Pedigree or Crossbreed?

Sharing your life with a dog can be a wonderful and rewarding experience. Deciding what sort of dog to have isn't something that you can undertake lightly and choosing between a crossbreed or a pedigree can be difficult.

 

The pretty little mongrel on the left could make an ideal family pet or you could go for the cute little German shepherd puppy below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember though that this little pup will grow up and will become a full grown German shepherd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are a lot of arguments in favour of pedigree dogs and it's certainly true that each breed has recognisable characteristics and there are in the region of 200 breeds to choose from. The Kennel Club says,

 

"If you match these characteristics with your personality and lifestyle, it is more likely that you will have a happy and fulfilling relationship with your dog."

 

With a pedigree dog you will be able to estimate what size your puppy will be when he grows up. You will also get a good idea of his grooming and exercise needs and roughly how much he is likely to cost you in food bills. There are many people who have a favourite breed of dog and will always have this breed come hell or high water. There's a lot to be said for it. You do know exactly what to expect and if you're bringing home a mastiff puppy you won't be surprised when it grows to the size of donkey. Even with a dear little yorkie like the one shown in this picture you could end up with a dog that needs lots of exercise, playtime and training.

 

 

 

Pedigree puppies tend to be more expensive than crossbreeds and mongrels and you may have to spend several hundred pounds and be placed on a waiting list to get the puppy you want from a reputable breeder.

 

One problem with pedigree dogs is that any weaknesses such as hip dysplasia or heart defects can be passed from generation to generation. You may also find that some breeds have such exagerated physical characteristics that they cause the dog to have serious health problems. The Kennel Club is working with breeders to try and modify the breed standards but if you really want a pedigree puppy then it's worth doing some research first to find out all you can about the breed. Don't forget, reputable breeders of pedigree dogs are also in love with their favourite breeds and they are likely to be biased. Do get an independent opinion from a vet or do some research on the internet to find out more about the breed.

 

 

Crossbreed Dogs
Who can resist an adorable little puppy that is placed in your arms and needs a good home? I'm not sure I could but I would want to know a bit about the dog's breeding first. You can usually be sure that a crossbreed will take some characteristics from the parents' breeds. Hopefully they will take the best of them but this doesn't necessarily follow.

 

If you are looking for a crossbreed make allowances for the fact that the puppy may not be a first cross and you may not be able to guess what size it is going to grow to. You can generally assume that a large puppy is likely to grow up to be a large dog and a very small puppy will not be so big. If you can find out a bit about the breeding then this help you to understand what characterisitcs the dog is likely to have and whether there's any history of aggression in the breeding.

 

In general a crossbreed will have hybrid vigour and some vets thinks they tend to be healthier than pedigrees as they don't suffer from inbreeding. Many crossbreeds make ideal pets and working dogs and people often have a good idea of the type of crossbreed they want. The more common crosses have been given names such as "Sprollie" (spaniel collie cross) and "Labradoodle" labrador poodle cross. There are even designer crosses but to be honest I think a lot of people are jumping on the bandwagon and charging silly amounts of money for a crossbreed puppy.  The best advice is to do your research and make sure that the puppy you choose is the right one for you and your family.  A dog really is for life and not just for the moment.  Good luck and have loads of fun with your dog.