When I was a child dogs in rescue were mostly mutts of indeterminate breed. Our family pets have always come from rescue centres and the first dog we had was a perfect example. We got “Shuda” (she should ha’ been a Great Dane, but that’s a story for another day) from the local RSPCA. A genuine ‘bitza’ (bits of this and that) of medium size, Shuda was white with tan patches and my constant companion from the day I was born. For 17 years she defended me from everyone, including my older brothers, and tracked me down when I wandered off, which was rather too often for my parents liking! She would walk all day on the fells and never had a day’s sickness in her life.
If you look at the dogs listed on any mixed-breed rescue website today you will notice that many of them are either pure- bred or first-crosses. You will have to look long and hard to find a real mutt! This is also reflected when you watch the dog walking ‘traffic’ in any given area. The majority will have a purebred on their lead and most of the others will have identifiable crosses or dogs of a type, i.e. lurchers. So what is going on?
Pedigree dogs used to be the preserve of the affluent or dedicated. The average family pet was either the product of cross- breeding between local dogs, something picked up from a rescue or a working dog bred and kept for a specific job. As society became more affluent pedigree dogs were more accessible and, whilst many owner have chosen to have one because that is the breed they want, unfortunately many people have jumped on the breeding band- wagon. Mongrels can be had for next to nothing but if you pay hundreds of pounds for a purebred puppy then surely other people must be willing to pay you the same? This is where it all starts to go horribly wrong!
Experienced, responsible breeders have the health and welfare of their dogs at heart. Litters are planned in the knowledge that they have a waiting list of suitable homes for their pups to go to. They take a lifelong interest in their dogs and breed for soundness and good temperament. Dogs which are not fit for breeding from, through health problems or genetic defects, are usually neutered to prevent the problems being passed on. Prospective ‘parents’ are carefully home- checked, interviewed and often even asked for references
before the breeder agrees to let them have one of their pups. It is not uncommon for people to wait for a year or more before the breeder has a pup available for them but they wait in the knowledge that they are getting a sound, healthy pet.
Unfortunately many pedigree dogs are now being bred for the wrong reasons. It is commonplace to breed from your pedigree and the resulting pups are often seen advertised in local papers, shop windows or even the free-ads. These people are not puppy farmers but private individuals who often see a way to make some money, possibly to claw-back the initial cost of their own dog. They may take the greatest care of their dogs and love them and puppies they breed but once the pup has gone to its new home, for them responsibility ends there. Ask them why they want to breed from their dog or bitch all too often they won’t have a good answer other than “we thought it would be nice”. Surely it is much nicer to think about the long term health welfare of the puppies you will bring into the world and not just the eight weeks they will be with you!
Far too many dogs being bred and many of them have poor confirmation, temperament or health through lack of knowledge regarding good genetics. The truly sad thing is that this many of this new
generation will also be bred from in the same way and the problems further exaggerated. There have already been cases where dogs have suffered painful deaths as a direct result of the health problems created
by irresponsible breeding.
The current fashion for designer
crosses such as ‘Labradoodles’ and ‘Cockerpoos’ raises further questions. Crossbreed dogs should have less of a tendency to inherited problems but only if the parents have been selected for their own health and vigour. If they have poor conformation or health problems then they should not be bred from no matter how good their pedigree. Whilst it may be interesting to see what happens when you cross an Akita with a Rottweiler before you do it ask yourself what is the market for this animal?
If you want a pedigree then please make sure it comes from a breeder who takes the long view and take time to examine your own motivations before you decide to breed yourself. In the meantime enjoy the rich variation provided by the traditional mongrel whilst you can – it is now an endangered species!

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