Vanishing Dog Breeds – 10 Favorites You Never See Anymore

All of these were popular at one time, but no longer exist. However, some you’ll find traces of in newer breeds. What caused them to simply vanish?
 
Throughout history, many dog breeds have come and gone.

Some disappeared when the work they were bred to do was no longer needed. Others gradually morphed into easily recognizable modern dog breeds.

Here are 10 dog breeds that no longer exist. How many have you heard of?

10 Extinct Dog Breeds

1. Alpine Mastiff

Source: Dr. Becker

The extinct Alpine Mastiff is an ancestor of today’s Saint Bernard, and a significant contributor to the modern Mastiff and other closely related breeds. The names Alpine Mastiff and Saint Bernard were used to describe the same group of dogs in the early 19th century.

The Alpine Mastiff was one of the earliest giant dog breeds and one of the first true mastiffs, originating in northern Europe before 500 B.C.

It is believed some of these dogs reached nearly 40 inches at the shoulder and weighed as much as 350 pounds or more — larger than both the modern Saint Bernard and English Mastiff.

2. Chien-gris

The extinct Chien-gris, also known as the Gris de Saint-Louis (Grey St. Louis Hound), originated in medieval times. The breed was known to be headstrong and willing to pursue quarry to their death.
By the 19th century, the Chien-gris was impossible to find.

3. Dogo Cubano

The extinct Dogo Cubano, also known as the Cuban Mastiff, originated in Cuba. This rare breed was developed from several varieties of bulldogs, mastiffs, and cattle dogs.

The Dogo Cubano was bred to capture runaway slaves (cimarrones) in Cuba. After the abolition of slavery, the breed ceased to exist.

4. English White Terrier

The extinct English White Terrier was created in the early 1860s by a small group of breeders who wanted a prick-eared version of small white working terriers, which eventually became the Fox, Jack Russell, and Sealyham terriers.

The Boston and Rat terriers also share the same ancestry.

The English White Terrier was ultimately rejected by the U.K. Kennel Club, and was also unpopular with the public. About 30 years from its inception, the breed was extinguished.

5. Paisley Terrier

The extinct Paisley Terrier, also called the Clydesdale Terrier, originated in Scotland and was bred primarily as a pet and show dog version of the Skye Terrier. It is the ancestor of today’s Yorkshire Terrier.

The U.K. Kennel Club recognized the Paisley Terrier in 1888 as a variety of the Skye Terrier. When Paisleys began winning dog show prizes for their long, soft coats, Skye Terrier breeders objected, which ultimately led to the disappearance of the Paisley breed.

6. Russian Tracker

The extinct Russian Tracker, also called the Russian Retriever, was a domestic dog used for hundreds of years to protect and herd flocks of sheep. The Tracker stood as high as 30 inches at the shoulder and weighed up to 100 pounds or more.

Despite their size, these dogs were fast and flexible, able to defend their flocks from wolves and other predators. The Russian Tracker was also an intelligent dog. His closest surviving descendent is the Golden Retriever.

7. Southern Hound

The extinct Southern Hound existed in Britain until sometime during the 19th century, and was probably crossed with other breeds until the original breed was extinguished.

The Southern Hound was tall and heavy, with a deep chest and a long, bony body. He wasn’t a fast dog, but he had superb scenting abilities. The breed fell out of fashion during the 18th century in favor of the faster Foxhound.

Many of today’s hound breeds are thought to be descendants of the Southern Hound, including Beagles, Bloodhounds, Coonhounds, Foxhounds, and Harriers.

8. Tahltan Bear Dog

The probably extinct Tahltan Bear Dog was indigenous to Canada, and was bred to hunt bear. Small and light, these dogs could move quickly over packed snow following bear tracks.

The Tahltan Bear Dog was friendly and gentle with people and small animals, and lived in tents with their humans.

There are no known living descendants of the breed past the 1960s to 1970s, and no modern breeds have any known genetic relationship with the Tahltan Bear Dog.

9. Toy Trawler Spaniel

The extinct Toy Trawler Spaniel is thought to be descended from the original King Charles Spaniel and the older variety of Sussex Spaniel. The breed started out as a sporting dog, but became a toy show dog over time.

By the early 1900s, the Toy Trawler Spaniel was more popular in Europe than the U.K., and was especially a hit in the Netherlands and Italy. The breed was considered to be on the verge of extinction by 1920.

10. Tweed Water Spaniel

The Tweed Water Spaniel, or Tweed Spaniel, has been extinct since the 19th century. These dogs originated near the River Tweed close to the Scottish Borders.

The Tweed Water Spaniel may have been a cross between local water dogs and the St. John’s Water Dog, another extinct breed. He had a curly brown coat and long tail, and resembled the Irish Water Spaniel.

