From: saavik@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Marla Belzowski (K-9's))
Subject: Re: Mutts vs. Purebreds
Organization: Purdue University
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 19:05:34 GMT

In article <24740073@hpcc01.corp.hp.com> krattige@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Kim Krattiger) writes:
>I have also always been told this and believe it to be true.  This doesn't
>mean that I have anything against purebreds, or that this is the majority
>of purebreds (I have 2 purebreds myself right now). 
>

I have heard this many many times before also, and I say it is not true.
I have had both mixed breeds and pure bred dogs.  My old Golden/Lab mix,
Mandy, was a mixed breed dog.  She had few health problems
but she was also dumber than a box of rocks.  SHe was a great
dog, but not intelligent.  My collies have very little health problems.
I only have normal eyed dogs and only breed normal eyed dogs.  
Because I do breed, I look for evey little nit pick thing I can
find about the breed so that I do not introduct problems into my
breedings.  

>I have always been told that mutts are sturdier and purebreds more PRONE
>to health problems.  I believe that they(?) attribute this to in-breeding
>in purebreds.  It does seem somewhat reasonable when you listen to people
>who are really into a particular breed talk about the breed.  The same
>sire/bitch names always seem to come up.
>

In-breeding is not the sole cause of health problems.  In-breeding
can be very very useful to eliminate health problesm if you understand
exactly how to use it.  More is known about health problems in
purebred dogs, because breeders are very aware of this problems.
Also, purebred dogs are asked to do more rigerous things than many
mixbreeds are.  Shepherds, goldens, Labs, Rotties, and other large
dogs are asked to do obedience, Schutzhund, hunting trials, and other
events.  Breeders check these dogs for problems when they breed to
help eliminate them.  Most mixbreed owners do not spend extensive
amounts of money checking hips, eyes, genetics, and other
medical issues.  Most mixbreed owners do not actively breed there dogs
with a goal in mind for the "breed".  I suspect thast there are
many mixbreeds with hip dysplasia in mild forms, eye problems (including
cateracts), or other medical issues.  They just haven't been diagnosed
because there is no reason for it.

>I have a pure Akita and Golden Retriever right now, and although I 
>wouldn't trade either of them for anything, I have nothing but health
>problems with the Akita since day 1 ('high maintenance' my vet calls
>her).  The Golden hasn't been too bad health-wise.
>
>But prior to these 2 I had a mutt that I never had problems with.
>
>Just a thought!
>Kim

I think that many breeders have lost the prespective that healthy, happy,
well adjusted dogs are more prefered over just a "pretty" dog.  This
is why all my dogs have CD's and are extensively checked for
genetic problems.  I do not believe in creating more dogs with the same
old health problems just gecause they "Look pretty".  You'll
also notice that none of my dogs have CH yet.  This is because they
do not come from the extensive show lines that currently do have
many genetic problems.  

Inbreeding, line-breeding, line-crossing, and outcrossing are all forms of
breeding tools used to improve breeds.  I'd love to explain
these methods more, but that would make tis post extensively long.

-----
Marla Belzowski   saavik@mentor.cc.purdue.edu
Mauii Nikki Belzowski CD CGC TDI CERF
Brittish Legend of Beowuld CD CGC TDI CERF  tri-color collies
Legend's Year of Jubilee   sable and white collie
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs