It is a common known fact that keeping dogs purebred entails a lot of inbreeding. We all know that inbreeding leads to health issues in humans, and it is the same for all animals. The lack of genetic variation caused by inbreeding makes the genes unable to select for good traits, and phase out the bad. This lack of variation leads to certain breeds being known for certain ailments, and why some purebreds have temperament issues. The ailments brought on by inbreeding have started the new trend of making mixed breeds to select for the good traits of each breed.
One of the most popular mixed dog breeds is the goldendoodle, a mix between the golden retriever and the poodle.This breed is advertised as hypoallergenic, the mix is supposed to prevent shedding and produce less dander. The genetics of a goldendoodle allow for the selection of better genes. However, this does not mean that goldendoodles are without medical issues. Both breeds used to make a goldendoodle pass ailments to the offspring, but the list of illnesses is much smaller than that of a purebred poodle or golden retriever. Only one health issue from poodles is passed down to goldendoodles is patellar luxation. The ailment of golden retrievers that carry to goldendoodles are elbow dysplasia, allergies, and gastric dilation-volvulus. There are some ailments that poodles and golden retrievers share and pass to goldendoodles. These ailments include hip dysplasia, Von Willebrand’s disease, and hypothyroidism. This list of ailments does not make for a completely healthy dog, but there are serious illnesses carried by golden retrievers and poodles that do not get passed down to goldendoodles. The most serious of these illnesses in Von Willebrand’s disease, a disease that interferes with the blood’s ability to clot. The smaller list of health issues that result from the mixed breed shows the benefits of genetic variation.
The pictures above are of my goldendoodle, Snicker doodle. She is four years old now. Snicker is a 60 lb dog that behaves as a lap dog. The only problem we have with her is her being extremely friendly. She is one of the nicest dogs you could encounter. Her temperament and health are both great. The idea that they are hypoallergenic is not true for Snicker. She does still produce dander, and when she does not have her coat trimmed she sheds a lot. This isn’t to say that there won’t be a goldendoodle without shedding, but I am not experiencing that with Snicker.
The pictures above are of my goldendoodle, Snicker doodle. She is four years old now. Snicker is a 60 lb dog that behaves as a lap dog. The only problem we have with her is her being extremely friendly. She is one of the nicest dogs you could encounter. Her temperament and health are both great. The idea that they are hypoallergenic is not true for Snicker. She does still produce dander, and when she does not have her coat trimmed she sheds a lot. This isn’t to say that there won’t be a goldendoodle without shedding, but I am not experiencing that with Snicker.
The examples of illnesses in these breeds does not mean that you are going to get a sick dog if you purchase a purebred golden retriever or poodle. The examples simply show evidence that it is healthier for the dogs to have genetic variation, rather than making sure a dog is purebred.
Related links:
References
Poodle Dog Breed Information, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts. (n.d.).DogTime.
Retrieved October 8, 2014, from http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/poodle
Golden Retriever Dog Breed Information, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts.
Goldendoodle Dog Breed Information, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts. (n.d.)
DogTime. Retrieved October 8, 2014,
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