The Tweed Water Spaniel was known for his sporting ability, intelligence, and courage.

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Common Pet Treatments Can Harm Young Children

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is considering a ban on a harmful chemical that kills fleas and ticks on household pets.

The chemical in question, tetrachlorvinphos, or TCVP, is the active ingredient in Hartz brand flea and tick products, including Hartz’ Longlife 90 Day Collar, and in some livestock treatments.

In preparation for taking regulatory action, a decision prompted by a petition filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council in 2009, the EPA released a draft human health risk assessment and other documents last month. You can find them here.

In our view, EPA’s assessment is commendable – but long overdue. Scientists, regulators and manufacturers have known for years that insecticidal treatments are dangerous to pets and humans alike. 

The chemicals block nerve signals in pets and humans just as they do in pests, potentially harming everyone in the process. These chemicals have been known to kill pets, particularly cats. 

Children are also vulnerable, because their neurological systems are still developing and because they’re most likely to ingest pet pesticides by accident. 

It’s not uncommon for a child to touch a pet, then put her hands in her mouth, consuming traces of pesticide.

A landmark NRDC study published in 2009 found that some pest treatments leave residues on animal fur that are up to 1,000 times the EPA’s acceptable levels. 

These treatments put children at risk of cancer and neurological damage.

Between 2000 and 2006, the EPA banned six other types of organophosphates, but TCVP, a member of that highly problematic chemical family, has remained on the market. 

Carbamates, another family of harmful insecticidal chemicals, are still used in common flea and tick treatments.

The EPA moves slowly. Even if the agency decides to ban TCVP, more months or years may pass before products containing the chemical disappear from store shelves.

In the meantime, here’s what you can do today to keep your pets and family safe:

Take preventive action

To see how to get rid of pests without resorting to chemicals – Click here.

Brush, comb and bathe your pets frequently. Avoid tall brush and other areas where fleas and ticks live. Vacuum your home often to catch pests and eggs, and throw away vacuum bags immediately.

Follow safety instructions

If you want to apply a topical treatment to pet fur, products with S-methoprene or pyriproxyfen are safer. Choose the proper concentration for your pet’s weight, and apply dog treatments only to dogs, cat treatments only to cats.

Read directions and warnings, wear gloves and wash your hands after applying. 

• Class Action Lawsuit: Hartz 

Children and pregnant women should not apply treatments. 

Keep kids away from treated pets

Separate kids from pets for 24 hours after applying a flea or tick treatment. Steer your pets away from places where your children play and sleep, including couches, play area carpets and bedspreads.

Monitor your pets and family

Contact your local poison control center (800-222-1222) and National Pesticide Information Center (800-858-7378) if you believe your pet or a family member has been harmed by a flea or tick treatment.

By Nancy Chuda, co-founder of Healthy Child Healthy World, and Megan Boyle

Images submitted by PNM

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Do You Feed Your Kitty This Favorite Food? 2 Reasons to Stop It Today

Yes, cats can be finicky eaters. But this particular food is a disaster waiting to happen. Recent studies link it to a disease that’s skyrocketing in the kitty population.

It’s also linked to inflammatory diseases like asthma. For your precious kitty’s sake, read and take heed.

Dr. Becker has some new information to report on the subject of hyperthyroidism in cats, and I’m afraid it won’t be welcome news for those of you who feed fish or fish-flavored cat food to feline family members.

Feline hyperthyroidism has increased dramatically in the U.S. in the last 30+ years. It’s the most common endocrine disorder of kitties, with over 10 percent of cats over the age of 10 diagnosed with the disease.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the throat. When this little gland overproduces thyroid hormone, hyperthyroidism is the result. The disease is usually caused by a benign tumor on the thyroid gland called an adenoma. In rare cases, the tumor is a carcinoma, which is cancer.

Exposure to Flame Retardant Chemicals (PBDEs) Linked to Feline Hyperthyroidism

The sudden appearance and rapid increase in cases of hyperthyroidism in cats has generated quite a bit of research into potential causes, one of which appears to be exposure to flame retardant chemicals (polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs).

PBDEs are recognized endocrine and thyroid disruptors.

In a 2015 study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, researchers analyzed the blood from 60 pet cats for the presence of flame retardant chemicals, specifically decabromodiphenyl (BB-209), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hydroxylated PBDEs (OH-PBDEs), and 2,4,6-TBP.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the differences in the levels of the chemicals in healthy cats and cats diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. Of the 60 cats in the study, 23 had normal thyroid function and 37 were hyperthyroid.

The study results showed that the hyperthyroid cats had higher blood levels of PBDEs on a fat weight basis.

