The Designer, The Mutt, and The Purebred Are designer breeds just pricy mutts with creative labels, or are they specifically bred dogs with scientific data to back up their design? According to Garry Garner, president of the American Canine Kennel Club, "With a mutt -- there is no documented background, whereas with designer dogs, we have pedigrees as parents. We know exactly what the mix is” (ABC News). Another debate is the health of mixed breeds and purebreds. Some believe purebreds are naturally unhealthy, while others believe mixed breeds have more health risks. Furthermore, new tests have brought clues to the surface of the first breeds of dogs, dating back to 15,000 years ago. Finally, the study of pooches and their health complications,
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“What makes this complicated is that there are many purebred dogs that live long, happy lives, and others that do suffer from an inherited disorder, and of course the same can be said of the mutt of mixed heritage,” shares Carol Beuchat (Institute Of Canine Biology). A belief of people looking at possible breeds is the idea that purebreds have more health risks, which can be proven true. More recently, purebred dogs have been found inbred, meaning they are bred with family members or close relatives. According to the Peninsula Humane Society, “Genetically this means that, while all purebreds do not have significant health problems, they are predisposed to a range of hereditary and congenital diseases, including skin and eye conditions, allergies, various cancers, cardiac problems, and abnormalities in the kidneys and other organs” (PHS/SPCA). This is a major contender in the reasoning behind purebreds having numerous health risks. Mixed breeds, however, have something called hybrid vigor. The Peninsula Humane Society also shares, “When you mix two or more separate gene pools, the recessive genes that carry the health problems are buried. As a result, you get a healthier animal. Simply put, mixed-breed dogs are, in general, healthier than their purebred cousins and typically require fewer visits to the veterinarian,” (PHS/SPCA). Although genetic disorders can be common in any type of dog, Carol Beuchat shares the data found of these health issues. “The incidence of 10 genetic disorders (49%) was significantly greater in purebred dogs,” she explains, “[while] the incidence of 1 disorder (ruptured cranial cruciate ligament; 4%) was greater in mixed breed dogs,” (The Institute of Canine Biology). This clearly proves that, while more disorders were common in purebred dogs, genetic disorders are still possible in mixed dogs. None of these health issues would’ve been
“What makes this complicated is that there are many purebred dogs that live long, happy lives, and others that do suffer from an inherited disorder, and of course the same can be said of the mutt of mixed heritage,” shares Carol Beuchat (Institute Of Canine Biology). A belief of people looking at possible breeds is the idea that purebreds have more health risks, which can be proven true. More recently, purebred dogs have been found inbred, meaning they are bred with family members or close relatives. According to the Peninsula Humane Society, “Genetically this means that, while all purebreds do not have significant health problems, they are predisposed to a range of hereditary and congenital diseases, including skin and eye conditions, allergies, various cancers, cardiac problems, and abnormalities in the kidneys and other organs” (PHS/SPCA). This is a major contender in the reasoning behind purebreds having numerous health risks. Mixed breeds, however, have something called hybrid vigor. The Peninsula Humane Society also shares, “When you mix two or more separate gene pools, the recessive genes that carry the health problems are buried. As a result, you get a healthier animal. Simply put, mixed-breed dogs are, in general, healthier than their purebred cousins and typically require fewer visits to the veterinarian,” (PHS/SPCA). Although genetic disorders can be common in any type of dog, Carol Beuchat shares the data found of these health issues. “The incidence of 10 genetic disorders (49%) was significantly greater in purebred dogs,” she explains, “[while] the incidence of 1 disorder (ruptured cranial cruciate ligament; 4%) was greater in mixed breed dogs,” (The Institute of Canine Biology). This clearly proves that, while more disorders were common in purebred dogs, genetic disorders are still possible in mixed dogs. None of these health issues would’ve been