Cost of Maintenance

Hey guys!

Sorry for the giaaaaaaaant gap between now and when I last posted! Here's a quick post on the costs of purebreds versus mixed breeds!

First, let's disregard the costs that will pretty much remain constant for similar sized dogs despite lineage. These costs include routine vet visits, obedience training, vaccines and other preventative medicines, costs of food, treats, toys, and other accessories.

You are left with the initial costs and possible medical costs. If you are dead-set on buying a purebred dog, and you commit yourself to buying one from a REPUTABLE breeder, you are looking at anywhere from $500 to $2,000, depending on the breed.

As an example, I did some research on purebred, AKC registered German Shepherds. Their prices range from $750 to $2,500. At a specific kennel, the Keystone German Shepherd Kennel, the cost for buying a pedigree G.S. is $1,500.

Should you wish to adopt (and save a life!♥) a mixed breed, you are looking at between $50-$200 dollars, more or less depending on the breed. Of course, if you wish to adopt a purebred, there are many, many breed-specific rescues where you may find your future canine soul-mate.

After further research, I found that if you rescue a German Shepherd (or G.S. mix) from the Virginia German Shepherd Rescue, the adoption fee would be $250.

Some of you may realize that you can buy a pedigree puppy for cheap at some other (sketchy) breeder's, or a pet store, but keep in mind that if the breeder is a backyard breeder, or worse, puppy mill, your puppy will very likely have health issues later on in life that will cost a lot to fix...IF they are fixable. Also, I personally do not believe seeing the dog that you love suffer through all these diseases is worth the few hundred dollars you saved. As a reminder, I did a blog post on how to spot a reputable breeder a while back...HERE.

~S

P.s. A *lot* of pet stores get their (potentially verrrry unhealthy) puppies from sketchy breeders. :( Save a life and adopt a puppy instead~ ♥

Abstract done!

Hello, hello all. Long time no see! I've been kind of busy with college stuff and project stuff and completely neglected my blogging...sorry, sorry!! I got my abstract done on time, though! Here it is. 

Abstract

                                      

A recent study by the National Animal Interest Association has shown that mix-breed dogs are almost twice as likely to be euthanized at shelters as pure-bred dogs, a risk that increases with age for mixed-breeds but not pure-breeds. As a whole, out of the 5-7 Million cats and dogs enter animal shelters and only 15-20% of dogs are reclaimed. If the general public can be convinced that mixed breeds are equal or superior to purebreds, mixed breeds dogs may be adopted more frequently and thus their lives will be saved.

It is speculated that the reason purebreds are more likely to be reclaimed, as well as less likely to be put-down, is because they are bought at a higher price and more desired. But are purebreds really superior to mixed breeds in terms of health and intelligence? It has long been postulated that purebreds are less healthy than mixed breeds due to inbreeding, while superior in intelligence due to lineage. Through many weeks of research, personal experience, and consultation with a veterinary technician, a conclusion has been reached; from the data collected in this study, it may be surmised that mixed breeds as a whole are indeed healthier in accordance to the Hybrid Vigor Theory, and equal in intelligence to purebred dogs. This is because as a breed, if the dogs are bred irresponsibly, then similar to inbred royal families, they will have deformities and diseases and live a shorter life span. However, intelligence is very individual and cannot be determined by breed alone; even in the same breed, there may be a wide range of intelligence levels, not to mention in different breeds. Certain breeds may be better bred for following commands just as others are better at guarding valuables, but there is no accurate standard of intelligence. 

~S

All Sonyas Think Alike?

Hi, y'all~

If you're a frequent visitor, you may have noticed that the background has changed. The reason for this is because there is another blogger with the exact same name and same background as me (Perhaps all Sonyas think alike?). Naturally, I had to make mine infinitely better, so I did. I did get a suggestion to write the other Sonya a very angry email (How dare you have the same name as me?!), but I gracefully declined in the name of carrying good relations with my namesakes (though it appears she is older than me, and her blog is pretty much entirely in traditional Chinese).

Here's the picture motivation of the day! 

In regards to the pit bulls thing, clearly not all pit bulls are aggressive and dangerous (see above). Their temperament does depend on the environment they were raised and taught in, but keep in mind that pit bulls were bred to be good fighters; therefore, there are certain traits that purebred pit bulls were bred for that makes them better fighters: strength, athleticism, eagerness despite possible injuries, and sometimes aggressiveness. Don't let a few poorly trained/raised ones give a bad name to all pit bulls though! They can be loving and warm companion dogs.

Here's a general tip on mixed breeds versus purebreds. I have mentioned the Hybrid Vigor Theory, or Heterosis, in my past posts. While it is true that I and more educated experts believe and support this theory, it does not guarantee that any and all mixed breeds will be healthier than any and all purebreds. This is simply because mixed breeds may inherit genetic disorders, too. For example, if you have a mixed breed--or more appropriately, a cross breed--from two poorly bred, unhealthy purebreds, it is likely that your cross breed puppy will be unhealthy. Likewise, purebred puppies that are *responsibly bred* may be quite healthy. A good breeder will make sure to breed puppies for good qualities and away from bad ones.

That having been said, the general assumptions that many purebred dogs are irresponsibly bred or inbred

and have health issues like the Golden Retriever I saw at the animal hospital still holds true. Just keep in mind that there is no golden rule for choosing the perfect canine companion; you have to see for yourself the characteristics and temperaments of your future dog instead of deciding solely on breed or aesthetics. Even within a breed--a litter, even--the temperament of the puppies may vary greatly.

