But, it can be safe to assume that there is a genetic + environmental interaction that happens with these pups. And, since there's nothing that you can do about their genetics, why not give them the best chance by reasonably controlling their environment/health?
But then, how do you know which aspects of their environment you should be modifying?
I spent all of last night buried in research articles about canine hip displasia.
I have found solid research that
-there MUST be a genetic link to the disease for a dog to have it
-that an environmental factor that does play on the gravity of the symptoms and the age of onset is nutrition/weight.
About exercise, I found that there are 2 major schools of thought found on the net:
-that exercise must be managed and kept to a minimum during puppyhood to reduce strain on the joints
-that the malfunctioning joints could actually benefit from exercise, seeing as stronger muscles would provide better support and aid in weight management.
The problem: these seem, so far, to be opinions, both of them. These were not research articles, they were not even scholarly sources. There is no citation to any research article, or even a valid authority on the subject.
Maybe I have not looked properly, correct me if I am wrong, but so far I have not found a single article containing evidence that certain forms of exercise will either hasten or worsen the onset of hip displasia.