Big Paws Only Dog Forums

Thanks, Julie, for the links, and I do appreciate your knowledge and experience!  I am concerned about Berner mixes having some of the same problems as purebreds.  As for the rest, obviously I'm not euthanizing any puppies and there won't be any shelters getting my dogs.  Emotions do run high on these issues and I think that's fine because it's coming out of care for animals.  The problems we have as a society dealing with animals are all coming from people who do not share this care for animals, and that is important to remember.  So I can hardly be mad at anyone's remarks, even the most intemperate ones, when those come from someone volunteering her time and effort for rescues. 

I've been to the shelter in Pontiac, Michigan, when I was still mourning my Berner and thinking about his successor--it is absolutely full of pit bull mixes, all refuse from our vibrant dogfighting industry.  The saints at the shelter do not destroy any nonaggressive dogs no matter how long it takes to adopt them.  The social issues leading to the destruction of animal life in this country are complex, but they do come down to thoughtless, irresponsible, or as in these cases really criminally negligent ownership by humans.  The assumptions by many posters that a reasoned decision by a dog owner to allow a particularly wonderful dog to have a litter is the cause of these problems are.. well, I said it before, ideological, and could be thought through a little more. 

cheers

First, I'd like to thank everyone for your posts.  We of course knew that our decision to pursue backyard breeding of a 75% Berner would be controversial and I respect your opinions, and am particularly impressed with the respectfulness and intelligence of most of the posts.  Thanks.

1) Here is a picture of two of the girls from the Berner/Chow/Shepherd litter.  There were seven in the litter, one male and six females; five of the seven had markings and coloration closer to the father (Berner), two closer to the mother.  This pic is of two sisters, the chow-colored one is our Pye.

2) I do think we can agree that among AKC-certified breeders of all purebred dogs including Berners, there are good ones and  bad ones.  Many of us, me included, are neither "against" the breeding of purebreds nor the adoption of mixed breeds.  Where we understand things differently involves my statement that many of the specific problems that plague particular breeds came out of breeding practices that required drawing from in some cases very small gene pools for the sake of breed purity.  It is certainly true that there are responsible breeders who try to select for good hips and eyes, and with any sensible person I would recommend such breeders over bad ones if you want a dog with better chances of avoiding these problems.  But what is little discussed and understood is that these very practices--OFA certification is a perfect example--have had the general effect of severely shrinking an already in-bred gene pool even more. 

3) So why the resistance to producing a litter of wonderful pets with many of the characteristic s I cherish in the Berners and with a greater chance of avoiding their health problems?  Of course there is no guarantee of the future health of any litter, but can it seriously be challenged that such dogs are more likely to avoid those health problems?  Specific research on particular mixes is obviously lacking.  On the other hand, in a case such as histiocytosis, I don't know why one poster assumes that because there is a gene (even if it is spelled in capital letters!) for it, it can be passed on just as easily.  Virtually limited as this particular disease is to two breeds, isn't it likely the gene is recessive?  Isn't it probable it is passed on and on and on precisely because of the breeding practices we are talking about? 

4) I've hit a nerve because people have strong opinions about purebreds and mongrels.  That's fine.  I have thought about having a blog on this topic because of all the misunderstandi ngs that are out there about the subject.  But what I really don't understand is why people translate these feelings into the ideology that it is a "bad idea" or even morally "wrong" for me to have these beautiful pets. 

Not to unleash another firestorm!  I have appreciated your posts!  Oh, and

5) Anybody with a nice Berner stud want him to meet Pye?