Crossbreed Truths or myths? - Page 2 - DogForum.net

agilityk9trainer · 08-06-2008, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melamaphine

I was thinking the other day about a few things I've heard people say about crossbreeds/mongrels and I just would like to know what everyone else things.

Now please, don't shoot the messenger, I am NOT against crossbreeds, I love them and will probably end up with one at some point...I have just always had purebred dogs, many of them rescued so I have no experience of owning one.

1. My dad would never let us have a crossbreed as he said he liked to know what to expect when he brought a dog into the house. He worried that with a mix they are less predictable as you don't know what genes control what aspect of their personality.

2. Crossbreeds are often more prone to wandering off...which has been rationalised by the fact that they are often the result of parents who like to wander and escape so the trait is passed on.

3. Crosses are healthier

4. Crossbreeds live longer on average

5. Crosses are often harder to train and more hyperactive

6. Crosses are more intelligent

I know what I think about all of these, I'm intrigued to hear what others have to say.

Also, any other things you have to add?

#1 - There is some truth to this. You do have an idea when you get a pure bred dog some of the personality tendencies it might have. This is a very general idea, however. The better bred the pure bred dog is, the more likely this is to be true.

#2 - Completely false.

#3 - This all depends. There are some breeds that are really struggling with health issues within their breeds. There are other breeds that are exceptionally healthy. To say all pure bred dogs are less healthy than all cross breeds is simply a dumb statement. You have to look at the genetics of the particular breed or dog.

#4 - False

#5 - False

#6 - False

Briard Lover · 08-06-2008, 07:41 PM

Crossbreeds do seem to be healthier than pedigrees as they don't have inherited problems, but that's only one I will agree on.

Sugardog · 08-06-2008, 08:24 PM

1) True. When it comes to mixed breeds, you really don't know what to expect in temperment or physical aspects. HOWEVER, I do think that the way they are often raised can have an effect. If you have a dog and you don't know what it is or don't know what it'll turn out to be, you are going to be totally unbiased in the way you treat and train it. Genetics is only a portion of the deal. Your training is still shaping the dog. If you have a dog of a certain breed, you are expecting it to act a certain way, so the way you raise it does contribute to that.

2) If you find a dog that is "prone" to wandering, then I bet you'll also find that it has an owner that is "prone" to being irresponsible or forgetting to close the gate

Like skunkstripe said, I will totally believe that some breeds are prone to wandering.....A beagle might take off after a scent. But responsible ownership is the key here. If you leave a gate open, the dog WILL go out. Especially if it is not fixed and smells a breeding opportunity down the road.

3) I think this is mostly true. Inbreeding is a major problem in the purebred world. Once those studbooks close, it's not long before you see inbreeding, sometimes in just 15 years. Imagine how inbred the older breeds are! It won't eliminate all health problems....If you have a dog with hip displaysia and you breed it to another dog with hip displaysia, there's still a large chance the pups will have hip displasia. But for the most part, I would say crossbreeds are more physically and mentally sound than the majority of purebreds.

4) I'd have to say no. Too many things can be factored into how long an animal lives.....location, diet, size, genetics, living conditions....goodness knows what else.

5) Nope. In my experience, some of the smartest, easiest to train dogs I've met were mixes. I had one dog, a basenji/pitbull/lab/herding breed that I believe had an IQ that could have competed with a purebred border collie's. He was totally obedience trained, knew all the basic tricks and even knew left from right and could scratch his head and stick his tongue out on command all before he was even 5 months old. Again, this depends on nature AND nurture. You can have a puppy that came from the smartest line of dogs in the world, but if you don't stimulate it's brain and raise it in a stimulating environment, it won't be as smart. It also depends what genetics it gets. Some purebreds are more challenging to train than others because of what they were bred to do. If you get a mix with those genetics, then it could very well be just as hard to train as a purebred.

6) Well, see above I guess!

applesmom · 08-06-2008, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugle

My own personal opinion that crossbreeds Rule OK !! The statistics show that they do indeed live longer and are far healthier than pedigrees, hence the reason for the far cheaper insurance. 10 years ago our vet told us that there are around 2,000 known genetic diseases in pedigrees, I believe the figure is now nearer to 3,000. By mixing up the genes, you get a far healthier dog.

