Yesterday was the big “show down” at Madison Gardens, and like most dog enthusiasts, I was glued to the TV for a few hours. While I was rooting for the Doberman or Dalmatian to win, Pekingese Gardenpalace Malachy took top honours.
I’m not a small dog fan, and especially not a Pekingese fan. I suppose if you want a dog that you can’t even take for a simple stroll around the block, a Peke might be for you. Malachy’s handler says “No other dog moves like this,” Fitzpatrick said. It’s true, as a Pekingese is supposed to move with a “slow and dignified” gait. That dog couldn’t run if his life depended on it. Malachy cannot WALK without starting to pant from exertion. He was so exhausted by his brief jaunt in the show ring that he was “reclining on a blue ice pack after his victory”
What Happened To The Pekingese Breed?
This is Looty, one of the original Pekingese dogs “looted” from the 1860 British raid of the Chinese Summer Palaces in Beijing. Looty was given to Queen Victoria as a gift. Notice that Looty has a suitable muzzle for proper breathing, appropriate legs for a dog his size and an acceptable hair coat.
Over the last 150+ years, show fanciers have turned Pekingese into a dog that has almost no discernible muzzle and cannot walk at a reasonable pace. Forget about the outrageous hair coat, how is that useful to any dog? For the list of possible health concerns that plague this breed, read this.
Keeping It In The Family
This is Gardenpalace Malachy’s Pedigree. If you want a better look at it, you can see it here. You will have to scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Before I start discussing the pedigree of this dog, let’s talk about line breeding and inbreeding coefficients.
Line breeding is a form of inbreeding. There is no clear distinction between the two terms, but line breeding may encompass crosses between individuals and their descendants or two cousins. This method can be used to increase a particular animal’s contribution to the population. While line breeding is less likely to cause problems in the first generation than does inbreeding, over time, line breeding can reduce the genetic diversity of a population and cause problems related to a too-small gene pool that may include an increased prevalence of genetic disorders and inbreeding depression.
The inbreeding coefficient of an individual is the probability that two copies of the same gene have been inherited from a common founder, that is an ancestor shared by both parents. An inbreeding coefficient of 12.5% means that there is a 1 in 8 chance that a dog will inherit the same version of gene from the same dog that appears in both the sire’s and dam’s pedigree.
Doing a hand calculation of Malachy’s COI would have been impossible. I’m not very good at math and the formula is very complex. However, since Malachy and his ancestors are UK bred, The Kennel Club of the UK has a handy online COI calculator called Mate Select that anyone can use.
I’m only going as far back as the third generation, but if you look at the fifth generation, Livanda Micklee Mataho is greatly over represented as a sire. In the fourth generation Livanda Micklee Ginola makes quite a few appearances.
If you look at the third generation, or the Great Grandparents of Malachy, he only has FIVE. A normal dog should have EIGHT. According to Mate Select, the average COI of Pekingese dogs registered by the KC is 7.4%
The Coefficients of Inbreeding of Malachy’s Ancestors
Great Grandparents
Delwin’s Touch of Blarney – represented twice COI 3.6%
Palacegarden Idle Fancy – represented twice COI 1.4%
Livanda Santana – represented twice COI 19.5%
Shantallah Leading Lady – represented once COI 8.6%
Livanda Gi-Gi of Palacegarden – represented once COI 16.8%
Grand Parents
Palacegarden Donovan – COI 4.7%
Livanda Gucci of Palacegarden – COI 3.3%
Palacegarden Sullivan – COI 4.7%
Palacegarden Saffron – COI 27.8%
Parents
Palacegarden Mccafferty – COI 4.2%
Palacegarden Tansy – COI 3.5%
The Offspring
Palacegarden Malachy – COI 14.9%
What Does This mean?
Palacegarden Malachy has DOUBLE the average inbreeding coefficient of a Pekingese registered with the Kennel Club. It also means that he has a GREATER that 1 in 8 chance of inheriting the same version of genes from the same dog that appears in both the sire’s and dam’s pedigree.
Malachy is currently ranked the number two all breed dog in the US and has won 115 Best In Shows. After reading this, still think he’s a winner?
I was screaming at the TV last night … anything BUT the Peke!!!! Such a disappointment, though the hips on that GSD also made me sick.
I don’t know a lot about Pekes, but I’m not a fan. They’re just not the breed for me. However, I couldn’t watch and support that GSD! Good God! Will a dog have to be bred and have his back end fall completely off before they do something about the American lines? It’s disgusting! I can’t believe that people keep condoning what’s happening to them.
Amen to that Carrie! I cannot stand to see Shepherds looking this way. So disgusting.
Though I was rooting for the GSD (as the breed has only won once, and I do love them) I totally agree with you about the hips.
