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What's
in a dog? Love and happiness
February
28, 2008
We often see ourselves much differently than others see us. The same
seems to hold true for our dogs, or at least how we see our dogs.
We might describe our pooch as a beagle, for example, but other
people may not see anything in our dog remotely resembling a beagle.
I have a hard time describing my dog Caesar to others. He has
Rottweiler markings on his face, but has a very long snout and a
medium-sized body. He's definitely a mix of breeds. More often than
not, I describe him by his personality. He's intelligent,
strong-willed and likes to herd anything, be it people, other dogs
or cats. If I could give him the gift of living on a farm, I'm sure
sheep and goats would be in that number. So because of his
temperament, I often describe him as an Australian-cattle-dog-type,
even though he doesn't look like an Australian cattle dog.
In recent months, you may have heard about people using the advances
of science to determine the breeds that make up their mixed-breed
dogs. DNA testing of pets is becoming a more common practice,
especially as the price of high-tech testing drops. DNA tests to
determine a mixed dog's various breeds can cost an average of $50 to
$200.
Many see it as a trend and others as the answer to an owner's
curiosity about what breeds make up their dog, especially one that
everyone sees differently.
I find that at animal shelters two of the most common descriptions
people use when they don't know how else to describe a dog is either
shepherd mix or Lab mix. Here in New Orleans, where pit bulls are
popular, pit mix is another common description. Beyond those
descriptions, you're likely to find shades of pugs, shar-peis,
Boston terriers, corgis, Walker hounds, dachshunds, beagles, golden
retrievers and on and on.
That's what makes shelter dogs so wonderful. They're not castoffs,
as some people still view them, unfortunately, but rather an amazing
mix of temperaments, sizes, types and breeds, both mixed or pure.
That's why I find the fascination with what is being called designer
dogs, or hybrid dogs, like the buggs (Boston terrier/pug mix) or
the labradoodle (Labrador and poodle) disconcerting. Especially when
there are so many cool, hip mixes found at any animal shelter.
And really, how important is it to know what breeds your mix may be?
Unless you're a participant in professional dog shows, what your dog
looks like is inconsequential. How your pet fits into your lifestyle
and how your lifestyle matches with his or her temperament is really
one of the most important components in the human/animal bond.
- Gloria
Dauphin
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