I wouldn't agree that crosses are more intelligent though than pedigrees. I have some thick pedigrees in my time, and some thick mongrels. I would disagree that crossbreeds are harder to train and are more hyperactive, and would definitely totally disagree with the wandering off theory! My german shorthaired pointer was a devil for running off, as were all of the labs that my parents have ever owned, and staffies too. The crosses I have owned have all been far more loyal and non-wanderers.

Purely on the health grounds alone, I would always choose a mongrel over a pedigree, coupled with the much cheaper insurance!

Bugle this is all new information to me.

Could you please post some links to those statistics? I'd love to see what types of studies were done and how they reached those conclusions.

I'd also love to see a link that quotes insurance rates for mixed breeds vs purebreds and their reasons for the rate difference.

Bugle · 08-10-2008, 04:58 AM

Jeez applesmom, I have no idea where we got the stats from that crossbreeds are healthier, it is just a known fact! Ask any vet. I do know that OH did loads of research before we got Hal, and dug up a whole heap of statistics about the health of pure breeds -v- crosses. At that time there were over 2,000 known genetic diseases spread across the pure bred population of dogs - according to our vet, there are now a lot more than that. It was this fact alone that led us down the path towards getting Hal.

Re the insurance, you don't need any more proof than the mere fact that insurance companies' premiums are far less for mongrels than they are for any particular pedigree, with I understand loadings on certain breeds that have particular problems. There are certain breeds that many insurance companies won't even touch.

It is all very sad. Fashion -v- breeding for health, not for what will win in the show ring.

April · 08-15-2008, 12:40 PM

Up until we got April, I've only ever had cross breeds. The closest one to a pure bred was my parents dog they had when I was born. His mother was a pure scottie who got out. In those days they didn't have a front fence & he was entire, so he was prone to wander, looking for the ladies I'd say. He died when I was 7 at about 12 yrs old.
I next got what was said to be a x foxie. My mum thought he was probably blue cattle dog. But in hindsight he was probably x border collie. He was a very intelligent dog. He would do whatever you would say. He too was entire & whenever dad left the gate open he would dissappear, the longest for 3 days. The last time he never came home.
We next got a tiny little black/tan dog. He was very hyper, barked at everything, & cocked his leg on anything. After a few years he was given away to an elderly couple who idolised him.
The next dog we had was my husbands dog when I met him. She was 1/4 poodle, 1/4 doxie & 1/2 I don't know. The dad looked like a long bodied beagle. She lived to 12 yrs. In the 10 yrs I'd known her she had never needed to go to the vet.
We then got a x border collie from the rspca. He was nippy, & didn't like the clothes line being turned. I think he used to be tied to one. He was 5.5 m/o when we got him. He turned out to be a lovely, loyal dog. He's the 1st dog I took to obedience. He was unfortunately killed on the road at 9.5 y/o.
Next we got April. She was too young & her temperament wasn't 100%. We went to obedience & agility, but due to her temperament & my nerves we never competed in trials. In later life she suffered with arthritis, dementia & deafness, & losing her sight.
Apparently there was an eye complaint in her line. She had a good innings despite all this & lasted nearly 15 yrs.
When researching my next border collie, Tilba, I found a breeder that had all the evidence of testing & I liked the results. Both parents are clear of cl, cea & tns. Dad's hip & elbow scores are zero & mums are elbows zeros & hips 2 & 3.
I guess my rant tells you that except for the little dog I had as a young teen, all the others were rather smart & had no health problems.
It all depends on the mix & how they are treated &/or trained.

Borzoi mad · 08-15-2008, 01:07 PM

1. I agree

2 to 6 Are in my opinion myths.

boxerpups · 08-15-2008, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melamaphine

I was thinking the other day about a few things I've heard people say about crossbreeds/mongrels and I just would like to know what everyone else things.

Now please, don't shoot the messenger, I am NOT against crossbreeds, I love them and will probably end up with one at some point...I have just always had purebred dogs, many of them rescued so I have no experience of owning one.

1. My dad would never let us have a crossbreed as he said he liked to know what to expect when he brought a dog into the house. He worried that with a mix they are less predictable as you don't know what genes control what aspect of their personality.

