So bite me:A close look at canine dentition by C.A. Sharp
An few paragraphs that caught my eye from the Australian Shepherd Health and Genetics Institute webpage
"Breeds with long, narrow heads have even straighter angulation around the cheekbone, and therefore an even weaker jaw. The narrow jaw may also cause crowding of the incisors. Toy breeds with round heads often have little or no sagittal crest and very weak jaws. Short-muzzled breeds may not have room for all their teeth resulting in malocclusion, meaning they dont come together properly. The jaws of short-muzzled breeds may also be of unequal lengths.
The more we have altered skull and jaw shape from the norm, the less efficient the mouth has become. In some cases, this isnt particularly important. There is no reason for a Collie or a Chihuahua to bite with the strength of a wolf. However, jaws that are so short it is impossible for all the teeth to assume normal positions and undershot bites that prevent proper occlusion of the canines and incisors are neither efficient nor functional, despite volumes of breed lore justifying those abnormalities in breeds where they are considered desirable. "
Really?? It sounds to me like someone's taking a jab at Bulldogs...
Posted on Feb 20, 2009, 10:30 PM from IP address 76.126.125.41
