Cross breeding

[MikeC]

As some of you may know, I got Duffy and Mickey from the same breeder. From time to time I will send her pics of them, and recently sent her the same picture that appears in my avator in this Forum. Well, today I got an email response from her saying how happy she was with the picture, how beautiful my boys had turned out, and the proceeded to tell me that she just bred one of her Cairns with one of her Westies. Here is a portion of her email; "We just bred a male Westie and a Black Brindle Cairn. We're going to have some Westairns!! I am hoping for some zebra striped puppies". I was absolutely appalled to say the least and sent her back a rather scathing response. I really thought this breeder was responsible and was staying true to her breeds. Now it sounds like she is resorting to breeding "boutique" dogs. I will have nothing more to do with her.

Mike

[Darcy's Mom]

Mike, I'm sorry to hear about your irresponsible breeder. I know it must make you sick to think that a "reputable" breeder would do this to two such beautiful breeds of dogs.

However, on the flip side, my Darcy is a cross breed. Mom was a brindle Cairn, daddy was a Westie. The lady we got her from supposedly bred Westies, exclusively, and said the Cairn mom was her personal pet and was an inside dog. Her story was that somehow, when mom was in heat, she escaped to the outside and one of her Westie males paid her a little too much attention. Next thing you know, puppies. There were only the two (females) pups and we just couldn't resist getting one of them. I wish we had also gotten her sister. You would never know Darcy wasn't full blooded Cairn unless, of course, you happened to be a dog show judge or really know the breed and what to look for. Darcy has all the traits of the Cairn, is gray brindle and has the most adorable face you'd ever want to see. So far, no health problems either. I don't condone cross breeding at all, and maybe what happened to our Cairn mom was just an accident or the lady wasn't watching her as carefully as she should have, but we love our little fur ball. We've had pure bred Cairns in the past and Darcy certainly looks like a Cairn. But to cross breed on purpose, I definitely don't agree with and I wonder if there isn't some sort of Board you could report her to.

[savannahsmom35]

It is very disheartening to discover that the breeder that you thought the world of may not be so great after all. Believe me, I know. I don't blame you for being upset that your breeder would intentially do something like that. I know that many cross bred, mixed dogs are awesome (in fact my childhood dog was a mutt and I loved her dearly) and I think that it is great when you choose to take one of them into your home; however, IMO a responsible breeder should not intentionally breed this way. They should be trying to better the breed, not create a new one. I am sorry that you got this news but I commend you for telling the breeder how you felt about the situation. Maybe your actions will discourage her from doing this in the future.

[Tracy A.]

Mike & Family:

Sorry to hear about this, I know it must be hard. A good breeder is like a life long family member, and it's hard when they aren't all what they said they were.

And you are right, someone commited to the breed would never do a cross breeding on purpose. It's like undoing centurys of selective breeding that produced the 2 different breeds to begin with- it's pointless and doesn't better the breed.... its only done for money.

'For love of the breed' is something that you'll hear quality breeders say when you ask they why they do what they do.

My 2 cents

[mrskti]

oh gosh, that must have been a little shocking to hear. I wouldnt have liked that either. It's big business you know, and that's sad. I think my breeders were less than stellar shall we say, but after the hell we went through that day with the road washing out and heading into the mountains, my dh would have killed me if I hadnt taken a dog after that. not a good excuse I know, but dang they were cute. I'll have to tell that story someday....oy, what a day.

[Eliz222]

Oh, Mike, I would have been upset too! You trusted this breeder and thought she was breeding to better the breed, not to make money! Does she show any of her dogs? I think I would report her also and get the word out to others. She, obviously, does not have the same goals or ethics a responsible breeder has.

A zebra striped dog? Oy!

[kayharley]

That's sad....

I get upset looking at ads for Puggles, Snoodles, YorkiePoos but to start messing around with our breed...

It's fortunate you found out before you gave her anymore business or referred someone to her.

Yes, I'd definately spread the word

[toomanypaws]

I agreee w/you Mike, I wouldn't like that either. The breeder I got Hannah from also breeds Westies, but he would never cross one w/ a Cairn. He's very particular w/ the pups he holds back for breeding. So what that this breeder gets some zebra striped pups! That surely doesn't mean the next line will be striped. Sure the pups will be cute, what puppy isn't. It just seems so unnecessarry to purposely mix breeds. The animal shelters are already full of too many mixed breeds due to irresponsible pet owners. Breeders should set a higher standard and stick to one breed and work on improving that breed.

[Scully'sMom]

Mike, high fives to you for standing up for what's right. I was really disheartened to hear what your breeder had done. All of us who love our Cairns - for being JUST Cairns - commend you for your actions!

[Logansmom]

Mike,

I'm sure I'll hear the wrath of the Cairn board but I am not as upset as most folks concerning this. Puggles,Snoodles etc. yes, that is mixing breeds and is bad for all concerned. Cute pups but there could be some health implications. Not that I wouldn't get one in a heartbeat if it needed me. But mixing a Cairn and a Westie...they are the same dog, different colors. This is akin to breeding a black brindle with a wheaton to get a different color. She was joking, I'm quite sure, about the zebra comment. An attempt at levity that failed. But to get a lighter color Cairn or a darker westie...if they aren't show dogs, who cares. I apologize if I am just not "getting" it but I don't see the issue. I would be more concerned with over breedinmg or not taking care of the pups, not with looking for a different color. Just my opinion.

[kcsdogs]

GRRRRR! I hate this kind of thing what are these people thinking anyways?