Cross Breeding, yes or no?

[Breeding101]

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Thoughts here guys?

 

[JoanneF]

It depends. I have nothing against cross breeds but I feel very strongly about responsible breeding, with the dam and sire tested beforehand for conditions that can be passed on. Crossbreeders are ime less likely to carry out the tests than pedigree breeders who are hopefully trying to improve their breed. But when you look at the problems the popular brachycephallic dogs have, some less exaggerated features from crossing is probably a good thing (again subject to testing so you aren't adding new problems iykwim).

 

[Biker John]

My big objection to cross breeding is when some silly made up name is given to the pups so as to increase the price that can be asked for. Other than that as JoanneF said provided that thought is given to the mating and full health tests carried out then I have no problem. After all Lurchers, many I have come across have been wonderful dogs and they are, when all is said and done a cross breed.

 

[merlina]

Don't even mind the names so long as the people buying them are providing good homes and that's not a given for pedigrees either - seen a wretched husky today that spends its life either in a pen in the garden or on walks tied to a child's double buggy. I've had two crosses (lab x whippet and corgi x Tasmanian Devil) and both have been great, long lived and incredibly healthy- more so than the purebred cockers that we bought specifically from a breeder who tested for everything. Ironically I suspect inbreeding shortened their lives.

Best recent sighting of a cross: spaniel x lurcher (splurcher?) - mum a springer, dad travelling too fast for them to get his number. Absolutely gorgeous.

 

[Mad Murphy]

Weve had many cross breeds. I have nothing against cross breeds or in some cases the cross ( outbreeding) designed to help eliminate some of the damage done by restrictive breeding in the past.
But the names the prices and the pretentious snobbery it brings with it.. no

 

[Rinkydinkydo]

I have Border Terriers,a recognized breed but at the end of the day they are a cross breed.
But the so called responsible breeders who strive for perfection have totally wrecked countless breeds of dogs. I'd say there are more pedigree dogs with health issues due to so called responsible breeding and stupid standards set on what they should look like.

 

[Mad Murphy]

Agree that some pedigrees are just awful, deformed and unfit for purpose like little frankenstiens monsters unable to breathe, walk or give birth properly.
This is just as bad as the silly shitzapoodoodlesnoodles that are demanding big bucks.

 

[JoanneF]

For me the difference is between breeding for health rather than breeding for - would you say fashion? It's a pity the dogs that look like they have run head first into a brick wall have become so popular, it seems to have encouraged breeders to aim for more and more extreme features - to the detriment of the poor creatures' health.

 

[Mayblossom]

A family near me have just brought a puppy...it’s a Pomski Husky crossed with a Pomeranian ...why? And of course not a natural mating, done by AI , just crazy. I asked the owner what made them go for this designer breed the temperament she said...to which I asked , how do you know what sort of temperament it’ll have as it’s a new crossbreed surely? Who knows the problems it may have in later life

 

[Teddy560]

Pomskys are popular because people think they will get a "miniature husky" I've seen them advertised for £2000

 

[JudyN]

They are ridiculously cute, but from what I've read their temperaments aren't consistent and in general, husky types make exceedingly bad pets unless the owner knows what they need and is able to supply it. I can't imagine that many people with that level of knowlege would want a pomsky...

As has been said above - breeding healthy dogs that make good pets is good (IMO, though there are those who say we shouldn't be breeding dogs when there are so many in rescues) regardless of the breeds - crossing a pug with pretty much anything is likely to make for a healthier dog, so it's far better than breeding pedigree pugs to try to reproduce and even exaggerate the breed characteristics. Breeding healthy F1 crossbreeds is arguably more expensive, as you can't select the best of the litter to breed future litters, so a high price might be justified. Breeding to supply a trend, to create a 'cute' animal with a 'cute' name and supply a fashion trend is completely wrong, particularly when what makes some breeds 'cute' is unhealthy - waddling walk, bulging eyes, flat face.... There is NOTHING cute a dog that snores and wheezes, FFS

 

[JoanneF]

their temperaments aren't consistent

Absolutely - herein lies a major problem with some cross breeds. People with no understanding of inherent breed temperaments churn out pups which may be cute but are psychologically tortured for their whole lives by conflicting behavioural drives.

@Breeding101, you have been quiet since your original posts. What are your views?

 

[Kara 1]

So called designer crosses can have consequences when crossing 2 working dogs eg cocker X Springer....
Lurchers were the first designer dog cross but this was done because only the gentry were allowed to own greyhounds so people started crossing greyhound with a bearded collie ...so it would still have the hunting instinct but didn't look like a greyhound...bull lurchers were bred for speed of greyhound but endurance of the bull terrier ....whippet X terrier small enough to hunt rabbits etc ...they were bred for purpose not just how they looked or the name ....
Working crosses were bred for a better working dog not really as a pet unless you have logs of time and dedication....
I know one mixed rescue that has several cockapoos....where people have bought them but not realised how high energy and wired these dogs are .....

 

[JoanneF]

Lurchers were the first designer dog cross but this was done because only the gentry were allowed to own greyhounds

That's really interesting, I didn't know that - thanks Kara.