Factors For The Decline in GSD Population in The UK - A 2017 Study And The Data Driven Conclusion
The German Shepherd Dog breed has been widely popular across the globe since the very beginning. Especially post the World War II the breed popularity got a big spike and the GSD become one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. The popularity of this breed was also at its zenith in the UK.
This article describes a study conducted by Dr. Dan G. O’Neill, Dr. Noel Robin Coulson, Dr. David B. Church and Dr. Dave C. Brodbelt to identify the specific factors responsible for the decline in the population of GSD breed in the UK. The study was published on July 28, 2017. This was the largest study ever till 2017 and it was aimed at evaluating the veterinary clinical records (VetCompass data) to identify the factors that contributed the mortality rate of the GSD breed in the UK till 2017.
Note: The study still remains relevant today, because the factors that the study had explored continue to endure.
The study included all dogs under veterinary care during 2013 withing the database of Veterinary Companion Animal Surveillance System project (VetCompass). All relevant data pertaining to the demographic, mortality and clinical diagnosis on GSDs were extracted and reported had come from the VetCompass records. The total sample size of the German Shepherd Dogs recorded was 12,146 (2.7%) of the 455,557 GSDs in the VetCompass database.
Findings of the Research:
1) GSDs dropped from 3.5% of the annual birth cohort in 2005 to 2.2% in 2013.
2) The median longevity of GSDs was 10.3 years
Factors:
1) The most common causes of death: Musculoskeletal disorder (16.3%) and inability to stand (14.9%).
2) The most prevalent disorders recorded: Otitis externa (7.89%), osteoarthritis (5.54%), diarrhoea (5.24%), overweight/obesity (5.18%) and aggression (behavioral) (4.76%).
3) Aggression was more prevalent in males (6.75%) than females (2.78%)
What all were the reasons to conduct this study?
Over some decades till 2017, it was strangely noticed that demand of specific characteristics in the show-rings had been an instigating factor that influenced the breeders to design breeding programs in such a way that it started changing the overall conformation of the dogs that sparked some debate about the overall health of the breed. Between a span of 2005 and 2017 the yearly KC registrations for GSDs in the UK had dropped sharply.
GSD were initially bred as medium-sized dogs to meet their original purpose of herding (which was why the UK Kennel Club (KC) classified the breed under Pastoral groups). But over the period of time with the demand for the change in the characteristics and traits (shift from original herding purpose), there had been an eventual and consistent phenotypic shift. The continued favoritism for traits deemed preferred in the show rings, had a continuous adversely influence on the breed conformation. The focus of breeding German Shepherd Dogs totally shifted the dogs were specifically bred for show purposes. Hence the breeder continued to selectively breed GSD to get the characteristics favored in the show rings, Not for herding.
There was widespread expression of concern for the health and welfare of the GSD breed. The UK Kennel Club's (KC) Breed Watch system classified the GSD as a Category Three breed. Categorizing the breed as s Category Three breed necessitated close monitoring and additional support owing to the breed's increased susceptibility to certain health issues linked to exaggerated conformation. Identified Breed Watch concerns encompass traits such as cow hocks, excessive turn of stifle, nervous temperament, sickle hock, and weak hindquarters.
The condition has worsened at a global level - even beyond the UK. Even today the situation has not improved.
