What do you think of hybrids?

Question

Don't get me wrong I love all dogs. All mine are mutts and cross breeds. But I am getting so frustrated with all this cross breeding between dog breeds. When I was younger this would have been called a mutt. Maybe Im just set in my ways but two dog breeds put together is not a purebred. When I started seeing labordoodles in the paper for $500 I almost died. Like I said I have nothing against the dogs. I know a labordoodle and he is a great dog. But please, when will "creating new breeds" end?

I understand what you mean about wanting good traites from 2 kinds of dogs but you cant decide what traits a pup will be born with. And many of these so called breeders don't know what they are doing and can wind up with unwanted pups. Do you think if I breed a bull terrier with a shih tzu I can call it a bullshihtz and make some money.lol

Answer 1

These mixed breed mutts are unpredictable at best. I feel bad for people who are sucked into to the hype and spend way too much money on them.

Most of the people breeding them are using low quality breeding stock. They are not running the proper genetic tests to make sure that they are even worth breeding. (Probably because the know they are low quality to begin with!) And they are usually doing it just for the money!

Creating new breeds is one thing, but the fact of the matter is, what is going on is pure greed. Plain and simple!

Answer 2

I have "mutts" too. I love them. I think they're the best dogs in the world. They're both fixed because I recognize that there are so many dogs who need homes. It's bad enough that unaltered dogs are accidentally producing litters. The fact that some people are purposely crossbreeding these designer hybrids is beyond irresponsible. People don't have to pay $500 for some unique crossbreed. Mixed breeds are all unique. Go to the shelter, save a dog's life, and save yourself some money.

Answer 3

I don't think that it is such a bad ida that there are so many different "Hybrids" out there now a days. For me almost every pure bread dog that I have came accross or have owned have had so many more health problems than a "Mut" or "Hybrids". My bigest problem is that the breeders of these hybrids are charging some people an arm and a leg for what is truly a mut. I have a Schnoodle that I paid $250 for, (which I think is not too bad for any dog) but I have seen then for upto 500 and more. That is where I have my bigest problem with the hybrids. And it is just more trendy to say that I have a labordoodle than a "Mut".

Answer 4

I LOVE dogs, that is why I am absolutly 100% opposed to this awful, awful practice.

These dogs are usually not even bred from high quality dogs of their "mother breed" Often times these "new breeds," (which aren't breeds at all) are the result of accidental breeding or some idiot putting two cute dogs together. No responsible breeder would EVER do this.

This is why we have orgs like the AKC and UKC to set standards and help continue breed lines but keep the breed going with as few flaws and genetic defects as possible!!

I could go on ALL DAY ad infinitum about this and why it's irresponsible and unethical, but I'll stop now, other people will make good points, too.


----
I'd like to point out my problem is with the people who intentionally do this, not the actual doggie itself!

Answer 5

Tiff nailed it. This is such a frustrating topic for me!

My major problems with this "fad" (in no order):

1. "Hybrid" refers to the crossing of two species -- all dogs are the same species, and are therefore NOT "hybrids" -- yet the twits who do this go on and on about "hybrid vigor", and they even have their own 'Canine Hybrid Association'. The fact that they're too stupid to look in a dictionary makes me nuts.

2. "All breeds started as crosses" -- true in many cases, but the big difference is that breeds were crossed in the past for a *purpose*, a function, to fulfill a need...a better herder, a better hunter, a better sled dog, all used to keep people alive. Not as a "cute pet". Which leads me to...

3. Breeding these dogs on purpose and selling them for ridiculous amounts of money, when equally deserving mixed breeds of similar heritage ROT and DIE in shelters because nobody will pay their $150 adoption fee! We have plenty of "cute pets"! Check your shelter!!

4. False claims of health and temperament when the parent dogs are poorly bred purebreds with a questionable/unknown background. Tiff already expounded on this, so I won't. But if you breed genetic junk, you'll get genetic junk, regardless of how it is crossed or mixed!

So frustrating!

ADDED: The "Labradoodle" will NEVER be recognized as a legitimate breed, because it won't breed true! That's another thing -- breeds are developed in long-term programs going well beyond the F1 generation (i.e. the original cross) until predictable traits are established. Nobody has been able to do this with the "Labradoodle" because it loses it's 'hypoallergenic qualities' (if it ever gets them in the first place) beyond F1, and -- oops, there goes the marketability! If we can't sell them, what's the point in breeding them, right?

Ugh. Twits.

Answer 6

I can't really say anymore after Tiff and Loki.

A breeder can't really say that you're getting the best of both breeds with out the genetic flaws of either with out conducting extensive screenings. Both Standard Poodles and Labradors are susceptible to hip dysplasia. Do you think that just because you're mixing two separate breeds you'll magically eliminate that possibility?

Selective breeding took place over many centuries to achieve the dog breeds we know today. Putting two different breeds together does not automatically make a third breed.

Answer 7

I think it's a rotten pursuit, most of these people are in it for the money, hence the HUGE prices you'll see them carry.
I could rescue almost any cross that's become a, "designer",
dog from the pound for $ 50.00 - 100.00...so why in the world is a Puggle worth $ 1,000.00 or more? It IS a crossbred,
and the shelters have plenty of them available. I'd like to see if any of them will take back a puppy they've produced for ANY reason, no questions asked...like any responsible, ethical purebred breeder will do...any takers??? Most of them seemingly have no clue as to what types of inherited problems can come along with crossing...as pups can and do inherit from both sides of their, "pedigree". Dogs are NOT
designer fashion accessories!!! If you want a crossbred, go to your local pound/shelter....save a life and your pocketbook!

Answer 8

I don't know much about dogs or breeding them but
I think the reason why there is so much cross breeding is because people are striving to get the perfect dog.

I think it's good to try to breed better dogs, considering breeding can sometimes help to get rid of some of the health problems many dogs have. Probably not all, though some.
But there can never be an absolutely perfect dog.

So in a way I'm for breeding.

I hope I have answered your question.

Answer 9

Well if someone didn't do selective cross-mix breeding a long time ago you wouldn't have breeds like Golden Retriever, Border Collie etc.. now.

Eventually the AKC will recognize Labordoodles as legit breed.

People who do this are looking to combine the good traits of one breed with the good traits of another.

Answer 10

I have a maltese and a yorkiepoo. I got the yorkiepoo from a friend of a friend who couldn't give it the love it needed. I love it just as much as my maltese. It's not the dogs fault someone decided to make profit off of him. When I think of mutts, i think of a dog that you have no idea what breed it is, because it's usually more than two mixed and you have no way of knowing. At least this way you can kind of get an idea of what thier temperments might be.