| Flakes | 07-31-2005 12:32 PM |
This has turned out to be a very interesting thread. Please don't get me wrong I have nothing against mixed breeds, in fact until recently I've always had at least one along with my purebred yorkies. What I have a huge problem with however is paying for mixed breeds produced by puppymills and backyard breeders. There is a vast difference in how breeders choose breeding stock when they are attempting to develop a new breed and breeding stock at puppymills or backyard breeders. Responsible breeders breed for specific criteria, ie temperment, size, coat, colour etc. Puppymills breed without any concern for the end result, they are simply interested in producing something that will bring in fast money, ie "fashion dogs". In fact if you buy one of those you have no guarantee that what you are getting is what they say it is as there's no way to trace the lineage. Further you are supporting a horrific industry.
If anyone is considering obtaining a pet of any kind they should first consider the qualities/characteristics they are looking for. Temperment, size, coat, etc. Then decide what breed will best suit. If you intend to go the mixed breed road, consider the characteristics of both breeds to see if they meet your requirements. What happens in most cases with puppymills is that they are not breeding for characteristics, they are breeding for cuteness.
For example, one of the "fashion dogs" of the day is a chi mix. So take a yorkie and mix it with a chi. Yorkies are very headstrong, high maintenance dogs. Enter the chi who tends to be high energy, yappy, agressive. So do you really think you are going to get a cute little cuddly quiet long haired low maintenance dog from that mix. Highly unlikely.
Years ago the maltipoo was the breed of the hour. They crossed the maltese with toy poodles. Very popular, they were everywhere and cute as can be. I've owned several (rescues). Take the fine silkyness of a Maltese coat and couple that with the tight dense curly coat of the poodle. What you got was a dog with a coat that matted at the first raindrop. These animals required constant grooming. Needless to say many found their way to the SPCA shelters around the world.
Chi mixes - the shelters are full of them. If you must have a mix then rescue one from a shelter.
Yorkie mixes - this is my biggest heartbreak. There's not much doubt in my mind that Yorkies are the greatest dogs going. However they require a considerable amount of care and attention not to mention $$$. If you can't afford to spend an average of $100.00 a month for vet bills, grooming etc then a Yorkie is not the dog for you. Yorkie mixes at the end of the day will likely cost you far more than that. Why you ask, well because you are mixing a breed known for medical problems. So add in the potential medical problems of another breed and you are doubling your money. Far too many yorkie mixes end up in rescue homes because the owners who weren't prepared to spend the $ required to buy a purebred bought a mix from irresponsible breeders only to find out at the end of the day it is still a very costly animal to own.
Responsible breeders will not sell you a dog without interviewing you first to make sure you know what it is you are getting into and whether or not you are prepared. Those selling mixed breeds don't usually care where the dog goes just so long as they get their money.
The only way to stop puppymills and backyard breeders to is stop rewarding them by paying them for their dogs. Take away the market and you'll put a huge dent in the numbers of puppymills around.
Mistakes do happen and thus the true crossbreed is born. We love them all and they are no less wonderful pets than those with fancy long names and papers. The difference is most people who have produced a litter of crossbreeds by accident aren't charging huge amounts of money for them. It's not a business.
Shelters charge varying amounts based on the operating costs of the shelter. Almost all shelters will insist that the animal be neutered before leaving the shelter, thus cutting down on the number of crossbreeds out there.
Sorry this was so long. | 