Another earlier study published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health suggested that flame retardant chemicals in house dust are linked to thyroid disease in cats.

The study authors concluded that cats are primarily exposed to flame retardant chemicals by ingesting house dust — which of course occurs every time they groom themselves.

Indeed, housecats do seem to have extraordinary exposure to PBDEs. In 2012, Swedish researchers demonstrated that serum PBDE levels in Swedish cats were about 50 times higher than in the Swedish human population.

And a 2007 study showed that PBDE levels in U.S. cats were 20 to 100-fold greater than median levels in U.S. adults.

Fish-Flavored Cat Food Identified as Potential Culprit

A newly-released study seems to shed even more light on the connection between flame retardant compounds and feline hyperthyroidism, suggesting that fish-flavored cat food could be a culprit.

A team of Japanese scientists evaluated cat food and feline blood samples and discovered that the type of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and PBDE byproducts found in both the food and blood samples are derived from marine organisms.

The researchers were also able to simulate the way in which the bodies of cats convert the type of chemical present in the food into the type of chemical seen in the cats’ blood samples.

Based on their results, the team concluded that the byproducts detected at high levels in cats’ blood samples likely came from fish-flavored food and not exposure to PCBs or PBDEs. However, further work is needed to determine the link between the metabolites (byproducts) and hyperthyroidism.

How PBDEs Wind Up in Cat Food

For those of you wondering how these chemicals wind up in fish-flavored cat food, Dr. Jean Hofve of Little Big Cat explains it quite well:

“There is a link between the feeding of fish-based cat foods and the development of hyperthyroidism, which is now at epidemic levels.

New research suggests that cats are especially sensitive to PBDEs (which, among other things, are used as fire retardants in carpeting and furniture), chemicals found at higher levels in both canned and dry cat foods than dog foods; and more in dry than canned cat foods.

Fish-based foods are even worse, because marine organisms produce PDBEs naturally and can bioaccumulate up the food chain to high levels in fish; this compounds the exposure cats get from fabrics and dust.

Predatory fish at the top of the food chain, such as tuna and salmon, may contain very elevated levels of heavy metals (including mercury) as well as PCBs, pesticides, and other toxins.

Tilefish (listed on pet food labels as ‘ocean whitefish’) are among the worst contaminated, along with king mackerel, shark, and swordfish.

These fish are so toxic that the FDA advises women of child-bearing age and children to avoid them entirely; and recommends only 1 serving of albacore tuna per week due to its high mercury levels (yellow or ‘light’ tuna is far safer for us, but still inappropriate for cats).

If these fish are dangerous to children, cats are at even higher risk!

PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) in particular are toxic industrial chemicals that were banned in the U.S. in 1979. However, they are used elsewhere in the world; and because they are stable in the environment, they are still a concern in ocean waters.

Recent research found high levels of PCBs in dry and canned pet foods. Scientists also found that 

cats retain PCB metabolites in their blood longer than dogs.”

More Reasons to Avoid Feeding Fish to Cats

The risk of hyperthyroidism isn’t the only reason for concern when feeding fish to cats.

I often mention the need to rotate proteins in your pet’s diet. That’s because any food that is consumed often can create an allergy over time. And fish, as it turns out, is one of the most highly allergenic foods for kitties. It’s simply not a species appropriate diet for cats.

Allergies cause systemic inflammation. Cats who eat allergenic foods over and over can end up with lung inflammation that can also lead to asthma. And of course asthma is one of the more commonly diagnosed inflammatory conditions in cats. 

There also appears to be a link between mercury and asthma, and ethoxyquin (a toxic preservative still found in some pet foods) and asthma, so it’s easy to start to see the bigger picture with regard to diet-related inflammatory conditions.

Fish fed in high amounts can also lead to thiamine deficiency, which can cause loss of appetite, seizures, and even death. Long-term ingestion of fish in cat food can also deplete vitamin E resources. Vitamin E deficiency can cause a painful condition called steatitis, which is yellow fat disease. If left untreated, steatitis can be life threatening.

Seafood is a very rich source of iodine, but cats aren’t designed to process a lot of iodine. Many animal nutritionists, including me, believe there’s a link between iodine-rich foods and feline hyperthyroidism. There’s also been a link established between pop-top cans or canned cat food and hyperthyroidism.7

Last but not least, the magnesium content in fish has been linked to urinary tract diseases in cats. A diet overloaded with the mineral magnesium can predispose your kitty to magnesium ammonium phosphate crystals, also known as MAP crystals or struvite crystals.

