Mixed Breed Dogs: Myths and Truths
How about mixed breeds? Are they perhaps torn, more confused than pedigree dogs? Can a blend of breed traits pull in different directions? Who knows. The topic remains largely unexplored by science. Let's delve into the existing facts before forming opinions.
More Troublesome?
Behavioral studies that explore the difference between purebred dogs and mixed breeds are limited, even though mixed breeds constitute the largest group of dogs worldwide. However, an intriguing report from a study involving over 7000 purebred dogs from 200 different breeds and over 7000 mixed breeds was published in 2017. In this survey-based study, dog parents answered questions about their dogs. It revealed, among other things, that mixed breeds were considered more trainable than purebred dogs. However, owners of mixed breeds also felt that their dogs had more difficulty settling down, were less sociable with other dogs, and displayed problem behaviors more frequently compared to what dog parents of purebred dogs believed about their pets.
Always a Cause
As always, cause and effect must be examined in scientific studies. In this particular study, several influencing factors were identified, with 12 out of 20 distinguishing factors between the two groups. That's quite a number. The most significant factors were that mixed breeds were neutered more often than purebreds and were acquired at an older age more frequently than purebreds. These are factors that significantly impact emotional well-being and behavior. An older rehomed dog might carry emotional baggage that affects them throughout their life. Early socialization and environmental training might have been lacking. As a dog owner, you might have expectations of what your dog can or should handle that don't align with their abilities. Many mixed breeds also come from shelters, where they might have faced challenges. Others might have been bred by more or less reputable breeders, which affects their entire lives. Neutering can also influence behavior, sometimes negatively. If you want to read more about breeding and its practices, take a look at the article on responsible dog breeding.
More Conflicted?
It's likely that mixed breeds don't feel more conflicted than purebred dogs. Their drive to engage in breed-specific activities like guarding, herding, hunting, digging, or retrieving might clash depending on the mix of breeds within them. A crossbreed of Border Collie, Aussie, and Kelpie would probably agree that herding sheep and cattle is in their blood. However, it might be a bigger challenge to have a mix whose instincts pull in different directions or reinforce each other. Imagine a blend of Norwegian Elkhound, Rottweiler, and Belgian Shepherd with prominent guarding, hunting, and herding needs to satisfy. This might be where the confusion lies, primarily with the owner rather than the dog. Having such a dog without doing justice to their varied needs could be a probable reason why mixed breeds might be perceived as more problematic. As an owner, you need to address and manage all the breed-specific traits that your mixed breed might carry. If not, problems could arise.
Difficult to Predict
Predicting the traits of a mixed breed can be challenging. Personality is one thing that varies individually within all breeds. With a purebred dog, you might expect certain typical characteristics, traits, needs, and be prepared as an owner based on them. It's clear what the dog will need to thrive. With a mixed breed, it might be trickier, depending on the breeds and how many have been mixed in. That's genetics for you. Some traits might skip a generation, while others could be amplified. A mix might combine two strong drives, such as alertness, playfulness, and the desire to chase and stop. This combination can become burdensome if unexpected. Hence, it's wise to conduct thorough research before getting a purebred or mixed breed dog. The latter requires studying various breeds and expecting something from all of them.
Ultimately an All-in-One
A misconception about mixed breeding is that breed traits get diluted with crossbreeding. But it depends. Repeatedly crossing two breeds with similar original tasks, like a Labradoodle, might not dilute the traits of either breed. If breeding continues long enough, it mimics the process that leads to the creation of new breeds. However, if multiple breeds are involved over many generations, it's more likely that you'll eventually end up with an all-in-one dog that's eager to chase, guard, herd, and keep pests away from the home. This is how dogs used to be in the past before we refined breed standards and turned them into specialists. In essence, many of today's breeds stem from a blend of different breeds. So, purebred dogs are essentially refined mixed breeds with established standards and pedigrees. In conclusion, there is no support for the notion that mixed breeds are conflicted or more problematic than purebreds.
Written by: Caroline Alupo
Caroline Alupo is Petli's co-founder. She has a master's degree in ethology and is also a trained dog trainer and dog psychologist. She has 19 years of experience as a professional dog trainer. Read more about Caroline here.
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