Do you prefer Pure breeds, or Mixed? Dogs and cats

[msouth468]

I've always wondered. Some people I meet won't dare think about buying a mixed breed. Others would never spend the money to get a pure breed.

I personally found that mixed breeds (mutts) seem to be easier to train. Plus they can prove to have better qualities than pure breeds. The only downsize is they are more susceptible to disease.

[Dangerdoll]

I personally found that mixed breeds (mutts) seem to be easier to train. Plus they can prove to have better qualities than pure breeds. The only downsize is they are more susceptible to disease.

I disagree with this. It's been my experience that the opposite is actually more true.
I don't prefer one over the other though, I usually go with the one that tugs at me for adoption.....

[patoloco]

I've never paid for a pure breed dog. I've always adopted dogs from the street or received pure breeds as gifts.

Mixed breed or street dogs seem to be hardier when it comes to disease resistant, specially if they have lived a long time in the street.

[msouth468]

Well, goes to show different people have different experiences.

[hurricanejedi]

I have both and loved both. But because I'm such a nutty cat person I've gotten really into purebreeds. Hence that has lead to breeding.

I think what might have been reffered to about purebreeds being healthier is breeders strive to free lines of congenital defects. However, when people backyard breed this causes a deterioration in many lines. If going with a purebreed they should be from a reputable breeder.

[mogurnda]

We have never actually bought dogs, only rescued them. That did include one purebred german shepherd who was a real sweetie, though.

The likelihood of heritable disorders is lower in mutts. It's simple genetics. With a pure breed, the gene pool is made up of individuals that are fairly closely related. Careful breeding can reduce this problem, but outcrossing to an unrelated individual is unquestionably more effective.

In some cases, the mutations or polymorphisms that cause a desired trait in a dog breed are also linked to negative effects. The cover story from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week is a great illustration. Merle patterning in collies is desirable to some, but the same mutation that causes the coat color also causes deafness and visual problems.

However, you often get more behavioral predictability with a pure-bred dog. One reason they started the dog genome project is that there are so many behaviors predictably associated with different breeds.

We have mutts, and probably always will. There are too many wonderful dogs out there that need homes, so I can't think of a compelling reason to deal with finding a good breeder and spending all that money. I do appreciate that there are all those cool breeds out there though.

[slipknottin]

Mutts FTW.

[TKOS]

Growing up I had a mutt that was a great dog, a lab/spaniel mix. Now my parents have a pure bred sheltie (they got it for the price of having it fixed from a breeder) and a mixed Lhasa/? which we got free as well. I have enjoyed all of the dogs. But I agree that with so many dogs and cats available without homes I can't see myself paying for one. Now if only the SPCA took in fish as well I am sure that we wouldn't have to pay too much for them either.

My sister actually is an SPCA foster parent and keeps cats that way. It is amazing to see how quickly their attitudes change from hiding under a bed to sitting on your lap when they are treated well.

[Dangerdoll]

my dobie (which is mixed and rescued) still takes off scrambling even when someone mutters a cuss under their breath.... she musta had some past. I got her when she was about 9 months, tick-ridden and dirty, living on the streets of Newark.... which is a major city of Jersey. I got her from a Rescue Group. I can't even imagine how tough things were for her.... but now, she's and under-the-cover in bed kinda dog and the smartest dog I can say I've ever had..... I wouldn't trade her for anything in the world and I've never had a single health problem with her yet (knock on wood).

[hurricanejedi]

The likelihood of heritable disorders is lower in mutts. It's simple genetics. With a pure breed, the gene pool is made up of individuals that are fairly closely related. Careful breeding can reduce this problem, but outcrossing to an unrelated individual is unquestionably more effective.
I would have to partially disagree with this statement. An animal of unkown heritage is a carrier of possibly anything to everything (and yes they do carry, just because they don't show it does not mean their offspring won't). Bringing in new genes can be good in case disease were to come up, then it can attack a particular gene and wipe out a whole sub-population (not common, it would have to be to the point of lions or cheetahs). However, actual inherited disorders should be bred out. If a reputable breeder find a congenital defect in an offspring, the parents (or the carrier in question) should be removed from the breeding program as should all of their offspring. Now not everyone is up to these standards which is unfortunate. But good breeders go to many lengths to ensure their lines are free of these disorders (like HCM) and actively screen their cats of defects that might come up in the breed. Their should always be a contract stating the animal is free of genetic defect, hence the price involved.

