Cross Breeds - Cross-breeding dogs ?

Cross-breeding dogs ?

Just a few points before I start 1: I do not intend to breed dogs. 2: I do not condone selling 'designer' dogs for a small fortune or breeding them for profit. I want to know what people think about cross-breeding dogs with a set purpose in mind other than making money. I agree that most people out there breed these dogs to make quick cash and by most it's nearly all. However what would you think of someone carefully breeding them towards a purpose? This is how many modern breeds came into existance today, the bulldog being one example. Take for example the issue of hypoallergenic dogs seeing as the Obama situation has made it such a popular topic. How would you feel if someone was carefully breeding hybrids to develop a new hypoallergenic dog? Let's face it there are very few breeds out there that currently fit the bill and they may not be a good breed for the family. We always tell people to research the breed and pick the one most suitable but here there are very few options. In this case would it not be a good idea to diversify the amount of hypoallergenic breeds? I am not talking about BYBs but of carefully monitored and regulated breeding that is not done for profit. Who is to say that the breeds we have now are the only ones we should have?

Public Comments

That's how all new breeds are made- with crosses. If you have a specific job or reason (other than the almighty dollar) for cross breeding dogs, I agree with it. Selective cross breeding can indeed be a positive thing, I think.
it's ridiculous that a Mutt is going more then your average registered dogs! I hate it also..
To be honest i don't really care about cross breeding but sometimes the poor quality of the pups because of there parents genes passes over to the pup making it look quite weird. Most cross breeds do actuley make different types of animals, My pups Staffordshire bull terrier Cross, most people think shes got pitbull but i just don't know, because the woman that sold her to me didn't tell me what the dad was when i asked so.... but i love her anyway but if people want to breed cross breeds then they should atleast check the health of both parents as you said, most people just breeding dogs for quick money. its sad as a dog has to live being a breeding machine.
Realistically there is no such thing as a "hypoallergenic" dog. Most of the positive research has been in the direction of desensitizing the person since different people are allergic to different aspects of the dog (or cat). I agree that is might be a positive thing to try but again realistically the type of people who seem more likely to be doing this kind of breeding are the Lab and Golden Retriever -doodle people who are peddling a crock of sh!t.
I would be fine with attempts at a new breed as long as there was a purpose, and it was held to the same level as any purebred dogs. They should develop a standard of some sort, not really like the ones we have but a VERY clear goal.The dogs should be screened to be sure that only breeding quality dogs are used. All the puppies should have homes, they should be placed as works in progress and only charged for vaccinations. This would be very hard to do as far as allergens. People have such personal reactions, it would take a lot of iffy studies and may never really go anywhere. This just isn't what is happening with many of the "hypoallergenic" mixes though- they ar just mixing two breeds with no real goal or thought, and the dogs are not predictable.
I don't have a problem with cross breeding dogs for a functional purpose -- Alaskan huskies are a specific example. You never see these dogs being sold as pets because they were developed to race, and only mushers have them. I don't consider companionship a functional purpose. Every dog breed currently in existence is a companion by default. While mutts sit in shelters, I see no reason to "invent" any more companion breeds. I see breeding and breeding and trying to perfect a "hypoallergenic" companion as incredibly selfish. What happens to all of the experimental rejects in a day and age when culling isn't condoned? Do we put them in the shelters, too? Do we sell them as mixed breed pets, and deny dogs in shelters a chance at a home? I suppose I could see it for the service/seeing eye dog programs, if people absolutely insist that a Standard Poodle couldn't do the job (which I still think is bunk). But not to sell as a standard family pet. That is not filling a niche. People with dog or cat allergies can get injections. Or they can find a currently existing breed that doesn't aggravate them. They've been doing it for years. If scientists want to create a hypoallergenic dog through genetic engineering, I'd honestly have a much easier time with it than the generations of breeding and mass amounts of puppies it will take to do it via selective breeding. The bottom line is this: We don't need any more companion "breeds". If they can't work on a farm, hunting game, in front of a sled, or in a police/military field, there is no reason for a new breed to exist.
I do mind people crossing dogs to serve a purpose, take a Lurcher, it is a crossbred dog that is purposely bred for hunting, i am looking for a Lurcher at present and came across an advert a while back for a Lurcherdoodle!!!!!! WTF, what purpose would a Lurcher x Poodle have, except lining the sellers pockets (they were advertised @ £300 each)
All purebred dogs were mutts at one time. So if someone seriously wanted to develop a new breed and had a distinct job they wanted this breed to perform or have in the case of hypoallergenic. Something like that takes years if not decades and any puppy that is born that they don’t feel they will breed with needs to be fixed.
Guide dogs UK use cross breeds mainly Labradors crossed with Golden Retriever and the following link explains why they do this http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/index.php?id=6617 I do not think it is wrong to cross breeds to get a dog for a purpose and if it is to improve dogs To improve a dog breed is what good breeding should be about I do not like back yard breeders or anybody who is out to make money from breeding dogs however I see nothing wrong with diversity as every species depends upon diversity to survive (something we all learnt in biology at school).
I'm with Loki, basically, on this. The different breeds were originally developed for a purpose, be it working, hunting, herding, and yes, as companions etc.etc. This is, in my view, a legitimate reason for developing a new breed. However, it's one thing for a specific group of people to feel there's a need to breed a dog for a specific purpose, one which perhaps isn't covered by any existing breed, but quite another when they are given a soppy name like -doodles and then sold for big prices, as 'designer dogs'. Unfortunately, human nature being what it is, 'carefully monitored and regulated (by who?) breeding that is not done for profit' doesn't happen. And surely, rather than alter the dog to fit the human (in terms of those who are allergic to dogs), it's far better for the human to look to medical science to help overcome their allergies? Just my view of course and indeed, the cat world seems to be regularly developing new breeds!!