Title: Purebreds and Cross Breeds: Good Temperament vs Good Health
Author: Moses Wright
Purebreds and Cross Breeds: Good Temperament vs Good Health
The world's dog population is mostly made up of
undifferentiated varieties resulting from random
interbreeding widely known as "mixed breeds" or "mutts".
Yet most people, including dog owners only know or talk
about purebreds in general. The mutts on the other hand are
widely look down on and hugely neglected.
Purebreds are dogs that belong to a documented and
acknowledged group of unmixed lineage. They are selectively
bred dogs that produce a particular body type and specific
behaviors that are relatively similar throughout the
particular breed. To be recognized as a true breed, it must
be proven that the mating of the two adult dogs have to be
of the same type, and will have to pass on their exact
characteristics, in terms of both appearance and behavior
to their offspring - this is known as breeding true.
For people involved with professional breeding, there is a
huge difference between purebreds and mutts. Some mutts
might actually be purebreds but have no documentation
proving that they are so. If you are looking for a pet and
have no interest in entering competitions with your dog,
this might be a viable option for you and the cost is
considerably lower too.
Breeding of purebred dogs is selected with care. The pair
is tested for every possible disease which includes having
all the information regarding the pair's ancestors and
health records on file. Should there be no problem in the
history of the pair, then the breeding can begin. During
testing, should the pair is not compatible due to diseases
that are common in a specific breed, another dog will be
selected as a match instead.
There are many places to get a dog such as a kennel or the
pet store but if you want to get a purebred, it is
advisable to seek a reputable breeder to get the best
results.
Mixed breeds on the other hand could have been bred out of
experimentation to produce a breed which could be better
and stronger, without as much weakness as is found
genetically in the two breeds. It is also very likely that
they are the results of accidents. In general, mixed breeds
are so diverse it is difficult for anyone to go through all
their characteristics in full.
Health wise, purebred dogs that come from a line of strong
parents could have lesser problems because breeders screen
the pair before the process happens. Nevertheless, a very
common issue with most purebred dogs is that they may
suffer from inherited health problems such as bone and
joint disorders that cause lameness, eye diseases that
cause blindness, sudden heart disease that causes early
death, epilepsy, seizures, or immune system diseases, just
to name a few of the over 300 genetic health defects
documented in dogs.
The incidence of inherited health problems is extremely
high in purebreds due to two main reasons:
1. The AKC requires that all purebred offspring come from
the mating of dogs registered with their club. This ruling
reduces the huge majority of other dogs that would
otherwise be available for breeding. Because of that, most
breeds are bred on rather small number of founding dogs on
a limited and closed gene pool. Without the introduction of
new and unrelated genes in to the breed in the long run,
purebred dogs suffer from "loss of genetic diversity,"
which inevitably leads to dogs with inherited health
problems.
2. There are instances where certain breeders are more
concerned about financial gain rather than the welfare of
the animal. This is especially true of those breeders who
do not practice the strict guidelines of proper breeding
thereby producing inferior dogs.
To avoid getting a dog with inherited health problems, you
should always look for responsible breeders who make their
dogs go through medical tests as proof of good health. Some
of these tests include - X-rays to detect hip dysplasia and
elbow dysplasia, Ophthalmic exam to determine the presence
of PRA and cataracts, Cardiac exam to detect certain heart
diseases. Bear in mind that not all tests are required as
certain inherited health problems are present in certain
breeds only.
Mixed bred dogs on the other hand are surprising generally
healthier than purebreds. Most mixed breeds have a good
genetic diversity that tends to promote overall health and
vigor. This is mainly because their genes are usually
unrelated, chances are high that the parents of a mixed
breed puppy will not have the same defective genes. It is
usually the pairing up of the same defective genes that
cause inherited health problems to occur.
Some people prefer purebreds to mixed breeds. The primary
reason is that it carries a certain prestige with it, often
glamorized by television, movies and breeders. They are
also constantly featured at dog shows where mixed dogs are
not allowed to compete in without a compelling reason.
These events led to the mixed breeds being seen as inferior
dogs compare to the purebreds and therefore generate lesser
interest among the public. It is a shame to see most of
them being round up frequently and left to die in animal
shelters.
To conclude, purebreds will give you predictable
characteristics that you are looking for in a dog, but
suffer from higher potential for genetic defects and
inherited health problems.
Mixed bred dogs will tend to be healthier in general, but
you might have to deal with the unpredictable
characteristics, temperament and appearance that comes with
it when it grows up. One can only make good guesses by
observing its parents. Nevertheless, you also know that
your dog is truly unique and one of its kind.
Adding a dog to your family is a life changing and long
commitment. You should not make a decision based on whether
it is pure or mixed breed alone but also consider carefully
the breed type that is most suitable for your lifestyle.
About the Author:
Moses Wright has been a dog lover since young and now he
loves to help fellow dog owners solve their dog problems
whenever he can. You can get a free copy of his book filled
with useful and practical tips here:
http://www.dogsobed
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