Cross Breeds - Is it right to cross breed dogs, for instance a pug and beagle to create puggles?

Is it right to cross breed dogs, for instance a pug and beagle to create puggles?

I recently made the mistake of identifying someone's pure bred pug as a puggle. She became very offended. Why? I certainly didn't mean any offense. I think all dogs are great! Is there something wrong with cross breeding dogs? Just for the record, I own a pure bred pug. And I do know the difference between a pug and a puggle. I strongly suspect this woman's dog was not a pure bred pug like she claimed. Reading through the answers, I see the argument being repeated that crossbreeding dogs can lead to genetic problems. Doesn't breeding pure breds also lead to the creation of genetic problems which are specific to the breeds. For example, pugs have a propensity for breathing problems and even have problems peculiar to their breed like pug encephalitis? How is that different from potential genetic problems created through crossbreeding? I ask sincerely.

Public Comments

NO there is nothing wrong. What a bitch! Puggles are the best.
i don't believe in cross breeding dogs by people who have no idea of what they are doing. this person probably got offended because you thought her purebred, expensive dog was a mutt.
I love my puggle! BUT...one can only assume that down the line it would have to backfire. Like the breeder told me not to have my Puggle Breed with another Puggle!
I think it is disgusting. Who knows what kind of problems you are creating with the mixing of dog breeds. I just don't think it is right. I love mutts, i own one, but I would not purposely breed two dogs of a different breed.
well, i guess someone who has a purebred dog doesn't want a mutt obviously.
I don't see why not. I wanna cross a Bull Dog and a Shih Zhu to make a Bull Shih.
thats like saying "is it ok for a white guy to have a baby with a black girl" ...........a dog is a dog.......
I'd be offended if you called my pit a pitool or whatever. I don't support BYB's so I'd get off the wall if you called my dog a mutt.
There are enough accidental breedings to fulfill the worlds needs for mixed breed dogs, so the breeding of mixed breed dogs is frowned upon. So don't expect to see any of my Beagles bred to a Pug any time soon. edit: "Doesn't breeding pure breds also lead to the creation of genetic problems which are specific to the breeds. For example, pugs have a propensity for breathing problems and even have problems peculiar to their breed like pug encephalitis? How is that different from potential genetic problems created through crossbreeding" That is exactly the point, there is no difference in the dogs. What your dog has it will give to it's pups. Where the difference comes into play is the testing and identifying of carriers of the genetic problems. Here is an example for you, go to http://www.offa.org/search.html and see how many Puggles or Whateverpoos you find listed. Here is another, I wouldn't even look at a Labrador or a Labrador mix unless it's parents are CNM clear. http://www.working-retriever.com/library/myopathy_test.htm http://www.kcrc.net/Centronuclear%20Myopathy%20Article%20for%20KCRC.pdf Any pup that has an untested parent is a potential carrier even if not affected.
IMO, no, I don''t think it's right, especially considering these dogs are not bred for a decent purpose. They are not bred to do work, and the 'shedless/hypoallergenic' quality is untrue. There is a dog for everyone out there already. Why should dogs be crossed and sold for tons of money when they aren't a true bred, or when there are tons of mixes in shelters in need of homes already?
Hells no I say eff the bi*ch mutts and pure breeds ftw!
What's wrong is people are doing this to make money. There's not a decent answer to what crossing a pug and beagle do to improve either breed, or what specific purpose a puggle serves, that a beagle or a pug alone could do. I find it immoral to crossbreed dogs, then advertise them and sell them for profit. There is no breed standard to breed this mutts to, no genetic history to test for and no known issues to breed out. If you don't have these simple facts available to you then you cannot breed responsibly. So no it's not right to create a mixed breed dog and advertise it like a purebred. All they are is the dog of the day being sold for top dollar to uneducated new pet owners. What breed guidelines are there for puggles? What genetic problems are known with this mixed breed of dog that should be avioded in breeding stock? What temperment and personality traits are most desired? No one knows because it's a mixed breed. There's nothing wrong with mixed breeds. They are the best dogs to have. But I will not support greedy backyard breeding and puppymills by purchasing one like you would a purebred from a reputable breeder. Anyone breeding a mixed breed dog and then profiting off of it is immorally breeding dogs.