I can't speak for dogs but I can for cats. There is a wide enough gene pool in most breeds that disease is not an issue. Occasionally outcrosses are needed in new breeds to ensure diversity in the gene pool. I'm actually working with foundation cats myself.

I think perhaps the reason people find purebreeds less resilient than moggies have more exprience with dogs. The screenings I mentioned are not done and HCM among many ohter things plagues many breeds. As is the problem with German Shephards and hip displaysia. Soooo common...soo unfortunate..soo much irresponsible breeding.

I have 2 moggies and 2 purebreed cats and they are equally resilient and special. One of my moggies had seasonal allergies but I hope that clears since they are all on raw diets now (we'll see when spring comes!). I think many afflictions people see are directly related to diet.

[nursie]

When I had cats I had just regular cats..no special breed, altho I hankered for a Maine Coon. I may still get one, who knows.

For some reson have always had "breed" dogs. My parents had a beagle when I was little. They got me a collie...a pet quality cast off from my great uncle that raised collies. Dad got a Brittany to hunt with. I got into the boxers becasue a realtive had one and we liked him. I have known some great mixed breeds to, though. Hubby's brother has a great lab mix. They are finally are keeping this one indoors after losing 2 other dogs to various accidents becasue kept outside. You gotta take care of them no matter their origins.

Not just German Shepards are subject to hip dysplasia due to breeding. Boxers are too...and others. If you are buying a "breed" dog, buy from someone who has a sound breeding program and checks for hip problems and only breeds healthy animals.

[hurricanejedi]

I've fallen in love with rotties. I think if I got a dog I'd go to a rescue. I would probably have to get a pup though to acclimate to the cats...most of the big dogs I like will easily kill my babies. I love dobermans too... and akitas.. and shepards. Someday when I have a house :) .

[mogurnda]

I would have to partially disagree with this statement. An animal of unkown heritage is a carrier of possibly anything to everything (and yes they do carry, just because they don't show it does not mean their offspring won't). Absolutely. We all carry multiple bad mutations in our genomes, which is why we need to marry unrelated people. For a recessive mutation to be expressed, you need two bad copies. Two parents from the same gene pool are more likely to carry copies of the same mutation. The likelihood of unrelated individuals carrying defects in the same gene is much, much smaller.

As you probably know, breeding recessive traits out of a population is easier said than done. With flies, we have the advantage of molecular markers and a 10-day generation time. When dealing with mammals in a non-laboratory setting, the likelihood of mutations squeaking through seems very high.

I am reminded of my old boss who, in her usual methodical way, searched out the best breeder for her golden retriever. It was sadly ironic when she had to spend thousands on surgery for the dog's hips. Stuff happens.

After saying all that, I can't say that my personal experience has shown that mongrels are any more rugged than purebreds. I have known a lot of dogs, and they have all had quirks and usually developed some weird disorders when they hit their teens. But I expect I'll get plenty of disorders when I hit the equivalent age.

[DeVitaf]

"The cat in my avatar is an F3 bengal which I'm starting to breed"

hurricanejedi, that cat is amazing :)...

I had no idea how many breeds of cats there were until I went to a pet show recently. I went to see the dogs and ended up looking at the cats most of the time :)

[ceatwood]

Dogs dogs dogs! first of all! (no offense to those poor souls who love cats)

As to mixed vs. mutt I have to say it depends too much on which breed you are talking about, most that have been around longer have less incidents of bad genetic traints UNLESS that dog became wildly popular in the past century or there about (Sharpei, Golden Retriever, dalmation, rotties, etc) I would much rather prefer a mixed Sharpei than a purebred.

As hurricanejedi said it does depend on who is doing the breeding, but when a dog gets too popular for too long, too many backyard breeders spoil the whole pool for everyone.

My worst experiences have been with a few sharpeis who were allergic to themselves (as the vet so kindly did not say) and a few dalmations with bladder and hearing problems.

