Cross Breeds

Why is cross breeding dogs wrong if many popular breeds are a result of it?

Aren't Chow Chows the result of mix breeding Somoyeds and Tibetan Mastiffs? If the breeder breeds dogs with good genes why is unethical/irresponsible? There are thousands of homeless animals in shelters, sure, but if that is why mix breeding is wrong then isn't all breeding wrong? I know people in this section can get angry over small things so this is just a question, okay? I don't actually plan on doing this. I prefer mutts from shelters than purebreds or "designer breeds".

Public Comments

1. well from a health perspective cross breeding is much better for dogs as they become immune or less likely to receive a disease, virus etc as a result of the mix of genetics. i have never heard of it being unethical or irresponsible unless ur breeding domestic dogs with wild
2. Some of the breeds that went on to become popular were not just a shot in the dark. Someone looked very closely at the attributes of several dogs and then attempted to breed an off-spring that would have the positive traits of each of the parents. This didn't happen over night. This took years and many tries to get the dog they were searching for. Unfortunately, many people who attempt to cross breed dogs are not aware of the concept of dominant genes and recessive genes and have no idea what they will end up with. They merely breed the dogs and take whatever they end up with and have no idea why they didn't get exactly what they wanted. With all the unwanted and homeless animals throughout our country there should be no reason to just breed an animal for the pure idea of having puppies to see what they will look like. You are correct in saying that some multi-breed dogs are extremely hardy. I pray for all those poor animals in the shelters throughout our country.
3. The majority of mixed breeds are the result of someone wanting to make money off of puppies. They pay no attention to health or temperament and simply breed what ever they can find cheap. The purebred dogs of today were carefully bred over a period of many years by breeders trying for a particular dog and carefully selecting which male and female to breed. A breed club was then established and standards were written and once the breed was proven, in other words, every litter came up to the standard established by the breed club, then it was presented to the AKC for approval. Usually the breed is initially put in the Miscellaneous class until it shows temperament befitting a working dog, hound,terrier,or herding. then it is moved to that class. By buying a mixed breed you are getting literally a "crap shoot", not knowing how the health or temperament will turn out. Few purebred dogs end up in shelters because most breeds have a Rescue group that gets them first and places them in homes.
4. The issue continues to be that the vast majority of people who are breeding mixed breed dogs are doing it out of ignorance or greed. They are NOT breeding dogs with good genes or conformation. They are not breeding for a purpose beyond lining their own pockets. They are not testing for genetic issues or keeping track of overall health of their lines, offspring etc. They don't offer health guarantees, require spay/neuter contracts, or screen their puppy buyers. They do not act as responsible or ethical breeders. The chow and all other currently recognized breeds were developed over many years of thoughtful planning to form and function. The development of a breed is more than throwing two dogs together and hoping for the best- it takes generations of proving out the traits. "designer dogs" are nothing more than creations of BYBers and puppy mills as a way to sucker the general public into paying tons of money for poorly bred mutts.
5. you mean why is it wrong besides the obvious fact outcrossing during breed development is a hell of a lot different than randomly throwing any two breeds together and seeing what sticks? "If the breeder breeds dogs with good genes why is unethical/irresponsible?" Who said people who breed mutts are doing that? less than oh say 2% genetic health screen and at the end of the day they are only breed x designer mutt flavor of the month to capitalize on a FAD, not to improve one breed with selective outcrossing and certainly not to establish a new breed.