Tell me…What's Your Opinion of "Hybrid Vigor"?
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Hmmmm….that is interesting. I learned in school that the biological definition is between species. I don't think there CAN be a hybridization between genera...if anyone can think of one that exists let me know. Now I am really curious...I have Tim working on the query :)
From what I've read, the "beefalo" (or "cattalo") is a cross-genera hybrid. CattleXBison.
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I tell this story often - I was in a vet office and in came a puggle - being seen for an 'eye thing' on one eye. It was Cherry Eye - a problem noted with beagles. I asked if they had entropian in the eye first - they said no but they had that in the other eye. (Basenjis can have this but PUGS do a lot) as well as the same eye had Kertoconjuctivitius (dry eye) also a pug thing.
Both breeds have issues with PRA - so here was 1 eye with a beagle thing and 1 eye with a pug thing - so much for hybrid vigor.
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I have a Puggle and his eyes are constantly watery, poor guy. I haven't had many problems with him though, anal glands are always full and running eyes that's it. He also snores like a Mack truck (or maybe that is me snoring and blaming it on the dog)!
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To add another thought to the mix– species can develop problems because of inbreeding-- as in cheetahs, or any zoo animals. That is why zoos borrow animals from each other for breeding programs. The addition of new basenji's into the US breeding population in the last 10 years-- has very likely reduced the chance of some of the common basenji-specific diseases. Also the brindles are beautiful!
Kris
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To add another thought to the mix– species can develop problems because of inbreeding-- as in cheetahs, or any zoo animals. That is why zoos borrow animals from each other for breeding programs. The addition of new basenji's into the US breeding population in the last 10 years-- has very likely reduced the chance of some of the common basenji-specific diseases. Also the brindles are beautiful!
Kris
It has increased the size of the gene pool which will help to reduce Basenji specific problems, depending on how those dogs are bred…. But those dogs were not without health concerns that need to be considered also... again, it comes down to testing... and knowing what you are breeding and to who....
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My all-time fav is to hear how wonderful a labradoodle is and how healthy they are….
I mean, a stinky hairy lab bred to a poodle and they think that there will never by any issues?? Hihgly unlikely.
Even better, the most common issue with both breeds is PRA (progressive retinal atrophy, aka 'gradual night blindness"... so the resulting puppies are not any better off when it comes to PRA !!!DOH!! :eek:
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I deal with nutrition and not genetics but I do think that hybrid vigor applies to breeding two genetically different individuals, this can apply to two different breeds within the same species.
The problem with designer breeds is that one generation does not constitute a new breed. I'm not sure about dogs but in cattle you have to have at least 5 or 6 generations before the offspring are considered close enough genetically to be a new breed. When people cross two breeds, like a labrador and a poodle, you can never be certain what characteristics you will get. From the first generation, if you put two adult dogs side by side it is unlikely you could recognize them as the same breed. To make long story short a cross from the first generation, at least from the animal science perspective, is not a new breed.
In my opinion it isn't very responsible to breed indiscriminately because something looks cute. Designing a new breed with a specific working purpose and end goal in mind is something I don't have a problem with but I just don't think that most designer dog breeders have the knowledge to do this appropriately.
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Oh well - you can foold some of the people some of the time….....
How's the weather out there Ms Pat? We are a warm cloudy 27 - a heat wave in MN!
It is 49 and raining… and this is the 7th straight day of rain.... believe me for California... this is "hell" for Basenjis...gggg...
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When it gets cold and snowy here - for about the first week my dogs go out and run right back in and look at me like they are saying "i'll go out later when it's warmenr."
Eventually the need to poop and the knowledge that mom will be pissed if it's in the house - wins out. Can wait for spring mud
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Speaking of "desinger" breeds… my dh (for the longest time!) was trying to convince me to breed our Papillion to a mini daschund. All I could picture was huge ears that may or may not flip up at a moments notice, a super long body, and long legs. It would look like something out of a Salvidor Dali picture!!! EEk!
