A multi-scale analysis of modularity and ontogenetic changes in morphology and locomotor biomechanics in the domestic dog

This project has two over-arching goals: (1) to analyse how anatomy and movement of the skeleton change during growth in different canine breeds and how these growth trajectories might be linked with the development of musculoskeletal problems; and (2) to use this new understanding to inform health issues in dogs related to breed standards and aid development of new welfare technologies.

The domestic dog varies remarkably in body shape, perhaps more than any four-legged species. As such, the dog represents a unique model animal for investigating the limits of variation within a single species and how variations in shape interact with everyday functions, such as movement. However, unlike most animals whose forms evolved through natural selection over millions of years, the diversity in body shape seen in domestic dogs has been strongly and directly influenced by humans. Since Victorian times, dogs have been the subject of increasingly intense selective breeding with the goal of altering their functional anatomy for specific purposes, such as working tasks, agility or simply 'desirable' visual qualities.

There are major scientific and societal concerns about the welfare implications surrounding the breed standards (body shape) of certain dogs. The clear breed-specific prevalence for certain disorders strongly suggests that many of the physical traits favoured by our selective breeding may have a harmful effect on musculoskeletal function by creating an inherent predisposition to disease or injury. Unfortunately, the scientific data needed to understand the relationships between different breed morphologies and functional mechanics, such as locomotor movement, is currently lacking. This poor understanding has severely limited the ability of scientists, veterinarians and those responsible for canine welfare policy world-wide to address the health issues surrounding breed standards. Determining the morphological and functional variation in canine breeds, and how this...