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Dog Hobbyist News Message From the Alpha Dog
For more Thanksgiving safety tips, visit the Animal Issues Forum!
Melody Golubski
Don't miss a new Thanksgiving Day tradition: The televised National Dog Show! NBC is producing the Saturday show from the Kennel Club of Philadelphia cluster (Nov. 14-17) into a family entertainment special to be presented on Thanksgiving Day. NBC is so excited about this project that they have positioned the two-hour show to air immediately following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (noon-2 p.m. in all time zones). It will appeal to all dog lovers with "Best in Show" judging as the foundation of a show with fun facts about breeds, performances by top canine athletes and tips on bringing out the champion in your own pooch. For more info visit the National Dog Show website.
For a complete schedule, as well as easy links to subscribe to email reminders for some of the chats, just visit DogHobbyist.com's Chat Week Center! And then when you're done, don't miss a sneak preview of our 12 Days of Christmas Contest, starting December 13! You can win a 42-inch plasma TV/monitor!
Last month, we met the dogs of the Working and Herding groups, dogs bred for various forms of working with and for people. This month, we meet the largest of all dog groups - the one that has a little bit of everything: The Mixed Breed Dog! Dogs of mixed or unknown ancestry are no less wonderful companions than dogs with a pedigree as long as your arm. While some people prefer to have a dog of a specific breed, many people deliberately seek out mixed breed dogs, believing them to be healthier than purebreds, or for humane reasons. Or perhaps they simply do as I have done twice now, and fallen in love with a particular mixed breed dog.
When choosing a mixed breed dog as a companion, you might be taking potluck when it comes to the eventual size and temperament of a puppy, so adults will often make a better choice. But take each mixed breed dog for who he or she really is; each one is a unique treasure and has the potential for being the best dog ever. I should know, Colleen was the best friend I ever had. Are They Healthier?
Part of the problem is that most mixed breed dogs are really just the offspring of two purebred dogs, rather than multi-generation "survival of the fittest" Heinz 57 mutts. Compounding that problem is that those owners of purebred dogs who allow them to reproduce carelessly don't tend to be the most responsible of owners, and don't test their dogs for genetic problems. In fact, they rarely even know about genetic problems common in their breed, or in the pedigree of the individual dog. Responsible, knowledgeable breeders of purebred dogs don't allow mixed breed dogs to be born, so right away you are pretty much guaranteeing that the purebred parent of your mixed breed dog is going to be more likely to have genetic problems. However, there is something called genetic masking, which means that traits that one parent is carrying but the other is not can be "masked," or kept from expressing themselves, in that generation. The puppies can still be carriers and their offspring can be affected, but the puppies themselves won't necessarily have the problem. (Note that the hypothetical puppies in this example might still have genetic problems. For example; two of the most popular breeds in the country are the Labrador Retriever and German Shepherd; both of which very commonly have a genetic problem known as hip dysplasia, and Lab/Shepherd mixes can definitely be affected by this problem as well.) Much Ado About Poo? Some people do deliberately breed dogs of two different breeds together, and many of these dogs are half poodle, such as the cockapoo (half cocker spaniel, half poodle), the pekepoo (half Pekinese, half poodle), and so on. Often the breeders of these dogs consider these to be "breeds," and that it's nothing but rank elitism that keeps them from being recognized by organizations such as the American Kennel Club. What are the facts here? There is no question that many mixed breed dogs are beautiful, wonderful, and adorable, and in a perfect world I suppose there would be no harm in carefully using selected purebred dogs to create a new breed whose primary purpose is as a pet. After all, that is how most of the toy breeds were created in the first place. But this is not a perfect word, and millions of pets are put to sleep every year for lack of good homes. Producing pets for a pet market is not a benign activity. Dog breeding should be a labor of love by someone dedicated to the preservation and betterment of their chosen breed, not a way to make a few bucks. Few breeders of "breeds" such as the cockapoo have goals of that nature, and rarely know anything about the health, conformation, and temperaments of the dogs in their puppies' pedigrees. Both cockers and poodles have several breed-related genetic problems that can and do occur in their mixed breed offspring, including fatal conditions and blindness. Since no reputable cocker or poodle breeder would ever allow their dogs to be used in a "cockapoo" breeding, you are all but guaranteeing that the parents of your puppy are themselves irresponsibly bred. Not only that, but many cute mixed breed dogs are going without homes in America's shelters while some misguided person spends hundreds of dollars on a poo-dog. To be considered a breed, you have to have qualities and traits that breed true, generation after generation. In non-breeds such as the cockapoo, each generation starts over with two purebred dogs, because if you breed two cockapoos to each other, you will get many unpredictable traits. Second generation outcrosses tend to possess a high degree of random features. To call mixes such as the cockapoo a "breed" is a complete misunderstanding of what a "breed" actually is. How Do You Know? You're in love with a dog, and aren't sure if it's a rare breed or a "fake" breed. While this can be a tough call, here are some things to consider. Is the breed recognized by a reputable registry such as the AKC, UKC or FCI, or only by "paper mill" registries such as the Continental Kennel Club (CKC, not to be confused with the Canadian Kennel Club)? Does the breed have a written standard, and is it recognized by anyone other than the "breeder" you are dealing with? Does the breed have a national or international club that holds conformation events on a regular basis, such as the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA)? And the question that has only one correct answer: Are the members of this breed the offspring of two dogs of the same breed, or of different breeds? If the parents are of different breeds, the puppies are mixed breed dogs. Do a dog a favor and adopt from the shelter or a rescue group instead! Activities with the Mixed Breed Dog You can get obedience and other titles for your mixed breed dog with a number of dog organizations. For the best overall view of activities with a mixed breed, visit Elizabeth TeSelle's Competing with an All-American site. And be sure to drop by DogHobbyist.com's Mixed Breed Dog Forum! Copyright 2002 by Christie Keith. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Coming Next Month: Terriers and Toys!
