Disturbing new study regarding purebred dogs
Last edited Mon Apr 1, 2013, 11:52 AM - Edit history (1)
I really don't know how to make heads or tails about this.
But if it's true (and the science behind it leads me to believe it is) it explains a lot, at least given my past experience with both purebreds and mixed breeds.
Needless to say, next time I look into getting a dog, it will not be a purebred.
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http://www.thestar.com/life/2013/04/01/purebred_dogs_lack_the_soul_of_mixed_breed_counterparts.html
Study: Purebred dogs lack the “soul” of mixed breed counterparts
University of Waterloo research indicates purebreds severely lacking critical emotional intelligence skills, cites genetic malformations
By: James Iha, News reporter, Published on Mon Apr 1 2013
A controversial new study recently published in The Canadian Veterinary Journal indicates that dogs that are specifically bred to owners for the purposes of representing a particular breed are staggeringly deficient in their ability to emote, express enjoyment in their lives, or otherwise relate to the needs and feelings of their owners or fellow dogs.
The study, conducted by University of Waterloo Assistant Professor of Veterinary Sociology Dr. Danny Myshrall, enlisted the help of 100 owners of recently deceased canines. Half of the participants owned mixed breed dogs of indeterminate type (colloquially known as “mutts”), while the other half were owners of traditional “purebred” dogs. “Amongst the purebreds, we made sure the sample represented a wide swath along the spectrum of breeds,” Myshrall explained. “This included both your traditional dog breeds: Labradors, Poodles, Schipperkes, Komondoors, Redbone Coonhounds, Bouvier des Flandres, and so on. We also included the more recent trend of so-called ‘designer’ breeds: Labrodoodles, Puggles, Bernedoodles, Schnooldles, Yorkie-Poos and Shih-Poos.”
Owners were first asked to give researchers a psychological profile of their pet: how affectionate he or she was towards the owner, what activities (if any) stimulated the dog’s attention, acts of aggression and/or dissatisfaction, eating habits, and other key personality traits of the animal. Then—with the owner’s permission—the scientists physically examined the brains of the late dogs. The results, Myshrall said, were astounding.
“The purebred dog was ten times more likely than a mutt to exhibit signs of chronic ennui, lackadaisical behavior, and an overall expression of a general lack of any sense of greater purpose or meaning in its life,” Myshrall said. “Upon our actual dissection of the dog’s brain itself, we found almost universally that the limbic system (the part of the brain responsible for emotional response and learning) was nearly half the size in purebred dogs when compared to their mixed breed counterparts.”
“In layman’s terms, one could honestly say that purebred dogs simply do not have the same ‘soul’ as one might find in a mixed breed,” Myshrall continued.
= new reply since forum marked as read
I've had dogs all my life and I can't even imagine my life without the 3 of them. My kids
She doesnt give kisses though. Damn soulless purebred. Must be time to put her down. 
No link. Nothing searchable.
Just someone playing a prank on the dog lovers of DU.
Unfortunately, many of us fell for it because there are all kinds of idiots out there, and some of them would actually publish something this inane.
This story was plausible as "Stupid Science" because there are idiots out there.
In case you hadn't noticed it, sometimes when you repeat a lie, people start believing it.
People who don't click on the links (like I didn't originally) casually mention things in passing.
If you wanted to play a prank, this belonged in the Lounge.
It wasn't funny.
I am disappointed in you. 
My pure bred Bull Mastiff had more personality and 'soul' than many people I've known. My pure bred Cocker Spaniel is much the same and is at least as quirky as am I. 
It's stuff like his that gives 'science' a bad name! 
i'm a min-pin snob.
Take it up with James Iha, then.
http://election.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x9316536
That's my opinion. Here's Dude, my Bagle - Beagle/Basset Hound/Whatever mix:
and don't have the genetic diseases that come from inbreeding. I have a mix and she's the best dog in the entire world, so that's all the scientific study I need.
I love that movie! God loves a terrier---so many great lines in that movie.
Seen here in the process of conducting his research.
Either that, or trying to breastfeed it. One of the two.
Baby Taffy. Shes all grown up now, and just as beautiful.
But this is the one that personally claimed me (size 11 shoe for scale lol):
That's Foxy, and she is my constant companion, where ever I go, and whatever I'm doing, around the farm here. She knows when I'm having a bad day, and gives extra loving at those times. She knows when I have some cheese even if I stash it in a paper towl and pocket it lol. She is as much of a person, as any dog I have ever encountered. I have pictures of the others somewhere but I can't find them. Its early and I haven't had my caffeine yet lol. We have 7 pommies which we share our life with (and our bed, the little bedhogs...you wouldn't think a 2 pound furball could be such a bedhog, but anyway...) an American Eskimo dog we rescued from the wilderness, and a jack russel someone dumped that we took in.
People that dump dogs make me
We do dog and cat rescues, which leads to an overfull house at times, but its worth it.
Someday, we want to add one of these to the family (on the right):
The one on the left is a full size husky. On the right (no, its not a baby lol), is an Alaskan klee kai.
We really dig the Icelandic dogs and the pack environment.
