4 ms·

Why not cross different dog breeds to increase total diversity instead of trying to protect what's left?

pibechorro 5y ago
Because people are disconnected from what matters in nature and self-centered. French pugs are at the top of breed popularity, facepalm. Inbred dogs for shallow purposes is a reflection on our species.
sliken 5y ago
That makes complete sense. However a well recognized scientist specializing in dog breeding gave a talk at a conference for a particular breed. They had done extensive genetic analysis of that breed and had some recommendations. Among other recommendations, they recommended mixing in a few animals from the European variant of that breed into the American breeding population. The crowd went quiet, all future talks/panels for the scientist were cancelled. They were uninvited from the conference. Sad that many breed enthusiasts and even the AKC (who sets the breed standards) are damaging the breeds they care so much about.
alistairSH 5y ago
Some people want a specific breed for generally aesthetic reasons. And some breeds exist almost exclusively for aesthetics (vs working and sporting breeds). Sadly, some working breeds have degenerated to the point they can barely work - GSDs with short rear legs and hip problems come to mind.
rubyist5eva 5y ago
Because capitalism. People want to buy “pure” dogs which causes this.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
zaroth 5y ago
I’m not personally a big fan of “purebreds”, but breed was important to me because I had small children and needed an extremely predictable and fairly easily obtained behavior profile. Specifically, I wanted a dope of a dog that was a living, breathing stuffed animal but with enough intelligence to be trained on the basics easily. So I bred my goldendoodle with a bernedoodle and got exactly what I was looking for! You do get more variation in the litters, which can be a double edged sword. For example, one of the pups ended up being shedding, where non-shedding was a desired and expected trait for me. Overall, breeding and getting to help deliver and raise a litter was one of the most fun & rewarding activities my family has ever done, and when we get holiday cards every year from all the families that got a pup with those dogs featured, it is just the best feeling.
- Geezus-42 5y ago
  Doodles already aren't purebred.
  - simplyaccont 5y ago
    try to explain it to proud owners of "standard Australian mini labradoodle" or something like this... they claim that it's a new pure breed
    - alistairSH 5y ago
      If you paid $4000 for a designer pooch, you'd make that claim too. ;)
      - simplyaccont 5y ago
        Yeah. I "manage" at work dog owners group in our collaboration system that has >500 people now. Amount of purebred doodles or poos is amazing. I wasn't even aware that those combinations are bred
goda90 5y ago
One of our dogs is from farmers who specifically bought a giant working breed from across the country to sire puppies with their other giant working breed dogs. The two breeds make a good mix, and it ensures some genetic diversity. They actually use dogs on the farm, so they have more of an interest in cultivating health and good temperament than designer looks like some breeders do.
newaccount2021 5y ago
there are many benefits to having a mutt the dumbest dogs I have ever owned were a very-pure viszla and a very-pure mastiff. between the two of them there could not have been ten working brain cells. now I have a mutt that has such diverse characteristics that it is confounding for dog experts to tell me what he is...he is also, by a mile, the smartest dog I have ever had I am convinced the purebred = dumb observation is not just an anecdote
TulliusCicero 5y ago
That happens too, there are quite a few ‘designer’ cross breeds, like labradoodle or cavapoo. Article: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/pets/g3414/cutest-mixed-breed-dogs/ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/pets/g3414/cutest-mixe...
quickthrowman 5y ago
Because you can’t get $2,000+ for a ‘mutt’ puppy

Because people are disconnected from what matters in nature and self-centered. French pugs are at the top of breed popularity, facepalm. Inbred dogs for shallow purposes is a reflection on our species.

sliken 5y ago

That makes complete sense. However a well recognized scientist specializing in dog breeding gave a talk at a conference for a particular breed. They had done extensive genetic analysis of that breed and had some recommendations. Among other recommendations, they recommended mixing in a few animals from the European variant of that breed into the American breeding population. The crowd went quiet, all future talks/panels for the scientist were cancelled. They were uninvited from the conference. Sad that many breed enthusiasts and even the AKC (who sets the breed standards) are damaging the breeds they care so much about.

alistairSH 5y ago

Some people want a specific breed for generally aesthetic reasons. And some breeds exist almost exclusively for aesthetics (vs working and sporting breeds). Sadly, some working breeds have degenerated to the point they can barely work - GSDs with short rear legs and hip problems come to mind.

rubyist5eva 5y ago

Because capitalism. People want to buy “pure” dogs which causes this.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

zaroth 5y ago

I’m not personally a big fan of “purebreds”, but breed was important to me because I had small children and needed an extremely predictable and fairly easily obtained behavior profile. Specifically, I wanted a dope of a dog that was a living, breathing stuffed animal but with enough intelligence to be trained on the basics easily. So I bred my goldendoodle with a bernedoodle and got exactly what I was looking for! You do get more variation in the litters, which can be a double edged sword. For example, one of the pups ended up being shedding, where non-shedding was a desired and expected trait for me. Overall, breeding and getting to help deliver and raise a litter was one of the most fun & rewarding activities my family has ever done, and when we get holiday cards every year from all the families that got a pup with those dogs featured, it is just the best feeling.

Geezus-42 5y ago
Doodles already aren't purebred.
- simplyaccont 5y ago
  try to explain it to proud owners of "standard Australian mini labradoodle" or something like this... they claim that it's a new pure breed
  - alistairSH 5y ago
    If you paid $4000 for a designer pooch, you'd make that claim too. ;)
    - simplyaccont 5y ago
      Yeah. I "manage" at work dog owners group in our collaboration system that has >500 people now. Amount of purebred doodles or poos is amazing. I wasn't even aware that those combinations are bred

goda90 5y ago

One of our dogs is from farmers who specifically bought a giant working breed from across the country to sire puppies with their other giant working breed dogs. The two breeds make a good mix, and it ensures some genetic diversity. They actually use dogs on the farm, so they have more of an interest in cultivating health and good temperament than designer looks like some breeders do.

newaccount2021 5y ago

there are many benefits to having a mutt the dumbest dogs I have ever owned were a very-pure viszla and a very-pure mastiff. between the two of them there could not have been ten working brain cells. now I have a mutt that has such diverse characteristics that it is confounding for dog experts to tell me what he is...he is also, by a mile, the smartest dog I have ever had I am convinced the purebred = dumb observation is not just an anecdote

TulliusCicero 5y ago

That happens too, there are quite a few ‘designer’ cross breeds, like labradoodle or cavapoo. Article: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/pets/g3414/cutest-mixed-breed-dogs/ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/pets/g3414/cutest-mixe...

quickthrowman 5y ago

Because you can’t get $2,000+ for a ‘mutt’ puppy