What's wrong with crossbreeds?

Question

Why is there just so much snobbery about crossbreeds? Seriously, I don't understand it at all. Is there a valid reason, or is it just jealous pedigree breeders who think they're stealing the limelight?
I personally think that crossbreeds are a good idea; they're healthy, often very nice looking and have great temperaments. So what's wrong with them? Please tell me!
I'm considering getting a crossbreed, so I'd like some info please! :D

Thank you!!!!!

From Beccy xx

Answer 1

Actually, if you look at purebred pedigrees you will learn they all started out as mutts. They slowly mixed breeds for their desired chariteristics, body type etc etc. I myself own and breed GSD's, but still can say I love certian mutts. So, it all depends on the person.

Answer 2

I think it's the new fashion of purposely breeding X's that upsets the pure bred fans. These Maltie-poos and such like! Originally the Labradoodle was bred to try and get a working Blind Dog for someone who's Husband was allergic to dog hair. Unfortunately not all the puppies were less likely to shed as some took after the Labrador.They tried training the full poodle and several other breeds but it didn't work out well. The other dog commonly used is a Shepherd but they moult even more than the Labrador! Now people seem to pick dogs to mix based purely on looks and unless you know what you are doing this can be disastrous. Breeding 2 dogs prone to the same health problems strengthens the trait not weakens it! The dog isn't going to be healthier if the breeder doesn't do health checks and few of them do! They also charge ridiculously high prices for a dog that you couyld probably find at a shelter too!
I've owned lots of x-breeds usually Lab/shepherd mixes or Retriever /collie and they've been great dogs but even choosing a cross you need to know as much about the 2 seperate breeds as possible! Research a few breeds of the size you are interested in and see which breeds fit with your life style, size, maintenance of coat, trainability and amount of exercise needed are the main things!
Good Luck finding your perfect dog and don't let anyone put you off based on the notion that pure-bred is better just don't be fooled by the 'designer' dog brigade either.

Answer 3

Why would breeders of purebreds be jealous of people breeding crossbreeds???? It would effect us in no way at all.
The PROBLEM is the LIES that go with these dogs. I am all for your right to choose whatever dog you want, mutt or purebreed.
However, they are NOT healthier. Often times you can get health problems common to TWO breeds instead of just one. It is a total myth that just because you mix two breeds, you get a healthier dog. The other problem is that the "breeders' of these dogs claim things like they don't shed, you get only the good qualities from each breed, no negatives from either breed, they are healthier, they will be able to predict what the puppies will look like.....ALL these are UNTRUE.
They do NOT all have great temperments, they can and DO have health problems, you cannot predict what the puppies will look like, and you cannot predict with traits each puppy will take on!!!
In a Puggle, you can get puppies that look like Pugs, or Beagles, or a combo of both. There can be a litter in which no two look alike. They can look like a Pug and act like a Beagle.....digging,running,howling. You cannot know for sure!

If you wnat a crossbreed, go for it!!! But don't buy into the LIES that are told to people just to get them to pay MORE than the dog is worth! And be aware that I have not seen a crossbreed "breeder" that does health clearances on the dog that they are breeding from. So just by that, your chances of getting a dog with problems increases!!!!!

Answer 4

There's nothing at all wrong with a mutt. What people object to is the unscrupulous "breeders" putting out mutts which they call "designer" dogs and selling them for as much money as a purebred. They make all kinds of ridiculous claims about the dogs being hypoallergenic, or as smart as one parent, yet they don't do any kind of health checks - the breeding stock isn't x-rayed, eyes aren't tested, no health checks are done.

Lots of these "designer" dogs are ending up in shelters after the gullible person with absolutely no knowledge or forethought has bought them for huge bucks and finds out about all the problems they have.

As for crossbreeds being healthy and having great temperaments - they're just like every other dog - some do and some don't.

There's a world of difference between saving a mutt's life at a shelter or paying $1500 for one from a backyard breeder - that's what knowledgeable dog people object to.