We used to breed Brittanys, loved them all to death, even the mixed ones we would rescure from time to time, and I do have to say that Lucky, who looked to be a cross between a Brittany and a Dane, was the best dog that we ever had around. Imagine a Brittany a little larger than a Golden retriever, he was the best, but about as smart as my left shoe. Grandpa was always finding other homes for the mixed ones as he didn't want and mixing to occur with his purebreds, and luckily Lucky came around more than once due to people realizing they couldn't keep a dog that large.

[wesleydnunder]

Mutts

Mark

[OrionGirl]

Depends. I prefer large dogs, and that means that if I do buy a purebred, I will find a reputable breeder that takes care to breed for quality and health instead of just money. I've had both, current boys are mutts. They're both healthy, and good natured, no problems. My mom currenlty has 2 border collies, and both have 'breed issues'--nothing related to poor breeding or health issues, just common behaviors with border collies that I don't like. So, for me, it will depend on what I'm getting the dog for--companion? Mutt. Specific task? Probably a purebred.

With cats--again, I've had both. Since I'm not picky about the appearance of my cat, other than not liking long hair, getting a good companion cat is pretty easy and cheap from any source. Since my husband wants a a Savannah, we'll be spending the dough, because that's what he wants! Of course, the purebred cats I've owned have been limited to some pretty well established breeds that aren't prone to disorders, so it's not really a valid comparison! I haven't seen nearly as many breed specific behavior issues with cats as I have with dogs, either...

[Roan Art]

Purebred dogs only. I'm heavy into Rough Coated Collies and currently have three of them. We have full registration rights for our puppy, but haven't decided if we will breed him or not.

We'll probably get a fourth collie in April. We've had two that passed on.

I'll never buy another purebred cat. I've got an American Bobtail and a Pixiebob. Just not worth the money in the long run and IME a "regular" cat is just as nice and doesn't have the high price tag.

Roan

[sky.eyes.woman]

Every cat I've ever had was a mixed breed. Every one came from a rescue or directly off the street. I won't get a cat or dog from any other source...there are just too many pets that need homes. The best cat I ever had was a mixed breed I called a 'Siamix'. Her name was Pearl and I got her from the Humane Society in 1993. I just lost her in November. There are just too many good dogs and cats being put down in shelters every day for me to get them from anywhere else.

[Holly9937]

There are just too many good dogs and cats being put down in shelters every day for me to get them from anywhere else.

I'm with you. My husband had a jack russell and a boxer that he bought before him and I got together, so I had no say. We found our border collie on the side of the exspressway in Wyoming. 2 of our 3 cats are rescued from the street, the 3rd was given to my husband a long time ago. As much as I love boxers, I think if we get another, we'll have to find one from the shelter. I think people forget that shelters get alot of young, pure breed dogs, you just don't get the paperwork.

sky eyes, how big was that cat? sorry about the loss, she was a cutey. My biggest cat is 20lbs. Yours looks like she might have been even bigger :eek:

[aknif]

I'm partial to mutts myself. Growing up, we had Buddy who was such a Heinze 57 dog that even the vet didn't know what all he was! His vet forms all just said Terrier/Beagle mix. He was the sweetest dog ever and lived a long and healthy 17 year life.

Now, my parents just have Peanut, who's a little brown chihuahua terrier mix that we got when I worked at a pet store. Someone brought her in saying they'd seen her walking in the road and I took her home. She's 14 now and still going strong even though she's got no teeth left! HA!

My Dingo dog is also a mix. We got him from a puppy rescue. He came from a farm out on the Colorado / Kansas border. His markings are all cattle dog, but he's too tall and leggy and he's got a screwy tail that curls up over his back when he gets excited. His vet says he's 90% Aussie Cattle Dog and 10%, uh, something else, possibly an aussie shepherd. Now, at age 6, he's got retinal atrophy and will probably be totally blind by the end of this year.

I will say though that my hubby and I had our hearts stolen by an Afghan Hound puppy at a friend's BBQ once.... I have a feeling one day we might have to track one down, but if we do, it'll be from a rescue... not from a breeder.

[CatLover]

Right now, my mom has an Australian shepherd who is a Champion retired show dog. He was given to her. He is the sweetest dog I have ever had or ever met. He has had a few problems- came with hookworms that for a very long time showed no symptoms, then appeared months later. Now he is seven years old. He was five when she got him. He is also about the prettiest dog I have ever seen, even after going to many dog shows. He is her third pure-bred aussie.

