| Full and mixed breed dogs: The real story | |||||||
| by BUDDY AMATO | |||||||
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There has always been a debate about why owners should adopt full-breed dogs over mixed-breed dogs. There is no difference between how a “pure breed” or a mixed breed dog loves its family or master. Dogs depend on people for their survival and for their emotional well-being. There are some dog experts that say canines have the emotional maturity of a young human child. I don’t know what the truth is of that, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t be true. There is nothing wrong with pure breed dogs. In fact, for some families or owners, they might be a good idea. With a pure breed, the generic traits of the breed are going to play a role in the dog’s character and personality. In addition, some of the health concerns that are shared by animals of that breed will be apparent and can be guarded against by owners. Similarly, if someone is looking for a running companion, and they buy a greyhound, then that makes a lot of sense. Similarly, if someone enjoys regular camping and they adopt a German shepherd or similar dog, then that might make a lot of sense too. I never advocate buying a dog for protection, because dogs are supposed to be protected by their owners and not put in dangerous situations as part of any long-term plan. It’s not a good idea. Some dogs are good for hunting, some for retrieving and some are good for shepherding. So, if someone is looking for a dog to accompany them with their work (in the case of people who work or own farms) or a good friend to accompany on a hunting trip, then maybe a pure breed is a good idea. Of course, some people just like a certain breed dog and they gravitate toward that and can’t be talked out of adopting their favorite breed. There’s nothing wrong with that. But, there is no more loyalty that a dog can have as the loyalty of a mixed breed. In some cases, mixed breeding helps compensate for general weaknesses in a full breed. For example, just this week, I saw a beautiful dog, which was a cross between a greyhound, a Doberman Pincher and a German shepherd. The relative frailty of the greyhound was replaced by the stronger traits of the shepherd. Meanwhile, the greyhound and pincher qualities of the dog retained great speed. However, the warmer coat the dog had made it less vulnerable to harsher winters. It was also a great-looking dog with a wonderful owner. The dogs at the SPCA shelter may be full-breeds or mixed-breeds. They may be younger or older. But, at the heart of it, they are all the same in one respect...they are man’s best friend. Very often, I hear people say they would like to be the person that their dog thinks they are. I think that’s a great thought, and very true, no matter what a dog’s pedigree is their hearts are all the same. (Chief Victor "Buddy" Amato is the chief investigator for the Monmouth County SPCA, headquartered in Eatontown. For more information about this column, call (732) 671-9555.) Buddy Amato is a Hazlet business owner, who operates Amato's Karate and Weapons Academy. For more information, call (732) 671-9555.
Copyright Buddy Amato Amato's Goju-ryu Karate, Nunchaku, Bo-staff, Aikido, Sword, Kendo, Sais, Kick-boxing, Tai-Chi and more 589 Palmer Ave, Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom, NJ 07734 (732) 671-9555 |
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