EDMOND — Dr. Fauks: Our two daughters, 7 and 10 years old, have been bugging my husband and me for months to get them a pup or a young adult dog. We’re about ready to take the plunge but can’t decide on a purebred (so many breeds to choose from) or a mixed breed or mutt. In your experience, which is the smartest and healthiest? We’re getting mixed messages. — G.W.
A: This is an often-asked question that is open for debate, and one without a simple answer. One can make good arguments for both views. The only thing I’m sure of here is that you and the kids will soon learn to love and enjoy whichever canine companion you choose — purebred, mixed breed or a crossbreed (hybrid).
Don’t confuse the latter two — a mutt or mixed breed stems from the heritage of several breeds, while a crossbreed or hybrid is the offspring of two separate breed purebred dogs.
Mutts, mongrels, or mixed breeds constitute about 85 percent to 90 percent of the world’s dog population and unfortunately 85 percent to 90 percent of shelter dogs in need of a home.
In this tough economic period, like most of us, you’re probably looking for a bargain and none better can be found than the deal offered by the Oklahoma City and Edmond animal welfare shelters.
For the amazingly low fee of around $50 to $75 for dogs (any size) you can obtain a puppy or young adult dog that has been spayed or neutered, given shots, cleaned up and been through a thorough veterinary check-over. Purebreds and mixed breeds are available. At that price, what’s not to like?
Getting back to G.W.’s question, there are those who swear that most mutts are smarter than most purebreds — one such person is Nancy Novagard, owner of a New York City-based animal talent agency.
Novagard says that “purebreds can be more aloof and have less rapport with people, while most mixed breeds are friendlier dogs on the whole and they’re a little bit smarter.”
And according to dog trainer Carol Kotay, “mixed breeds have a gentleness you usually don’t find in a lot of purebreds. The latter are customarily more excitable.”
From years of personal observation it’s my belief that mixed breeds overall tend to be somewhat healthier and freer of genetic disorders common to some purebred dogs.
Here’s what a noted veterinary geneticist, Dr. Lowell Ackerman, has to say on the subject: “The recessive traits in some purebreds usually don’t show up when dogs of different breeds mate, so mixed breeds are less apt to develop their parents’ congenital conditions. For instance, if a puppy inherits a retinal atrophy gene from one parent and an epilepsy gene from the other, the gene pool gets scrambled with their condition less likeLY to surface in the offspring. With a lot of disease conditions you need two matching genes, one from each parent.”
So, it would seem, according to the “experts,” mixed breeds are probably a little smarter, a little healthier (no guarantees) and certainly a lot cheaper to acquire.
On the other hand, regarding purebreds, if your intent is to make a social statement, and you’ve got the extra cash to spend — go for it. Or maybe you’re looking for a dog for a specific purpose — say hunting, sheep herding or top obedience competition — then you probably will want to choose a specific breed that excels in that area.
Whatever you select, learn as much as you can about the individual, and then choose carefully.
DR. WILLIAM K. FAUKS is a retired Oklahoma City veterinarian. If you have any questions regarding the health of your pet, please write to “Ask a Vet,” at 3142 Venice Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73112, or e-mail bfauks1@aol.com.
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