Purebred or mongrel

Possibly the single most contentious factor  in discussing  what  type of dog should  be acquired  is its ancestry the only common factor for all purebred dogs is that  both  parents come from  the same breed, and even this is not an accurate guide, as some ma y be bred without regard to a definite program, while others may be closely bred from parents of different but similar strains.

A mongrel, a term which is sometimes  used as a disparagement, can be the product of two purebred  parents of different breeds, in which case the offspring is referred  to as crossbred.  Alternatively, the ancestry  may include a kaleidoscopic array of mixed breeds; such mongrels are often jocularly known as 'Heinz' varieties. The  term purebred  is preferable  to pedigree because the latter can  have connotations of pampered  show dogs or imply Kennel  Club registration.  While all Kennel Club  registered  dogs are purebred, there is no necessity for an owner to register a dog in order  to prove that it is purebred.

The advantages of choosing a purebred  dog include the fact that a source of supply can be found with relative ease. The various breeds all have clubs which will advise  on  purchase  and  handling. Virtually  all  purebred   pups  were conceived deliberately  and  will therefore  have been reared,  before birth  and after,  to reasonable standards; they will not vary from their ancestors,  except minimally in size and coat type, and within the limitations that temperament is partly controlled  by inheritance, they can be expected  to behave to the breed pattern.  In addition, the sire of a litter is, except in a tiny percentage of cases, totally identifiable  and  can,  if  required ,  be seen  and  handled  so  that  the purchaser  can get some idea of likely temperament.

The  main disadvantages of the purebred  dog can be attributed to the very fact that it is purebred. The emergence of a breed of dog which will breed 'true' is the result of a long selection process, and when the particular  type is fixed in its characteristics and continues  to produce generations of closely similar dogs, a new breed can be said to have been produced. Because closely similar dogs are thereafter  used in a breeding  programme, the chances of finding not only the desired attributes in many specimens but also any undesirable characteristics or faults arc increased. This is the reason why inherited defects occasionally occur in  purebred   dogs.  Conscientious  breeders,   aware  of  an  inherited   defect emerging in the breed, do their best to eradicate it, but the warning signs may not  be obvious;  they may be missed or on occasions deliberately  ignored.

In  Britain, the Kennel  Club  and  the British  Veterinary  Association  have together  devised methods  of assisting  breeders  to tackle the  more prevalent defects. A potential purchaser of a particular  breed is advised to make inquiries from  the  local  veterinary  practice  as to the known presence or absence of  hereditary  defects, such as hip dysplasia or Progressive  retinal atrophy and hereditary cataract. This does not imply that purebred dogs invariably inherit some defect but certain breeds, including several of the more  popular ones, seem more prone than others.  All large breeds with  the exception  of racing Greyhounds may inherit  hip dysplasia, for example,  and  several  breeds,  irrespective  of  size inherit generalized  or central  PRA. It is expensive to breed and rear strong healthy puppies, and some breeders are under pressure to try to keep alive some of the less robust  members  of a purebred   litter.  Many breeders  cull  those puppies which do not appear perfect, especially in the case of breeds which have large litters, such  as Labrador  Retrievers  and  Great  Danes.  Culling  is less common with  breeds having small litters, such as the tiny Chihuahua, which may produce  only one puppy  and rarely more than four or five the breeder consequently has  more incentive  to keep the pups  alive.           
                          
Another, slight disadvantage of the purebred dogs lies with the owner rather than with the dog. Certain  breeds attract  a certain  type of owner on a status-symbol  basis: the  Afghan Hound  complements the tall, elegant couple the German Shepherd Dog appeals as a protector to nervous people, who may not consider   the   possible   complications   of  handling   a  powerful,   intelligent creature.

The mongrel  is often  considered   by its devotees  as more intelligent  and healthy than the purebred  dog, but there is little evidence to prove this one way or another.  It may well be that because mongrels are difficult to sell or give away, only the biggest and strongest looking are, in many cases, retained  at birth. Inherited defects are more likely to appear in cross breeds than in unrecognizable mongrels  because of their  closeness to the pure strains  from which they originate. Defects do occur  in mongrels,  but  to a lesser degree, probably  because of the culling  which takes place at birth.

Mongrels of any sort are accidents.  Few pet owners set out to breed a litter deliberately, and  often  the  fact  that  the  family  bitch  is expecting  is only discovered  when the pregnancy  is far advanced  or even virtually completed. The  identity  of the sire is often shrouded  in mystery, and there  may well be more than one sire to a single litter, as the bitch ovulates over a period of days and may have been mated several times as she roamed unchecked.

Although it is obviously possible to see the mother of a mongrel pup and study her size, type, and temperament, the fact that she  herself is the  product  of various canine characteristics means that she may give birth  to pups which bear little or no relation to her or to each other. This  coupled  with doubts as to the character, background, or identity of the father makes it impossible to establish the future development and  temperament of  each  individual   pup.  Records exist of matings  between male Great  Danes  and female Dachshunds, and similar extraordinary couplings frequently occur. Mongrel  puppies can, of course, be highly acceptable, but a prospective  purchaser  must approach  the matter  with an open mind and a readiness to accept surprises. These  may well prove very satisfactory, but will always be unpredictable in the true nature of all surprises.