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Originally Posted by roosmom  Not to be off subject but IMO it would be better if there was more mixing and less pure breeding...pure pred dogs have so many genetic defects it's ridiculous and my pure bred yorkie has had so many health problems! |
But at least with a purebred, you know what genetic defects the dog is at risk for. These issues are (ideally) emiminated by very careful breeding--any dogs with this issues are eliminated from breeding stock. Every breed is subject to breed specific ailments. If you combine them, you've done nothing but double the offsprings chance of having them passed on. And just because the illness didn't present itself in the first generation doesn't mean it won't show up down the line. Purebreds with lots of health problems are more commonly the result of irresponsible, poor breeding, not because the dog was a purebred.