel Club” standards valid for today. The special focus was put to the genotype of breed, which presupposes the existence of double recessive gene (e/e) that predetermines creamy shade of coat colour. It was discovered that exactly the gene MC1R, its autosomal-recessive inheritance, plays the leading role in defining the coat colour of dogs and in the exterior of the breed. It was assumed how and why this genotype is widespread in population, at which extent sub-populations are distinguished (American and English-European ones), and also there was the option offered related to breeding the pure line on the basis of knowledge about karyotype of dogs, that were obtained in a course of predicative screening of E-locus.

Métodos de cruzamento utilizados em cães: estudo nos canis dos municípios de São Luís e São José de Ribamar – MA / Crossing methods used in dogs: study in kennels of municipalities of São Luís and São José de Ribamar – MA

Os cães apresentam a maior coleção de diversidade fenotípica encontrada em animais domésticos. Existem aproximadamente 400 raças de cães catalogadas e cada raça possui características morfológicas e comportamentais diferentes. A grande variabilidade genética na espécie pode ser decorrente da utilização dos diferentes métodos de cruzamentos visando atender às demandas do mercado. O cruzamento, quando utilizado de forma correta traz grandes benefícios, porém o grande desafio é promover o melhoramento sem endogamia. Sendo assim, objetivou-se com o presente estudo, identificar os métodos de cruzamento utilizados em cães pelos proprietários dos canis nos municípios de São Luís e São José de Ribamar - MA. Foram coletados dados de 10 canis filiados ao Kennel Club, localizados nos municípios de São Luís e São José de Ribamar - MA, totalizando 210 cães, por meio da aplicação de um questionário semiestruturado. Os resultados obtidos com a aplicação dos questionários mostraram que o outcrossing é o método de cruzamento mais adotado pelos criadores, em todos os canis visitados. As raças encontradas nos canis visitados foram a Spitz alemão, Pastor Alemão, Dogue alemão, Rottweiler, Dobermann, Fila brasileiro, Terrier Brasileiro, Pastor Belga de Malinois e Buldogue Francês. Conclui-se que o método de cruzamento utilizado, nos canis visitados, evidencia o interesse dos criadores na melhoria genética dos animais.

Digital Analysis of Subtrochlear Sclerosis in Elbows Submitted for Dysplasia Screening

Ulnar trochlear notch (UTN) subchondral bone sclerosis is observed in elbow dysplasia (ED) associated with the medial coronoid disease. However, its evaluation is based on a simple visual examiner assessment of bone radio-opacity level and is considered subjective. The purpose of this study was to objectively characterize the radiographic opacity of the ulnar trochlear notch (UTN) subchondral bone in mediolateral elbow projections classified, using the International Elbow Working Group guidelines. Records and mediolateral flexed elbow images from the Danish Kennel Club database for the ED screening scheme between 2012 and 2018 were available. Of the dogs in the database, those with an ED-negative status in the left limb were identified. From these, 20 dogs each having a status free from ED, or with Grade 1, 2, or 3 in the right limb, were randomly chosen. Joints with primary ununited anconeal process were excluded from the sample. A template was developed using the ImageJ software, for computer UTN sclerosis analysis. It was overlaid onto each image to define five regions of interest (ROIs): ROI-1, distal UTN; ROI-2, middle UTN; ROI-3, caudal UTN; ROI-4, cortical bone; and ROI-5, bone marrow. Mean pixel intensity for each UTN ROI was divided by the mean pixel intensity of ROI-4 to normalize the data. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the normalized pixel intensity in the disease joints (ED Grades 1, 2, and 3) was 1.18 ± 0.17, 1.03 ± 0.12, and 0.92 ± 0.09 for ROIs 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The corresponding values for the contralateral normal left joints were 1.16 ± 0.17, 1.01 ± 0.1, and 0.91 ± 0.08. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the normalized mean pixel intensity in dysplastic vs. non-dysplastic elbow joints for ROIs 1 and 2. The raw mean pixel intensity from right and left cortical and marrow bone ROIs sometimes showed relatively large differences. Digital radiography is associated with exposure and post-processing variabilities. Differences in apparent radio-opacity (as indicated by pixel intensity) though statistically significant in dysplastic joints compared with contralateral normal joints are slight and are thus problematic for computer-aided assessments of UTN sclerosis.

A Case Study on the Growth Pattern of Indian Free-ranging Dog in Natural Environment

Background: The Indian kennel club has determined the weight and height characteristics of adult Indian free-ranging dogs but not for the puppies despite the dogs existing in India for centuries. The formation of a growth chart for these dogs may help veterinarians to be better able to determine the age and health status of the rescued puppies.Methods: In this study, the weekly weight gains and monthly total length increases of a female Indian free-ranging puppy were observed from 5th - 22nd week of the puppy’s life in order to form a growth chart. The puppy’s life during observation was divided into three phases-pre-weaned, weaned and scavenge by itself. The mother’s monthly weight gain was measured.Result: The puppy showed 0.71+0.30 kg in the first, 0.45+0.48 kg in the second and 0.38 +0.40 kg increase in the third phase of the observation period. No significant difference in weight gain was observed in the three phases. The monthly weight gain and length increase were 1.95+0.587 kg and 21.25+19.05 cm respectively. No correlation was observed between them. No correlation between months after birth and mother’s weight gain were observed.

