As could be seen in the previous installment, ‘pure’ breeding is a product of an unnatural process of selection on dogs.
What’s simply refer to as a ‘mutt’, is a more naturally-occurring canine. When breeds mix between more than two strains, the outcome is regarded as not having a specific pedigree. It’s simply just a ‘dog’. By still thinking that every canine has a specific pedigree, we still ask about the type of dog.
To answer the question when the alluded dog isn’t ‘pure’, then the longer the explanation tends to be. It takes time trying to explain a blend of, say, Australian cattle with Chihuahua, & pit bull thrown in. concentrating more on the specific breed than any other characteristic is playing into the ‘glamour’ trap.
It’s incorrectly emphasizing status over necessary hardiness. A dog that has come about in a more natural way instead of ‘forced’ breeding, is bound to have more genetic vitality. Controlling the process of breeding a dog is akin to sending it to a street with no way out.
That being said, having now a higher amount of breeds has increased the gene pool of a mixed-breed dog. That’s the silver lining in all this. It’s probably why, when compared to the other earth’s species, dogs show more physical trait varieties.
Just think of the extremes observed in size differences. & what about the wide variety of colors? Natural dog fur markings are also widely varied, not to mention the extreme contrasts in dog hair variability. From having no fur at all, to observing weirdly funny textures; even naturally-occurring Presley-esque ‘hound dog’ coifs.
The wide variability observed in mixed breeds have their root on blending pre-selected traits from the past. That, & the unexpected phenotypes birthed when carefully controlled gene expression combines with unstructured mating.
That should be enough to have us ‘sold’ into preferring a non-pure bred canine. But better yet, check out the next installment where we’ll be going through specifics on the weaknesses of inbreeding. Just like with academics (accrediting bodies frown upon that), we should always limit its use.
