Very Interesting.
My take away on this is that a person could at least "theoretically" have a better chance at avoiding genetic diseases by adopting a pure breed if, and only if, the lineage was well researched.
I came to this conclusion simply because the mixed breed and designer breeds are less likely to have the required info available.
There is another avenue to deepen the gene pool. That is to involve dogs of the same breed, but from other countries.
We had a Wheaten Terrier that developed a protein wasting disease, which is something Wheatens are prone to develop, regardless if they are from champion stock.
Our current Wheaten is 50% American stock and 50% from Ireland. Statistically this is a sample of one, and of absolutely no significance. But the dog is 6 years old and has not had the health problem our other Wheaten had.
