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Central Newsmagazine is Central St. Louis County's
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Current Issue Cover Story |
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‘Designer’ dogs spark more than pet peeve problemsBy Diane Plattner
 People in search of the perfect pet are increasingly spending major money on “designer” or hybrid dogs that are expected to carry desired traits of their purebred ancestors. However, the trend of creating such pups often comes with unintended negative characteristics and health issues.
A “designer” or hybrid dog is a cross between two purebred dogs that can come in many combinations that have been given interesting and sometimes odd names. For example, there is the beagle hound (basset hound/beagle mix), cheeks (Chihuahua/Pekingese mix), dalmador (Labrador retriever/Dalmatian mix), Labradoodle (Labrador/poodle), foxhoodle (foxhound/poodle mix), golden boxer (golden retriever/boxer mix), pinny-poo (miniature pinscher/poodle mix), pom-a-pug (Pomeranian/pug mix) and schneagle (beagle/schnauzer mix). These and dozens of other hybrids are the cross of purebred dogs who have been bred over many generations to breed true with temperaments and characteristics similar to others of their breed. Many have said purebred dogs are beneficial because of their transparent characteristics and traits, such as their expected growth, temperament or required care. Different pure breeds are known to have certain abilities for agility, hunting and herding as well as reputations as companion dogs. The prestigious American Kennel Club (AKC), established in 1884, promotes the study, breeding, exhibition and advancement of purebred dogs. The largest not-for-profit purebred dog registry in the nation, the AKC allows people to show off the beauty, temperament, skills and other desired characteristics or traits of their purebred dogs. Like the purebred industry, this new trend has emerged in the breeding of “designer” hybrid dogs in an effort to produce the positive traits of their purebred parents. For example, the labradoodle, a cross between a poodle and a Labrador, has become popular because many people prefer the non-shedding hair of the poodle and the popular label of the Labrador, said Megan Marshall, a veterinarian at the Fox Creek Animal Hospital in Wildwood. But nature offers no guarantee that the hybrid dog will carry only the positive traits of their purebred parents. Instead, the hybrid may carry the undesired traits of either or both parents, Marshall and other animal experts said. They said that is because breeding two different types of purebred dogs can produce any combination of any of the characteristics found in either breed. “You never know what you’re going to get because you are basically breeding a mutt,” Marshall said. “So people should look at the disposition and other traits of both pet parents.” Officials of “designer” dog clubs said their hybrid dogs differ from mutts because the hybrids have known purebred ancestry. That differs from many mutts that may have uncertain ancestry and be comprised of various unknown breeds. Some people who stigmatize mutts as inferior because of their mysterious lineage decide to pay big bucks for hybrid or purebred dogs. But most people often do not realize that the so-called superior pure dog may be inferior to the mutt in terms of health. These “designer” and purebred dogs can be more susceptible to disease and often experience more health problems and shorter life spans than their mixed breed mutt counterparts, animal experts said. West County resident Cindy Henderson learned that lesson the hard way after shelling out major money for a scotchon (bichon frise/Scottish terrier mix) that she named Mitzy. The dog was a handful, Henderson said. She said Mitzy had a muscle control disorder and she ultimately developed bladder cancer that took her life prematurely. “I miss her and am having a hard time getting over her,” Henderson said. “Had I known she was at risk for these health problems, I would have never gotten her. Then I wouldn’t have had to go through this.” Marshall and other animal experts said selective breeding has placed at risk purebred and hybrid dogs that suffer health problems that impact their physical bodies as well as their behavior. The causes, they said, for increased health risks in more purebred dogs is similar to human inbreeding that can increase diseases. They said that the intentional mating of genetically similar individuals increases the concentration of diseased genes. The smaller the genetic line and the lower the variability, the more likely a diseased gene will stay within the pool, experts said. That puts purebred dogs the most at risk for a host of health problems that can shorten their life spans. Labrador and golden retrievers, for example, are known for problems with their hips, while congestive heart failure runs in some lines of