theres nothing wrong with it...whats wrong is the people charging hundreds of dollars for a pure bred puggle....there is no such thing....it took breeder century's to perfect the pug and the beagle....THAT deserves the tittle pure breed....not a cleaver marketing scam to get more money out of cheaper dogs.....dont get me wrong all dogs are great and if you think they are cute then get one! but dont let some one scam you by charging you an arm and a leg for a pure bred mutt! (the fist of these designer dogs was a good idea.....crossing poodles/ bichons with other dogs to create more semi hypo alergenic breeds.....but it has oveusly gotten out of hand)
I hesitate to answer this question because it may offend some people, but.....the puggle is an example of a train wreck in dog breeding. It is two breeds with specific charachteristics that blended together to make one awful dog and that is the basic problem with designer dogs in general. They are not being bred to a standard to get certain specific qualities, its just random mixing of poor quality animals to begin with that make an even poorer example of anything. this is actually a complex topic that really can't be explained with out a rather broad understanding of structure, work ability and temperaments of dogs.
That is "confusing" the beauty of the purebreds. It's wrong. There are enough MIXES out there if you desire to have one from a pound or shelter. Many of them need loving homes.
i don't mean to be rude or anything - but understand i feel strongly on this yes i do think there is something wrong with crossbreeding - on many levels- its hard to explain but i will try. for the most part a person who has a particular breed of dog would be offended. they picked that breed for their preference in its characteristics. if you want a pug you don't buy a collie, if you get my drift- they are very different breeds with their own ways and characters. people buy purebreds because they have a good chance of having the dog they really want. a Good breeder doesn't breed all his dogs - only those that have the best characteristics of the breed. actually crossbreeding, on purpose or by carelessness, takes that away and also adds FAR too many unwanted badly bred dogs to an overpopulation of dogs most of whom end up abandoned, harmed or killed. there aren't enough homes for all the unwanted pups now, why on earth would you add to the problem, especially with dogs of uncertain temperament and health. it's not just mutts either - puppy mills are some of the worst offenders breeding indiscriminately actual breed dogs that have health, genetic and temperament faults. usually dogs that should have either been fixed or possibly put down (those are the truly sad ones- so unhealthy they should have been given the kindness and love to end their suffering) rj formerly of DebRo Kennels- we ONLY bred our best. and ONLY when there was a waiting list of homes for pups of our breeding. ADDED: re your question on breeding. Yes purebreds are prone to genetic problems as well, unfortunately its usually because of puppy farm type breeders. am not familiar with pug problems but with collies there are a number of genetic problems - so we Only bred those whose liniage had the least problems and we bred for their strengths. that is what i consider responsible breeding and it actually can Help the breed.
some people look down on cross-breeding because when done incorrectly, it can lead to more health problems for the dog. The creation of "designer dogs" focuses on a look, not on how the genetics match up, causing some results to be unhealthy. (For instince, most "tea cup" chihuahuas are simply the "runts" of the litter, being bred together) I feel that as long as the breeder knows what (s)he's doing, crossbreeding is fine. Many dogs are crossbred, and are lovable wonderful pups!! Purebreeds are expensive, so this person probably felt offended that their dog was being called a mutt, thinking that was an insult.
I think a lot of the issue stems from the fact that these new "designer breeds" are so much in the spotlight now that most people assume that people's purebred dogs must be some sort of new "designer breed". Some purebred owners believe that their dogs are somehow superior to any cross breed or mutt. I don't believe any dog is superior to any other dog. Each has it's own characteristics and personalities. I actually had someone comment on my dog saying " Oh, he must be one of them miniature German Shepherds". I looked at the guy, trying my best not to laugh, and replied "no, he's what we call a 14 week old puppy." I don't get offended. I feel sorry for them in that they are obviously not well educated in dog breeds. I'm not perfect. I couldn't tell you the difference just by looking at some of the breeds of dogs either. Now a Pug and Puggle, I could, but Shih tzu's and lhasa's and other similar looking breeds, I couldn't tell you which was which. Unless I know for sure what someone's dog is, I just don't comment about the breed. I just comment on how big or cute or sweet the dog is.
