Mixed breed or "hybrid" dogs

[need_a_Disney_fix]

I'm glad everyone here loves their pets...and I'm very happy to see that some put a great deal more thought into purchasing a dog than many people do!

Thank you! For the first time I feel like I am not being demonized.

 

[jrmasm]

Need a Disney Fix, a question for you. Why the mix that you selected? I understand people buying poodle mixes think they're getting non shedding, hypoallergenic dogs but why a Chi/TFT mix?

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

The sad thing is that people are being saddled with huge vet bills for their loved dogs. They have the dogs now and love them as family members. They certainly aren't going to deny their beloved pet the medical attention it needs. But if there had been the same dedication to studying genetics that the best breeders do - they wouldn't have to mortgage their home to do that $5,000 hip replacement or the $$$ heart surgery.

Buying from a reputable breeder who does all the testing doesn't guarantee a problem-free dog - it just ups your odds greatly.

Great post!

While I'm not to the point of having to mortgage my home, that cute little dog in my signature is a prime example of what you're talking about.

I wanted a Golden and I got one. From the newspaper, for about $250. About $5k later and a ton of hard-earned knowledge about the breed, I learned my lesson.

I actually learned it within the first few months of owning Chloe. It was then that I decided to research my new best friend. What I learned from her pedigree (I ordered it) chilled me to the bone. Of course, it was too late at that point. Chloe is who she is, and I'm doing the best I can for her.

Will I own another pure-breed? Absolutely! I happen to love Golden Retrievers. Will I rescue? I will certainly look into it when the time comes, but if I do decide to buy another puppy, you can bet your rear that it won't be coming from another backyard breeder.

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

I am sure your vet see more genetic problems with purebreds than the designer dogs. But according to my vet, that is because the vets are dealing on a day-to-day basis with the enormity of bad "purebred" breedings from puppymills and backyard breeders.

Although a cute phenomenon right now, the designer dogs just haven't hit the same population as the enormous amount of 'purebred" cockers, labs, goldens, beagles, etc that are being bred by puppymills and backyard breeders who could care less what they are passing on to their puppies.

So, yes, it would be absolutely normal for a vet to see more poorly bred purebreds than poorly bred designer dogs, as the poorly bred purebreds far outnumber the poorly bred designer dogs.

My question was not about pure bred vs. designer dogs. I asked specifically about pure bred vs. mutts/mixed.

I would imagine that mutts/mixed far outnumber the amount of pure breeds that the vet sees. So it is very interesting that the vet said that she sees more purebreds with genetic problems as opposed to mixed breeds with genetic problems.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Need a Disney Fix, a question for you. Why the mix that you selected? I understand people buying poodle mixes think they're getting non shedding, hypoallergenic dogs but why a Chi/TFT mix?

I wondered that myself - I hope you hear back from her. I'm curious.

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

Need a Disney Fix, a question for you. Why the mix that you selected? I understand people buying poodle mixes think they're getting non shedding, hypoallergenic dogs but why a Chi/TFT mix?

I actually wanted a TFT, but John had the TFT/chi pups and I started my researching of both breeds. There are qualities of both breeds that would be a good fit for us. This is a very awesome dog and has the best qualities of the two breeds. We love her to pieces and like I said before, I keep the breeder apprised of her development in her first year. We cannot imagine what we did before her.

 

[jrmasm]

was this litter an accidental breeding? If not, what was his hope for the litter?

I think TFTs are the cutest thing ever but I really don't know much about them. Luckily I'm at my limit with 3 so a new one is not an issue.

 

[KristiKelly]

I just want to say thanks to everyone.

Today was one of those days that I woke up kinda cranky and needed something or someone to take it out on. I'm glad there was this thread so I didn't have to do it to DH or my kids.

I feel very passionate about my dog whether she is mix or purebreed. When asked what breed, I say Goldendoodle, that's alot quicker than saying Standard Poodle/Golden Retriever mix. We love her personality and the way she looks. We love the fact that our 20 mo. old can take food right out of her mouth, step on her tail, pull her ears, sit on her while she's sleeping and she just takes it (will sometimes let out a little sigh though).

We also love that she will stand right on the border of our underground fence and bark like crazy at the neighbors cat and then run like hell if the cat moves 1" toward her .

We all have differences in what we prefer in dogs but I wish that every dog owner had the passion that we all have before purchasing. That would cut down on the number of dogs euthanized both pure & mix.

