Crossbreeding for working?

Question

I was wondering, and I'd like to get a little input from you all. Well afew years ago (around 5 or 6) my former neighbor use to cross breed his best Salukis with his Afghans to get a more efficient sighthound. The dogs had the more incredible drive. They wanted a great sighthound and I believe that is what they got! They weren't really interested in the pedigree of the dog, but they did get the health screenings, and they weren't going for some fru-fru 'designer doodle' but more of a sound working dog that had a purpose. No stupid names, just a working dog.

So my question to you is do you believe in crossbreeding a HEALTH TESTED dog for WORKING PURPOSES only?

- I ask only because I still alittle iffy on the subject.

- Please, no immature answers, just honest, mature opinions here please 8)

Answer 1

If a dog is being crossbred specifically for a working purpose, I have no problem with it. A good example of this would be Alaskan huskies bred for sled dog racing, or any of the many collie/shepherd crosses bred for working livestock.



If people need to inject traits from other breeds into their dogs in order to better do their work, that's fine. That is how most breeds were developed in the first place.



I would prefer that the proper genetic testing also occur, in order to ensure the best possible health, but many working dog owners/breeders follow the philosophy that if it isn't healthy, it won't be able to work (which, frankly, is the same philosophy that most past breeding kennels followed in the times before we had OFA, CERF exams, and blood/DNA testing available).



Most of these breeders sell very few pets - as you say, most of these dogs stay or end up in working homes, which is where they should be (especially considering that most are very high-drive). I would expect that spay/neuter be required on anything sold as a pet.



ADD: Aina - I disagree about sled dogs. Most Alaskan huskies are bred to compete in races - for many mushers in Alaska and Canada, sled dog driving is their job. Winning and placing in races is how they survive. In addition, many of these same people use their dogs to run trap lines (yes, still...cheaper and more reliable than a snowmachine) and provide dogsled rides/tours to tourists. Their dogs put food on the table.



ADD2: Personally, I think that breeding mixes simply to excel at companion events (such as flyball or agility) is no better than breeding designer mixes for market. I don't consider Flyball a "job". It is game invented by owners in order to give them something to do with their pets. Putting more dogs on this planet in order to win at a *game* seems incredibly egotistical to me. But, well, that's human nature for you.

Answer 2

I think there's no good reason to. There's already a breed for every purpose imaginable. Want a superior sight hound? Don't mix salukis and afghans together, get some SUPERIOR Salukis or Afghans and breed them...not to mention who actually uses sight hounds anymore anyway besides to chase plastic bags? Heck it's even illegal to hunt with them in their homeland...Anyway some people have done the same thing to create super protection dogs "Rock Dogs" and "Band Dogs" and such. The Band Dog of decent breeding/mixing is actually a pretty decent guard dog! But then again, so is a Rottweiler...so what was the purpose of creating a new breed for an old purpose?

Answer 3

If the dogs are being Cross bred for a certain job that the breeder wants both traits from then I have no problem with it, it's when they breed for the look of a dog that is obnoxious and ignorant.

Answer 4

This is very common. Dogs being bred on working traits instead of looks. The working sheepdog was bred like this. as long as there is a market for these pups, I have no trouble with it. It's too bad that good quality working dogs are becoming a rarity because people get all caught up in breeds, looks and pedigrees.

Answer 5

Honestly I think it depends on the job. It is extremely common in sled dogs and dogs destined for law enforcement type jobs to cross one or more similar working breeds. When talking about law enforcement dogs I see it as a positive, ethical move. The breeds most commonly used (malinois, GSD, dutch shepherds, and other belgian shepherd breeds) are all extremely similar as they all came from the same original foundation stock (and many of the breeds could be cross-registered as the breeds were being developed). By disregarding breeds, the people breeding these dogs for such a demanding and exacting job can choose dogs whose physical traits and drive compliment each other the best.



Crossing sighthounds as your former neighbor was doing or creating cross breeds for sledding (the majority of racing sled dogs are mixed breeds, generally a cross between a northern breed and a sight hound) is much more of a gray area for me. On the one hand, they are producing dogs for a specific purpose and have specific breeding goals (something the breeders of most mixed breed "designer" dogs and even many purebred dogs lack) and they are generally looking out for the health of the puppies and producing sound dogs. On the other hand, most of the actual "work" that these dogs are doing is recreational...very few mushers actually make their living using dogs and there are almost always other (often less expensive) alternatives to the dog sleds for transportation.

Answer 6

A working Cocker Spaniel bred to a non working Cocker so long as they are both either English-English or American -American, will not be cross breeds, one person has said she is breeding an American to an English Cocker and they will be pure bred, I'm afraid she doesn't know what she is talking about, they are 2 different breeds.

