various SLOG BREEDS of Mudos
The fat-tailed slog is one of the hardier breeds, large and sturdy and less affected in and of itself by selective breeding. Unfortunately, its meaty tail makes for a delicious snack for others of its kind, and with its muscular counterweight bitten off it can become clumsy. The tail does not regrow. As such, they are best suited to controlled environments in low numbers rather than being left in pens unsupervised like corporate guard slogs.
The babyface slog is smaller than the standard breed and with a much smaller lower jaw, giving it its cutesy appearance. This reduction in mandible size and oversized upper jaw predisposes them to problems with eating and their mouths in general. Especially inbred lines can sometimes be born with deformed lower jaws, or no jaw at all.
The iron jaw slog, on the other hand, has a massively oversized jaw, delivering a bite that can snap bone (and most other things) in two like an axe through wood. The cost of this is the weight of the musculature required to power it, and dense bone for the muscles to anchor to; their heads can be so heavy and unwieldy that they struggle to lift them and easily develop problems with their spines from the strain.
As far as spinal issues go, the playtime slog has it worst of any of them. Their permanent play-bowing posture is endearing but subjects them to a life of ever-increasing discomfort and pain. Aside from the congenital deformity of the spine that they get their breed name from, they can develop further issues with scoliosis, rib deformities, low lung capacity, compressed nerves, difficulty swallowing, and a host of other problems. They are by far the shortest-lived of any slog breed.
The snapper slog enjoys a relatively healthy life in comparison. Their elongated jaw is appreciated by their admirers as more elegant than round-faced breeds. The main issues snappers face is with loosened teeth and a tendency to clumsiness due to their slightly off-balanced body. Owners sometimes remedy the former issue by giving them fashionable dental implants.
The hypertrophied or hardback slog gives the playtime slog a run for its money in terms of day-to-day suffering. The genes that give it its distinct appearance affect its muscles and skin, making it bulky and phenomenally strong, and causing its skin to icthyosise, rapidly building up into thick, toughened layers. This gives it a natural armour of sorts, but these slogs live short and uncomfortable lives and are well-known for being cranky (wouldn't you be too?). Handle with care.
Native landrace breeds are not actually a singular, cohesive breed, but are various kinds of slog kept by Native mudokons. They are bred for purpose, but not as intensely as within industrial settings, and are closer in appearance and health to their pre-domestication predecessors. Many have gone extinct along with the cultures that they were part of as industrialisation has stomped them out and slogs have been turned upon them as tools of violence, but there are a few lines still being kept here and there.
The shield slog has an enlarged, thickened neck frill which provides its body with greater protection from incoming attacks. A rare relatively healthy breed, favoured for crowd control and riots, as their frill and thickened bone on their skull helps to block low-velocity attacks from doing any internal damage.
The squat slog isn't really good at anything, including being alive. Slogs have already maximised their internal space economy to fit all of their necessary organs into compact bodies; the squat slog is trying to take it a step further, and not achieving it. Prone to every health issue known to Odd, including tracheal collapse, constriction of lung capacity, compressed nerves, spinal deformities, volvulus, and chronic vomiting due to stomach compression. Fortunately or unfortunately for them, people find them cute anyway.
The shaggy slog has a reduced frill and a mutation causing growth of thick, ropy hair over 50-90% of its body. Thankfully, sight isn't an issue, and the slog doesn't have to worry about its face being covered. The hair can however carry dirt and parasites, and become ingrown, causing painful boils. This is less of an issue for domestic slogs. If properly cared for and kept clean, they can be quite charming.
A different hair mutation results in the puffball slog. The hair of a puffball slog is soft, white, and dense, and grows straight outward from the hair follicle all over the body, giving it its spherical, mold spore-like appearance. Comes in standard and miniature sizes!
