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#256271 - 11/05/09 09:11 PM
Re: What would you all tell this guy?
[Re: Lana Braddock]
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Joy van Veen
Leerburg Web Board User
Registered: 09/24/09
Posts: 220
Loc: Arizona, Cochise County, USA
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what makes you so sure that all mixed breeds (or many) end up unwanted but nearly all 'pure bred' dogs end up wanted? I have not researched this, but I see many full blooded labs, boxers, name the large breed... the dogs gets a year or two old and people find out they didn't have a clue... and are wanting to dump the dog one way or another. I don't see this as a certain breed issue, but an issue with people being unrealistic and simple ignorance of what they are getting into, with any dog. I would bet the littermates of my Dad's dog are having just as much luck in life as if they were registered German Shepherds. Just going by what I view going on around me here.
The pups from breeders who breed for a specific purpose, titles or trains their dog in a job, carefully screen who gets their pups, sees all health tests and health screening specific for their breed are done, tell the new owners that they will take back the pup for any reason, etc, etc; are not the ones whose dogs generally wind up in shelters.
The pure breeds in shelters come from sources such a BYBers: pet store purchases; idiots who thought breeding would be a good education for their kids, good for the dog, make money,etc. Being registered only means both parents were registered with the same registry and are of the same breed! In fact, sometimes not even of the same registry or breed. There are registries that will register anything as long as you pay for it, including mixed breeds.
So to purposely breed without a purpose, whether pure or mix; is irresponsible. What constitutes a purpose? Here are a few examples:
Producing dogs that are as close as ideal for a job as possible, such as guide dog breeding programs; producing dogs that are likely to improve the breed; for competitive functions; and mixes when a dog is needed for certain jobs that either no pure bred is available for, or that a mix is better for or hardier (such as crossing hounds and pits for mountain lion hunting, or curs for pig handling, or livestock dog crosses where one breed has a better drive/instinct and the other better for the climate). Other crosses that were made for good purpose, but not always with good results. Labradoodles were first crossed by guide dog programs to provide a nearly hypoallergenic dog with the temperament and working drive of the lab. Few wound up being hypoallergenic, and most become unstable temperamentally around age 4. Golden x lab. Again by guide dog programs which wanted the higher complience of the golden with less of their health issues, and higher endurance of the lab. The jury's still out on this one.
If you haven't guessed, I am a guide dog trainer! And yes, I'd put one of my pure bred GSD guide dogs up against your father's mixed breed any day in being capable of the intelligence, working drives, problem solving, accepting responsibility, intelligent disobedience and in reliability required of a guide dog!
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Sunkmanitu kin Olowan (Joy) Van Veen
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#256291 - 11/05/09 11:44 PM
Re: What would you all tell this guy?
[Re: Joy van Veen]
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Leo BOND
Leerburg Web Board User
Registered: 10/13/09
Posts: 12
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...And yes, I'd put one of my pure bred GSD guide dogs up against your father's mixed breed any day ....
Our Muts name is Bailey. I got her from a back yard breeder that had pups for the wrong reason. I could never say enough good things about Bailey. And honestly I would rather throw a ball for her than compare her to another dog with anyone. She is a family dog, and that's a personal love. Muts are great for that personal connection because they are specially mixed for you.
I think that is Lana's point about her dad's dog.
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#256385 - 11/07/09 09:25 PM
Re: What would you all tell this guy?
[Re: Connie Sutherland]
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Leo BOND
Leerburg Web Board User
Registered: 10/13/09
Posts: 12
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I don't get to the shelter as much as I used to due to other volunteer obligations, but I have volunteered at 2 shelters in my area for the past 3 or 4 years.
I have seen puppies that were so hungry when they were found that they were eating each other.
I sat once on my butt for about an hour feeding a starving dog by hand because he wouldn't eat any other way and I was the first person he accepted food from.
I've played with a Pit bull that was a fighting dog to bring some joy to her day.
I've trained Muts simple commands like 'here' and 'sit', not to mention walk on a leash so they would be more desirable for would be adopters.
I've tried every toy in the shelter to get a dazed dog's attention in hopes it could remember how to play.
These are just some of the things I can remember off the top of my head. I have been bitten twice, but licked a lot more. I wish more people would "fix" their pet dogs. I also wish more people would take responsibility for their pets.
However, there is not a pill for responsibility. Yet.
My sense of humor may not always be appreciated, but I am at a 50/50 here aren't I Connie?
Sorry Randy, Chin up brother. I do my part.
Our Mut was free, and our other dog (breed yet to be determined) was from a pound. My next dog is looking to be a Mal from a rescue, I'm just waiting for a job to work it's way off of my goal list and on to the accomplished list.
I try to be a glass half full kind of person.
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