Not sure about being less predictable, I guess it will have something to do with not knowing the type /temperament of parents.... likewise the size of dog you will end up with...

2. Crossbreeds are often more prone to wandering off...which has been rationalised by the fact that they are often the result of parents who like to wander and escape so the trait is passed on.

I don't think Xbreeds are anymore predisposed to wander that any other dog..it al depends on how responsible their owners are.

3. Crosses are healthier

NO, dont agree with that... the fact that someone is crossing two breeds usually goes hand in hand with no health testing of either breed.... resulting in a dog who may inherit both parents health issues...
4. Crossbreeds live longer on average

Not necessarily, will all depend on its health, responsibility of owner, and whether is has inherited any of the health issues of the breeds involved in its making.

5. Crosses are often harder to train and more hyperactive

I dont think, those who compete their xbreeds in agility/obedience would agree with that... it is what you put into them that counts.

6. Crosses are more intelligent

It will depend on the genes of the dogs involved .

I know what I think about all of these, I'm intrigued to hear what others have to say.

Also, any other things you have to add?

Unfortunately Xbreeds/mongrel, usually come about by irresponsible breeding, by people who have no interest or knowledge of health issues, nor are they interested in the welfare of the pups they produce, money will play a big part, in the breeding of X breeds (designer) or simple by being latch key dogs, free to roam and do as they like.

happysaz133 · 08-15-2008, 01:27 PM

1. My dad would never let us have a crossbreed as he said he liked to know what to expect when he brought a dog into the house. He worried that with a mix they are less predictable as you don't know what genes control what aspect of their personality. I agree, although I'll always take the risk if a cross I loved became available for rehoming.

2. Crossbreeds are often more prone to wandering off...which has been rationalised by the fact that they are often the result of parents who like to wander and escape so the trait is passed on. I don't agree with this one, I think it depends on how well the dog it brought up and how well secure your property is.

3. Crosses are healthier I'm half and half on this one. I've not met an unhealthy cross, my two crosses lived to be 15 and never had any health problems. But I know a well bred pedigree would most likely live a long time too.

4. Crossbreeds live longer on average Same as above.

5. Crosses are often harder to train and more hyperactive I don't agree, it just depends on what breeds are in the cross, and how good a trainer you are!

6. Crosses are more intelligent Again, I don't agree. I depends on how well stimulated the dog is into learning, and I think slightly, what breeds are in it makes a difference.

mermaid2708 · 08-15-2008, 02:14 PM

i am a bit 'foot in both camps' with this...

firstly...we had a lovely dalmation x greyhound x something else (!) when i was growing up and she was THE best dog...gentle, friendly, obediant etc.

but, secondly...our neighbour let her two crosses breed a couple of years ago (the reason for this was purely money...dont get me started!)...god knows what they were, but both med sized dogs. anyway 5 pups arrived and ofcourse they were cute...all were homed locally and i see them out and about and they have all turned out so different in size, looks, friendliness and obedience. This is why i went with a pedigree when i got ruby...ofcourse there are always 'odd ones out' but i more or less knew what i was getting and as i have my young nephew a fair amount, not a huge house or garden and have work commitments etc i had to take these things into consideration.

i personally would consider a pedigree rescue over a cross breed in the future...but then again, if a cross breed took my heart, i would have to consider it, but hopefully it would be head over heart when the decission had to be made.

sorry for rambling on, i hope i have made my self understood?

08-06-2008, 07:41 PM	#12
Briard Lover Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: West Midlands, England Posts: 803 Rep: 17 Unique Rep: 5	Crossbreeds do seem to be healthier than pedigrees as they don't have inherited problems, but that's only one I will agree on. __________________ Always in my heart 09/04/1998 - 13/11/2009 Amber (Triskele's Orageaux)

08-06-2008, 08:24 PM	#13
Sugardog Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,308 Rep: 88 Unique Rep: 33	1) True. When it comes to mixed breeds, you really don't know what to expect in temperment or physical aspects. HOWEVER, I do think that the way they are often raised can have an effect. If you have a dog and you don't know what it is or don't know what it'll turn out to be, you are going to be totally unbiased in the way you treat and train it. Genetics is only a portion of the deal. Your training is still shaping the dog. If you have a dog of a certain breed, you are expecting it to act a certain way, so the way you raise it does contribute to that. 2) If you find a dog that is "prone" to wandering, then I bet you'll also find that it has an owner that is "prone" to being irresponsible or forgetting to close the gate Like skunkstripe said, I will totally believe that some breeds are prone to wandering.....A beagle might take off after a scent. But responsible ownership is the key here. If you leave a gate open, the dog WILL go out. Especially if it is not fixed and smells a breeding opportunity down the road. 3) I think this is mostly true. Inbreeding is a major problem in the purebred world. Once those studbooks close, it's not long before you see inbreeding, sometimes in just 15 years. Imagine how inbred the older breeds are! It won't eliminate all health problems....If you have a dog with hip displaysia and you breed it to another dog with hip displaysia, there's still a large chance the pups will have hip displasia. But for the most part, I would say crossbreeds are more physically and mentally sound than the majority of purebreds. 4) I'd have to say no. Too many things can be factored into how long an animal lives.....location, diet, size, genetics, living conditions....goodness knows what else. 5) Nope. In my experience, some of the smartest, easiest to train dogs I've met were mixes. I had one dog, a basenji/pitbull/lab/herding breed that I believe had an IQ that could have competed with a purebred border collie's. He was totally obedience trained, knew all the basic tricks and even knew left from right and could scratch his head and stick his tongue out on command all before he was even 5 months old. Again, this depends on nature AND nurture. You can have a puppy that came from the smartest line of dogs in the world, but if you don't stimulate it's brain and raise it in a stimulating environment, it won't be as smart. It also depends what genetics it gets. Some purebreds are more challenging to train than others because of what they were bred to do. If you get a mix with those genetics, then it could very well be just as hard to train as a purebred. 6) Well, see above I guess! __________________ I'm chillin' with the forum! Thanks Necknot and Sheplovr! I've been fleeced by Draco!

08-15-2008, 12:40 PM	#16
April Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sydney N.S.W Posts: 3,377 Rep: 36 Unique Rep: 17	Up until we got April, I've only ever had cross breeds. The closest one to a pure bred was my parents dog they had when I was born. His mother was a pure scottie who got out. In those days they didn't have a front fence & he was entire, so he was prone to wander, looking for the ladies I'd say. He died when I was 7 at about 12 yrs old. I next got what was said to be a x foxie. My mum thought he was probably blue cattle dog. But in hindsight he was probably x border collie. He was a very intelligent dog. He would do whatever you would say. He too was entire & whenever dad left the gate open he would dissappear, the longest for 3 days. The last time he never came home. We next got a tiny little black/tan dog. He was very hyper, barked at everything, & cocked his leg on anything. After a few years he was given away to an elderly couple who idolised him. The next dog we had was my husbands dog when I met him. She was 1/4 poodle, 1/4 doxie & 1/2 I don't know. The dad looked like a long bodied beagle. She lived to 12 yrs. In the 10 yrs I'd known her she had never needed to go to the vet. We then got a x border collie from the rspca. He was nippy, & didn't like the clothes line being turned. I think he used to be tied to one. He was 5.5 m/o when we got him. He turned out to be a lovely, loyal dog. He's the 1st dog I took to obedience. He was unfortunately killed on the road at 9.5 y/o. Next we got April. She was too young & her temperament wasn't 100%. We went to obedience & agility, but due to her temperament & my nerves we never competed in trials. In later life she suffered with arthritis, dementia & deafness, & losing her sight. Apparently there was an eye complaint in her line. She had a good innings despite all this & lasted nearly 15 yrs. When researching my next border collie, Tilba, I found a breeder that had all the evidence of testing & I liked the results. Both parents are clear of cl, cea & tns. Dad's hip & elbow scores are zero & mums are elbows zeros & hips 2 & 3. I guess my rant tells you that except for the little dog I had as a young teen, all the others were rather smart & had no health problems. It all depends on the mix & how they are treated &/or trained. __________________ Thanks to skunkstripe for my beautiful, new, siggy. I HAVE BEEN KISSED!! sheplovr. thanks "I'm chillin' with the forum! "thanx sheplovr "I've been fleeced by Draco!" thanx. http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt...k/ebe4/age.png Last edited by April; 08-15-2008 at 12:43 PM..

