Wolfdog91 7,019 Posted May 11, 2017 Report Share Posted May 11, 2017 So I always hear that the best dogs are pure bred, or high quality . But almost every dog I've ever owned was a mutt or a rescue, and they seem to hunt or trail just as well as any other dog head to head. So is the pure bread thing really that big of a deal ? As far as a general dog. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DIDO.1 22,729 Posted May 11, 2017 Report Share Posted May 11, 2017 I can be luck it can be training and entering.....but it's also in the breeding. There are many pedigrees with shite in their breeding and many crossbreds with brilliant blood....put good blood in get more chance of a success....what the pedigree papers say means nothing or everything Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gnasher16 30,118 Posted May 11, 2017 Report Share Posted May 11, 2017 You cant put in what nature left out............yes breeding is a big deal. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WILF 46,788 Posted May 11, 2017 Report Share Posted May 11, 2017 Any mutt will do when asked to perform work that any mutt could do.......its when you up the anti that cream rises to the top 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
neil82 1,076 Posted May 11, 2017 Report Share Posted May 11, 2017 You cant put in what nature left out............yes breeding is a big deal. this is about the only thing I will disagree with you on, breeding will only give the majority on the build characteristics you want, the rest is generally down to how it`s brought up, genetics is more about the physique rather than the make up of the brain inside it, when there are certain breeds that don`t conform to that it`s more likely to be too much interbreeding making it a shit choice, get two dogs from the same litter, bring one up to work and the other to be a sofa ornament both will do what they are wanted for but still the same litter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sussex 5,777 Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 You cant put in what nature left out............yes breeding is a big deal. this is about the only thing I will disagree with you on, breeding will only give the majority on the build characteristics you want, the rest is generally down to how it`s brought up, genetics is more about the physique rather than the make up of the brain inside it, when there are certain breeds that don`t conform to that it`s more likely to be too much interbreeding making it a shit choice, get two dogs from the same litter, bring one up to work and the other to be a sofa ornament both will do what they are wanted for but still the same litter Surely genetics is as much about the brain as the physique. That's the whole idea of breeding traits you want into the next generation , the dog that lived it's life as the sofa ornament is doing that from your choice but the work ethic that's breed into it would still be there .. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
terryd 8,415 Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 (edited) You cant put in what nature left out............yes breeding is a big deal. this is about the only thing I will disagree with you on, breeding will only give the majority on the build characteristics you want, the rest is generally down to how it`s brought up, genetics is more about the physique rather than the make up of the brain inside it, when there are certain breeds that don`t conform to that it`s more likely to be too much interbreeding making it a shit choice, get two dogs from the same litter, bring one up to work and the other to be a sofa ornament both will do what they are wanted for but still the same litter I often ponder that one and wonder if mine was bought up in a pet home what would he be like. I know he would be a softy in the house loving the fuss etc like he does now. But once you stepped out the door I couldn't picture that hunting instinct ever being turned off or even dimmed. In fact I reckon he would be a liability with out some sort of direction. Bit like now Edited May 12, 2017 by terryd Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DIDO.1 22,729 Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 You cant put in what nature left out............yes breeding is a big deal. this is about the only thing I will disagree with you on, breeding will only give the majority on the build characteristics you want, the rest is generally down to how it`s brought up, genetics is more about the physique rather than the make up of the brain inside it, when there are certain breeds that don`t conform to that it`s more likely to be too much interbreeding making it a shit choice, get two dogs from the same litter, bring one up to work and the other to be a sofa ornament both will do what they are wanted for but still the same litter I'm sorry but that's totally wrong genetics is as much about what goes on in its head as it is about build. Try teaching a staffie to heard sheep.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
beast 1,884 Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 Nature vs nurture. Scientists call it a synergism which means the two thingsides are so entwined that they rely on each other. It isn't possible to separate the two. In other words which contributes most to the size of a rectangle it's length or its width? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
j j m 6,539 Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 best dog i ever had was o mongrel collie what a dog she was Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kay 3,709 Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 Within 2 years of me having my greyhounds they had lost all desire to run after anything that moved , when I first got them they where still very quick & very sharp , I assumed it was because they had become somewhat conditioned to a companion role & I wasn't particularly interested in them chasing other things . so never encouraged it I was really surprised how quickly this happened, after all they where bred to sprint , in fact neither dog reacted on the lead to other dogs running around , when I first got them they did react to absolutely anything that moved , I don't think it was the natural progression of '' slowing down'' with age at 5 years old . I can only conclude that hundreds of years of breeding ''type'' has to be followed up by '' schooling'' or they loose that , but having said all that lot the little tatty mongeral terrier I had before the greyhounds was hand reared by me from 3 days old & had never hunted but she dealt with the mice in the shed in about 5 seconds Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sussex 5,777 Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 best dog i ever had was o mongrel collie what a dog she was Who knows what was in its mongrel past , probably a cracking dog or two .. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DIDO.1 22,729 Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 best dog i ever had was o mongrel collie what a dog she wasWho knows what was in its mongrel past , probably a cracking dog or two .. That's it. No one is saying mongrels are or arnt better....but if the dogs used to produce a mongrel have something about them then your going to get better a better chance of a good cross. Any lurcher is a mongrel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mushroom 12,918 Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 You cant put in what nature left out............yes breeding is a big deal.I always thought the same until my staffy went all gundog ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mushroom 12,918 Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 You cant put in what nature left out............yes breeding is a big deal. this is about the only thing I will disagree with you on, breeding will only give the majority on the build characteristics you want, the rest is generally down to how it`s brought up, genetics is more about the physique rather than the make up of the brain inside it, when there are certain breeds that don`t conform to that it`s more likely to be too much interbreeding making it a shit choice, get two dogs from the same litter, bring one up to work and the other to be a sofa ornament both will do what they are wanted for but still the same litterI'm sorry but that's totally wrong genetics is as much about what goes on in its head as it is about build. Try teaching a staffie to heard sheep.. See above I have no doubt if I had that training knowledge and maybe a dog already doing it. She would have took to it like a duck to water Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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