Just a Mutt

Dixie was a mix breed, thinking back, she likely had some border collie in her shaggy black and white body, for my sister and I, she was our constant companion and guardian.  I was no older then 6 when Dixie followed my sister across the road and pushed her out of the way of an oncoming truck, taking the blow and losing her life.

This memory is likely my earliest, and certainly one that forged my entire life to live with dogs.

Dogs, it seems, or their early relatives, decided to live with humans some time early in our evolution. Once humans accepted dogs as a companion, we quickly noticed the behaviors and talents of each individual and began to take advantage of traits that we could use to help us survive. The strongest and most powerful hunter among the pack, were taken on hunts, while the best guardians, were left at home with the family. And so began humans exploitation of breeding dogs that suits our needs.

That’s right.. Every k-9 breed known to mankind is a designer dog and was bred from mixed heritage to create the perfect  dog for the needed purpose. This list includes everything from lap dogs to police dogs, therapy dogs, herding dogs, retrievers, and trackers, every shape and every size. And to top this off, there are many breeds of dogs that are only around in this day and age due to the amazing advancements in veterinary medicine and the easy ability to preform c-sections on dogs whose conformation or build make it hard for natural whelping.  Besides the inability of natural birthing, the breeding of some excessive traits has left some breeds with issues of physical soundness and some with psychotic tendencies.

All registered breeds of dogs are judged by a breed “standard”, a written description of what the perfect specimen should look like. Inbreeding and selective breeding of pure-bred dogs is designed to accentuate certain physical features, like short legs in corgis or short square noses for Boxers.  As these dogs are bred, issues often arise, like over crocked legs that cause unsoundness and pain or short noses that cause difficulty breathing. Almost all breeds have some sort of issue, and if it is not physically evident, it can be a propensity to have heart problems or ear issues… you get the idea.  Combining dogs of different breeds can give you both the strengths and the weaknesses of each parent.

What is a reputable breeder?

Sadly there are as many non-reputable breeders of dogs as there are reputable, and almost 100% of people that knowingly breed their dogs will plan to sell any excess puppies   Reputable breeders, sometimes referring to themselves as Heritage breeders, often claim that they breed their dogs to keep the lines pure, and are generally knowledgeable about their breed. Non-reputable breeders usually know little about genetics and the damage that can be caused when breeding  recessive genes (dogs often turn up deaf, blind, or worse), nor do they care about personality or other genetic issues that individuals can harbor.

For most of us, it would seem that the breed of our new best friend doesn’t really matter, but there are a handful of important things to consider before bringing that fluff ball home, and sometimes anything you can tell about what  breed(s) your pup may be can save you hard decisions later on.  Besides considering your pups  adult size and activity level, some thought should be directed toward potential problems and health issues that some pure-bred dogs are prone to.

With the modernization of the world, many of the jobs that pure-bred dogs helped us with in the past are no longer in existence, and their specialties are no longer needed.  But, as our lives evolve with gadgets and  machines, and our population increases, it is a natural progression that dog breeds will adapt and change for our needs. Lets take a look at one of these “Designer Breeds”, the Golden Doodle.

What is a Golden Doodle?

A Golden Doodle is a dog bred from a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. Both of these breeds are highly intelligent, trainable and athletic , and the resulting puppies usually have traits from both parents; happy, inquisitive and friendly personalities with a strong  desire to please their humans. Golden Doodles are quickly becoming a favorite  for therapy dogs, search and rescue and sport training like agility, with their calm steady demeanor, and non shedding coats, but, there can be a lot of inconsistencies in any new “designer” breed.

Interestingly enough, these new designer dogs often sell for much more then either of the pure-bred parents. A recent mixed breed called a “Miniature Golden Retriever” sells for $4,500.00 or more.

A Dog is a Dog is a Dog.

As long as people will pay these  prices for dogs, either from a “designer dog” breeder,  a “puppy mill” or even a “heritage breeder”, dogs will continue to be homeless and end up at pounds. Purchasing a dog for $4,500.00 does not guarantee that your little pup is going to turn into the dog of your dreams or even fit into your lifestyle.

Rescues often are no better and there are  “breed” rescues that charge 5 or 6 hundred dollars for one of their dogs, often times not even giving the adopter a trial period.  Sometimes, if these quick relationships don’t work out, the dog ends up back in the pound hoping another rescue comes along and the process can be repeated, as many rescues do not take back dogs once adopted.

