Musings about our breed

[mcarrel]

Cancer, heart problems are too common. I would imagine the very small gene pool at "reconstruction" is the root coupled with popular sire issues, inbreeding, and close line breeding.

 

[mcarrel]

You can browse the web and see well known, health tested champions dead at 5 sometimes younger from different issues. On the other hand most breeders don't list dob and dod and you have to ask point blank what the average lifespans of their dogs are or what the dogs who died young died of. You really have to dig into pedigrees and individual dogs to see how long avg life-span is. Personally I think that it does a dis-service to prospective pet owners to not bring up life expectancy or dob/dod in their lines because many people just looking for a pet think they are getting a dog with a 8-12 year life span (as listed on various sites as the common life-span) When in reality that is rarely the case.

 

[NYDDB]

I agree NYDDB and Mateo is just awesome. I love seeing his out and about pictures. I love seeing active ddbs and imho is what should be the norm for them not the exception. I hope there are active breeders that continue producing ddbs with that in mind. I truly love these guys I have loved all my dogs and their individual traits EM, Rottweiler, Great Pyrenees but imho there is just something very special and unique about a ddb (although I am sure everyone feels the same about their breed ) My friend said something that sounds strange but she may have hit the nail on the head when she said Kronos is the most "human like" dog she's ever met met in his expression and behavior.

Thank you, mcarrel.

Funny you should mention the "human" thing about Kronos. I cannot tell you how many times people- even strangers- meet Mateo and say, "He looks so human," or "There is something so human about him..."; it happens a lot!

Not sure what it is, but I agree...there is a unique quality about these guys.

 

[NYDDB]

You can browse the web and see well known, health tested champions dead at 5 sometimes younger from different issues. On the other hand most breeders don't list dob and dod and you have to ask point blank what the average lifespans of their dogs are or what the dogs who died young died of. You really have to dig into pedigrees and individual dogs to see how long avg life-span is. Personally I think that it does a dis-service to prospective pet owners to not bring up life expectancy or dob/dod in their lines because many people just looking for a pet think they are getting a dog with a 8-12 year life span (as listed on various sites as the common life-span) When in reality that is rarely the case.

This is, sadly, very true. I never dug too deep into the lifespan of this breed (my initial findings were 8-10 years.) But, doing more recent research has brought up around 5-8 or 5-6 years. Devastating...

I cannot grasp the fact that, come Mateo's next birthday, he may well be considered "middle-age."

 

[cinnamon roll]

Mcarrel thank you very much for the response.

NYDDB do you know what the avg is for your breeder?

I can't believe how short the life spans are for DDB's. That is so sad

 

[Kujo]

stop it...you're all making me sad

Kujo will live forever...and ever...!

 

[NYDDB]

CR- I do not. My bad...

 

[cinnamon roll]

Sorry Kujo! My apologizes.

stop it...you're all making me sad

Kujo will live forever...and ever...!

 

[Th0r]

If this article has any credibility, based on the last paragraph, the modern DDB has a very shallow gene pool.

History of the Bordeaux - bodaciousdoguedebordeaux.com

Sent from my Nexus 5

 

[RissyRenee]

Thank you, mcarrel.

Funny you should mention the "human" thing about Kronos. I cannot tell you how many times people- even strangers- meet Mateo and say, "He looks so human," or "There is something so human about him..."; it happens a lot!

Not sure what it is, but I agree...there is a unique quality about these guys.

Def a unique quality. Lola gets that too. I think its due to how expressive their eyes are! Lovely dogs indeed.

 

[TN Dogues]

Hagrid's grandparents are 8(grand dam) & 10 (grandsire) and still alive, parents are 5 (dam) & 6 (sire) and going strong, great grandparents lived to 11+ years. None of Hagrid's ancestors have heart problems and his echo cardiogram did not find any murmurs.

Hanna's ancestry (despite her having the better pedigree) lived much shorter lives. Her dam died 1-1/2 yrs after she was born from C-section complications (one litter later). She was 4. Her sire got into a fight with another intact male at the age of 5 and died from heatstroke. Her grand dam died at 6 (don't know why). Her grandsire lived to 9.
Hanna's great great grand dam is out of Park Ave's kennel. Recently, Park Ave has brought in a massive import called Voodoo. He's one of the shorter, stockier Dogues.

 

[NYDDB]

TN Dogues-- That is good info to have re: generational life spans. I may shoot my breeder an email and ask about general life spans of her dogues (i do know Mateo's dam and sire are still alive and well.)

By the way, I just checked out "Voodoo"-- he is THICK!

 

[mcarrel]

TN Dogues that's good info. I know a few others that had some Park Avenue ddb that lived 9+ years. Hagrid's ancestors are down right impressive in life span.

 

[2nd Chance]

When we rescued a DDB 6 months ago, my research began. so im way behind you guys in knowledge.
I first looked at pictures...
Well, there seemed to be 2 overall shapes: large brute, and leaner athletic look.
Colours: seem to go from light to dark red, and discovered the mask face is my fave.
That some look like boxers
some look like sharpie's
some look like Neo's
some have wrinkles
some look like labs

Mine was a couch potatoe on arrival, but as another mentioned, now keeps up with my rottie and GSD, or me on a bike. sunrise/sundown exercise times takes care of heat issue. Access to water completes the keeping cool care required.

He stupid, thick as 2 short planks, clumsy, ? blind, goofey, does croc rolls, plays dumb. and get this:

I have been scaring the crap outta folk around here, walking my 2 dogs (gsd and rottie) in, around, passed others and their dogs for 4+ yrs, nobody wants their dogs to play with mine. I added a DDB, and SUDDENLY, everyone wants to meet him, and the other 2. ? weird huh?

Being human. Folks say this to me also. That there is something almost human in their presence.
I think that having such a range of expression, helps a dog bond with humans is an element for sure, but then there is something - else, some weird connection unlike i have with my other 2. Almost cat like.

 

[thedigitalkiwi]

That some look like boxers
some look like sharpie's
some look like Neo's
some have wrinkles
some look like labs

I agree. My boy looks like he's got a Neo head (quite narrow and lots of wrinkles) whilst our girl has a real boxer look to her. They are both from the same litter so go figure. Both are youngsters still so they may well change in appearance as they mature. I am a novice with this breed so please don't yell as me if I've got the comparisons with Neos and boxers completely wrong