[pyrnet] Crossbreeding

[WOOF1@att.net]

Eric,

You make some good points.  Yes, all our 
loved "purebreds" were originally created by 
crossbreeding to some extent.  My own much-loved goldens 
only were "created" at the end of the 1800s.  I guess my 
criteria for those creating "new" breeds is that it 
should serve some purpose, other than creating a trendy 
new pet.  

For example, if someone *were* planning to intentionally 
crossbreed goldens and pyrs, there should be some reason 
other than they sure make pretty puppies.  Since the pyr 
was originally bred to work and think and reason 
independently of its handler, in the field, and that is 
not really a desirable trait in a pet (for most pet-
owners), though highly desirable to ranchers, perhaps 
one could justify such a breeding to try to get the "I 
reallyreallyreally want to work with you and do WHATEVER 
you want because it is FUN" attitude of the golden, 
while keeping some of the guarding behaviors, and the 
beautiful size and coat of the pyr.  Is that enough to 
justify creating a lot of mixed breed puppies who will 
NOT meet that new "standard?"  Not for me to decide.  

The breeder would need to have a clearly defined goal, 
as far as temperament, appearance, etc., and a well 
thought out plan for achieving that goal.  For what it's 
worth, I have seen NONE of the golden temperament in 
Gulliver, I think I got a pyr with a dye job!  ;-)  He 
is much more independent than my "needy" goldens, but he 
does love playing with them.  So, if Gully were the 
first generation in such a planned "new" breed, he'd be 
a failure!  He is definitely gorgeous, but got only the 
coloring, that I've seen so far, from his golden 
parent.  He does tolerate the male dogs well, though, 
and all three goldens are males, as well as one of my 
cockers.  I've read that male pyrs often don't accept 
other large-ish male dogs, so maybe that is a golden 
thing.  I'm not sure.  

I'm a pretty vocal opponent of "trendy" breeds such as 
the Mi-Ki, mini cockers, etc., and the moron backyard 
breeders producing bad-tempered, unhealthy "purebreds," 
so I guess I'd be a tough one to convince that a new 
breed is worth the collateral damage it could produce in 
puppies that don't meet the standards for the new breed 
or either of the "old" ones, but who still need good 
homes.  I find it hard to imagine a need that can't be 
met by one of the existing hundreds of breeds.

Just IMHO, of course.

Lori Whitwam

--
Ripley's Retrieve-It-Or-Not
http://www.geocities.com/~goldendog
North Star Humane Society
http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/MN04.html
or http://www.northstarhumanesociety.org
Dad's Memorial Page
http://www.geocities.com/~goldendog/JWC.htm
Retrieve A Golden of Minnesota http://www.ragom.org