Lets See The Dawgs!
08-26-2003, 02:56 PM
#22
Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 35
Originally Posted by rfreeman27' date='Aug 26 2003, 11:00 AM
i'm going to stick up for 4rotor here. Dogs that come from a good breed have been proven to have better personalities, and be less likely for terminal or disabiliting illnesses (well...some stuff runs in the breed such as bad hips for labs, ect.) The dogs i have seen that come from a shelter tear **** up, get sick and die, ect. I'm not saying that there are some good dogs there, but 800 bucks is a good thing to spend to know the dog will not flip out and bite your children.
- Deafness (Dalmatians)
- Hip Dysplasia (German Shepards)
- Dermal Deterioration (Shar Peis)
- Occular Degeneration (Cocker Spaniels)
...And the list goes on. Notice how these are the "popular" breeds? It's well-chronicled in all kinds of Veterinary Medical publications and it's always attributable to poor breeding practices.
From my own experience, mixed-breed dogs are by far the very best dogs anyone could hope to have. Shelter dogs are especially good because I think they actually knew their situation and are grateful for being "saved" from it. The best dogs I ever had interaction with at the Animal Hospital were shelter dogs and, conversely, the purebred dogs were the ones I had the most trouble with. Of course, maybe that's because there were a lot more purebred dogs in the hospital than mixed-breed dogs, which is an interesting fact in itself. It just confirms my point.
As far as dogs that "tear **** up, get sick and die, ect", mixed-breed dogs aren't predisposed to this nor are purebred dogs exempt from it. Both can tear **** up, it's up to the owner or handler to train the dog against it. Both can get sick and die, it's up to the owner or handler to ensure diet, vaccinations and environment are optimized for the dog's health.
Of course, this is my opinion, but it's an educated one. I'm sorry your experience has been less favorable.
08-26-2003, 03:03 PM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Wayne, NJ
Posts: 4,837
Originally Posted by rfreeman27' date='Aug 26 2003, 02:37 PM
actaully kevin, my mother was looking into dog breeding, so we did alot of research on the topic. Im not trying to start a war or anything here. Yes, there are diseases that can run through the breeds from over breeding. I agree with you. But i would rather take a dog where I know where it was bread then a street dog. My family has not had good experences with pound puppies, thats all.
as for pound puppies...not just mutts are pound puppies. there are purebreds in the pound as well. So are you going against pounds or simply mutts? Because i can attest to the fact that most mutts are also very loving.
basically this thing is going nowhere.
kevin.
08-26-2003, 03:39 PM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: fredneck MD
Posts: 4,107
Originally Posted by attomica' date='Aug 26 2003, 03:56 PM
Having been a Certified Veterinary Assistant for eleven years, I'm gonna have to dispute what you're saying. How has it been proven that purebred dogs have better personalities or are less likely to contract terminal or disabiliting illnesses? Mixed breed dogs have the benefit of a varied genetic structure and will take on the best properties of their component breeds whereas purebred dogs are usually products of puppy mills (at least in the U.S.) and are most likely to suffer from mutations like:
- Deafness (Dalmatians)
- Hip Dysplasia (German Shepards)
- Dermal Deterioration (Shar Peis)
- Occular Degeneration (Cocker Spaniels)
...And the list goes on. Notice how these are the "popular" breeds? It's well-chronicled in all kinds of Veterinary Medical publications and it's always attributable to poor breeding practices.
From my own experience, mixed-breed dogs are by far the very best dogs anyone could hope to have. Shelter dogs are especially good because I think they actually knew their situation and are grateful for being "saved" from it. The best dogs I ever had interaction with at the Animal Hospital were shelter dogs and, conversely, the purebred dogs were the ones I had the most trouble with. Of course, maybe that's because there were a lot more purebred dogs in the hospital than mixed-breed dogs, which is an interesting fact in itself. It just confirms my point.
As far as dogs that "tear **** up, get sick and die, ect", mixed-breed dogs aren't predisposed to this nor are purebred dogs exempt from it. Both can tear **** up, it's up to the owner or handler to train the dog against it. Both can get sick and die, it's up to the owner or handler to ensure diet, vaccinations and environment are optimized for the dog's health.
Of course, this is my opinion, but it's an educated one. I'm sorry your experience has been less favorable.
- Deafness (Dalmatians)
- Hip Dysplasia (German Shepards)
- Dermal Deterioration (Shar Peis)
- Occular Degeneration (Cocker Spaniels)
...And the list goes on. Notice how these are the "popular" breeds? It's well-chronicled in all kinds of Veterinary Medical publications and it's always attributable to poor breeding practices.
From my own experience, mixed-breed dogs are by far the very best dogs anyone could hope to have. Shelter dogs are especially good because I think they actually knew their situation and are grateful for being "saved" from it. The best dogs I ever had interaction with at the Animal Hospital were shelter dogs and, conversely, the purebred dogs were the ones I had the most trouble with. Of course, maybe that's because there were a lot more purebred dogs in the hospital than mixed-breed dogs, which is an interesting fact in itself. It just confirms my point.
As far as dogs that "tear **** up, get sick and die, ect", mixed-breed dogs aren't predisposed to this nor are purebred dogs exempt from it. Both can tear **** up, it's up to the owner or handler to train the dog against it. Both can get sick and die, it's up to the owner or handler to ensure diet, vaccinations and environment are optimized for the dog's health.
Of course, this is my opinion, but it's an educated one. I'm sorry your experience has been less favorable.
I am in no way trying to argue here. There is no reason, im not a vet...you are. I see your point.
Having that said, the dog we got from the pound as a puppy has cost us alot of money. She has sense passed away, but had many problems. I dont know the technical terms, but her bladder lines didnt ...seal...well. She always had a constant urine leak. After two very expensive surgerys the problem was not fixed. The dog also had other health problems, including diabeties. She had to go on special food, ect. Again I do not know the exact situation, it was my mothers dog. The dog was the sweetest dog i have ever met. Im not going to argue there, it was a great dog becdes her health problem. Near her death she could not even stand up do to the aurthritis.
The dog lived to be 7 years old, and was a choclate lab.
My aunt and uncle get pound dogs as well. They have had obedance problems in some of them. After trying their hardest to train the dogs and sending them to obedance school they still dont behave. I think the best way to solve that is buy a younger dog.
08-26-2003, 03:49 PM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Dubuque, IA
Posts: 258
Here's mine. The one on the left (Cody) is 4 years old and we got him from the local shelter. He's 4.9 lbs. The one on the right is Lexie, and she's 6 months old and 5.2 lbs. They are great friends 
They are both Yorkshire Terriers (Yorkies).
08-26-2003, 05:53 PM
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: NC
Posts: 3,269
I have no pics.. my dog is a german shepard and border colly mix. I actually plan on getting another dog.. but I'm not sure what kind I want.. thought about german shepard.. pitbull.. doverman.. boxer.. but just don't know.
