'designer dogs' aka crossbreeds

[gnomi 10]

Hi, you're entitled to your opinion of course

 

However - in my opinion and based on certain evidence there are often far too many dogs in rescues to know the full temperament, excercise requirement and grooming requirements of every dog. Unfortunately there's simply not enough fosters either.

 

I know of a few people who have been to rescues for dogs and ended up returning the dog as it was the wrong dog for them. However most people I know who have bought pedigrees or known crosses have kept them even if they show the worst of that breed's traits because they knew what they were letting themselves in for when they got them.

 

To a certain extent, the staff at a rescue can assess you and assess the dogs to see which is the best for you, but when I chose dalmatians, of course it was partly based on their looks, there was a certain attraction that got me reading about them, but I loved their character, I knew the challenge I would have to train them, their exercise needs etc. etc.

 

Also - by breeding well bred pedigrees from healthy parents, you can buy one knowing you'll likely be able to do certain things with them - like I do agility with Takara, not because I want to compete, because I want to partake in something fun for me and the dog and it increases our bond. There are many rescue dogs and crosses that do agility but many people choose certain breeds for it.

Likewise I show her in conformation shows because we both enjoy it, it's a day out for the show, and regular training, socialisation and bonding at our classes. Yes, it can be snobby but if you're in it for the right reasons, you enjoy it.

 

 

Fair enough-thank you.I can now see what you mean and understand the reasons for breeding much better. Think ill stick to rescue dogs anyway though!!

[Rainrescue 10]

I had someone phone me the other day saying 'hello i am looking to see if you have any crossbreeds looking for a home?, when I said yes what are you looking for 'he asked for a youngish labradooodle??

 

Mmmmm - don't get many of those dumped yet - I told him i couldn't offer one of those and that he would have to go out and pay lots of dosh for one -burk.

 

The trouble with a lot of this breeding lark is that to get the 'perfect' unattainable crufts speciality - leaves a lot of wastage on the way. Lots of dogs have taken years and years to get where they are today? I do often think though that mongrels are often healthier than pedigrees's sometimes (not always), because so many breeders inter-breed back into same blood lines (sometimes too close), and its not good for their health most of the time.

[Lotti 10]

I do often think though that mongrels are often healthier than pedigrees's sometimes (not always), because so many breeders inter-breed back into same blood lines (sometimes too close), and its not good for their health most of the time.

 

This is true and I agree...

 

There are certain breeds such as dalmatians - and many others though I only really know much about 'my breed' I'm sure beagles are another that don't have many health problems.

 

The main problems dalmatians suffer from are congenital deafness - but that's due to their white coat and is something that's being worked out of the breed and some have sensitive skin - other than that, they are pretty healthy dogs as they were discovered rather than bred.

They were discovered and just added to for the finishing touches to ensure they could carry out their 'purpose'.

 

Whereas much of the older breeds that were purposely bred had to be inbred in order to create more. Whilst the newer breeds such as Northern Inuits are pretty healthy as they have a much wider gene pool. Even the 'labradoodles' which are now being bred from labradoodle parents have a much wider gene pool due to the amount of poodles and labradors there were to work from ensuring no inbreeding was necessary.

 

I guess when they started off breeding the old breeds that they required - lets face it they were ignorant back then and dogs weren't bred so much as companions but as working animals - there were very few to select from that held the qualities that they wanted. Not to mention the lack of organisation that went into it - like we have pedigree certificates today to see who was bred with who.

 

To be fair, the dogs were not their main concern back then, they had to live, so inbreeding a few dogs didn't really matter, they'd get another if that one couldn't work any longer. Unfortunately it's had a knock on effect for the dog lovers of our time...

[Strix 11]

I'm all for cross breeding - for a purpose - eg, to achieve a more suitable hunting dog or more suitable companion dog, but bringing dogs to 'bling' status is a huge no-no in my book

 

We all know what's going to happen to the cute 'ickle puppy once it's grown too big to carry about or fit in it's adidas hoody (don't laugh, you CAN get these for dogs ), or if another cute mutant becomes more fashionable

 

I also have issues with dogs being carried about instead of getting excercise, and being fed enough to render them imobile - the people who do this to dogs are also the ones who get bored of them when the dog can no longer play lugging all that weight about

 

PS - if I were going to cross a beagle with something, it'd be a pointer - in the hope of getting a more compact version of the pointer, a good scent and sight hound, and preferably more 'obedience' than is generally available in a beagle

[beckelina 10]

My parents own 2 crossbreeds - one from a rescue which as we can figure out is a flat coat retriever cross collie (flat coat face, size, colour, more collie shape and temperament) and the other from an accidental litter of a neighbour who is a straight labrador/springer cross.

They are both lovely dogs and I initially thought the springador was a lovely cross - indeed there is quite a movement to have them recognised as a breed - but I have gradually changed my opinion. The variation amongst his own litter is astonishing in size, temperament, confirmation, colouring, suitability for work so that a reliable breed standard is a long way off IMO!

I have to say he is a lovely dog, the best of the litter and very suitable for a working dog (totally unbiased opinion) but its a big risk to take for a dog which may be the worst of both worlds!

He looks like a smaller, slimmer version of a chocolate lab (although he is strictly more liver) but with the lovely appealing spaniel eyes and friendliness, so has always attracted a lot of attention and comments. it is easy to see why people get swayed by an eye-catching cross which is original and unusual - or so they think.

So in short, we were lucky with both our dogs but it is a shot in the dark. Not the way forward.

[Ally_Fraser 10]

The only cross worth having is the old beardie/border mix some farmers have.

[sooz22 10]

The trouble with a lot of this breeding lark is that to get the 'perfect' unattainable crufts speciality - leaves a lot of wastage on the way.

 

Thats exactly my thoughts but I didnt know how to word it.

[Lotti 10]

The only cross worth having is the old beardie/border mix some farmers have.

 

I'm only playing devil's advocate but can you actually explain why that is the case, please?

[Strix 11]

The trouble with a lot of this breeding lark is that to get the 'perfect' unattainable crufts speciality - leaves a lot of wastage on the way.

That's why a prominent judge wound up resigning from the KC a couple of years ago when she was due to be judging in the event. The accusation was of puppy farming in the distant past, and of course it is mooted that the accusation was only made at this point to remove her from judging the event, presumably as she was unlikely to favour a particular 'style' of dog

 

Responsible breeders do not 'overbreed' in the attempt to produce the perfect pup. Breeding is done carefully and selectively - not in a random 'fingers crossed it works this time' kind of way. No responsible breeder produces pups that they do not have a waiting list for - irresponsible breeders are (thank god) relatively few and far between

[manthing 10]

As most dogs have been breed fron wild dogs at some time in the long distant past, arn't they all cross breeds?

[Lotti 10]

As most dogs have been breed fron wild dogs at some time in the long distant past, arn't they all cross breeds?

 

Hmm... or maybe they're all pure breeds as there must have been only one type of dog to begin with...

 

Yes they are all crossbreeds but pedigrees were bred from certain types of dog and then each dog that fitted the criteria that was aimed for was selectively bred from. Meaning more and more dogs with the same genes were bred - making the pure breeds...

 

I'm sure it's more complicated than that - but my brain would never cope with the complicated version...

[BlackVelvet 10]

selective breeding will occasionally produce a 'new' breed recogised as such by the kennel club. Its only a short time since Jack russels and Border collies were recognised and allowed registration. I think there is perhaps an argument for crossing in another breed to a pedigree line to resolve a major fault (has been done, but cant think what breed it was). random crossing I dont agree with and can produce some pretty undesirable traits (Pitbull! need I say more?)