Caracterización básica y funcional del semen del Perro sin Pelo del Perú

El objetivo del estudio fue caracterizar el semen del Perro sin Pelo del Perú. Quince machos, de edades entre 1 a 5 años, inscritos en el Kennel Club Peruano fueron utilizados para colectar semen (un eyaculado por macho) mediante manipulación digital. Se realizó un espermatograma básico y se registraron características macroscópicas (volumen y color) y microscópicas (motilidad y concentración espermática, utilizando microscopía de campo claro). Adicionalmente, se realizaron pruebas de función espermática: viabilidad espermática (utilizando SYBR-14 y ioduro de propidio), potencial de membrana mitocondrial (PMM; utilizando MitoTraker Deep Red FM), e integridad acrosomal (utilizando FITC-PSA y ioduro de propidio), analizadas posteriormente mediante citometría de flujo con análisis de imágenes. Se encontraron los siguientes valores (medias ± IC 95%): 6.1 ± 2.7 ml de volumen, color blanquecino; 66.7 ± 10.5% de motilidad; 262.7 ± 20.4 x 106 espermatozoides/ml de concentración espermática; 77.7 ± 9.7% de viabilidad espermática; 85.9 ± 5.1% de alto PMM; 83.6 ± 14.9% de integridad acrosomal. Estos resultados representan el primer reporte sobre las características seminales de esta raza y podrían ser tomados como valores de referencia para una mejor selección de machos reproductores y para el diagnóstico de alteraciones reproductivas de la raza.

The usage of Mate Select, a web-based selection tool for pedigree dogs for promoting sustainable breeding

Background Inbreeding is a phenomenon that accumulates through the mating of relatives within closed populations, such as pedigree dog breeds, and results in reduced genetic variation within breeds, and may lead to poorer health and fertility from inbreeding depression. The impact of inbreeding is driven by the selection and mating of parents, but information on choices to reduce inbreeding is difficult to assess for individual breeders. Tools to inform dog breeders on the current state of the inbreeding and the relationships among possible parents are potentially useful for providing guidance towards choices that are more beneficial to the breed. However, their utility depends on their usage and this study examines the usage of Mate Select, a web-based tool offered by The Kennel Club, covering 222 breeds for a period of 7 years following its launch in 2011. Results The average usage was 2830 searches/week in 2012 with a slight fall of 2.2% per year (P < 0.001) to 2480 searches/week in 2018. Of these, 4% originated from outside the UK, across all continents except Antarctica, with the majority coming from English speaking countries. Searches/week showed a cyclical pattern with two cycles of 26.0 and 50.1 weeks. Since Mate Select’s launch there has been a steady increase in searches from mobile devices, from 11% in 2012 to 43% in 2018. For the 197 breeds with at least 10 dams registered with the Kennel Club during the study period, there was a relationship between usage and registrations, with the average number of searches as a multiple of the number of dams increasing from 2 to 10 for breeds with up to 70 dams and declining towards 2 again for the largest breeds with approximately 20,000 registered dams. However, there remained substantial variation among breeds of similar size, and breeds for which EBVs had become available during the study period had a 2.46 fold greater frequency of searches per registered bitch (P < 0.001), but this was not linked directly to the publication of EBVs. Conclusions Mate Select has sustained and substantial usage, although there is also substantial variation in usage among breeds, which offers an opportunity to develop further guidance.

­­­­The usage of Mate Select, a web-based selection tool for pedigree dogs for promoting sustainable breeding

BackgroundInbreeding is a phenomenon that accumulates through the mating of relatives within closed populations, such as pedigree dog breeds, and results in reduced genetic variation within breeds, and may lead to poorer health and fertility from inbreeding depression. The impact of inbreeding is driven by the selection and mating of parents, but information on choices to reduce inbreeding is difficult to assess for individual breeders. Tools to inform dog breeders on the current state of the inbreeding and the relationships among possible parents are potentially useful for providing guidance towards choices that are more beneficial to the breed. However, their utility depends on their usage and this study examines the usage of Mate Select, a web-based tool offered by The Kennel Club, covering 222 breeds for a period of 7 years following its launch in 2011.ResultsThe average usage was 2830 searches/week in 2012 with a slight fall of 2.2% per year (P<0.001) to 2480 searches/week in 2018. Of these, 4% originated from outside the UK, across all continents except Antarctica, with the majority coming from English speaking countries. Searches/week showed a cyclical pattern with two cycles of 26.0 and 50.11 weeks. Sin­­­­ce Mate Select’s launch there has been a steady increase in searches from mobile devices, from 11% in 2012 to 43% in 2018. For the 197 breeds with more than 10 dams registered with the Kennel Club during the study period, there was a relationship between usage and registrations, with the average number of searches as a multiple of the number of dams increasing from 2 to 10 for breeds with up to 70 dams and declining towards 2 again for the largest breeds with approximately 20,000 registered dams. However, there remained substantial variation among breeds of similar size, and breeds for which EBVs had become available during the study period had a 2.46 fold greater frequency of searches per registered bitch (P<0.001), but this was not linked directly to the publication of EBVs.Conclusions Mate Select has sustained and substantial usage, although there is also substantial variation in usage among breeds, which offers an opportunity to develop further guidance.