My cat is a rescue. Got her at five months. She was born at the shelter, and had never been outside of the shelter. She is now about four. Never had any health problems. She has a little crook in her tail that sometimes indicates in-breeding. She is the best cat I could ever hope to own. (as if you can actually own a cat)

She is an orange- not really tigerstripe - more spotted.

My mom really believes in pure-bred aussies because they are carefully screened for hip problems, eye problems, etc.Picture of Flash as a juvenile dog (http://www.infodog.com/brag/dogpage/DL78749604.htm)

Flash's hair is much longer now, and is owned by my mom, not the other lady

[sky.eyes.woman]

sky eyes, how big was that cat?
At her biggest Pearl was 14lbs. Once she grew out of the kittenish 'gotta-climb-everything' stage she was a real joy to have around. My favorite of her 'quirks' was her willingness to tilt her head down for me to kiss whenever I said, 'Pearlie, gimme a kiss!' I still miss her terribly. :sad:
I had her cremated so I can have her buried with me.

[OrionGirl]

S.E.W.--when I say 'give me a kiss' to my cat, he stretches up with his paws on my front and rubs his nose across mine. :) Not the most hygenic of things, but sweet, none the less. Just had to learn not to ask for a kiss if there are any birds sitting on the skylights--he gets too excited and bites my nose instead of just rubbing it. Sigh.

[jazzbass]

I always associated neurotic, borderline, wacky behaviour with purebred cats and dogs. My mother had siamese cats, and those cats were pretty nasty. My brother had a dalmatian.... talk about moronic dog!

My cat was a stray that I adopted... orange tabby with white underneath, huge hindquarters and a 3/4 length tail. Sweet, loving cat that shed and drooled a lot.

And then my neighbor has famous English bulldogs which have a very well-documented lineage. She trains them to ride skateboards and pull carts. Right now, she just has one, and that one is an amazing animal. She is so gentle with little kids... lies down on her back if she senses that the kid is scared. And once, when my kids went running farther away toward the road, she jumped up, barked to alert us (me and my neighbor), and followed them to make sure they didn't go out of the yard.

But, with allergies in the family, I personally stick to my fish tanks and a couple of box turtles.

[fishyaddict]

I've had luck either way. Currently we own a German Shorthaired Pointer, of course I got him for free because one of my friends became very ill and could no longer take care of him (kinda a rescue prior to SPCA shipment). He's wonderful, active of course, but did great with nuetering, and shows no early displays of any hip problems. On the other hand, my last dog, whom I couldnt keep when I moved to an apartment that we couldnt have animals, was supposed to be a husky/lab mix, although looked like she had akita in her. She was sweet, but had bad allergies (to grass or something), and also was anemic (found out when she got spayed and almost didnt make it). This was all before she was even a year old, so down the road it could get even worse and more costly. But growing up we had a wonderful st. bernard/german shepard mix, he was wonderful and lived til he was about 13. My sister was only a year old when we got him, and we have pics of her putting her arm in his mouth with him being as careful as if he was her father.

As far as kitties go, I think they are all great. Havent seen much difference. I had a Siamese before, and she was great too.

So I have to agree with the others, that cats it doesnt matter too much. But dogs, its all about being careful who you get them from, and I think a lot of luck...... :fairy:

[jennypenny]

Personally I like the idea of rescuing a dog from a shelter or society. This may mean the dog is a mutt or a pure bred. Everything else being equal I think it is preferable to buying an expensive pure breed.

However, I grew up with pure breed dogs that were gifts from my uncle who is a breeder. I have to admit I love these breeds and would be tempted to get another under the right circumstances (like if my uncle wanted to give another away for little or no cost). Just a personal sentimental attachment. I travel a lot so a dog right now is not a good idea, but in the future who knows where I would get my puppy from.

Plus, not all things are equal. I know many people who get a pure breed (or purposely breed mix) because of allergies or size requirement. If you do not have a big house and yard, it may not be a good idea to pick up a puppy that could reach any size. Some stick with certain breeds that are more likely to get along with children. I also know many people who keep dogs for herding, hunting, or some other sporting reason. I am not saying that pound puppies cannot not fill any or all of these requirements, but a pound dog is more of a wild card. The wild card part can be reduced if you pick up a full grown dog of course (versus a puppy).