I have a White GSD (already discriminated against in the breed), but she has a back that is much less sloping and much more healthy. I see dogs like Captain Crunch that walk with such a hindered gait and think “THIS dog is supposedly so much better for the breed than mine, just because she has a masking gene?”
terrible.
I was pretty disappointed to hear about a Pekingese winning (again.) This post was really interesting. I thought breeding for shows for flat faced breeds only encouraged a poorly formed dog that can’t function because of silly breed standards. I guess that can partially be chocked up to inbreeding! Gross.
Pukeaneese
Protocol’s Veni Vidi Vici was the pick for me last night (I do confess ignorance of her pedigree, but she’s a beautiful Doberman).
I was very disappointed, but I would’ve been disappointed with any of the results (and completely outraged if it was the GSD. As Houndstooth said, the rear assembly on those dogs is criminal and heartbreaking).
I can’t out of hand dismiss a dog that won that many categories and shows, though I can declare that he is very certainly not the dog for me, linebreeding, hair, and all.
coming a little late for this discussion but this subject always makes me sad and angry. i can’t understand the math behind it, but it’s heartbreaking to see so many purebreds with problems due to breeding for show. GSDs, ridgebacks… the one that makes me the most mad is probably the king charles cavalier.
do you see any end to this? i don’t
makes you wonder if the owner of this pooch had a generous wallet !!!!! hmmmmm , very suspicious don’t you think ?
I definitely find it interesting that the Pekes have won 6 times, while Dalmatians have yet to take a WKC best in show. That Dalmatian was gorgeous, too.
I am with Nancy on this one Puke-anese
I was so disappointed when I heard the Peke won only because I could see what you saw and described above. His inability to run for very long. Mary H even pointed out the spittle on his chin after showing in his breed category. It’ sad that we reward this kind of breeding (take the Collie for instance). But then again, after reading the article that Jen from My Brown Newfies posted on her FB page about the money behind these shows, I am starting to think of them more like the WWF than actual competitions.
I wonder how much money changed hands for the Peke to win?
Augh!
All the dogs registered at WMDS are inbreed, always have been and always will be. Not that I condone this by any means. I am becoming a NON fan of WMDS because of the breeding practices. I must say that I take offense at the number of people who are calling the Pekingese Puke anese. I understand people have certain breeds they dont care for. Some people may not like the barking that occurs in some of the herding dogs, or the high activity level of some of the sporting dogs, etc. I live with 3 Pekingese, 2 I fostered and rehabilitated after they spent 6 years in a puppy mill, one I will foster the rest of his life because he came from a pet store, didnt learn any manners, became a biter and at the age of 6 was found in the snow in sub zero temps. I must say that the 2 sisters I rehabed and now proudly call my own, are 2 of the sweetest dogs I have ever known. They run and play for hours together, tolerate heat, are very gentle, are not barky, are not aggressive and are very active and agile. So, not all Pekes have the issues posted. Again, I understand there are people who may not like the breed, but please know that some of us have been fortunate enough to know and live with the breed and see them for who they really are.
Ugh. So sad. It’s depressing to compare the original photo you’ve posted with the dog the Peke has become. It makes me so angry and sad when I watch some of these shows.
i was just thinking what pup fan said–the photo comparison is shocking. the whole thing is a little shocking for me, as i’m fairly naive about what goes on at dog shows that isn’t fun and pretty. your recent posts about WKC have been really interesting–and i want you to know that i linked to this post in my examiner.com article today. i’m a little bit sad that i didn’t know any better earlier.
That comparison photo is stunning. STUN-ning.
I am no toy group fan. There are many dogs in that group I personally dislike and would never want to own. However, they are still dogs. What we have done to many of them, especially the Pekingese, is unconscionable. When will humans just stop messing with things for such ridiculous reasons? If you ask these breeders I am sure each and every one of them would say they love their dogs. But in my opinion, they may have a lot of love, but it ain’t for their animals.
What will it take for this kind of selfishness to end?
A caveat concerning Mate Select: The average COIs are very inaccurate, and the ones for individual dogs can be way off as well.
Mate Select only uses the pedigree in the KC database. Imports are only required to have a three generation pedigree. If there are imports in the dogs pedigree it will skew the COI downwards, and thus the COI for the dog and the breed are lower than they really are.
Mate Select shows the average COI for Salukis as 6.4%. It is closer to 20%.
Mate Select shows the average COI for Afghan hounds as 3.5%. It is also closer to 20%.
Here is an online COI calculator, you have to be careful to input each name correct (copy paste works well):
http://www.czerwonytrop.com/inb/index.php?full=ok&lng=en
I found your post really interesting The difference between what the Pekingese used to look like and what it has become is amazing. They went from looking like a normal dog to something that can barely function as one. It disgusts me that breeders are willing to purposely give their dogs these traits just because it is what the breed calls for.