Please don't ruin the Newfoundland

By Carol Beuchat PhD

There's something that's been bugging me more and more, and today all the little bits I need to grouse about it happened to fall into my lap at the same time. So grouse I will.

We're going to talk about the Newfoundland.

Have a look at some photos and illustrations of the Newfoundland. As you know, it's a relatively old breed, dating back to the creation of the Labrador Retriever from the St. John's Water Dog. The Newfoundland has large size as well as a substantial coat that allow it to work in frigid temperatures on both land and in water. It's a breed that most people recognize on sight, the image of strength, athleticism, nobility, and sweet temperament.

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There are still Newfoundlands around that look like these dogs. But the selection pressure on this breed - the "trajectory" of selection by breeders - has been for an ever shorter muzzle and a domed skull, creating an outline that no longer looks anything like the original working dog.

The drawing below illustrates the head of the "modern" Newfoundland from show lines. Many are not this extreme, and some are more, and dogs with heads like this are taking home ribbons in good competition.

What you see here is a breed in the process of becoming brachycephalic.

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Interestingly, the heads depicted in AKC breed standard look little like the original rectangular skull of the early dogs. When did the ideal head drift away from the very functional dimensions of a canine athlete to the scaled-up rendition of a toy companion dog? And perhaps the better question is why?
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Illustrations of "ideal" heads, from the illustrated breed guide produced by the Newfoundland Club of America. http://www.ncanewfs.org/publications/illustratedguide/illusguidecontents.html

American Kennel Club. www.akc.org

We have seen this slow, creeping "improvement" of the head happen to many breeds. Over time, muzzles get shorter, the shape of the skull changes, and ultimately the breed has a doll-like, flat face and high forehead like the modern Frenchie, Peke, or Pug.

If this is what breeders want to select for, is it really a problem? Yes, it is. It's a BIG problem. Let me explain.

As the muzzle becomes shorter, the parts don't become smaller to fit into less space. Instead, the structures that should be in the muzzle get pushed into the front of the skull. Of course, that's where the brain should be, and there really isn't any place for it to go either, so it twists and deforms to accommodate the different space, and it can even get pushed through the hole in the back of the skull where the spinal cord connects to the brain. Note that there really isn't extra room there either, so the vessels that carry blood and spinal fluid to and from the brain and the spinal cord itself get pinched. The result is neurological and anatomical disorders that cause suffering to the dog. Syringomyelia and Chiari-like formation plague several breeds that have become ever more brachicephalic over the generations, especially the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Brussels Griffon, Chihuahua, and French Bulldog.  

The other consequence of a shorter muzzle is a reduced ability of the dog to avoid overheating. The "air conditioner" of the dog is in the muzzle. Longer muzzles have a greater ability to cool the dog, which is why we see those long, skinny noses in the Saluki and other breeds that live in hot environments. (Read about the amazing muzzle of the dog.)

The Newfoundland doesn't usually live in a hot environment, but it nevertheless depends on an efficient cooling mechanism because it is a large, heavy-coated working breed that must tolerate frigid ambient and water temperatures and also be able to dissipate the heat produced when working. Reducing the length of the muzzle compromises the ability of this breed to do the job it was bred for.

​There are other unintended consequences of shortening the muzzle. Pushing the structures of the muzzle into the skull also forces a change in the structure of the palate and airways. The result is difficulty breathing, and surgery to open the airways of the brachycephalic breeds has developed into a brisk business for the veterinary surgeon. The collective effects of the respiratory disorders that result from brachycephaly are referred to now as "Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome". Also under "unintended consequences" is the development of the unsightly "roll over the nose" that results when the bony structures on the inside of the muzzles become shorter without also shortening the skin around it. In toy breeds, the nose roll is considered a "breed feature", even though the rolls can cause skin issues and bacterial infections that require regular treatment.

The serious problems that have been produced in brachycephalic breeds are now the subject of a major effort by kennel clubs and veterinary and welfare organizations in Europe to make those looking for a puppy aware of the serious health issues these dogs face.

So here's the problem. Breeders might like the looks of the shortened muzzle and domed skull on the today's Newfoundland, but should they be allowed to breed for structural features that will compromise the health and function of the dog? 

There is pressure in Europe on breeders to breed away from these extreme features and back towards sound, functional dogs. If we can clearly see that the path ahead for the Newfoundland is towards features that will compromise function, then the time to do something is now. The issue is not "cosmetic"; It is anatomical and physiological, and it consequently affects general welfare as well as pain and suffering.

It's time for a "Head's Up" for breeders. These problems need to be addressed, and fixing them will require involvement of both clubs and judges. The standard could use some changes as well so it's clear that "shorter is better" doesn't apply lest we end up with 150 lb pugs. The necessary changes should not be arbitrary or guessed based on opinions and assumptions of breeders and owners. Scientists with expertise in anatomy and physiology of brachycephalic dogs should be enlisted to work with the breed organizations in outlining the steps that need to be taken to address the problems. There are several labs actively involved in research programs on brachycephalic airway syndrome, and that ready expertise should be stop number one for breed organizations setting out to tackle the muzzle issue.

To be fair, the Newfoundland is not the only breed sliding down the slippery slope to brachycephaly. The other breed that has started catching my eye is the Rottweiler, another heavy-bodied working breed that is not improved by a shorter muzzle. So head's up to the Rottweiler people as well. It's time to make a plan.

As purebred dog breeding faces more intense scrutiny than ever before, it is incumbent upon breeders to ensure that their vision of breed perfection is also compatible with health and function. The trend towards shorter and shorter muzzles in Newfoundlands needs to stop. Breeders and clubs should work with scientists and veterinarians to come up with guidelines for anatomy that will guarantee that muzzle of the Newfoundlands can do what it's designed to do.

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UPDATE (27 October 2017)

After I published this post, I was alerted to this great article (written in 2013!) that makes the same points about the changes in the Newfoundland skull. Clearly this isn't a new issue, so what I want to know is what breeders are doing about it. If nothing, then that's a problem, because these are not changes in cosmetics but alterations of structure that have profound effects on function and health.

A short muzzle on a dog like this should be considered a genetic defect by responsible breeders with a commitment to breed for health. If breeders do not see it this way, then there needs to be some oversight by veterinarians and those well-versed in the problems produced by brachycephaly.

What rationale do breeders offer for producing dogs with a head structure that seriously compromises the health and welfare of the animal?

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