Weird Crosses

[Jamie & Odin]

I do not advocate for the wonton breeding practices/accidents of irresponsible people either, wanted to make that point first :D. For example, my aunt and uncle just bought a maltese/cocker pup. Why? Because the breeder told them that they would essentially have a maltese without the tear staining, and that was worth paying for . They bought this pup from the same breeder they got their malt from; a dog with allergies so severe it chewed it's feet till they bled, seperation anxiety so severe it had to be sedated, the worse temperment I have ever seen...and weighed 22 lbs, the standard is 4-6 lbs, acceptable under 7. Yikes!

But...I read recently that people breeding for seeing eye dogs were experimenting with some different crosses. For example, yellow lab/poodle cross, in an attempt to provide a non-shedding dog to those in need with allergies. I know allergies are caused by the dander, and not the hair, but non-shedding breeds do not pose near the problem that breeds that do shed. This would seem to be responsible cross breeding, and an acceptable avenue to take. The dogs are similar in size, so the gross "mutations" and danger to the mother (if she is the small breed) in large/small crosses would not exist.

[TrishB]

Strange mixes will always happen. I've even known of breeders, who are fanatics about their dogs, marveling at the ingenuity of a male something-or-other that found one of their females. I think it's safe to say that no one in their right mind would intentionally breed any of the mixes stated here. Just because these mixes exist doesn't mean they were intentional.

That being said, I know of many people whom have had mixes who swear by their dogs. ;)

:) Maybe unplanned, but not unloved. :)

[Soapie&Buddy'sMom]

Originally posted by TrishB
I've even known of breeders, who are fanatics about their dogs, marveling at the ingenuity of a male something-or-other that found one of their females.

Wow! Rather than marveling a dog's ability to get to a bitch in heat, I'd wonder more about the carelessness of the breeders who allowed it to happen!

(No TrishB, I'm not suggesting that you admire this, but these so-called fanatical breeders sound pretty careless to me; the last thing we need is unintentional litters of pups)

[German Vanegas]

Originally posted by Soapie&Buddy'sMom


Wow! Rather than marveling a dog's ability to get to a bitch in heat, I'd wonder more about the carelessness of the breeders who allowed it to happen!

(No TrishB, I'm not suggesting that you admire this, but these so-called fanatical breeders sound pretty careless to me; the last thing we need is unintentional litters of pups)

You can say that again! :p

[German Vanegas]

Originally posted by TrishB
Strange mixes will always happen. I've even known of breeders, who are fanatics about their dogs, marveling at the ingenuity of a male something-or-other that found one of their females. I think it's safe to say that no one in their right mind would intentionally breed any of the mixes stated here. Just because these mixes exist doesn't mean they were intentional.

Sadly enough, to think that irresponsible dog breeders and dog owners will disappear is a just a fantasy :( As long as those types of people exist, we will see more and more mutants, or mutts and mongrels, every where!

[chris nanney]

Could the breeding of two different types of purebreds lead to an increase in size of the offspring due to hybrid vigor? I don't know enough about this myself, so I thought I would ask.


On a completely different note...
I witnessed a breeding pair of Neo's a few years ago. The owners were at best, backyard breeders - they also had boxers.

The female was 145 (according to a recent vet trip) in very lean condition as her ribs were clearly visible. The owners still had three of 10 pups from the litter remaining. At ten weeks, these pups weighed 30 lbs. My guess is she put on at least 5 lbs or more after the pups were gone. She was 3 and this was her first litter.

The male was 190 at 2 yrs of age. He had weighed 190 at his last vet visit and they were sure that he would be over 200 when he finished growing. He was in good condition with his ribs faintly visible. He was extremely wide and had a girth like a barrel. Neither of these dogs would have exceeded the height standard.

As a point of interest, this litter of 10 had 9 males. Yes, they were in it for the money. They had spent around $6,000 acquiring the adults and were charging $1,500 for the pups. They were advertising in the newspaper and as a matter of curiosity I simply wanted to see a breed I had never seen before in person.

