Cross breeds

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Environmental factors alone don't cause hip dysplasia, A dog will only develop hip dysplasia if it has a genetic predisposition..

Exactly what Moobli said.

 

[Clodagh]

There is an argument that health testing can only go so far in a completely closed gene pool, and there is evidence now that some breeds are so bottlenecked that health testing alone is not sufficient to eradicate issues or prevent suffering (hence the inclusion of CKCS in the Norwegian breeding ban, which I think many misinterpreted as applying only to brachycephalic dogs). I am not averse to outcrossing ahem, crossbreeding in pedigree dogs, for that reason, and there are many sensible efforts to do so to 'save' breeds and ensure longer term better health outcomes.

There are increasing numbers of purpose bred crossbreeds in both of the sports I've been involved in over the last few years - borderpaps are still the next big thing in agility if you don't want a miniaturised working cocker.

I agree though that most of this does not apply to the average cockapoo/cavapoo etc. sold on Pets4Homes and the like, and the objections to these are the mad price tags, frequent lack of any health testing and any consideration of temperament/size/type/suitability, in favour of how cute they might look and how much they will sell for. More broadly it must be an impossible task as a new puppy buyer not 'in' dogs to navigate the strange world of dog breeding.

Borderpap sounds like a strange sort of cervical smear.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Borderpap sounds like a strange sort of cervical smear.

??

 

[PapaverFollis]

My crossbreed mutts are great dogs for me and my preference for finding a dog is either a word of mouth puppy or, apparently, seeing a poor lost boy on horse and hound forums and not being able to resist...

I tend to tell people I have "spaniels" and if they look confused I explain one of them is 50% collie for my sins. When I tell people I have a springer x collie they tend to take an involuntary step back as if the insanity might be catching. ? (if they haven't already baulked when I said "spaniels")

Oscar and Hugo are 12 and nearly 11 and have both been very sound and healthy so far. *touching wood* Henry and his little wonky legs might be a different story but his skull grew into his skin a bit so his eyes are much less droopy now!

You can find example of good and bad in both pedigree and mutts to back up any predetermined opinion. I don't know what the data says. My gut feel is that high levels of inbreeding does not a healthy dog make, tests or not. It is the tyranny of metrics that makes us believe that the important health markers are the things we can test for. Not to say we shouldn't test for recessive genes that cause problems if appropriate of course.

But generally I think an opening up of stud books and some outcrossing would be good for all breeds. You could outcross within type then re-sort the progeny into breeds based on characteristics. You could let go of the idea of perfect copies and conforming tightly to breed type a little and look at the dog in terms of assessing soundness and health more.

I find it difficult to articulate what I mean here. I think I'm just a lumper rather than a splitter and although it would be sad to lose breeds into the wash a little I kind of think it would be better for dogs overall if we did. Very few breeds are needed for the extremely specialist jobs for which they were developed these days... and the breeds that still work seem to be the ones with the most variety still.

I've long since stopped worrying too much about it though. As long as I can find a scruffy mutt to live with me when I have a sofa spot to fill other people can do what they like. I'd rather people didn't breed dogs that can't breathe or move though.

 

[ArklePig]

Your dogs are wonderful PF. That picture is pure joy.

 

[blackcob]

Borderpap sounds like a strange sort of cervical smear.

I know so many people who have had or are looking for one of these recently - I will now be thinking of this every time I see them, thanks for that. ?

 

[Clodagh]

I know so many people who have had or are looking for one of these recently - I will now be thinking of this every time I see them, thanks for that. ?

They seriously need a new name. Like the euro hound, a completely new breed moniker. It’s a marketing opportunity!