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.