Hip dysplasia is considered to be one of the most serious problems in dog breeding. In the past 20 years the studies of, and the attempts to control, this condition have been directed mainly to the overall picture of the abnormality of the hips. The various efforts have resulted in a decrease in the incidence of HD in several breeds of dogs. For other breeds the results have not been very convincing, however. In some instances they are even said to be conflicting with other aims of breeding. Based on these data some separate studies have recently been performed in respect of the details of the disorders in the hip joints and of the heritability of these elements. The present study concerns itself with the roots of the disorders as they are observed in the various breeds. A great variety of data indicates that selection within the canine species for specific morphological traits must be considered as one of the most important roots of the occurrence of HD. The collected data strongly indicate that improvements in the HD status in the various breeds can be reached by selection against specific disorders of the hip joints in these breeds.