Tips for Helping Your Cat Avoid Hyperthyroidism

• Feed a balanced, fresh food, and species-appropriate diet
• Avoid feeding your cat a fish-based diet
• Also avoid feeding soy products to your kitty, as they have been linked to thyroid damage
• Rid your environment of flame retardant chemicals
• Provide your cat with an organic pet bed
• Purchase a high-quality air purifier for your cat’s environment

I also recommend checking your kitty’s thyroid levels annually after the age of 7.

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Spaying or Neutering Your Dog? Think Again!

Once a huge advocate of spaying or neutering every dog early in life after being in private practice for a few years, Dr. Becker noticed many of her canine patients were developing endocrine-related disorders.

After a conversation with an expert in the field of veterinary endocrinology, Dr. Becker realized her practice of insisting on early spays or neuters for every dog patient had left many of them with serious health problems.

Dr. Becker quickly changed her recommendation for her patients from automatic spays or neuters, and the younger the better, to a more holistic approach in which surgeries, including sterilization and desexing, should only be performed when there’s a medical necessity.

She also believes shelter pets should be sterilized rather than desexed (spayed or neutered) in order to preserve their sex hormones.

Health Issues Linked to Spaying and Neutering Dogs

Before Dr. Becker discuss some of the health issues now associated with desexing dogs. First she points out that there are two medical conditions that actually can be totally eliminated by desexing: 

1. Benign prostatic hypertrophy or BPH (enlarged prostate), 
2. Pyometra (a disease of the uterus). 

A wealth of information is mounting that preserving innate sex hormones, especially in the first years of life, may be beneficial to pets, whereas the risk of pyometra or BPH in an animal’s first year of life is incredibly low.

Scientific evidence is mounting that gonad removal can deliver serious consequences to a dog’s future health. 

Among those consequences: 

• Shortened lifespan
• Atypical Cushing’s disease
• Cardiac tumors
• Bone cancer
• Abnormal bone growth and development
• CCL ruptures
• Hip dysplasia
• Breed-specific effects of spay/neuter
• Other health concerns. Early spaying or neutering is commonly associated with urinary incontinence in female dogs and has been linked to increased incidence of urethral sphincter incontinence in males.

Options to traditional full spays and neuters are hard to come by both in the U.S. and Canada, because veterinary schools don’t teach alternative sterilization procedures. 

Fortunately, we’re slowly waking up to the fact that spaying and neutering – especially in very young animals — are creating health problems that are non-existent or significantly less prevalent in intact pets.

Most Americans can’t even comprehend that it’s possible to keep intact pet dogs and not have millions of litters of unwanted puppies. 

That’s because we’ve been conditioned to believe that a responsible pet owner means spaying and neutering your dog. Dr. Becker was taught to believe the same thing — that keeping an intact pet was considered irresponsible even if the owner is meticulously careful about not allowing the pet to breed.

Of course, our dependence on spaying and neutering as the only form of birth control is the result of generations of irresponsible pet owners and millions of unwanted dogs and cats that are killed annually in our animal shelters.

It is a vicious cycle, and it’s a very frustrating cycle to witness. Irresponsible people need to have sterilized pets. No one’s going to argue that point.

Unfortunately, spaying and neutering responsible people’s pets doesn’t make irresponsible people any more responsible. They remain the root cause of the overpopulation crisis in this country.

The problem with the spaying and neutering issue is it’s the only current solution to the overpopulation problem. 

We’re not just halting the animal’s ability to reproduce, we are also removing incredibly valuable sex hormone-secreting tissues like the ovaries and the testes. These organs serve a purpose.

We’re slowly waking up to the fact that in our rush to spay or neuter every possible animal we can get our hands on – the younger, the better – we are creating health problems, sometimes life-threatening health problems, that are non-existent or significantly less prevalent in intact pets.

Ownership of an intact dog, male or female, is not for everyone. It takes time, effort, vigilance, and often, a thick skin.

If you are an irresponsible pet owner who allows your intact pet outside without a leash and direct supervision, this video is not for you.

Please sterilize your pet before allowing him or her outside again, as you are contributing to the overpopulation problem. 

Please rethink how you care for your pet, or consider not having pets.

Dr. Becker: “Whenever I discuss scientific evidence related to the health risks of spaying and neutering I receive a lot of negative feedback from people who are absolutely certain I’m encouraging pet overpopulation and irresponsible pet ownership. So, I decided to make a video to explain to those who are standing in judgment why nothing could be further from the truth.”

Dr. Becker discusses the ins and outs of owning an intact male or female dog and the steps necessary to prevent pregnancy.

See Dr. Beckers full story about this controversial subject plus view her video by clicking here.

Images submitted by PNM

The Daily Progress: Sterilizing pets brings health and behavioral benefits, but debates remain.

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