Have you researched your pure bred dog's history of origin?

Question

I am asking this question because of all the harsh or rude answers given for questions concerning mutts. The AKC name keeps coming up so I felt that everyone needed to have the link to the AKC so they can find their preferred breed and its history link to see what breeds it took to make that 'Pure Bred' dog you love so much. A kennel club is like an equine (horse) club they breed for quality and better traits of these animals. They are like scientists trying to achieve the best results with a breed they felt could be improved by adding another breed's traits.
Please check your breed and just think for a few minutes about what your breed was called before it was AKC recognized as a pure breed.
It was a- MUTT!!!!!!!!!

http://www.akc.org/breeds/breeds_a.cfm

And that's why we love them because those breeders worked hard to create a dog breed that you could enjoy and appreciate. My personal favorites are Chihuahuas and Redbone Hounds.

Answer 1

The difference, however, is that pure breds were created with a specific purpose and design in mind. Mutts are not.

The reason we study our breed's history is so that we can better understand what the original creators had in mind, and can better apply the standard. It's not enough to know the standard, we must know WHY the basset is required to have short legs and heavy bone, WHY the ears must reach past the nose, WHY the skin is loose and elastic, and how much is too much. When you understand your breed's purpose and history, when you've seen them doing the job they were bred for, it helps you to breed better dogs.

Knowing the breed's history and purpose also helps you to understand your dog's behavioral quirks. Bassets are not Labradors are not Shelties. They each think and behave in ways dictated by their purpose.

Answer 2

Yes. My Great Dane was originally bred to hunt wild boar in Germany. But....

There's more to this answer than what you imply in your question. The important part to a purebred dog is that it's characteristics are predictable. Sure, at one time, all dogs may be some sort of "mutt," but once a set of characteristics that make a dog a "breed" can be achieved predictably when bred with another dog of the breed, it becomes a pure breed. The reason this is important is because if you breed my mutt (half Shepherd-half beagle) to another dog, you don't know what the traits of the offspring will be. But if you breed my other dog, a purebred Great Dane, to another Great Dane, you know just about for sure what the offspring will be like- maybe some variations in color, but temperament, size, body structure, and drive will be what is known as a Great Dane.

Answer 3

There is a REAL BIG difference between the breeding that took place to create many breeds of dogs that are recognized and the designer Mutt craze..there were clear cut goals, clear cut standards to reach, clear cut traits, health, genetics, etc none of that is being addressed with designer mutts. Also there is NO legit reason to try to create more breeds since between UKC & AKC there are over 350 breeds of dogs already recognized. This doesn't take in all the breeds that are recognized by legit registries from other countries. There are breeds of every size, description, hair color, type, for every need..there IS NO REASON TO DELIBRATELY BREED MUTTS!!!!

Answer 4

I have research my breeds and many others and while it is true all breeds were developed by mixing certain breeds together it is still a far cry from throwing two dogs of different breeds together and giving it a cutsy name to sell for lots of money to the unknowledgeable. When a breed is developed it is usually for a purpose to aid humans in some kind of way they are not just created for profit like ALL the designer breeds are.
Do not try to convince me that mutts are pure breds in waiting, I know better. As for the link to akc I have it bookmarked and in favorites because I refer to it often especially when I am looking for shows to enter.

Answer 5

I think everyone needs to wake up and figure out that damned near every breed has origins based in crosses, and nearly every breed has been inbred to some degree at some point in time to instill the traits and make it a breed. There are ways other than inbreeding, but most breeds originated when the freaking ROYALS were still marrying their cousins. A prince had to marry a princess, who cared if the prince's aunt was the mother of the princess? They didn't know, and people today still beleive that they somehow knew more about what they were doing breeding siblings than we do today. Truth is, though, that they had true purposes. They needed certain traits in a dog to perform certain tasks. These days there is already a breed for every purpose, so there's no point in trying to make new ones.

Some breeds are of questionable origin, and some are mutations that became a desired trait, but to get the breed that mutated they originally needed a mutt.

I love mutts. To date, the prettiest dog I've ever known was a mutt. I mean, I love papillons, both erect and dropeared, but god that dog was gorgeous. I keep slapping *figuratively* my mom for not letting me take her home with me when I had the chance. I think it's hilarious how she went from short stubby legs and the face of an immiture shi tzu to a long legged, long muzzled beauty with plush fur, so totally unlike her mother's, which was like petting straw.

But this is where I catch myself rambling.

yay for mutts. PBs all have origins in cross breeds, regardless of weather or not it can be reliably traced. We still shouldn't be intentionaly breeding mutts, though, at least not with intent to sell for $$$. No point, and no one with the patience, knowledge, or skill to actually take a cockapoo and turn it into a new breed that breeds true.

Answer 6

I have a bearded collie "pure breed" dog that I paid alot of money for and I love him dearly but you are so correct. This breed was created by man and there for not really a pure breed as such at all.
He is AKC recognised and was worth every cent I paid to have him imported. Regardless of where he originated he's my families pride and joy and such a strong companion to my children I'm glad they mixed around to create him cause he's great.

Answer 7

I have researched my Border Collie completely, his breed is by far the most interesting and intelligent breed for me. I would also recommend that anyone considering this breed do research research research as it is an intense but fun breed.

Answer 8

Yes, I've researched. I know all there is about the diseases and such affecting my dog's two breed's....:) I think my dog is better for having the mix he has...like I said on a previous post, he is as silly as a boxer, but can be serious like s shepherd.
As a kid, we only owned mixed breeds, and they have always been good to us.
I'm not prejudice, lol:)

Answer 9

Yes, i agree. All dogs started as mutts, and each breed took a long time to be recongnized by the AKC, which is why to me, AKC registered doesn't mean much to me.

Answer 10

I have researched the breeds that make up my mutts.