Looking through some breeds recently, just reading up, there are some that seem to suffer an awful lot of health problems. An obvious example is dalmations, and the attempts to breed a healther 'type' by introducing pointers.

A couple of the breeds I've read about recently, with a high incidence of things like certain types of cancer, seem to be very restricted with their gene pool, and don't have much light at the end of a very long tunnel. Is there a way out for these breeds where they have much of their gene pool seeming to carry a high propensity to develop awful conditions?

Maybe it's just Friday night and I feel all doom and gloom cos I've run out of logs for the wood burner and need to burn something, quick!

I don't think there is a way out for cavaliers as nearly every single cavalier has a heart problem and most cavaliers have a number of conditions.

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arnt they going to try and breed Papillons with Cavs to try and make a healthier breed someone was going to do a study whernt they?

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It was Papillons to Cockers...If memory serves me right.

im not sure I cant remember I know it was something though.

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Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

There's a thing about that in the latest Dogs Today mag - the lady in question wants to create a new breed to replace the cavalier (as she doesn't think the cavs can be saved as they are).
The two main breeds being considered are indeed the papillon (similar to cavs in many respects, but with far fewer health issues) and the sturdier spaniels, namely cockers.

I ersoally don't see what the big deal is about proper outcrossing to other breeds - as was done with the LUA dallies.

A couple of well planned outcrosses, using extensively health tested dogs, combined with an in-breed approach of health testing and "safe" breedings, could make a difference in most breeds I believe.

I certainly don't understand why some people value breed "purity" over health - its a dog, not an Armani shirt!

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I do think the only way for some breeds is very closey monitered crossbreeding. Don't want to go creating more problems or more designer breeds!

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haha, would happily take you up on that, I don't mind at all!

But seriously, there are breeds that have real problems, and sometimes it's difficult to think how they can come through, with all the associated health issues.

Could cross breeding help some of the breeds with many health problems if it was done responsibly?

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