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Please click on an irrisistable face to learn more about the dog. . . |
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"Designer
Dog"?? What the heck is a designer dog you ask?? Simply put, a "designer" dog
(as the media has labeled them) is a cross between two "purebred" parents.
A purebred dog is one that has been selectively bred over many generations
to enhance very specific genetic traits. Purebred dogs are indeed desired
by many people, as the temperament and physical traits are well documented.
Because many folks have very defined living conditions (small apartments,
allergies, children, etc.), having a specific breed of dog (that meets
those requirements) can certainly be advantageous. Basically, this sounds
quite ideal... however, there are very real problems that have developed
over hundreds of years of breeding within a very limited gene pool...
essentially among the same "family", if you will.
In today's world, literally hundreds of thousands of purebred dogs
are turned over to shelters and rescues... many even euthanized because
they didn't fit "the mold" of what the breed was advertised
to be. Trouble is, along with those "desirable traits" may
oftentimes come much less desirable genetic flaws that can become much
more pronounced from generation to generation. Hip Dysplacia... eye,
heart, and breathing disorders... temperament swings... cancers...
premature death... all these problems have become quite common in "purebred" genetic
lines as of late, and more and more people are growing tired of having
their hearts (and wallets) broken by such unfortunate realities. If
science has provided clear evidence strong enough to support laws here
in the US that prevent citizens from marrying even cousins since the
1800's (based on probability of pronounced genetic flaws), doesn't
it make sense to question the product of "purebred" dog breeding
as well?
The reason for "Designer Dogs" now comes into sensible play. The
mere term implies the obvious: the educated selection of two unrelated "pure" breeds
of somewhat similar general traits to genetically "blend" together,
producing what should have been the very first "desirable trait" to
begin with... the probability of a pet that is happy, healthy, and much more
likely to be a part of our family and hearts for as long possible! Overall,
the level of care in these dogs is much lower than others... most notably
at the Vet's office, where dogs inflicted with recessive traits caused by
inbreeding usually spend much to much of their time (and your hard earned
dollars).
Many people have said that the term "Designer Dog" is just a
fancy phrase for "Mutt"... but this is not at all true. "Mutts" are
the product of indiscriminate and unplanned ancestry. "Designer Dogs" are
the product of sound selection of parents with known attributes, with the
purpose of producing genetic advantages over both. These dogs have documented
purebred ancestry, and are recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club
(ACHC), and the Continental Kennel Club (CKC).
The philosophy of this "new" type of selective breeding is becoming
much more respected as of late, as more and more people are finding there
really are advantages to be enjoyed by it! Over the past decade, the smaller
dogs have become the most popular... in large part because there are simply
more hypoallergenic and non-shedding purebred dogs to work with in that
particular class. Of course, another reason is even more simply because...
they're SO gosh-darn CUTE!!!
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