Cross Breeds

Are cross-bred dogs more likely to have an aggressive nature?

I am planning to get a new puppy and am currently trying to decide on a breed. I want a medium to large dog but as I have a young (9 month old) daughter I want to know she will be safe. I have heard that pure bred dogs are less likely to be naturally aggressive. Are cross-bred dogs safe?

Public Comments

1. Not true at all. If you do get a dog, either get one from a reputable breeder, or adopt from a shelter.
2. Yes and no, some dogs are very sweet natured if properly trained however a few can turn into little terrors. Pedigrees are somewhat less prone to behavioral problems later on however they can suffer certain health complications. If you are buying a puppy and if you train it properly then you shouldn't have any problems.
3. Cross-bred dogs are definitely safe. They are not naturally more aggressive, it all depends on how you raise the puppy.
4. Aggression isn't confined to any breed, or mix-breed, dog. It can run in breeds, and in bloodlines within breeds. 'Cross' doesn't mean.... cross lol. The only difference is with a mix breed it's far more of a lottery. In other words, with a purebred, he will have the traits of his breed - and they will be KNOWN.
5. The most aggressive dog breed is the Dachshund - it was proven in some study. xD Fun fact. YES! Of course cross bred dogs are fine! In fact, in the same study, the typical bully breeds commonly associated with dog aggression, scored below average during the canine aggression study. But, if you ask me, its just a matter of how you treat the dog. Genetics don't mean anything, with the exception of drive, when it comes to behavior, in my opinion.
6. It's not true ,it's a myth. Some pure breeds have the tendency to be high strung. A dog is what you train it to be.
7. Oh they are certainly safe. My dog is a kelpie/border collie/blue cattle dog/ goodness knows what else and she has the sweetest nature. She loves people and would never hurt a fly. She's the most beautiful dog in the world. And another one of our dogs is a kelpie//border collie, so shes not quite as mixed as my dog, but she's just gorgeous. She loves cuddles and is always smiling =) We have a purebred border collie, and while he is lovely to our family and close friends, he gets aggressive towards people he doesn't know. And our purebred Miniature Foxy can get a bit snappy towards strangers as well, although he's a sweetie to our family. I think that while some breeds are known for having particular personality traits, any puppy that you get, be it mixed breed or purebred, will have a nice nature if you raise it in the right way. Good Luck!
8. no not if you choose the cross breeds carefully .,but some pure bred dogs are exactly bred to be aggressive,so that counters that one out. why not go for a new cross breed like a labadoodle . they are medium to large and deliberately cross bred and they sound like a lot of fun, A labadoodle is a poodle x labrador ,and not known for its agressive ness. on the other hand pure bred dogs are inbreds and can be extremely agressive and are bred for that purpose like for e.a.,a rottweiler,doberman ,pitbull,or any hunting /guard dog really. if i had a young daughther and wanted a dog i,d go for the labadoodle. also the amount of room around your house will make or break the dogs personality,as well as how the dog is treated by all who encounter it.
9. There are sooooooooo many variables that go into aggression the only way you would know for sure, with your level of experience is bringing in a dog with a fully developed temperament. You are opening the nature vs nurture can of worms. As far as nature, it is true a >responsible< breeder would only breed dogs who have solid temperaments in the hope of passing those genes, but imo genetics are not always 100%. With a mix you will either be getting it from a byb or the shelter and the dog will have an unknown parents. As far as nurture, you can't even approach saying how important the first few months of socialization are in a pup for their future development and every experience to follow in developing a stable dog. Then there are the dogs who are just resilient and are able to bounce back from all the negatives stacked against them and just become incredible dogs when given a chance. As a trainer, I see more pure bred dogs with fear issues and/or are dog/people aggressive in class. Just in the past month both my dogs have gotten their noses nipped, one by a [ure bred poodle and the other by a corgi. I highly recommend for you bringing home an adult dog from a foster based rescue/ breed rescue who was able to observe the dog in different settings with exposures to different people and animals of all ages, types and genders. You'll be getting a dog with an established temperament, plus have the buffer of their experiences with this dog. Then it won't matter whether the dog has the bloodline or not.
10. It all depends on the breed/mixture of breeds, early socialization and the individual dog. Some purebreeds are bred to be mellow and are better around children than other breeds. Some mixed breeds are made up of these mellow breeds and will be just as great around children, other mixed breeds can inherit the worst traits of both parents and result in a very problematic combination. Generally I would stay away from dogs that are mixes of terriers and herding dogs/livestock protection dogs/guard dogs. Mixes of low key hunting dogs (most retrievers) and companion dogs are a much safer bet. But again, it all comes down to the individual dog. If you're getting a puppy, whether you get it from a reputable breeder or a shelter, then make sure that you see the mother and that she has a good temperament, also make sure that the puppy is socialized properly and remember to keep up the socialization once you get it home. Ideally, get the puppy mental tested or test it yourself. Middle of the road puppies tend to be the best choice for novice dog owners and families, so you will probably want one that's not too fearful nor too bossy. Remember that puppies and young children need to be supervised constantly, as they can inadvertedly hurt each other. Puppies play bite, tug clothes and a medium-large breed puppy can easily topple over a small child. Small children might tug the pup's ears and tails, hit it with toys and otherwise frighten it, because they are too young to understand how to behave around dogs. Puppies are also a lot of work, so make sure you have the time for it - basically it will be like having another baby in the house for the first few months. We had friends visiting with their 9 months old last year while my dog was still a puppy and I had significantly more work with the dog than they did with the baby.
11. Boxers and labs would be a great choice. These are typically very friendly dogs and great with children. To answer your question, mixed breed dogs are not any more aggressive than purebreds. Mixed breeds tend to live longer and have less health problems than purebreds simply because they are receiving "better" genes. Purebreds typically can pass on genetic disorders such as elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, etc. I would go for a mixed breed. I personally do not believe in adopting a dog from a breeder. There are way too many dogs in shelters and with rescue groups that do not have a home and need to be adopted. You can usually find any purebred dog from these places if you are insistent on owning a purebred. Spaying/neutering your pet is a must! Pet overpopulation is a huge concern right now for shelters. Too many animals are being put to sleep. Spaying/neutering will also help aggression levels somewhat.
12. That is 100% wrong, what you do when its a puppy determines its attitude when its older. All i advise you to do as i would do with any other person with a dog mixed or pure you stay on top of it from day one.And don't let it get away with things like growling,food aggression,toy aggression. They tend to do it when they are pups but you can research how to get rid of it easily while they are a puppy still.Also don't chase your puppy, i did it to my one all the time and now it always runs when it has an object out of him and he wouldnt fetch, it made the job 10 times harder but i finally got rid of his running issues.