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See, you both bring up one of the reasons I'm against this elitit breeding- humans, NOT Nature, are deciding which genes should be passed along to subsequent generations. I just don't see humans as being capapble of making wise decisions in this area. I mean, those dogs and cats who have trouble breathing because of their flat faces (I can't remember the breeds at the moment) were bred to have flat faces because humans find it attractive. In truth, the only animals I can think of that humans haven't "ruined" by selective breeding are most livestock- horses and most cattle I believe can go from being domestic to living in the wild with little trouble. Most dog breeds would have a very hard time surviving if all human life suddenly disappeared. Can you really see a chihuahua or pug successfully surviving for very long without its humans?

And I don;t know much about the breeder they went to- as I said, I don't like all of that fancy dogbreeding stuff, so I wouldn't even know how to begin checking out a breeder.

There's always a fluke, and there's always a story to illustrate said fluke. When you say respected - by who? If you seek out a breeder who's held in high regard by members of whatever community they compete in (conformation, obedience, etc), who interviews the buyer about the puppy rather than the other way around, and who can get you in touch with every person he or she has ever sold a puppy to - there's simply no chance of a problem like that. Temperament is genetic: friendly, happy dogs beget friendly, happy dogs. Just as there are horror stories on the purebred side, the same pops up on the mixed side. I've been bitten several times (as has pretty much anyone who visited the house the dog lives in the first eight or ten months they had him) by a friend's adopted dog. Have they stopped him biting? Yes, after almost a year of work, and he'll never be fully trustworthy. Another friend's family has been showing boxers for years, and I've never had to so much as think about the possibility of being bitten or growled at, because they're careful about the puppies they buy and the dogs they breed. Of course, I have no fear about my adopted dog, either. Most dogs are good solid animals, and most lack really serious health problems. Did your friend see the OFA certification on the parents? If they weren't rated "good" or "excellent," they never should have been bred - good or excellent dogs just don't throw bad hips. A town's "respected breeder" can often be a conformation community's known danger: the breeder everyone knows breeds too many litters, and doesn't care enough about health. A small network of contacts within the breed would have fleshed that out quickly, in a way local talk (as evidenced) rarely does. There are bad apples in every group; that's why it makes the dog world a better place that so many people are focused on soundness, health, and temperament. Backyard breeders say "well, hey, they're both labs!", puppymills say "the pups will be worth $450," but conscientious breeders say "I want a new puppy for myself - I have an incredible female, but who's the absolute best stud I can find in the country?" A person who owns both parents needs a closer look - is he or she going for the best genes or just the convenient match?

Sorry, rambling! Basically: I love mixed breeds, but since I can't take them all home, I wish people would darned well spay and neuter, and stop breeding puppies that no one's been on a waiting list for since March. People line up for the best puppies - if you're not producing the best, why not take in some foster dogs and find homes for them instead of creating more puppies no one has room for? Thank goodness there will always be people willing to take in dogs with unknown histories, but for those who need a hypoallergenic dog, or want to be 100% sure of a safe temperament, or who want to raise a puppy to know their cat is a friend, or who want to compete in a sport that helps create better dogs (basically, conformation is about what dogs have the best genes, and deserve to be bred. Trophies are just icing on the cake) - well, don't those people deserve to get what they want as well? Safe, sound, healthy puppies - even if they have to wait six months because the best breeders may only have a litter every few years because they seek out the best two dogs available. And what's wrong with that?

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

you will find elitism in ANY type of breeding.

Being the owner of 'purebred' imports and pet store mutts, i can see the benefit of the 2.

there are big big pitfalls with buying purebreds in fish the same as there are with dogs. we recently got a batch in from a very reputable breeder with some sprt of malformation that caused them to become incredibly eggbound and explode, despite our best efforts.

they were dark yellow/orange.

funny how that happens tho, i mean, so much effort seems to be put on the "show" aspect that the "health" aspect flies out the window...

kinda sad.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

True, LOL. Although I bet if he could, my mom's betta would have done it. He's always flaring at me and trying to attack me through the glass of the tank.