Pure or Mixed Breeds - Things You Ought to Know Now

It is not difficult to find Retrievers, Yorkshire Terriers, German shepherd, Beagles or Poodles in your neighborhood. This is because they are popular dog breeds and have distinctive appearances for you to spot them. The interesting question is that the world's dog population is actually made up of mostly mutts – widely known as mixed breeds and since they made up the majority, why on earth are they not getting the attention like the purebreds?

Pure Breeds are dogs that are well-documented and acknowledged by the public as a group with similar lineage. They are bred carefully with dogs from the same ancestry to ensure that they maintain a certain standard for that particular breed with similar temperament, characteristics and appearances. In order for a dog to be recognized as a true breed, it must be proven that its parents are of the same ancestry such that they will pass on their exact temperament, characteristic and appearance - this is known as breeding true.

For people involved with professional breeding, there is a huge difference between purebreds and mutts. Some cross breeds might well be purebred, they only lack the proper paper to prove 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.

The selection process of purebreds is done very carefully. 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.

Cross breeds in contrast are likely to have been bred out of experimentation to produce a better, stronger and healthier breed than its parents. Chances are high that they are the consequences of accidents. In general, mixed breeds are so diverse it is difficult for anyone to go through all their characteristics in full.

When it comes to the dog's health, purebreds could encounter lesser problems because the breeder has done a good job in screening and getting the best and healthy dogs to breed. On the other hand, a relatively common issue with purebreds is that they face higher chances to inherit health problems from their parents; eye diseases that cause blindness, bone and joint disorders that cause lameness, 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 chances of a purebred being infected with inherited health issues is much higher due to 2 primary reasons:

1. The AKC makes it compulsory for all purebreds involve in the breeding process to be dogs that are registered with them, only then will their offspring be recognized as purebreds. This ruling reduces the huge majority of other dogs that would otherwise be available for breeding. Because of this reason, most purebreds are bred on a close gene pool with similar ancestry. 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 particularly true to unscrupulous breeders who bred dogs to make money and not follow the strict rules of proper breeding, therefore breeding inferior dogs in the process.

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 the health tests are - Cardiac test to detect certain heart diseases, Ophthalmic test to determine the presence of PRA and cataracts, X-rays to detect hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. Take note that it is not necessary for a puppy to go through all the health tests available as certain inherited health problems are found in specific 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. The main reason is because the parents' genes are by and large not related, it is highly unlikely for the puppy to inherit bad genes that are not presented in both parents. Studies have shown that inherited health problems are often due to the pairing of dogs with similar defective genes.

Some dog owners has a tendency to like purebreds more than cross breeds. The primary reason is that it carries a certain prestige with it, often glamorized by television, movies and breeders. Purebreds are also exclusively featured in dog shows where mutts are not allowed to join without a convincing reason.

These incidents led the public to believe that the cross breeds are inferior dogs when compare to the purebreds, therefore they create lesser interests and awareness from 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.

Cross breeds are more likely to be healthier on the whole, nevertheless, you have to accept the fact that your dog has the chance to grow up into something that is not predictable, including his appearance and temperament. The only option is to make smart educated guesses by observing its parents closely. Nevertheless, you also know that your dog is truly unique and one of its kind.

To bring a dog into your life is a long commitment and possibly a life changing decision. You should avoid making a decision to get a puppy solely on the fact if it is pure breed or not. In fact, the more important aspect is to consider getting a dog breed that suits your lifestyle and family.

Article Source: http://www.a1-articledirectory.com

Moses Wright is a dog lover and owner of Dog Obedience Training site. He loves to help dog owners with their dog problems and do so by consolidating his years of dog ownership experience into a free book filled with simple yet powerful dog training tips: Free Dog Problems Book

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated