what makes full bred dogs any better than mutts?

What makes boys better than girls? (or vice versa)

Which prompts the follow-up question:

Better for what?

Being different is sometimes an asset, sometimes a drawback.

The essential differences between mutts and pure-breds are:

(1) Predictability - being consistent for various physical & behavioural features is the whole purpose of having pure-breds, whereas what mutts inherit is very very very much random chance. Properly-bred Border Collies and GSDs almost automatically adopt herding behaviours. Don't expect crosses between Terriers, Bulldogs and Whippets to be very usefukl as herding dogs, even with a highly competent trainer.

(2) Hybrid vigour sort-of applies to mutts. To get true hybrid vigour, you have to cross actual species (as in donkey + horse = mule), but crosses between different breeds or strains do gain some of that effect, especially the increased size and faster growth rate, so it is usually used to produce a slaughter generation. Not many of us use our dogs for meat, though.

(3) A healthy immune system has a great variety of genes to draw on for its purposes. In case you didn't know, apart from what's NOT on the X-chromosome, every living thing has 2 copies of each of its genes; the 2 copies might be the same allele, they might be 2 different alleles (just as 2 wheels for the same vehicle might have the same tread, or might have different treads). Cross-breeds automatically have many of their gene pairs different (which is why it is almost impossible to predict what a mutt will grow up like), whereas the intense line-breeding attempted by some breeders aims to have most of the gene pairs being "identical twins" - the arrival of allergies is a warning that they have done so too intensely. For a healthy immune system it is advisable to have no more than 1 common ancestor in the first 4 or 5 generations, and for that ancestor to have lived to a ripe old age.

And, most importantly:

(4) Breeder responsibility. Few owners of mutts check anything except that the pair are available (and many mutts are produced without the humans being aware of the mating until the bit.ch swells up weeks later!). Whereas a high proportion of breeders of pure-breds check everything relevant to the genetic background of both their bit.ch and the stud they are thinking of using.

It boils down to "pure-bred" not being automatically either a benefit or a curse - what counts is the knowledge & pre-mating checking & research by the breeder. Anyone with a KC-regd bit.ch can let her be mated by a KC-regd stud, but not everyone knows what good & bad features are lurking in the gene combinations the pair supply. Don't expect pet shop pups and puppy-mill pups and pups from ignorant BYBs to be low-risk for genetic problems, regardless of whether they are "pure-bred" or "mutts".

Many people who obtain their dogs at the bottom of "the dog market" are convinced that GSDs are riddled with hip dysplasia. But my last litter with a dysplastic in it was born in 1983 (and it wasn't planned by *me* - a pup was allowed to run with his mother because he was too small to reach her target, and anyway he was too young to be fertile - yeah, right.....) The problem being due to several recessives, I could get caught in my next litter, but I keep the odds on my side, not in favour of HD (and as of 1986 my country has a better HD scheme than NAmericans use).

Some people think that mutts are automatically healthier than pure-breds

Those that survive puppy-hood often are.

Pure-breds tend to get more veterinary attention paid for than do mutts. In other words, the untreated mutts either survive or they die, whereas sickly pure-breds are usually helped to survive. And so the mutts that are still around at 2 years old fluked inheriting genes that made them very hardy, whereas some of the pure-breds still alive at 2 years old ought to be dead.

Les P, owner of GSD_Friendly: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/GSD_Friendly

"In GSDs" as of 1967

Well, the inbred stuff really only happens when there is a sudden demand for a certain type of dog and lots of dumb people start breeding them just to make money. Good breeders don't do this, and many purebreds are perfectly healthy. Such as after 101 Dalmations came out, and every trendy person HAD to have a Dalmation. Then a thousand bad breeders came out of the woodworks to pollute the gene pool. Purebreds are great because you basically know what you are getting. It's nice to have a certain look, a certain behavior, a certain dependability. It's not really a status thing. It's a responsibility and loyalty to a breed. Mutts are fine. I have one. I don't encourage it (making more mutts) on general principles. How will you know what to look out for it you don't know where they came from? I have no idea if my dog could have a risk for hip dysplasia or heart problems or any other health problem. I have no idea if I need to be sure my vet looks for those things. Different breeds are there for a reason. Sometimes it is even dangerous to breed two different types together (i.e. female beagle with a male great Dane=bad things for momma). Mutts aren't necessarily healthier because the underlying problems don't just go away. Especially when you consider working breeds. You wouldn't want a lab mix when you need a herding dog. They just don't have the instincts for it. For example, I've had purebred labs and beagles since I was a kid. They were so different! The beagles naturally scented out raccoons and rabbits, while the labs couldn't be less interested. When I needed someone to play fetch or go duck hunting, I didn't go for the beagle because it just wasn't their thing. Now I have a blue heeler/lab/border collie mix, he instinctively nipped at our heels and the neighbor's horse's heels to herd everybody around. It's instinct. Mutts breed that out. If you just need a pet, get a mutt. But don't knock the people who want a certain breed, whether for aesthetics or for a purpose.

