Man’s best friend is his dog. Our beloved four-legged friends have bestowed us with unconditional love and by doing so, have lowered our blood pressure, reduced our stress levels and have benefitted our mental health. But what have we given in return?
We, humans, have evolved the domestic dog through selective breeding and created our own designer dog. Serious breed related health issues have resulted, such as breathing difficulties due to their malformed nose and face.
My work explores the dark side of modern dog breeding. Using a traditional ceramic figure, the Staffordshire flatback, I comment on what the modern dog has become as a result of our actions.
The culture of the must-have purebred dog needs to change. Ethics rather than aesthetics should be embraced.