Just a normal Wednesday here at PetHobbyist. My Human on the computer and me Cat Napping, learned how to do that from a Kitten friend of mine I met in the shelter.
The White House called my Human just to get me the One and Only PHDaMutt, on the job to find the Thanksgiving Day White House Turkey. The White House was frantic, Wednesday before Thanksgiving and no turkey to be found. Human and I got to DC and went right to work on the Lost Turkey Caper. We started sniffing on the helicopter on which the turkey was flow to the White House. From the helicopter, we went straight into the Rose Garden, then left to the kitchen, and up the back stairs. I couldn't believe my nose, going right down the hallway to the Oval Office. Human opened the office door and we slowly walked in. I sniffed and it lead to the Presidents Desk. Crouched underneath was the turkey scared and shaking. I startled him a bit, but reassured him that the President would pardon the big turkey and he would be sent to a turkey farm to live out all his natural days. He then relaxed and all went well. He got the pardon on Thursday and by Friday was on the farm happy and pecking away. So there ya go, Human got a handshake and I got a pat on the head. You know what, Turkey Shaped Tofu is not bad at all, well, needs a little gravy maybe. Another case solved by PHDaMutt. Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
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Monday 9-10 PM Sighthound Chat DogHobbyist News is copyright 2002 by OnlineHobbyist.com unless otherwise specified. All rights reserved.
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Thanksgiving can be a wonderful time to be with our dogs. Being home all day, watching the football game and just enjoy being with our pups. Turkey is great, smells good and tastes even better. We all know how our dogs would just love a taste. Try to resist those begging eyes, as a taste is ok, but too much of these different foods can cause tummy aches. Bones of the turkey can be dangerous for your dog, so make sure there aren't any in the treats you may share with him or her. If your dog gets tired or stressed with all the goings on, make sure they have a quiet place to go and get away from everything. That way, everyone can have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving.
One of the most exciting events we've ever had in our community is the upcoming Chat Week, from December 8-14. Our scheduled guests include canine reproduction expert Dr. Robert Hutchison, dog trainer and author Kathy Diamond Davis discussing therapy dogs, noted holistic veterinarian and researcher Dr. Susan Wynn, speaking on "Herbal Veterinary Therapies: What We Know and Don't Know," author and syndicated columnist Gina Spadafori discussing careers writing about animals, author Caroline Levin discussing "Dogs, Diet, and Disease," animal communicator Betty Lewis, holistic vet Dr. Stephen Tobin talking about homeopathy and pets, and Dr. Shawn Messonnier, the author of several books, including the 
The mixed breed dog can be anything and everything to the people who love and care for them. Mixed breed dogs participate in obedience training and competition, win titles and awards, and compete in flyball, agility, and Frisbee. They work as therapy dogs, hearing dogs and lap dogs. My mychow/Australian shepherd mix Colleen was a Canine Good Citizen, a certificate issued by the American Kennel Club to all dogs, purebred or mixed breed, who have passed a temperament and obedience test.
It's a matter of faith with some people that mixed breed dogs are healthier than purebred dogs, and often this does seem to be true. However, any individual dog can be healthier than any other individual dog, regardless of breeding, so there are no guarantees. My cattle dog mix, Scarlett, is one of the healthiest dogs I've ever seen, but my chow mix, Colleen, had more medical problems than all my purebred dogs put together.
The phone rang. No big deal, does that all the time, but this time way
different. My Human sat straight up in his chair and all he said was, "Yes
Sir, yes Sir, right away Sir." Human looked at me, still slightly in shock, and said come on PHDaMutt we are needed at the White House. I immediately grabbed my leash and headed for the Airport.