Why do dog breeders frown upon people who cross breeds?

Question

Crossing breeds is actually healthy for the puppies. My guess is that many breeders frown upon it because they are so caught up in the purebred/show circuit, and therefore feel that purebred dogs are better.

And I honestly don't see any reason why a mongrel has any more of a chance to end up in a shelter than a purebred dog. A dog is a dog afterall, whether it be purebred or mongrel.

I also like purebred dogs very much, but I don't think they are "better" than mongrels. Purebred dogs just look more similar to each other. Both purebred and mongrel dogs are equally good.

Opinions?

Answer 1

Reputable breeders spend a lot of time researching genetics and lineages within their breed in order to produce superior puppies in their breeding program. Their mission is to try to "breed out" undesirable traits within their lines. An example of this would be a GSD breeder trying to improve tail set in his breeding program to better fit the breed standard, or a Golden Retriever breeder trying to breed pups that are less susceptible to cancer. It takes a long time (years) to learn how to do this, and despite all their knowledge, it's still difficult to attain the "perfect" representative of the breed.
Having said this, you might see why a reputable breeder would frown upon a person mating any two dogs (with very little knowledge of the sire and the dam) just to turn a profit or to see what results he might get.
I agree that both purebred and mixed breed dogs can become wonderful family members (I've had both and loved them all equally), but try to understand where the breeder's attitudes are coming from.

Answer 2

I love all dogs, purebreds and mixed breeds. I don't think all breeders frown on people because they think their purebreds are better (although I'm sure there are some who do). However, I do know that truly responsible breeders try to improve the breed. They pay attention to things like temperament, hips, elbows, eyes, etc. For instance, one of the big "designer dogs" right now is crossing a golden retriever with a poodle to get the now infamous Goldendoodle. What a lot of people forget is that these dogs carry the same potential problems as both of those large breeds including hip dysplasia. I doubt that few if any of the breeders of these mixed breeds are concerned about the parents being OFA certified. Of course OFA certification never guarantees offspring to be free of dysplasia, but it helps in determining if you could possibly pass on problems to future litters. This certainly could be a good reason for responsible purebred dog breeders to frown upon someone who is crossing breeds.

Like I said, I have no problems with mixed breeds or purebreds. The best dog I ever had was from a shelter. He was a lab mix that I adopted for $55. I have purebreds now, but I don't think they're better than mixed breeds. Mine are, and always will be, spayed or neutered no matter what the breed. I don't breed dogs or show any of my dogs. However, I do question the motives of some people who continue to cross breed dogs because:

1. The breed is very popular.
2. The puppies will be SO cute, everyone will want one.
3. They are breeding for size and aggression.
4. They know little or nothing about breeding to the point where the dog's and/or puppies' lives are at stake.
5. They can't even spell the name of the breed
6. They are not financially able to properly care for the dogs before, during, or after the breeding.

Sadly, it seems the basis is purely financial for a lot of the breeds they are crossing (this can be said over the years of certain purebred breeders, too). The explosion of mixed breeds being sold as "designer breeds" is alarming. These breeders seem to worry little about genetic defects being passed on to puppies. Their goal is to produce the tiniest, cutest little ball of fur that will charm your pants off.....and charm your wallet out of your pocket before your pants hit the floor.

Answer 3

I've known many breeders....because I have shown dogs. Those I know only frown on 'backyard' breeders. Those who have no clue what they are doing and no plan for puppy placement into good homes. A great many people do it merely because they think it's easy money to make. Any type of breeding truly takes some forethought and intelligence. Reputable breeders of purebreds or not are trying to come up with desireable qualities in puppies without the bad aspects of poor health/temperment. If you are breeding a dog who's lineage and background you don't know about, you could be passing on something awful that would shorten the puppy's life...which is cruel to the person owning that puppy. Breeding mutts is not necessarily a bad thing, but you have less of a chance knowing what you are getting health wise and temperment wise. I've owned both types and loved both. While I can afford the purebred, that is my dog of choice because i can shop for exactly what I am most looking for.

