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?

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Monkey

Oh god.. no I don't really belive in any of them except maybe the first one...

I dont think the dog is more dangerous cause I have seen both end of that..

BUT it is harder to tell what you get into the house.. if it willbe more or less prone to hunting, guarding, herding compared to a pure breed.

Other than that I say the rest is off.. cause I have seen both end of those too..

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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!

poot-poot

I think that it would all depend on what breeds are crossed some crossings are ok but others are often not thought through properly (as can be seen in my rant for the day lol)

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Melamaphine

I think I agree with you on that poot-poot...I recently came across rough collie x puli
Think of the problems that could cause, a double coated breed that moults at least twice a year with a dog that has dreadlocks?!

I really like crossbreeds and I certainly realise that they're healthier and I've met some lovely ones. In our training class, Simba is by far the quickest to learn new things compared to the crosses, all of which are nuts, but lovely! My b/f's sister has a massive mix of god knows what, and he is bonkers and a bit dopey..but again lovely.

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poot-poot

Yeah some crosses have their functions but some are downright stupid for example there is someone selling "Siberian Collies" both Sibes and BCs are very intelligent and strong willed, your just asking for trouble taking one of those pups on!

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skunkstripe

Ok I'll bite! Sounds like a great topic for dicussion!

I agree. From what I've read in Stanley Coren's books where he describes experiments where two different breeds with different traits were mixed, the offspring were usually a grab bag of the traits.


I don't agree. There are some breeds that I think are prone to wander off, Huskies and Beagles for example. But if the rationale is that the dogs are in the shelter for some kind of behavioral problem, then wandering off is only one possiblity. You could also say that they are hard to housetrain or are destructive due to separation anxiety since there are plenty of dogs with those problems in shelters.

I agree. This may anger some people who are vehement about saying that if you mix two purebreds where both are prone to genetic diseases, the offspring will be likely to get whatever diseases the parent breeds have. I have a lot of respect for Mother Nature and if genes for hereditary diseases were dominant, the planet would be empty by now. That's not very scientific, but I think most species are designed to survive - humans can meddle with genes but I think nature is better at it. Just my opinion.

I don't agree. I've seen data that say small breeds tend to live longer than large ones so if anything I would say it goes by size. That is, unless you buy into the 'mixes are healthier' argument.

All I can say to this is to go get a purebred Labrador Retriever. They can be trained all right, but they top the list of hyperactivity in my book.

I don't agree. Intelligence seems to be one of those random genes - smart parents can have dumb kids and vice versa. Somewhere I read that in humans, nature tries to bring things back to the middle, so highly intelligent parents are likely to have a kid who is not as intelligent, but by the same token, parents with low intelligence are likely to have a kid who is smarter.

Drops into jar....
maybe better add a few more since I wrote so much....

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Melamaphine

Thanks skunk, what you've said is pretty much what I think!

I find it fascinating, I think because I've never owned a crossbreed. OH's sister's mix is a lunatic and I was trying to fathom what made him tick the other day as she's having real trouble with recall training.

I realised how much easier it is to 'get' the purebreds in some respects, as you can get an idea of what tool can gain their focus. ie, with Molly being a breed used to flush game and retrieve, anything using her nose is fun for her. Simba likes to run and play chase, like a lot of herding breeds.

Hooch on the other hand, is a complete mystery!

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Bugle

Crossing a sibe with a BC ? Definitely not a good idea IMO. I have northern breed dogs, husky/mal mixes, and to cross collie with them I think would definitely not be a good idea. Aside from the coat issue, huskies and mals both tend to be very hard to train on a reliable recall. It can be done, I do not support the view of most sibe and mal owners that the dogs can't ever be let off lead, but they are certainly harder than most to train to come and to not run and keep running. In addition, they have a very strong prey drive. I have just achieved what I thought would be impossible - I have trained our mal/husky cross, Tai, to walk off lead past a flock of stupid squawking chickens and guinea fowl who have escaped from their garden into the field without even looking at them, but to remain focussed on me. I can even ride past them on my bike with him off lead. The next step is to train him not to chase sheep. This is going to have to be done with the help of a friendly farmer. Now, to cross a dog like a husky with a BC seems to be a recipe for disaster. You have two dogs here who are supremely intelligent, one with a huge prey drive, the other also but who has been bred over the centuries to curb that prey drive into the useful function of rounding up sheep. My commonsense tells me this is a disaster in the making! Mind you, a sibe cross BC would be a mighty handsome animal, and in the right location would be fine I am sure, but not anywhere near any livestock.

Bones07

Well I have to say that I think it is all down to the indiviual dog.
I have owned a ped labrador who was a lovely dog but sadly died...she had alot of health problems.
She was a very smart dog very easy to train, great temp and an all round cracking dog we miss her alot!
I now own an 14 month old american bulldog x staff he is very very smart sometimes to smart, he is heathly, has a1 temp and learns very quickly...he is a superb dog in every way...he is how ever stubborn.
But both of his parents breeds american bulldogs and staffys can be very stubborn. He has no tendacies to run off or roam....and was totally toilet trainned at 5 months old....he is great with kids, other dogs and people....and is an all star dog!
So really I think its totally down to the indiviual dog...ped or cross any of them 'CAN BE' healthy... smart... easy to train or could be unhealty...dopey...and a nightmare to train etc!