DNA
Many mixed-breed rescue dogs are assigned breed types at the shelter with fingers crossed and a shrug of the shoulders. I can’t tell you how many “Lab/Shepherd” crosses I’ve worked with that resemble neither one of those breeds. For some reason, nearly every dog that passes through a shelter in the DC metro area has shepherd in it, despite how hound-y or spaniel-esque that dog might appear to be.
I’m also confounded by the number of “pure” mixes that are out there … sure, your dog might look like he had a Chow Dad and Pekinese Mom, but I’d wager that the parents were two mixed-breed dogs themselves. What’s wrong with calling a mixed breed just that?
When I met my client Trevor I thought that he was yet another adorable mislabeled mixed breed rescue dog.
His person told me that he’s a pug/basset hound mix. Oh really? This blonde-haired beauty, without a freckle or patch of brown on him, is a pug/basset mix? I don’t think so.
Wrong again, Madam Biscuit. Trevor had a DNA test! If science says that he’s a pug/basset mix, who am I to disagree?
His temperament hovers right around the Tasmanian Devil level, so I’m guessing that the pug side of him is the more dominant.
His person is clinging to the notion that somewhere inside that busy little body rests the soul of gentle, laid-back basset.
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Comments (1)
Andrea July 12, 2009 3:39 PM
That is definitely NOT a basset hound mix. If you look at a basset hound's legs they bend IN at the elbow and that shows on all basset mixes. This little guy is far from it. Could be beagle and something, beagle and chihuahua or corgi, pug? Jack russel.. or something along those lines? I don't really know, doesn't have to have the hound coloring to be mixed with hound. Someone said that my dog was a jack russel terrier mix! haha! He's beagle, basset and a TINY bit of corgi. See: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=37523699&albumID=2453441&imageID=50657500 Look at his elbows, they bend in.
Anyway, ya can't always be right, can ya?
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