Cargis Are Funny They Have Small Legs
Pembroke Welsh corgis have lived with people as companions and working farm dogs for hundreds of years. A peculiar characteristic that distinguishes corgis from other herding breeds is that they have those short legs with a bowed appearance.
Corgis have short legs due to a random mutation and then selective breeding to help these dogs become the excellent herding animals they are. The short legs make it easier to duck down as needed and nip at the ankles of livestock but also put the joints and back of these dogs at risk for problems.
The Genetic Mutation That Caused The Short Legs
Many people believe that corgis are dwarf dogs but they are not. Their torsos are actually medium and only their limbs are disproportionately short for their bodies.
The physiologic process that caused the condition is calcification of the growth plates of long bones due to excessive amounts of a particular protein. The term for that is chondrodysplasia.
Pekingese, Scottish terriers, basset hounds, and dachshunds are also among the breeds affected by chondrodysplasia.
A researcher at NIH's National Human Genome Research Dr. Elaine Ostrander conducted a study to determine the exact cause of the condition in dogs. Her team studied DNA samples from 835 dogs. The dogs included 76 breeds – several with chondrodysplasia and the rest without the condition.
Ostrander's team identified the specific mutation that caused a DNA insertion thousands of years ago, sometime after dogs separated from wolves as a species. Dogs affected by chondrodysplasia have an additional copy of the gene that codes for the fibroblast growth factor 4 (FGF4), which is a protein that promotes growth. The researchers suggest that the genetic insertion activates the growth of the long bones at the wrong time during fetal development. As a result, affected dogs are born with disproportionately short limbs.
Selective Breeding For Short Legs
The trait is caused by a random mutation, so it was passed on only to some animals. So, how did the entire breed end up with such a distinctive physical characteristic?
People selectively bred short-legged dogs for very specific purposes. Dachshunds and beagles were mostly employed as hunting animals, for example. Short legs made it easier for them to burrow through soil or bushes to retrieve a bird.
Historically corgis were used to herd livestock and guard their owners' property. Other herding dogs do not have short statures but having short legs can actually be an advantage to professional herders.
- The trait makes it easier for a dog to duck down to dodge a kick from a sheep or a cow. Being short also makes it easier to nip at the ankles of sheep who are trying to wander off.
- The duties of farm dogs included catching mice and other undesirable rodents. Similar to hunting dogs, short-legged corgis had the edge in being able to burrow through bushes or soil to catch a vermin.
How Does Being Short-Legged Affect The Dog?
The peculiar physique does make corgis vulnerable to certain types of injuries:
- Corgis are highly susceptible to joint problems, including arthritis and hip dysplasia.
- The breed is also predisposed to intervertebral disk disease and other back injuries because their short legs support relatively mighty torsos.
There are activities your corgi may have trouble with, and the difficulties increase with aging. Those include walking up the stairs or hiking up and down a steep hill. Any high-impact activity, such as jumping and running, exerts excessive stress on corgi's joints over time.
If your Pembroke's behavior suddenly changes, for example, he loses appetite or refuses to move, the pain might be the problem. If that happens after a particular activity – a hike or an active game – your pup might be in pain due to back or joint issues. A visit to a vet could be warranted to assess your corgi's health status.
How To Protect Your Corgi's Joints
Young and enthusiastic dogs may have the energy to engage in activities that are not generally recommended due to their physical characteristics. As their human friend, it is up to you to try to minimize the chances that your pup will get an injury.
Prevent your corgi from regularly engaging in the following:
- distance running
- jumping up high, for instance, to catch a frisbee
- strenuous hiking, especially hiking up high hills
Your dog's back and joints will greatly benefit from the following:
- help them maintain a healthy weight: corgis are prone to being overweight due to their voracious appetite
- let them swim: a low impact activity, swimming is an excellent way to promote joint flexibility and keep the weight down
Related Question
Can corgis go hiking?
Corgis do well with hiking but it is best to limit hikes to relatively flat areas to minimize the strain on the dog's joints and back. It is important to start with an easy trail to make sure the dog is fit enough to tolerate it. Avoid hiking on hot days because this breed has a relatively low tolerance for heat.
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Source: https://kidslovepets.org/why-do-corgis-have-short-legs/
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