boxers, Marshall said. She added that collies often have abnormal eye development and can become blind. “That has been proven to be inheritable,” Marshall said. That is just the tip of the iceberg, with many other breeds known for major health problems, animal experts said. The flat face of a bulldog that breeders deliberately manipulated in pursuit of aesthetically pleasing looks has created breathing problems because of their shortened air passages. The low-hanging eyes of a bloodhound cause chronic eye irritation and infection in many of those dogs. Similarly, the wrinkled skin of a Chinese shar-pei can become breeding grounds for staphylococcus and other bacteria, which can spark recurring skin infections, experts said. In addition, small toy or miniature dog breeds are more prone than some bigger dogs to dislocate their kneecaps. The short legs and long back of dachshunds causes those dogs to suffer more often from ruptured vertebral discs. Large dogs, like Saint Bernards and Great Danes, commonly suffer orthopedic problems, easily overheat and are more susceptible to malignant bone tumors in their legs that must carry massive weight. Several inherited diseases compromising the immune system also have shown up in certain breeds, such as basset hounds and Cardigan Welsh corgis, whereas Samoyeds and Australian terrier dogs are more prone to diabetes. Hereditary hearing loss is common in Dalmatians, Australian cattle dogs and English setters, while Alaskan malamutes, Siberian huskies, Samoyeds, bichon frise and more than 60 other purebred dogs suffer from inherited forms of cataracts in the eyes. Moreover, bloat, a potentially life-threatening inability to expel gas from the digestive system, is common among breeds with deep chests, like the Great Dane, Doberman and German shepherd. An inherited form of kidney disease affects English cocker spaniels, while Dalmatians are prone to kidney stones. Several pure dog breeds also are more susceptible to various types of cancer, including golden retrievers, which are prone to high rates of malignant blood vessel tumors, leukemia and brain tumors. Research also shows that German shepherds and chow chows are predisposed to gastric cancer, while Scottish terriers are 18 times more likely to develop bladder cancer than other breeds. Many pure breeds also commonly suffer neurological and behavioral problems. The bull terriers, for example, often compulsively chase their tails and Scottish terriers are affected by Scottie Cramp, a disorder that causes the dogs to lose muscle control when they get excited. Health problems related to animals’ bodies and behavior are not limited to purebred dogs, as some purebred cats are prone to certain health risks as well, industry experts said. Eureka Animal Hospital Vet Technician Holly McCreary, who breeds Siamese cats, said this special cat line is known for heart problems, which is why she must monitor them closely. “The more pure an animal is bred, the more health risks it faces,” McCreary said. “The smaller the gene pool, the more risk there is for problems.” While many breeders are well aware of their animals’ potential diseases and screen for orthopedic and other issues in their animals, others are not so careful, Marshall said. She said the problem is exacerbated when some breeders are careless and breed without such screenings, particularly in Missouri, which is notoriously known for its puppy mills, which leads to another issue. “Not only is there a concern about a small gene pool, but there is also a concern about care and environment for these animals,” Marshall said. Marshall said, for example, that the recent higher demand for the hybrid puggle, a mix between a pug and a beagle, has allowed some breeders to ignore good care of the animals in the name of profit. That is because registration and regulation of hybrids, which are not recognized as breeds, are not as strict as those for purebreds. “Anyone can produce a hybrid, many of which are found at the local animal shelter,” Marshall said. “When people cross two different breeds, they are basically making a mutt.” Marshall recommends that people interested in certain cross breeds or hybrids consider adopting animals from the local shelter, which could carry some of the same types of hybrids for far cheaper prices than the same animals labeled by breeders as “designer” pets. That may lead some people who choose to get their pets from shelters to spend anywhere from $75 to $200 on DNA testing services that offer some insight into their mutts’ lineages. While some people said those DNA tests may shed some light on their mutts’ backgrounds, others said those tests are a waste of money. They conclude that the search for the perfect pet comprised of the perfect characteristics and temperaments is futile. They said a mutt of many breeds may provide just as much love in a longer life span than their blueblood brothers and sisters.
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