Day Of The Half-breed Dog
In many European countries, such as Spain, the day of the mixed breed is celebrated every year. These animals are just as fascinating as dogs that are considered purebred. It is important to let us know before spending large amounts of money on buying a dog. There are many mestizos who need a home and are unable to find it because too many prefer the breed. This shouldn’t be the most important aspect of choosing a dog. The key thing should be our relationship with him, not his appearance.
Although more and more events are organized in various Italian cities in which mestizo dogs are celebrated, it is time that an official mestizo dog day is also established in the Bel Paese, to raise awareness of the little importance of the breed.
Advantages and disadvantages of a mixed breed dog
Mixed-breed dogs have their advantages. In the first place they are affected to a lesser extent by congenital diseases, even if they are equally prone to contract other types of serious diseases and, therefore, need the same care as a purebred dog.
An obvious disadvantage is that we cannot predict their appearance, behavior and temperament in adulthood, as can be done with purebred dogs.
When choosing a purebred dog, we must not only consider the appearance, we must also analyze all the needs and care that this breed needs and understand if we are able to satisfy them.
An example of this is hair care. Purebred dogs need a lot more dedication and a lot of care; some small breeds, in addition to regular grooming, need regular professional intervention.
In the case of pure breeds, there are several hereditary defects to which some species are much more susceptible. We need to make sure of the problems that can arise when we go to see a litter. Sure the puppies will all be adorable, but you need to be more responsible when choosing.
Mixed-breed dogs have no obvious disadvantages over purebred ones, but they have many advantages instead. They are loving and affectionate animals, as well as loyal, grateful and with an enormous ability to show affection.
Each mixed breed dog is unique
Non-purebred dogs are highly intelligent and easily trained. They do not suffer from degeneration caused by inbreeding and, thanks to the genetic diversity that characterizes them, they have peculiarities that make them unique and unrepeatable. They also have great physical endurance and live longer (there are dogs that have reached 20 years of age).
They are proven to be calmer and more balanced than their purebred relatives; it is true that crosses made by unprofessional breeders can cause behavioral alterations in some specimens of breed, however the natural selection of mestizos almost totally avoids these alterations.
Dogs that roam our streets and those that run away from kennels where they will be sacrificed develop a survival instinct that they will leave for future generations, something that does not happen in pure breeds.
A mestizo can come from generations of ancestors who lived with their owners until various circumstances resulted in abandonment. So it can be animals that have a great desire to have a second chance and to live again with another family. When that happens, they will be eternally grateful.
How is a breed formed?
An interesting fact to consider is that purebred dogs are actually basically mestizos. For example, if we analyze the genealogy of an admired breed such as that of the Saint Bernard, we discover that it comes from the cross between a German dogo and a Pyrenean mountain dog descended from the Abruzzese Maremma and the Hungarian shepherd Kuvasz, which in turn comes from from the crossing between other breeds.
It is therefore absurd not to take mixed dogs into consideration for the simple fact that they are not pure.