I think it's great that we can all have a place like the DIS where we can express our opinions and hope that in the end we all have one thing in common - the well-being of animals ( and Disney )

Now, my kids are on their way home from school and I have a headache from sitting in front of the computer for so long so I'm going to be going for now.

Kristi
Proud Doodle Mom

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

This was a case of accidental breeding and that is why he wants to keep in close contact with me. He has not had another litter of the TFT/chi since Lucy's.

 

[rcraw45425]

you need a basenji!

Actually we had two when I was a child. They were awesome dogs but boy could they climb a fence! Not only climb the fence but also open the gate and run around the block to visit their boxer friend and former neighbor. I do remember the "Crying" sound they made though,

 

[hiwaygal]

Actually we had two when I was a child. They were awesome dogs but boy could they climb a fence! Not only climb the fence but also open the gate and run around the block to visit their boxer friend and former neighbor. I do remember the "Crying" sound they made though,

yep...climb a fence (including a 6' privacy fence ), climb a tree, the furniture...

but they are quiet!

 

[Nana Annie]

I just want to say thanks to everyone.

Today was one of those days that I woke up kinda cranky and needed something or someone to take it out on. I'm glad there was this thread so I didn't have to do it to DH or my kids.

I feel very passionate about my dog whether she is mix or purebreed. When asked what breed, I say Goldendoodle, that's alot quicker than saying Standard Poodle/Golden Retriever mix. We love her personality and the way she looks. We love the fact that our 20 mo. old can take food right out of her mouth, step on her tail, pull her ears, sit on her while she's sleeping and she just takes it (will sometimes let out a little sigh though).

We also love that she will stand right on the border of our underground fence and bark like crazy at the neighbors cat and then run like hell if the cat moves 1" toward her .

We all have differences in what we prefer in dogs but I wish that every dog owner had the passion that we all have before purchasing. That would cut down on the number of dogs euthanized both pure & mix.

I think it's great that we can all have a place like the DIS where we can express our opinions and hope that in the end we all have one thing in common - the well-being of animals ( and Disney )

Now, my kids are on their way home from school and I have a headache from sitting in front of the computer for so long so I'm going to be going for now.

Kristi
Proud Doodle Mom

Well said.

And may everybody put as much research into finding the right dog, be it purebred or mixed bred, that they put into researching their next Disney trip

 

[ashjohnson80]

I have a yorkie/poodle mix. I have stopped calling her a yorkiepoo because I hate the looks I get from people when I'm out with her and they ask me what kind of dog I have. I would think they could at least turn around to roll their eyes. I didn't pay anything for this dog, she was given to me and I've never even thought of her as a purebred dog, DH and I call her little animal or little monster most of the time b/c it fits her personality. I just wish people didn't assume that I paid $800 to a puppymill for her, because I didn't.

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

Well said.

And may everybody put as much research into finding the right dog, be it purebred or mixed bred, that they put into researching their next Disney trip

My poor DH did not see me for awhile because I was doing just that. I was researching both at the same time. He knew where to find me though.

 

[hiwaygal]

I have a yorkie/poodle mix. I have stopped calling her a yorkiepoo because I hate the looks I get from people when I'm out with her and they ask me what kind of dog I have. I would think they could at least turn around to roll their eyes. I didn't pay anything for this dog, she was given to me and I've never even thought of her as a purebred dog, DH and I call her little animal or little monster most of the time b/c it fits her personality. I just wish people didn't assume that I paid $800 to a puppymill for her, because I didn't.

Ash...

 

[komondorok]

Great post!

While I'm not to the point of having to mortgage my home, that cute little dog in my signature is a prime example of what you're talking about.

I wanted a Golden and I got one. From the newspaper, for about $250. About $5k later and a ton of hard-earned knowledge about the breed, I learned my lesson.

I actually learned it within the first few months of owning Chloe. It was then that I decided to research my new best friend. What I learned from her pedigree (I ordered it) chilled me to the bone. Of course, it was too late at that point. Chloe is who she is, and I'm doing the best I can for her.

Will I own another pure-breed? Absolutely! I happen to love Golden Retrievers. Will I rescue? I will certainly look into it when the time comes, but if I do decide to buy another puppy, you can bet your rear that it won't be coming from another backyard breeder.

