Shelter Dog or Designer dog?

[Ambieruns10]

Can you tell the difference?

The Designer Dog breed quiz--can you tell which is which?

I got a 28%.

Funny how they look so much alike, yet some people have spent hundreds of dollars on a dog they could have just adopted.

[HappyDancer]

Your score: 71%

so many of the people in my neighborhood have the designer dogs and brag about the price...its sad

[Dragonrain]

I only got a 14% - lol

I thought most of the shelter dogs were cuter then the breeder ones!

[Nikko]

I got 71%

Why d people care so much about designer dogs or purebred anyway? The dogs not going to be any cuter and it's not going to act different just because of that.

I heard that purebred isn't a good thing anyway. I was told that they don't live as long and have major health issues because they are usually bred too close in their blood line. Is this true?

[Sasami]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nikko I heard that purebred isn't a good thing anyway. I was told that they don't live as long and have major health issues because they are usually bred too close in their blood line. Is this true?

I don't personally believe that it's true. I haven't seen any evidence to back that up.

Mixed breeds can have just as many problems as purebreds...if not more. Since you have no idea what their genetic backround is you also won't know what problems to be looking out for.

It all comes down to the breeder and what they do. But IMO no good dog breeder inbreeds on a regular basis. Some linebreeding is fine and sometimes can actually improve the health of the breed .

There are actually many breeds of dogs with little or no known health problems .

I know a lot of people say that mutts have "hybrd vigor" but to me that doesn't make sense...mixed breeds aren't hybrids! Hybrids are the mixes of two different species.

EDIT: I wanted to add that I have nothing against mutts. I adore dogs of all kinds...I just don't see how they'd be healthier then purebreds.

[Tiff & Jerry]

I got an 85%!!! yay yayayayayayayayayayayyayayayayayay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dogslife]

41%

I know with purebred german shepherds it is true. The average lifespan is 4 years. The qualities that specifies what is good for the breed is actually bad for the dog.

[Sasami]

Quote: Originally Posted by dogslife 41% I know with purebred german shepherds it is true. The average lifespan is 4 years. The qualities that specifies what is good for the breed is actually bad for the dog.

I'm sorry but I find it hard to believe that the average lifespan of a purebred German Shepherd is only four years. According to well, almost everywhere, it's about 10-12 years.

Granted, I'm not pleased with the way American German Shepherds are being bred =/. But they certainly aren't that unhealthy!

[sara8]

We just had a situation like that with some of the foster dogs. A lady adopted one from us for $250 all spayed, UTD on shots, and somebody at the dog park had a dog exactly like the foster who had payed $1400 for a "designer dog" Some people are so stupid!!

[dogslife]

Must be just the breeders I have known then. I don't buy purebreds.

[Sasami]

Quote: Originally Posted by dogslife Must be just the breeders I have known then. I don't buy purebreds.

Honestly, I hate to be rude, but if their dogs are only living for four years they must be doing something wrong o_o;. I know a GSD breeder myself and his dogs definitely don't have short lifespans like that.

Anyways, I don't want to start a debate ^_^;. Sorry. I just feel that both purebreds and mutts have their share of health issues.

[dogslife]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sasami Honestly, I hate to be rude, but if their dogs are only living for four years they must be doing something wrong o_o;. I know a GSD breeder myself and his dogs definitely don't have short lifespans like that. Anyways, I don't want to start a debate ^_^;. Sorry. I just feel that both purebreds and mutts have their share of health issues.

It's ok. I am not trying to start anything either. I know people who have had purebreds, not just in one part of the country BTW, and most of them have complained about the health problems of the breed. I had a breeder tell me the same. It could be just my limited experience. I have done no research in it and maybe I shouldn't have stated it as fact since it is only based on what I have heard from those around me.

I could very well be wrong and I acknowledge that. Feel free to poke holes in my arguments anytime.

[Sasami]

Oh, I know that American GSDs do tend to have lots of health issues...I wasn't debating that . I was just saying that they definitely live longer then four years.

I'm no GSD expert or anything, though :p. I'm more into the weird breeds that no one's heard of .

[HappyDancer]

I have both...Purebreeds and mutts and I love them all...Puppers (ausie) was my brothers, but as his illness progressed he gave him to me so I could give him all the time he needed...Lady is a mutt (cockerpoo, before they were purposly done or at least she wasn't) her owners had a beautiful pure cocker that they were showing until the neighbors poodle mix dug under the fence and got her pregnant, we learned about her through my uncle, they wanted nothing to do with the puppies that had ruined their dog and had them in a pin in their front yard with a big free sign...so I saved my girl who to me is worth everything and to them was worthless...now I have the puppies...they are pure, papered golden Retrievers and no I didn't pay tons for them...they were a rescue from a lady whos female died and she didn't know how to take care of the pups...so they went to foster then to me...I figure everything happens for a reason...and they are all meant to be with me lol

[Padfoot]

I have 4 fabulous designer dogs..... god designed them the way he wanted a they are perfect. My little Puerto Rica Satos. 8) Now off to take the test, which I'll probably fail miserably since they are all mutts to me...