Unethical Breeding Is Creating Serious Health Problems for German Shepherds.

Unethical Breeding Is Creating Serious Health Problems for German Shepherds. German Shepherds are among the most popular breeds in the world, but their numbers have started to decline. New research suggests the decreasing demand for German Shepherds may have something to do with the breed’s propensity for health problems—likely the result of selective breeding for cosmetic traits. A relatively recent shift in the way German Shepherds are bred has been linked to the breed’s current predisposition to an array of health conditions, according to new research published this week in Canine Genetics and Epidemiology. Compared to other breeds, German Shepherds are now disproportionately prone to musculoskeletal disorders, osteoarthritis, diarrhea, obesity, and behavioral problems. These findings should raise the alarm among breeders, but experts are skeptical that anything will be done to rectify the problem.more