No is is NOT right. There are too many mixed breeds in shelters already! There is no such breed as a "puggle", but there are such dogs as Pug Beagle mixes. ANYONE that "creates" so called "puggles" is either a backyard breeder or puppymill. They breeds these mutts just so they can rip-off the uneducated dog buyers into thinking that they are an actual breed, and sell their mutt puppies for waaaaay much more than they are worth. I think that all dogs are great as well. I don't have anything against mutts, BUT I do however have something against the people that breed them. If they need to earn money they should stop being so lazy and earn money the real way, stop treating their dogs like money makers, get them spayed and neutered and enjoy them as the pets that they should be.
all dogs are great but no, there should not be crossing breeding, there are enough poor babies in the shelters and on the streets now. the so called designer dogs are cross breeding, for money only.....it is ridiculous....and the dogs are the ones that are suffering....while people line their pockets with the money, they are making off the dogs........ breeding should be done to improve a breed standard not to ruin it.......
Purchasing and/or owning a crossbred dog is a personal choice; however, I don't beleive it's right. The problem is many people are breeding the dogs for the money, not to love of the breed(s). Most are back yard breeders which is also very dangerous. I think cross breeding destroys the beauty of a breed and it simply isn't right. If a person want's a mutt, the should go adopt from a shelter! There a millions of good dogs in shelters that desperatly need homes. As for the whole being offended thing. I wouldn't be "very offeneded" if someone called one of my babies something other than what they are. I just always try to nicely correct them and no that Sarge and Dixie are actually American Pit Bull Terriers.
The reason that cross breeding can lead to health issues, is if you had a healthy, purebred dog that had all it's health testing done, would you use it to breed mutts or purebreds? The kind of breeders that breed mixed breeds are not using breeding stock that has any kind of health clearance and I can guarantee that they have no clue what they are doing. Responsible breeders that have quality dogs do not use their dogs to make Puggles, they use their dog to breed more high quality purebreds which leads anyone to believe that any crossbred dog is not coming from health tested parents that were breeding quality. I have no problem with mutts, I even have one, but I can also personally attest to the fact that many dogs that come from these breeders have horrendous health and temperament issues due to bad breeding practices.
If people were breeding these 'designer' dogs for specific traits and health benefits, and did the health checks on both sire and dam, I'd have no objections. However people don't even think about the genetic faults each breed has, or what behaviour and traits the breed was bred for. All they want is a pair with names that can be joined in some clever or amusing fashion, and attract people, who they can then dupe into paying an extravagent price! A Pug and a Beagle are bred for very different reasons. With the good genetic health of the Beagle, a Puggle stands less chance of having as many problems as a full bred Pug would have. It's bad for the Beagle side though! It was bred to hunt by tracking with it's nose! It's therefore stupid to breed it to a dog with a flat face and the inevitable breathing problems the Pug has. Also Pugs have for generations been bred to be Lap dogs! They don't have the energy levels of a hunter like a Beagle! For every Puggle that has the look of the Pug, there will be a Puggle that looks more like a Beagle! You can't be sure which you will get. I'm not against cross breeds in general! I'd be happy in a world of Mongrels (at least it would take the 'snobbish' element some have to dog breeds away. Most of my dogs have been Lab or Retriever X German Shepherd but I've also owned the full breeds and know the behaviour and instincts they are likely to portray. I also didn't get fooled into buying a 'new breed' as they were all rescued! I've had dogs that looked like Labradors but had the Shepherd traits and vice versa! One thing I will say of X's is they are 'unpredictable' They are no better or worse health wise than any badly matched pair of full breeds would be, which is why BYB's and Puppyfarms should be stopped! As there is a breed already that would suit any owners requirements in a dog, I don't see the need to mix more! We can't provide homes for the ones we've got, so I feel only licensed breeding of good healthy dogs should be allowed!