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Originally Posted by ButterflyKisses  Nancy - you said: The belief that mixing breeds makes for healthier or smarter is false 
The below is from wikipedia - it goes along with what three different vet's have told me when I have ask them about the breeding of good quality purebred dogs: Some dog hybrids are now being selectively bred. The term designer dogs is often used to refer to these mixes and crosses. The practice causes much controversy; opponents cite the often exorbitant prices charged for what may just be a mutt.
While the trend to produce hybrid or designer dogs is considered new it is, in fact, a continuation of the centuries-old practice of selective breeding. Basically every breed of dog is a "mutt" in the sense that every type of dog was created by interbreeding different types of dogs to produce a breed with a certain set of desirable characteristics. All dog breeds were bred for a particular purpose, usually some form of hunting, herding, or guarding. These tasks have been largely replaced by the need to produce healthy dogs with good temperaments as domestic companions or pets. Breeding two different breeds often allows the best traits of both parents to pass through.
Hybrid dogs, created by breeding two purebred dogs of different breeds (crossbred), have the advantage of heterosis, or hybrid vigor, and are often stronger and healthier than either of the parents. This advantage is lost when two hybrids are bred in the attempt to create a breed. The best way to continue taking advantage of hybrid vigor is from the breeding of two different purebred breeds.[/COLOR] |
Here's the quote I have from Wikipedia:
Dog hybrid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Quote:
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A dog hybrid is the offspring of parents of two different purebred dog breeds, more commonly called a crossbreed or crossbred in animal breeding. Crossbreeding (parents of two different purebred breeds) results in offspring that may be stronger and healthier than either parent, an effect called hybrid vigour, but only if both parents are genetically sound. Many dog crossbreds (hybrids) have been given fanciful or portmanteau names, as in Labradoodle (purebred Labrador Retriever crossed with purebred Poodle.) Further generations of crossbreds bred to crossbreds lose the advantage of hybrid vigour, although they may still be called by the hybrid name, and may eventually be recognized as a separate purebred dog breed.
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That little word "may" is extremely important, it is not the same as saying "will." Also notice the other words in bold, "but only if both parents are genetically sound. So in other words this hybrid vigor MAY occur, but ONLY if the parents are genetically sound. People who mix breed seldom test for genetic problems. Also, notice the statement, "
that this advantage is lost when the two hybrids are bred in an attempt to create a breed," this means that as soon as the breeder attempts to breed the offspring again, the advantage of hybrid vigor is lost.