if you are looking for a dog with specific traits for a job than you are better off getting a pure bred (WELL BRED) dog

the characteristics of a pure bred dog are more predictable and if the dog is well bred. also with a well bred dog potential health problems that are genetic can be eliminated

in terms of everything else not much really

dogs are dogs and all will love you just the same

leslie, so why would caring for dogs take away from caring for children. i feel like responsible people will do both. i do get very upset when dogs are abused, i also get very upset when i hear of child abuse. i dont see why you have to pick one or the other. btw ever heard of the saying "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."?

in my eyes being an ignorant owner of a living thing is bad no matter if its a cat, dog, rabbit whatever.

I've had mutts and pure bred dogs. The mutts have been the most loving and loyal family pets compared to the pure bred. We had a German Shorthair Pointer and he was so downbred that all he cared about was running the perimeter and looking for animals to hunt. He had no ability to concentrate on any type of training, so he was only able to be taught to sit and lay down.

From my experience, mutts are smarter. My older dog is a black lab/border collie or whippet cross and my puppy is a cockapoo (cocker spaniel/mini poodle). Both of them are extremely smart, both of them can differentiate between their toys, both by item and by color, and know ten-twenty tricks. In the first month that I had my cockapoo I taught him ten trick and he's learned at least five more since.

I think it's much better to go and adopt a dog from a shelter, because there are both mutts and purebreds in there. When I went to the pound while searching for a dog, at least 80% of the dogs were pure-bred, so the "mutts end up in shelter because they're unpredictable" statement doesn't uphold with my experience.

If bred by the average Joe, absolutely nothing. But a responsible breeder picks championed parents (meaning excellent conformation) that have been pre-screened for genetic faults, with good non-aggressive temperaments, for the breeding pair. Puppies are reserved for selected, approved homes, usually before they're even conceived. The puppies receive the proper prenatal care, and are also well cared for and raised with the mother and other pups until 8 weeks of age. They come with a health guarantee, sometimes a contract, and a record of good bloodlines. A responsible breeder is a member of their AKC breed parent club, and is active within the breed. The responsible breeder only breeds when they feel it would contribute to the breed, not to their pocketbook.

Mixed breed dogs can be wonderful pets, but their lineage (and therefore possible personality traits, genetic predispositions, health concerns, etc.) is unknown. A tiny, scruffy puppy could grow up to be 80 pounds of boundless energy, and could return to the homeless or impounded state from which it likely came.

I am not knocking mixed breed dogs or saying they are less of a dog, but if all breeders were responsible, and all owners were responsible enough to neuter genetically/physically/temperamentally inferior animals, we would not have the pet overpopulation problem that we have today.

Mutts cost less and NEED homes. If you are looking for a pet, then saving a mutts life is the best thing you can do. They are cheaper and they respect you more for saving them =)

Pure breeds will cost you a lot of money so unless you need them for a specific job, save a shelter dog!

all that different is that they are pure bred. And like my bull terrier (16months) he is pure bred from 8generations champion blood line:

he breed makes his looks very noticeable, the normal crazii bull terrier behaviour , solid and nice pair of jaws with teeth. etc. its just makes them lil individual. But i do have a bull mastiff xbull arab x ridgeback (11months) aswel which is double the size as the bull terrier and very different personalities from both. But the mastifff x ridgeback x arab has a different personallity to the average pure bred mastiff or arab for example. but otherwise they are both very loyal dogs that i would change for anything.

also if the pure bred pups will cost more because of the breeding line and no odd colours come through unexpectedly.. sometimes when the dogs are crossed people dont want them because of the colour...

but no doubt all dogs are beautiful

god bless.

I saw an answer on here one day, and I totally agree...people pay way too much attention to the care and breeding of dogs than they do of their own children. They are so upset when they hear of a dog being abused....let's focus on children being abused. How could it be that dogs get more consideration than humans. In breeding and in health?

Would love to see more well bred humans w/good educations.

nothing

mutts are much better then pure bred dogs

my little muttt that i rescued about 10 years ago is much better than the standard poodle i bought

health and behavior wise

the only problem my mutt had was hot spots but they cleared up when i started using different shampoo when i washed him

my standard poodle is terrified of everything, shes actually a lil bit aggressive, and she has constant ear infections

mutts rule!

nothing really, it's just more exensive, mutts have more personality i think. :)