"Following the heart" has led many human beings into uncharted and often painful territory. As already mentioned; all puppies are cute. If it were just a matter of finding a pup that is short of perfect looking that we were concerned about then it would be no problem to purchase from any breeder.There are plenty of less than perfect looking purebred dogs out there that are well loved.
The fact is that purebred dogs are different in that they have been selectively bred to have certain looks and traits. It is a tedious process to produce a purebred type and it continues to be tedious to keep the purebred line producing the same physical characteristics, temperament and health. Even the most knowledgable and experienced have to work hard to keep health and vitality in their lines.
When someone starts breeding such a purebred without a background in the genetics of the breed they create horrible genetic defects in the process. Defects that may not be seen by the naked eye but are passed on to future generations just the same and cause much suffering to the offspring and the new owners. Deformed internal organs as well as bones and joints to name only two of the many possibilities.
It is not as simple as putting one cute dog with another. Those purebred dogs carry genes that can be dangerous when bred with the wrong mate. People who do not bother to take the time to study the pedigrees and what a particular dog from a particular line has produced in past generations are playing a game of Russian roulette. It is not fair to the pups and it is not fair to the unsuspecting owners that purchase them, fall in love with them, and then watch them suffer.
We as humans have the ability of rational thought processes. Using those processes to make sound decisions rather than "following the heart" is what puts us above the animal kingdom that we are here to protect.
Yes, this is an old thread but it is a recurring theme that seems to be never ending. |