08-15-2008, 01:07 PM	#17
Borzoi mad Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 7,596 Rep: 126 Unique Rep: 51	1. I agree 2 to 6 Are in my opinion myths. __________________ My dogs are my Life Ive got the do you. Thanks Sheplovr The picture is of My Two Borzois Pellow and Rye I also had a Golden Oldie named Ludmilla who went to the Bridge on 14.03.07 and my special wee man Brodie who sadly went to the bridge on 22 August 2008 All loved and missed as are all the others who have gone before I still have little Faun my dachshund and last but by no means least Keri the Birman Cat. Borzois are like chocolates one is never enough

08-15-2008, 01:27 PM	#19
happysaz133 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,566 Rep: 40 Unique Rep: 20	1. My dad would never let us have a crossbreed as he said he liked to know what to expect when he brought a dog into the house. He worried that with a mix they are less predictable as you don't know what genes control what aspect of their personality. I agree, although I'll always take the risk if a cross I loved became available for rehoming. 2. Crossbreeds are often more prone to wandering off...which has been rationalised by the fact that they are often the result of parents who like to wander and escape so the trait is passed on. I don't agree with this one, I think it depends on how well the dog it brought up and how well secure your property is. 3. Crosses are healthier I'm half and half on this one. I've not met an unhealthy cross, my two crosses lived to be 15 and never had any health problems. But I know a well bred pedigree would most likely live a long time too. 4. Crossbreeds live longer on average Same as above. 5. Crosses are often harder to train and more hyperactive I don't agree, it just depends on what breeds are in the cross, and how good a trainer you are! 6. Crosses are more intelligent Again, I don't agree. I depends on how well stimulated the dog is into learning, and I think slightly, what breeds are in it makes a difference. __________________

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Crossbreed Truths or myths?

08-10-2008, 04:58 AM	#15
Bugle Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: in the depths of the countryside in Middle England ! Posts: 1,312 Rep: 28 Unique Rep: 14	Jeez applesmom, I have no idea where we got the stats from that crossbreeds are healthier, it is just a known fact! Ask any vet. I do know that OH did loads of research before we got Hal, and dug up a whole heap of statistics about the health of pure breeds -v- crosses. At that time there were over 2,000 known genetic diseases spread across the pure bred population of dogs - according to our vet, there are now a lot more than that. It was this fact alone that led us down the path towards getting Hal. Re the insurance, you don't need any more proof than the mere fact that insurance companies' premiums are far less for mongrels than they are for any particular pedigree, with I understand loadings on certain breeds that have particular problems. There are certain breeds that many insurance companies won't even touch. It is all very sad. Fashion -v- breeding for health, not for what will win in the show ring.

08-15-2008, 02:14 PM	#20
mermaid2708 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: dorset, uk Posts: 893 Rep: 17 Unique Rep: 6	i am a bit 'foot in both camps' with this... firstly...we had a lovely dalmation x greyhound x something else (!) when i was growing up and she was THE best dog...gentle, friendly, obediant etc. but, secondly...our neighbour let her two crosses breed a couple of years ago (the reason for this was purely money...dont get me started!)...god knows what they were, but both med sized dogs. anyway 5 pups arrived and ofcourse they were cute...all were homed locally and i see them out and about and they have all turned out so different in size, looks, friendliness and obedience. This is why i went with a pedigree when i got ruby...ofcourse there are always 'odd ones out' but i more or less knew what i was getting and as i have my young nephew a fair amount, not a huge house or garden and have work commitments etc i had to take these things into consideration. i personally would consider a pedigree rescue over a cross breed in the future...but then again, if a cross breed took my heart, i would have to consider it, but hopefully it would be head over heart when the decission had to be made. sorry for rambling on, i hope i have made my self understood? __________________ i have been boo'd! i have been gobble gobbled by sheplovr! i have been Ho Ho Ho'd! i have been kissed by sheplovr! "I've got the do you?" Last edited by mermaid2708; 08-15-2008 at 02:15 PM.. Reason: really REALLY bad spelling!!!

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