Cross Breeds

Can I cross breed between 2 breeds of dogs, Fila Brasileiro and GreatDane? What are the upsides and downsides?

I have both of them and am seriously thinking about doing it. Please someone... Stop me or give me a GO As I have both breeds of the dogs in my house, and I currently need more guard dogs. Let's just say that I won't abandon the puppies if I should do it. I have much more space in my home to let a few more roam. What are the real upsides and downsides? Wouldn't they turn out to be quite interesting?

Public Comments

1. Don't do it. There are enough mutts being euthanized in shelters because there just aren't enough homes for them. Do yourself and the world a favor and get the dogs spayed! Don't be yet another backyard breeder.
2. I urge you to watch this video first. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSGkRYbHDC4 "This shows basically how shelter dogs get into pounds and shelters. People buy them when they are a puppy and so cute, but when they grow up, they aren't as cute, so they abandon them. If people aren't going to take responsibility for their pets, DON'T GET THEM! " And no offense, but those would be some monster ugly puppies.
3. STOP.Don't do it please.I have a rescue and we get way to many dogs.We don't need more people breeding dogs that might just end up at the shelter and put to sleep.Please consider neutering and spaying your animal please.
4. What country are you in? Just because Fila Brasileiros are a banned dog breed in the UK. If you cross breed dogs there is no way of telling which positive or negative traits of the two parent breeds will be passed on. Much better to get them both neutered, as there's more than enough dogs waiting in shelters for homes without any more being bred.
5. Downside: A whole bunch of very large mixed breed puppies that will likely be unwanted by their first birthday and end up being put down. Upside: none
6. Don't do it. There are enough large unwanted dogs out there that need specific experienced handling. You will just be adding to the problem. Sit back and think about why you want to do this, and what back up you can provide for the pups in as much as taking any dogs back at any point in their lives if they ever need to be. Are you doing this for the lives you are creating - or are you doing it for you and your own curiosity. It doesn't take much to know which. Think about each of the breeds and their characters (not your dog's) and think about how much research should be done into all of that before ever breeding whether it be pure or crossbreed. I am a big huge NO to this.
7. Please don't do it. Think about the millions who are already in shelters. Added: You say you have room for a few more, but you never know how many puppies your dog will have. If you want more guard dogs, it will be cheaper to adopt some from a shelter. If the only reason you want to breed them is to see if they turn out "interesting" or to have cute little puppies around the house, don't do it. The real upsides are: There are no upsides to cross-breeding. All of the downsides have already been stated by other answerers.
8. There are no upsides, but there are plenty of downsides. Example of downsides: - Cost of breeding will be $3,000-$4,000. More if the b*tch needs a c-section (which can run $2,000 or more.) - The b*tch could die during whelping. - The more cycles a b*tch goes through raises the chances of related cancers. - It will be hard to find homes for large breed mutt puppies, so you may be stuck with anywhere from 1-13 or more of them if you can't place them. - There is a good chance that the puppies will inherit painful genetic conditions OR physical deformities, and will either need to be put down or will live their lives in pain. - There is a good chance that these puppies will be adopted but dumped in a shelter later on down the road when the people realize how big they'll get. - There will be NO PROFIT off of the pups as they have no papers, no genetic testing to prove good health, and the dogs are not champions in anything.
9. All you'll end up with will be 7 to 11 VERY large, strong, unwanted mutts. Can you imagine if there are 10 or 11 puppies? That's THIRTEEN dogs you'll end up with! Who is going to give them each a forever home? In our economy and society it is getting harder and harder to place well bred large purebreds! Not to mention all of the very large dogs in shelters, some of them end up there forever! Do you have the room and resources to keep all of them? Do you really think you can handle a whole PACK of 150 pound dogs? Are you zoned for that many dogs? Do you have time to train them all? What I don't get about this whole "deliberately" breeding mutts is this, what would make them so much better than a Great Dane OR a Fila Brasiliaro? They each are lovely breeds, in the right hands, that fill their niche perfectly. Nothing is more majestic than a Dane, you'll lose that, the steadfastness of a FB is legendary, you'll dilute that. For what? Can't think of a single argument FOR putting this ill conceived plan in to action!
10. Many working breeds are purposely crossed to create a specific drive in working dogs. Is that your purpose? If so, I would talk to someone experienced with working breeds to see if the mix would be likely to reach your desired criteria. I don't particularly like the idea of breeding dominant dogs like a fila. It really puts a massive amount of responsibility on you to find the appropriate homes for them. If they accidentally end up in the hands of the wrong person, tragedy could result. For that reason alone, I just wouldn't breed a guard-type dog. I would worry to much about how the dog would be used and supervised.
11. Why would you want to ruin the unique Fila? A Fila is a Fila and should stay a Fila. Great Danes have been crossed for years but the nature of a Great Dane doesn't compare to that of the Fila Brasileiro. Don't destroy the Fila! You may find yourself with a litter of tough, courageous, protective pups that should not be sold or given away to just anyone. The Fila is not a breed to cross breed.