Post by waterbearer on Nov 21, 2008 21:51:55 GMT -5
Oh Joan, I hope you didn’t misunderstand my tone and my concern. I'm sorry if you took offense. I wasn't suggesting that your dog was an intended designer dog, nor that the people who created her were headed down that path. I meant what I said about ASD / Pyr crosses being beautiful and wonderful dogs. I'm sure your girl is no exception. Scratch her ears for me.
I was however trying to point out that there are already a lot of Anatolian crosses, in particular Anatolian / Great Pyrenees crosses because many people "see a need" for the superior livestock guardian dog and that mix seems the most logical on paper. But as a consequence, the excess puppies from those litters, or those who do not work out in the role people were hoping they'd take on end up at rescues because they're a lot of dog to just have as a pet when what you need is one that does a job. Dogs rarely have litters of one puppy, and there is more than one well-meaning ranch like your friends’ with the same idea.
I was merely pointing out the shame I think it is that such a relatively rare breed in the U.S. (the Anatolian) seems to be used in this way quite commonly as is evidenced by the number of those crosses at both rescues I linked to, when there are hardly enough of straight ASD's in this country to begin with.
It further seems to be a waste IMO when in all likelihood, a pure Anatolian or a pure Great Pyrenees would do the exact same job a cross would. To me, it's like crossing a Portuguese Water Dog and an American Water Spaniel in the hopes that you’ll get a dog that loves the water twice as much, ya know?
Anyway, ASD’s do have a fascinating history, as do a lot of livestock guardian breeds I find. A lot like mustangs, when an animal has a long history of either being left to its own devices or has bred strictly for a utilitarian purpose instead of just looks, they tend to be infinitely more interesting.
And that dog breed selector is uncanny, I tell you. J
I was however trying to point out that there are already a lot of Anatolian crosses, in particular Anatolian / Great Pyrenees crosses because many people "see a need" for the superior livestock guardian dog and that mix seems the most logical on paper. But as a consequence, the excess puppies from those litters, or those who do not work out in the role people were hoping they'd take on end up at rescues because they're a lot of dog to just have as a pet when what you need is one that does a job. Dogs rarely have litters of one puppy, and there is more than one well-meaning ranch like your friends’ with the same idea.
I was merely pointing out the shame I think it is that such a relatively rare breed in the U.S. (the Anatolian) seems to be used in this way quite commonly as is evidenced by the number of those crosses at both rescues I linked to, when there are hardly enough of straight ASD's in this country to begin with.
It further seems to be a waste IMO when in all likelihood, a pure Anatolian or a pure Great Pyrenees would do the exact same job a cross would. To me, it's like crossing a Portuguese Water Dog and an American Water Spaniel in the hopes that you’ll get a dog that loves the water twice as much, ya know?
Anyway, ASD’s do have a fascinating history, as do a lot of livestock guardian breeds I find. A lot like mustangs, when an animal has a long history of either being left to its own devices or has bred strictly for a utilitarian purpose instead of just looks, they tend to be infinitely more interesting.
And that dog breed selector is uncanny, I tell you. J