Answer 4

A dog is a dog. Full Breed or Mongrel. They both can show all the same charactistics. They are trust worthy, loving, make us feel secure, and are always looking for attention. The only real difference is that Full Breed dogs are bred for money. The owners keep them caged and normally show them little or no affection unless they are showing them. The more prizes/ribbons they win, the more the future puppies are worth. Also with full bred dogs there is a much greater chance of inbreeding which causes a lots of defects in the dogs breed. Personally the question should have read why do people with mongrels frown at people that breed dogs. As far as why there are more mongrels in the pounds comes down to how many more dogs in the world are mongrels and the stero type that people have that a pure breed dog is better.

Answer 5

And I honestly don't see any reason why a mongrel has any more of a chance to end up in a shelter than a purebred dog.

But the fact is, they do. MOST dogs in shelters are crossbreed.

Answer 6

I think what some people object to are the so-called "designer" crossbreeds that seem to be proliferating these days. People pay outrageous sums of money for this-a-poos and that-a-peeks -- dogs that used to be considered mutts.

Personally, I like a mixed breed dog such as the collie/shepherd or the husky/shepherd. The ones that I've owned have been great dogs with lots of personality and intelligence.

But if breeders suddenly decide that "shuskies" or "shepllies" are the latest hot trend in the dog world, don't look for me to shell out the big bucks for one.

Answer 7

cross breeding is not harmful to the dog... that's ridiculous. That's like saying my best friend (who is half asian half white) is unhealthy, just snotty racist bs.

there are good breeders and bad breeders. Alot of people seem to like to assume all breeders that activly participate in the AKC are good and those that happen to have a litter of mutts in their backyards are bad. This is simply not true. I think it can be seen as a guideline, but i have had a nightmare with a certain purebreed bullmastiff breeder who could be one of the most disgusting human being i've ever met. Als o living in the city, alot of dogs aren't spayed and neutrered... so alot of the time people's dogs get pregnant... while I don't encourage this practice, i know people who have taken very good care of those puppies (keeping the 3 of them that couldn't find homes in a small row house in addition to the mother!).

what should be frowned upon is overbreeding which is a risk with the new desginer breeds and very popular breeds like golden retrievers and dalmatians... the dogs get inbred and nasty due to the demand for them.

but in regards to Puggles and Cockapoos.... as long as it is done responsibly there is no problem. Remember Bullterriers, Bull Mastiffs, Pitbulls, Chesapeake Retrievers, Tosa Kens, Dobermans.... these were all designer breeds less than 200 years ago, that have now become great established breeds and pets. Not to mention the wonders of the mule and the beefalo... but that's for another day...lol

Answer 8

YOU are an obvious maroon!TOTALLY ignorant of ANY knowlege of PROPER breeding.

You've fallen into the AR/HUMANIAC/peta-NUTZ trap!!!

MUTTS/MONGRELS are NOT"healthier" or "smarter" or "cuter" or ANY OTHER***LIE*** you've been told!

Pure bred dogs are made for a PURPOSE!!! Carefully bred to retain those characteristics which MAKE them seperate from ANY OTHER BREED. ONLY the top quality(maybe 10-15 %) are bred on,AFTER they've PROVEN their quality.
They've been developed over HUNDREDS ...THOUSANDS of years to LOOK *&* BEHAVE in certain ways. OF COURSE they "look similar"!!! DUH!! That's the WHOLE POINT!!!
You can take *any* purebred pup & PREDICT what it will look like,what it's temperament will be. A Greyhound WILL be such & size & RUN ***VERY*** fast. A beagle WILL be a better rabbit-hound than a Peke. A chihuahua will NOT be able to herd cattle worth a damn.
People devote their entire LIVES to perfecting their breed. They will NOT be impressed w/"wittle poochie-woochie" that's not worth a puddle of warm spit,even if "Mommy WUVS him".

Answer 9

i agree that a dog is a dog, just as people are people. but while mongrels and pure breds can and do both end up in shelters it is just fact the shelters have always had more mutts come in and more purebreds go out. more mutts are euthanized than pb's and more pb"s are adopted. i just wish people would commit to dogs for life and not be allowed to give them away as easily as they can. we (usually) dont give away family? dogs think they are family and take oso long to get over being abandoned.

Answer 10

Because you can't register a crossbreed. Besides if you crossbreed the wrong dogs, you could kill them. For instance a weenie dog(F) and a lab (m). The pups would be too big for the weenie dog to get them out. Another reason is you get all kinds of wierd looking dogs. I'm not sure where you got your information, but crossbreeding IS harmful to the dog.