Answer 5

The description of responsible breeder presented does not include exhibiting in conformation or participation in field trials to the level that results in titles based on merit. The titles are achieved through a series of completions that are judged by individuals with knowledge of the breed standard. The judging is done with an eye on the elements the winner has toward improving the breed. The only way this could be achieved with the scenario presented would be with the intent of creating a new breed by having x number of generations of dogs, bred by x number of breeders until there is consistency in the offspring which would allow for the creation of a breed standard and eventual acceptance by the American Kennel Club, Canadian Kennel Club or other long established registry. The crossbreeding, as described, results in mixed breed dogs until accepted by the established registry. The purebreds in shelters and rescues are rarely from responsible breeders, those who compete. The overwhelming majority are from puppy mills, backyard breeders and accidental litters.

Answer 6

The problem isn't the dog. The problem is the "breeders" who decided to mix two (or more) pure breds in order to create a "designer" breed. They then turn around and scam people out of large sums of money for a mutt that could be saved from a shelter.

Answer 7

I use to breed pekes and shih tzus. The cross was a much nicer dog than a full blood peke. And some people preferred the cross to a shih tzu because they are simply cuter.

Right now I have chihuahuas. I have crossed them with hairless Chinese crested at times to get hairless- chihuahuas. You can take the mix and rebreed to a chihuahua for several generations down, yet maintain the hairless gene.

For many years we had a golden-lab cross. She was a wonderful dog.

There is NOTHING wrong with a cross as long as it fits your need. Dog DNA is dog DNA. Any dog is just as good as any other as long as it meets your desires.

Answer 8

There is nothing wrong with mixed breeds dogs, as another answerer said, what people have a problem with, is the people who deliberately breed them for the sole purpose of making money. There is no shortage of mixed breed dogs and all you have to do is take a trip to your local shelter and pound to see that there is no reason to deliberately create more.
Reputable breeders are NOT jealous of people who breed mixed breed/cross breed dogs, nor are they worried about mixed breed dogs stealing the limelight. Puppies from reputable breeders are usually sold before they are born and people that would want their puppies would never consider buying a mixed breed/cross breed dog from a breeder.
As for mixed breed/designer dogs being healthy, that is just not true. They have just as many and sometimes more health problems as pure bred dogs. Read the articles below for some facts about the heath of cross breed dogs/designer dogs.

http://www.njcapsa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=75
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/mixed.breeds.mutts.2.241308.html
http://www.learntobreed.com/mutts.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17616672/
http://www.geocities.com/mutts02/designer-mutts.html

If you want a mixed breed that is great just do not buy from from any of the unscrupulous people that breed them, rescue one from a shelter or pound instead of paying hundreds of dollars for one.
I have read many times that pure bred dogs make up about 25% of the dogs abandoned at shelters and pounds, that means that 75% are cross breeds/mixed breeds so is there really a reason to create more?

Answer 9

Are you talking about designer breeds like Labradoodles? I don't like the whole idea of "inventing" a breed that way. I have no issue with mixed breeds, in fact, my dog is getting ready to have a litter of boxer/golden retrievers. I won't try to pass them off as anything but mixed breed dogs, nor will I charge money for them. THAT is what I take issue with. People having mutts and trying to make a buck off them.

Answer 10

mixed breed dogs are not always healthier or have a better temperment. My purebred dog from a reputable breeder has a better chance at living a life free of disease.. because his parents were tested to assure that they did not have any genetic disease!

A mixed breed dog ussually comes from untested (and often unknown) parents.. there is a wider range of health issues the dog could have.

There is nothing personally wrong with mutts.. just people who purposly breed them. Look on www.petfinder.com there are tens of thousands of homeless dogs listed there.. the majority of them are mixes. Alot of these dogs will be killed because of lack of homes. That is the problem.. so many wonderful dogs die while people breed more.

There are breeders creating mixes, giving them cute names, and selling them to uneducated people for hundreds and thousands of dollars.. along with the lies of "new rare breed" "no shedding" "great for allergies" and "healthier".

If you are getting a mixed breed dog, please consider adopting at your local shelter and save a life! Dont put money into the pockets of an unethical breeder.


To be honest.. the "snobbiest" dog people I have ever seen is not the purebred owners.. its the people who just spent $2000 on their "whatsadoodle".

Answer 11

There is absolutely nothing wrong with crossbreeds, mutts, mixes, whatever you want to call them. What I (and many others here) have a problem with are the unethical BYBs who intentionally breed these dogs, give them designer names-cockapoo, maltipoo, shorkie, labradoodle, etc-and sell them for purebred prices.