After all, I had a two-year-old collie x die from lymphoma last year, bless him. You have to look at the bigger picture – as we did (and, incidentally, it included Swedish pet insurance data). And when you do that, the evidence is unequivocal: mixed breed dogs are statistically healthier, and they live a little longer too. That doesn’t mean crossbreeds are immune to problems – of course they’re not.

And of course many purebred dogs live perfectly long and healthy lives. But on average, the crosses are healthier. There’s a perfectly obvious reason for this: most problems in dogs are recessive which means that both parents must carry the gene for it. If the parents are of the same breed, they’re more likely to carry the same gene.

Now about the crossbreeds are more healty.Even in crossbreeds you can find a matings between a father and a doughter or a mother and a son.I belive they are more offten then we think.I have an oportunity to see that kind of puppy’s too.

I’m not suportting that kind of maiting,by us is aloved that we breed two dogs who are reletive in third generation.I’ still learning about breeding dog’s but I would do everything that my dogs will live a long, healty lives.

But most of all I would prefer that someone do something about “back yard”breeders and puppy mills owners.There you will find all the sadness of dogs world.
Tjaša

“Perhaps Jemima Harrison would care to publish the results of her Alsation /Setter cross’ HD scores just to prove me wrong, as both those breeds have been scoring for HD over the last 30 years. It would be interesting to know that 2 breeds with problems in HD, mated together can produce a clear crossbreed. Iam sure both Setter and Alsatian breeders would be delighted to learn how to breed out the problem.”

Not sure you’re going to prove much of a point with my Jake… six years old now, a dog who runs up to 20 miles a day and has not had a day’s lameness. But judge for yourself:
http://www.blackretrieverx.co.uk/Black_Retriever_X_Rescue/Jake2.html

As for “a private study carried out by an HD specialist who was keen to make a comparison”, I’m afraid it’s meaningless unless the study has been peer-reviewed and we can have a look at the data. Having said that, because HD is polygenetic and evident in many breeds, of course the progeny of two breeds that have it are going to suffer too. The difference comes with recessive, breed-specifc conditions and there the evidence is clear – crossbreeds suffer less, at least in the first generation. There is tons of scientific data out there to support this.

“The basset person interviewed in the production was lied to and told the filming was on “fun hobbies”. Much of what he had to say ended up on the cutting room floor. The production company specializes in splashy, controversial productions, such as “The use of Ecstasy for Parkinson’s Patients”. This is all about money and a media splash.”

Sarah, this is not true. The basset person interviewed in the production was told clearly that the film was about canine health and signed a consent form to that effect. As for our film “Ecstasy + Agony” – it was a serious scientific investigation for the top science series in the UK (BBC Horizon). Indeed, the film won several very prestigious awards and, more importantly, helped prompt new research into Parkinson’s Disease that could help relieve the suffering of hundreds and thousands of sufferers. You’ll find a comment from the lead scientist involved in this research at the bottom of this page on our website which also includes contributions from other leading scientists.
http://www.passionateproductions.co.uk/reviews.htm

I do think that the success of bassets in field trials would reenforce the whole “fit for purpose” point.

The other important point you make here is that bassets in rescue have health problems. I am assuming that these are often basset-mixes. Are you saying that mix-breeds aren’t as healthy as some people would have us believe?

Of course, for these kind of comments to get above the anecdotal we’d need data and I don’t think vets collect data on basset-crosses do they?

Thanks for commenting, Sue. Very best wishes.

In the Los Angeles area, we have an active rescue program and house anywhere from 85 to 100 Bassets at any given time at a ranch facility. The Albany Bassets would blend in well at our ranch I must say. And I will also add that the dogs which come through our rescue program have all of the same health issues as show bred Bassets, plus a few of their own added in. Perhaps the biggest difference between the puppy mill Basset and the show ring Basset is in temperament and personality as the show bred Basset is and remains ideally “fit for the purpose” of being a superb family pet and companion.

The show bred Bassets in the US can and do hunt and there have been many dual Champions produced, titled in both the conformation and field trial areas. About the only thing our show Bassets can’t do is be a top Agility competitor as they just don’t have the speed to careen around the course as fast as a lighter breed…after all, they weren’t designed for speed, which is a fact Ms. Harrison appears to have missed!

Very best wishes,
Jon

It is absurd that they say,that the Basset Hound can run or walk normaly.For breeding licence in our country they must past the hunting test.This is not the test where they tracks,but they must find the game and run after them for 15 minut whit voice.If the judge see what kind of game they chasing the point they get are higher.I have now four Basset hound and I have to pas this test, this year, whit three of them.I also want to say,that this hunting test is not enough.They also must past the working test on state lavel,so they get there working certificate.All of my Basset Hound are in type of standard and runing around thas not couse them any problem.They also does not have any problem whit health.

Sorry, if my english is not correct.
Best Regards,
Tjaša Leskovšek-Sever