[joquendo]

currently one of the foster pups I have - is a shar pei mixed with a rottie... he is soooo ugly he is cute;)

[German Vanegas]

Originally posted by chris nanney
...As a point of interest, this litter of 10 had 9 males. Yes, they were in it for the money. They had spent around $6,000 acquiring the adults and were charging $1,500 for the pups. They were advertising in the newspaper and as a matter of curiosity I simply wanted to see a breed I had never seen before in person.

The true Neapolitan Mastiff Italiano is not supposed to be 190 lbs. Nevertheless, many breeders, in their quest to satisfy the craving for huge heavy Neos, have done so: they created massive dogs with no working abilities... And with it, they also shortened the life span of those dogs, with several common genetic health ailments, particularly heart problems. However, a well-bred Neo is an impressive specimen and a superb guard dog. The problem is, to find a good one! I still remember with fondness the finest working Neapolitan Mastiff I ever saw: the late "Jelly Bean." Ah! What a dog that was! Incidentally he died of heart failure :(

[CajunsMom]

Originally posted by German Vanegas
I still remember with fondness the finest working Neapolitan Mastiff I ever saw: the late "Jelly Bean." Ah! What a dog that was! Incidentally he died of heart failure

German, I know the guy who owned Jelly Bean, he still sheds a tear occasionally over the loss of that dog. He now has a "Bandogge" named "DeLeur". Very nice dog but just not yet the working dog Jelly Bean was.

Back to the weird crosses I've seen, one of them was a Rottweiler/Bouvier mix. Had the Rottweiler build and coloring but had long wiry hair. It was a very strange looking dog.

[German Vanegas]

Originally posted by CajunsMom
German, I know the guy who owned Jelly Bean, he still sheds a tear occasionally over the loss of that dog. He now has a "Bandogge" named "DeLeur". Very nice dog but just not yet the working dog Jelly Bean was.

Victor Torres, an excellent decoy and dog handler :)

Originally posted by CajunsMom
Back to the weird crosses I've seen, one of them was a Rottweiler/Bouvier mix. Had the Rottweiler build and coloring but had long wiry hair. It was a very strange looking dog.

And then you wonder where the expression "mutts from hell" comes from! :p

[NJrottielover]

My parents have a Basset/GSD mix they adopted from their local shelter about 5 years ago. She is a sweetheart of a dog, but sooooo funny looking! She has the shep head and tail and the Basset body and stubby legs! People are constantly asking what kind of dog she is and how "interesting" she looks! She's about 50 pounds and is the queen over my 2 rott'n ones, who each weigh twice as much as her. Great dog, I've always wondered what her littermates looked like! :)

[CajunsMom]

Originally posted by German Vanegas
Victor Torres, an excellent decoy and dog handler

And I'm lucky enough to be member of same training club as he is.
;) :D

"Mutts from hell" is right!! That dog was down right scary looking.

[Maddiesgirl]

The shelter where I dog walk had the most beautiful puppy..mostly pittie (you could really see it in his brother) but a distintice brindle (grey, brown and with the stripes) that was gorgeous. Very tall and thin, the shelter said another littermate had the greyhound build but not the gorgeous colorings.

While I think that there are FAR too many homeless puppies, I just had to mention how beautiful this one is. At 11 months last week he found his forever home too!

[snakesNxD]

weirdest ive seen is a aussie x dachsund
pup-black & tan, with white spots on front of chest. looks like a big dachsund. very agressive.

i saw a rottie x ridgeback that was a beautiful dog. he was built like a rottie, but a little longer. solid red with a rottie head.

the local puppy store was selling border collie/lab mixes. from a "local" breeder they use that had an accidental mating. the pup came into the office where i work at 10 weeks. 3 days later they called the petstore to give the dog back, and they told her no. i saw him at the shelter a week later. :(

[Matrixdancer]

My Bonnie is a Rottie x Border Collie. I got her from Rappahannock Animal Welfare League who rescued her from an abusive home. She looks all Rottie in coloring and stance. Her head is the distinctive rottie "wedge" with a slightly longer nose and she has a long tail. The only Border Collie that can be found in her is the fact that she "herds" my 2 kids when they get too far from me.