Many families have decided that this holiday season is the perfect time to add a new four legged member to the group. This is a wonderful choice, but one of the questions that will soon follow is: Should we get a purebred or a mixed breed dog? People often wonder what differences and advantages the two types have between each other, and it’s important to be well educated before going out to pick up a new wet nosed baby. Overall, it’s not necessary to declare mutts better than purebreds or vice versa, but rather it’s important to realize that each are going to fit better depending on the people adopting them.
People have always had diverse needs and desires, so it’s no surprise that the domesticated dogs we bred are just as diverse. From the Chihuahua to the Great Dane, there are literally dogs of all shapes and sizes. This is true for mutts as well, so the major difference lies in two different parts of canine DNA. These genes are the ones that control behavior and the ones related to genetic disorders. Any breed of dog has a list of common behaviors that an owner can expect to see throughout the dog’s lifetime. Knowing, expecting and understanding a dog’s sometimes silly behavior can be a major advantage in living with a dog. If you know, for example, that Akitas have a tendency for being difficult to train and for being aggressive, then you can prepare yourself for handling your dog before you get him. If you were to adopt a mix between an Akita and a Golden Retriever, then you wouldn’t know what to expect. You might get a dog with a great temperament or you might have a nightmare on your hands. An advantage of mix breeds, however, is that they are far less prone to genetic diseases and disorders. Creating pure breeds means selecting dogs with similar traits, which means that these dogs are often more closely related than others.
This slight inbreeding over time will result in many individuals being born with genetic problems. For example, 8% of all Dalmations are born totally deaf, and 22% are born deaf in one ear. Even though affected individuals are removed from breeding programs, this trait continues to persist because the healthy individuals still carry the defective genes. A mixed breed dog may carry some defective genes, but these genes are all “covered” by healthy genes from one parent, and if more out-breeding continues, then these mutations are even less likely to reappear. This means that an owner can rest assured that a mixed breed dog is going to have better genetic health. It’s a lot to think about, but being this well informed can help you find the perfect dog for you.
Grant Carroll is a proud father of four dogs and co-owner of littlepamperedpets.com www.littlepamperedpets.com with a great selection of adorable littlepamperedpets.com Dog Sweaters.
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