So what is the best way to find yourself a new 4 legged best friend with out encouraging  over breeding, supporting exploitation or ending up with a dog that is not suited for you?

Before you go out and get that new puppy here are some…

Things to consider.

Heritage breeders

Now more then ever, it is possible to research, learn and inquire about any breed that we have an interest in, and quite frankly, there is no reason for one not to.  A good place to start looking at pure-bred dogs is the American Kennel Club *. You will find many reputable  breeders will have their dogs registered with the AKC, along with any litter of puppies. Reputable  breeders are usually  attentive to issues that are specific to their breed and use tests, including x-rays and blood work to check for stability issues or genetic problems.   Therefore it is important to ASK questions, specifically;

• Does this breed (do your dogs) have any hereditary or genetic issues that I should be aware of?
• Have your dogs been tested?
• Can I see the results?

Of course the mother of any prospective puppy should be available to meet, and don’t forget to ask specific questions about the sire. Is he on site? Can I meet him?  or  Where does he live?  Can I talk to his owner?  Why did you choose this dog to breed yours to? Did you breed for temperament?  For color?

* There are other dog registries including the UKC (United Kennel Club)    and some breed registries like the American Border Collie Association    that are also useful to find reputable breeders

PUPPY MILLS

Avoid at all cost, if you can any puppy mill operators or dealers. Many puppy mill dealers just deal with small breeds as they are easy to transport and raise in small areas. Every time a puppy is sold  from a mill, the parents of those puppies are committed to more of a future of producing puppies and are usually kept in a less then ideal situation. These parent dogs are usually not house pets, but spend their entire lives in small cages, sometimes never getting outside. Often, people who look at puppy  mill pups end up purchasing as a rescue mission. This usually ends  with lots of vet bills and is of no benefit for the poor parents of these unfortunate puppies that will continue to be bred to supply demand.

 

RESCUES

Rescues work hard. Some are breed specific, sometimes these are organized by  breed clubs that care about the pure bred dogs that they love. These rescues often help out when an owner must give up a dog that was sold to them by a  club member.  These rescues are a great resource if you want a purebred that is not necessarily a  puppy.

Depending on what part of the country you live in, you will find rescues in different states that are full of the same type of dogs. Here in  Virginia, we have plenty of hounds and pitt mixes.  In California, the pounds are loaded with chihuahuas,  while in Texas you get a glut of border collies and herding dogs. There are many rescues and great transporters that move dogs to areas where they are more likely to get adopted.  Unfortunately, the major problem with many rescues is the lack of a trial period, and often dogs are adopted from just a photo online.

The absolutely best way to work with a rescue is to offer to be a foster home. Once you have the paperwork done, you should have a say in  which dog you think you can foster. Hopefully this will turn into a foster failure, where you can complete the process by adopting your foster dog. If your foster dog is not a good fit for your family, you have given a dog a new beginning and hopefully you will be instrumental in helping him find that perfect home, while you continue to look for the right fit for your family.

DESIGNER DOG BREEDERS

Breeders of Designer dogs are no different then breeders of any other dogs. They see a need, and are able to exploit it. Like any breeders, you will find reputable ones, ones that will check for both genetic and soundness issues  before breeding, and often these breeders will require purchasers to complete a contract. And  then you have the  un-reputable ones, who are in it for the money, often  overpriced, and who do not care about their puppies future.

You will do yourself a great service if you walk away from ANY breeder that does not have the dogs best interest in mind. Those who have not bred the best to the best, even if they are different breeds, will continue to breed dogs that are inferior and  will likely pass on genetic and/or soundness issues. Always ask to visit before agreeing to purchase a puppy and ask the same questions you would ask of a pure bred breeder. 

Although you will find  breeders concerned  about the creation of designer dogs, designer dog breeders are doing what man has done since the beginning of our relationship with dogs, creating new breeds that suit our way of life.

There are far to many homeless dog that are put to death every day in this country.  There is no reason for any breeders to breed any dog if it is in anyway inferior. It is the breeders responsibility to breed only  the best to the best, and it is our responsibility as the owners and purchasers of dogs to support those who are accountable and responsible breeders.

Dogs,

whether pure-bred,    a designer breed,     or a street mutt,

should never be punished for the inaptness of the humans who were responsible for bringing them into this world.