Our neighbor, who knows better, fell prey to the look at the cute puppy, I need one right away spell. They had just lost their Springer Spaniel and were desperate for a new puppy. They saw this litter of Chow/Cocker Spaniel puppies and fell in love with the black curly puppies, and on impulse took one home. I can't imagine what you would call this mix, but the only ones that come to my mind wouldn't make it past the filters

Anyway, they paid dearly for not doing their research. This dog had every ailment known to both the cocker spaniel and the chow. Her temperament was horrible. She developed a very costly autoimmune disease from her untested Chow side (can't remember the name now, but they told me it was one of the diseases that chow breeders screen for). They showed me some article that explained the disease and how breeders were selecting against it. They were angry that somebody would breed a dog and pass this trait on. Chow breeders - I know nothing of the Chow breed, so I am just reiterating what the vets told them and they told me, so if I am wrong about Chows having an autoimmune disease in some lines, please correct me.

The dog required monthly long trips to a University hospital to specialists who knew how to treat the dog. They moved away when the dog was about 6. Last they told me, they were well into the 5 figures for vet bills. They loved this dog, so they would never have put her down. But they did always regret their impulse purchase and not spending the time to find a well-bred dog.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I would love to hear an unbiased opinion from a veterinarian about who they see more often for genetic problems - mutts or purebreds?

Actually, we do have a resident veterinarian on the Dis - MickeyMouseGal - who has addressed this issue before on a thread similar to this one. I will see if I can find the link.

ETA: Found it. She mentions hybrid vigor in posts 14 and 34, here is the thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1146639&referrerid=70088

Here is post 34:

Hybrid vigor (which is basically random selection) is only the case in random bred mutts, not designer breeds. Designer dogs, especially the ones that end up in pet stores and from backyard breeders that sell in the newspaper, are usually the offspring of whatever two small breeds the breeder can get ahold of, regardless of quality.

As a vet, I've seen almost as many cases of hip dysplasia in mixed breed dogs as I have in purebreds. Hip dysplasia tends not to show itself until after the dog has reached breeding age, therefore the genes/traits are passed along before natural selection has a chance to eliminate these dogs from the gene pool. It is true, however that the larger the breed, the bigger percentage of dogs we see with hip dysplasia, so since random selection tends to breed out the giants (dogs weighing 150 pounds or so) that does tend to account for the slightly lower percentage of hip dysplasia in mixed breeds. Large designers, such as Labradoodles, Goldendoodles, etc. have basically the same incidence of hip dysplasia as Labs, Goldens and Standard Poodles

 

[ilovepcot]

This has been a very interesting thread. I will say this...the sweetest dogs I've ever encountered have been ones that *no one* could begin to identify...pretty much the Heinz 57 variety.

This is SPIDER, my current baby, all 4 1/2 pounds. When I take him for walks, it never fails that people stop and ask me, "What *is* that thing"?

 

[rcraw45425]

This has been a very interesting thread. I will say this...the sweetest dogs I've ever encountered have been ones that *no one* could begin to identify...pretty much the Heinz 57 variety.

This is SPIDER, my current baby, all 4 1/2 pounds. When I take him for walks, it never fails that people stop and ask me, "What *is* that thing"?

OMG, I love that look Spidey is giving! Your dogs are so photogenic!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I just want to say thanks to everyone.

Today was one of those days that I woke up kinda cranky and needed something or someone to take it out on. I'm glad there was this thread so I didn't have to do it to DH or my kids.

I feel very passionate about my dog whether she is mix or purebreed. When asked what breed, I say Goldendoodle, that's alot quicker than saying Standard Poodle/Golden Retriever mix. We love her personality and the way she looks. We love the fact that our 20 mo. old can take food right out of her mouth, step on her tail, pull her ears, sit on her while she's sleeping and she just takes it (will sometimes let out a little sigh though).

We also love that she will stand right on the border of our underground fence and bark like crazy at the neighbors cat and then run like hell if the cat moves 1" toward her .

We all have differences in what we prefer in dogs but I wish that every dog owner had the passion that we all have before purchasing. That would cut down on the number of dogs euthanized both pure & mix.

I think it's great that we can all have a place like the DIS where we can express our opinions and hope that in the end we all have one thing in common - the well-being of animals ( and Disney )

Now, my kids are on their way home from school and I have a headache from sitting in front of the computer for so long so I'm going to be going for now.

Kristi
Proud Doodle Mom

I do have to agree, great post.

And just for the record, I do think your dog is adorable!