Answer 7

No sorry I still dont agree with breeding crosses (oh and by the way a sighthound x sighthound is called a longdog, a sighthound x working dog is a lurcher).



What work was he needing this cross for?



I see no need for this cross at all expecially saluki with afgan, that would not make a more efficient sighthound at all even depending on the work, there are numerous sighthounds out there all breed over 100s of years for working and there is usually a hound out there for working purposes.

Answer 8

You still don't know what you're going to get. If you cross a RR dobermann (red dominant and recessive) with a rr dobermann, you'll end up with all Rr offspring, which means instead of getting a dilution of red in the pups, they'll just be carriers of the dilution. Basically, what I am saying is that there are invisible characteristics that you cannot test for that wont be wanted in puppies, but will show up anyways. You will get pups with the good and pups with the bad bits from the parents.



Afghans and Salukis have very different health backgrounds. The Saluki is VERY healthy. They have hardly any health problems that affect them, whilst afghans are riddled with health issues. When you mix the two breeds, diseases and illnesses that you cannot health test for will be passed down to the offspring. You cannot test for cancer which is the biggest illness killer in Afghan hounds.



I would stick to Salukis, they have the stamina and endurance needed in sight hounds.

Answer 9

"Designer" Flyball dogs are bred similar to what you are talking about your friend doing. They have been doing Staffordshire Bull Terrier/BC/BT crosses and getting some to die for fast, drivey, lil dogs. They often have several year waiting lists for these dogs and rarely breed. Do all the health screenings/certifications, from proven working parents and require pups to be altered.



I would rather have someone breeding responsibly with a purpose vs the back yard breeder who doesn't have a clue and just wants to reproduce fluffy.

Answer 10

It is very common to crossbreed for the best traits and drives in both animals. Of course it is ok. Dog breeds are not some holy grail that aren't to be touched. All breeds were created by selective breeding. And crossing for specific drives/uses is selective breeding. As long as the dogs have a home and purpose, it is fine. Someday those crosses may be named a breed of their own with that purpose in mind.

Answer 11

Absolutely!! It is done all the time with certain breeds in Europe. I know that in my breed, the Malinois, it is done with regularity to create a better working dog and it does work, if you know what you are doing!

They have bred Malinois with shepherds and Danes and pit bulls in the past and they have gotten the dogs that are currently competing in the most demanding of sports, NVBK, KNPV, Mondio Ring and a few dogs in the French Ring,



I am not a purist when it comes to a working dog, as long as that dog has the drive for the job intended and does that job well, I have no problem with it.

These people are serious work dog enthusiasts, no show people, not designer dog people, they just want to have and train and work the best dogs out there.

Hope I helped.

Answer 12

I am owned by 15 Alaskan husky sled dogs. Of course crossbreeding for working traits is OK. I live with honest workers, not a bunch of stinking beauty queens.

Answer 13

ALL PURE BRED QUOTE ON QUOTE ARE MUTTS!!! AKC OR NOT THEY ALL ARE STUDY THE ORIGINS OF DOG AND SEE HOW THEY GOT A GERMAN SHEPARD AND A ROTTY EVEN A DOBERMAN WHY IS EVERY ONE SO SET ON PURE BREEDS MUTTS ARE IN BETTER HEALTH ANY WAY AND LAST LONGER AND ARE SMARTER MOST OF YA DONT THINK SO BUT THEY ARE LIKE I SAID STUDY WHAT PURE DOGS COME FROM A MIXTURE of diffent dogs to get the 1 quality there used for i.e tracking sledding ect.

Answer 14

i do not agreed with crossbreeding dogs and them selling them on so they are bred again and again, that is how we ended up with so many unwanted dogs. but the way you have described it sounds ok as they are only used for working dogs and i am gavering they didn't sell them to be re bred?

but i cant see a problem in what you have asked.

Answer 15

all dogs come from Crossbreeding .pits, Chihuahuas,all but abut 3 or 4 k of dogs come from Crossbreeding .i do no think any one in this thing know this so whine same says no you know it is ok , and doing for working dogs is ok to.

Answer 16

LONG-DOGS(& the similar "lurcher") have been made for HUNDREDS of years!!!

You imagine your neighbors are doing something "new" ,miraculous & innovative???????

DUH?



How many REAL coursing homes are there now? VERY few!

How many mutts are available to those homes? TOO MANY!!!



Would *I* want a long-dog? NO! Would I want a lurcher? Don't have enough "work" for it.