A crossbreed is more prone to old age diseases than a pedigree?
Gen C asked:
My friend has a pedigree, i have a shihtzu cross. I feel that he’s got no brains and just trying to show off!?! he told me a crossbreed is more prone to old age diseases than a pedigree, and that he has seen many of such cases!?! I heard and from what I gathered online, it is the other way round, is that true?
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My friend has a pedigree, i have a shihtzu cross. I feel that he’s got no brains and just trying to show off!?! he told me a crossbreed is more prone to old age diseases than a pedigree, and that he has seen many of such cases!?! I heard and from what I gathered online, it is the other way round, is that true?
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June 14th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
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mutts are more prone to diseases of all kind than a purebred from a reputable breeder who tests their dogs….Now if your friend got it from just some BYB then his dog is probably no more healthier than yours.
June 17th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
old age
That is like asking if Mrs. Jones down the street is more prone that Mrs. Smith. Maybe yes, maybe no.
There are some pure breeds that have serious health issues stemming from all the virtual inbreeding done to keep the “pure” part.
Sounds like your “friend” is full of it…
June 20th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Kansieo.com
Every mutt I know has lived to a really old age, but I know way to many pure breed dogs that don’t make it to the breed average. Some pure breeds are healthier (the less popular ones). A mix from two dogs with poor health is not going to be healthy either.
Don’t forget that diet, exercise, spay or neutering, and regular Vet care can make all the difference
June 22nd, 2009 at 11:01 am
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The answer to this question requires some clarification on the terms being used, really. For example, technically speaking, any dog that has a pedigree demonstrating that it has not had any other breed of dog in it’s lineage is a purebred. That does not mean it is a good purebred.
What I consider a ‘purebred’ is a bit more specific than that more literal definition. A purebred is a dog who’s lineage is not only written down, but has been selected to maintain not only the breed looks but also to maintain good health.
If your friend has a purebred from a backyard breeder or a puppy mill who simply slapped together two purebred dogs, his dog could be just as prone to disease as your own dear cross-breed. It is simply a matter of genetics. Your crossbreed could get all the best and strongest traits from it’s mixed lineage. Or it could get all the worst traits. So while your friend can look up his dog’s ancestors (in example) and find out how old they lived to be, what diseases or bad traits they may have had etc. and extrapolate from that what to expect in his own dog, you as a crossbreed owner cannot.
That does not mean your dog will automatically be less healthy any more than a piece of paper guarantees your friend’s dog will never get sick. It also certainly does not mean your little dog is not every bit as deserving of love and a great home than your friend’s purebred!
Sadly old age affects all, man and beast alike and with age comes weakness and illness. Our dogs, purebred or mutt, are exposed to so much more of all the ills of our world than even we are. Things like pesticides and herbicides that people use almost as much as water in their gardens and on their lawns, the daily pollution of chemicals used in cleaning and running our cars and everything in between…all this stuff is on the ground where our dogs run, play, dig, lay…all the things that dogs do. So even the finest pedigree or the strongest crossbreed has a lot of things against them in maintaining good health and a long life.
All we can do is take the very best care of our furry friends, no matter their origins, and hope that they had a good roll of the dice when it comes to the luck of their genetics.