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If thereโs a debate that has no strong conclusion, itโs this one.
Dog lovers and experts have extensively argued about which dogs
are better - mixed breed dogs or purebred dogs. Some experts
recommend mixed breed dogs because of their disposition to adapt
easily to their surroundings. Further, mixed breed dogs are
typically sold at a much lower rate than purebred dogs,
especially when bought from a dog shelter.
However, this may not always be the case. Some mix breeds can be
incredibly expensive. This is usually the case when two breeds
are intentionally mixed, which is how it is with Puggles (Pug +
Beagles) and Labradoodles (Labrador + Poodle). Even when adopting
from a shelter, you have to consider the extra costs associated
with spay/neuter and vaccination fees, and other such small fees.
But most dog owners overlook this additional cost because it can
never compare to the warm satisfaction of having saved a dogโs
life.
Many canine experts recommend mix breeds because they have very
low chances of being born with congenital defects. This is
because the breeding process naturally excludes defective genes,
leaving you with a mostly healthy pet.
However, there are experts who suggest that adopting a mix breed
isnโt the best of ideas. It could affect logistics. For instance,
you canโt always recognize the ancestry of a mix breed. In this
case, you canโt be certain if the pup you adopt will stay small
or grow much larger. You may live in an apartment building that
doesnโt have enough space for a large dog, in which case you may
have to give away your mix breed after heโs grown too big for the
space.
On the other hand, you can tell exactly how big a purebred is
going to get. You can also predict its health requirements and
defects if any, and what itโs behavior may be like. This
predictability is exploited even more by responsible breeders who
pair purebreds based their temperament and physical stature. Some
breeders even go as far as to get genetic test results when
choosing suitable mating pairs. If this is the level of
pre-mating prep, the purebred you get is likely to grow into a
healthy, well behaved and intelligent dog without major hiccups.
Either way, you can control the temperament and health of any
breed, pure or mixed, using todayโs technology. Mixed breeds do
not automatically guarantee better health and behavior. They may
require genetic screening and selecting mating too.
So, when choosing to bring a dog into your life, ask yourself
what type of companion you want. Based on the answer to this
question, you can narrow down the breeds (pure or mixed) that
could be the right match for you.
Identifying Breeds in Mixed Breed Dogs
You own a beautiful dog and know that your animal is a "blend" or
as they said during olden times, a mutt. You are more than a
little curious to know about your dog's ancestry and the genetic
makeup of the animal. To find out, it is vital to observe a dog's
muzzle shape, type of ear, the pattern and color of the coat,
style of the tail, and the body type. Behavior is also important.
Physical traits
To know where your dog came from, begin by documenting the
canine's observable physical traits. You can start an internet
search only after you compiled the list. Think of this activity
as an investigation.
The muzzle shape of your dog is essential. Canine head shapes
come in three kinds: the brachycephalics are the shortest, and
dolichocephalics are the longest. Pugs are, and Labrador
Retriever type is mesocephalics or the middle ones. Collies are
dolichocephalics or have the longest muzzles. The style of tail
is also important. The thickness, shape, and length of your dog's
tail provides substantial information concerning its lineage. A
few dogs like English Pointers, Dobermans, and Boxers have tails
docked during their puppy years. A few dogs breeds have a genetic
mutation of bobtail. Such kinds include Jack Russell Terrier,
Australian Shepherd, and the Brittany Spaniel. The dog breeds
which naturally possess bobtails include Rottweilers, Boston
Terriers, King Charles Spaniels, and English Bulldogs. A ringtail
is a full trail and could arch over the dog's back. The sickle
tail could do the same but always points toward the head. A screw
tail looks like a corkscrew, and the otter tail looks like the
tail of the otter animal. These otter tails are found in dogs
which love to frolic in the water, like Labrador Retrievers. In
contrast, a whiptail os straight, long, and thin.
Ears and coat
Dog ears come in different types. The common ear shapes are
pricked, cropped, round, pendant, V-shaped, and semi-pricked or
cocked. Only the cropped variety is the artificial one in this
list. These ears are a result of surgery. The type of coat your
dog has is also essential to identify its genetic ancestry. Short
haired dogs have smooth fur lying close to the body. The medium
layers are an inch in length and need some amount of moderate
grooming to stop matting and prevent tangles. The long coated
dogs frequently have fur or hair which hangs to the floor and
need proper grooming as daily care and maintenance. The wire
coated canines feel bristly when touched, and soft singlets are
present in curly coated dogs. When it comes to coating color,
solid dominates, patterns can be a few, like bicolor, tricolor,
and saddle pattern, among others.