~S

No Pictures! Sorry

Hey guys! This post is actually more of a record of my observations. A little while ago, I managed a trip to the Hillside Animal Hospital for an observation day. What struck me about the vets wasn't just how amazingly knowledgeable they were, but how easily they performed each and every diagnosis and operation.

In my imagination, there were always lots of sterile, beeping machines and shiny metal trinkets hooked up to the animals being diagnosed, similar to my (probably mistaken) impression of humans getting checked out. In reality, whatever dog or cat was brought in was taken to a small room with the owners and the doctor doing the examination and checked out there. It usually is very simple, but depends on the case.

In one case, a pet rat with an abscess on her face right under the eye was taken in, examined, and put into surgery a few hours after. I don't think this was the first time the patient came in, but her surgery seemed relatively simple. The abscess was removed--literally cut off--and the wound sewn up, and that was all. Of course, there were the standard hygiene procedures, and she was given antibiotics and a neck guard to wear so she wouldn't reopen the wound, but it was a quick procedure overall.

Another patient that came in was an aging Golden Retriever who had some sort of blood clot or dark spots on his side; he was put under monitored anesthesia, and the dark spots were removed and the wounds sewn up. I was told that this purebred had several other severe problems with his legs and bones.

I also bore witness to multiple teeth related surgeries, and some teeth cleanings (teeth problems appear to be very common), but I was surprised at the ease the veterinarians performed with. I suppose it comes with experience, but it was really awe-inspiring.

~S

P.s. One of the vets told me that vets go through very extensive training (even more so than human doctors?) to know both human diseases and animal diseases. Wow! :o

Even More...

I bet you're bored of reading about canine intelligence now...but bear with me for one more post! We'll have a break...and then continue on the topic of intelligence. This topic is too vast and some parts of it are too inscrutable for it to be covered by a mere student like me, but I'm doing my best.

This post will comprise of some common statistics I've found. Since we've established that instinctive intelligence is too different to be compared, you should test for work & obedience intelligence and adaptive  intelligence instead, since those vary among individuals.

As far as work & obedience, Border Collies, Poodles, and German Shepherds are ranked the top three for their abilities to learn and follow commands, while Bull Dogs (I wonder why our school mascot is this), Basenjis, and Afghan Hounds are the three lowest ranked. Below is a picture of an Afghan hound; regardless of his abilities (or lack thereof) to follow commands, he sure is pretty (Wish my hair looked like that). Afghan Hounds are also esteemed hunters, and are very protective of their territory.

Some more statistics: according to studies, a dog's mental ability is close to that of a human child between 2 to 3 years old. They can apparently understand up to 165 words and signals, with the most ever recorded--based on a Border Collie named Rico--at 250 words. In addition, dogs can also count up to five and have a basic understanding of math, such as one plus one equals two.

That having been said, dogs are also very good at discerning body language. Being pack animals with very absolute hierarchies, it has always been important for dogs to be able to observe communicate. Thus, dogs (and cats) are very sensitive to the mood and atmosphere around the house. They are prone to watching you closely--are you smiling? Angry? Staring intently at them? Based on these signals, companion dogs are able to provide comfort to their owners. In fact, dogs and cats will generally be listless when you are, and are very easily stressed out when there is a lot of shouting or fighting around the house.

Bye for now!

~S

Expanding Upon Intelligence

Here's your motivational comic for today!~ And hello, long time no see.

The last time we talked about intelligence, we established that humans have two types of intelligence, fluid and crystalline, which can also be applied to dogs. We also accepted that the temperament of the breed (how food-motivated the dog is) may affect the testing of his intelligence. Upon further inspection, these two theories may be combined, and we can say that dogs actually have three categories of intelligence. In addition to fluid and crystalline intelligence, which for dogs are called adaptive and instinctive intelligence, there is also work and obedience intelligence. Here are the definitions, watered down:

• Adaptive Intelligence: what the dog can learn to do by himself by interacting with his environment; may vary among individuals, even of the same breed. (Crystalline intelligence)

• Instinctive Intelligence: the work a dog was bred for; something instinctual and innate. Pretty much the same for dogs of the same breed. (Fluid intelligence)

• Work and Obedience Intelligence: what a dog is capable of when instructed by a human; school learning ability. May vary among individuals. (A type of crystalline Intelligence)

Work and obedience intelligence is basically the ability of a dog to learn words, commands and actions from his human. This is the type of intelligence you build when you teach your dog how to play dead or fist bump you, or how to sit. In my mind, this is different from instinctive intelligence because learning how to fist bump a person is not instinctual, it is something a dog learns to please his master or receive rewards. 

Following that statement, instinctive intelligence is what a dog is bred for--for example, shepherds herd, hounds track, and guard dogs watch over things. Most dog breeds have a different instinctive intelligence, but the range is really too varied to compare which one makes the breed "smarter." 

Adaptive intelligence then, is what we discussed about the Husky--independent learning through experiences and personal desires. This is very individual. 

Interestingly, these three types of intelligence are categorized by a certain Dr. Coren, a name I kept coming across in my research on canine intelligence. I guess the universe is telling me to read his books, since he is a dog trainer, expert, and professor. 

As Promised: How to Spot a Good Breeder

Heyo~ Most of the time, I feel somewhat strange writing a blog all about dogs. The truth is, I have two cats (gasp) and I'm often described as a cat person (double gasp!). However, one of them is really fat and could probably suffocate a small dog with his weight, while the other exhibits sulky teenage behaviors, so it's a little like I have a small, fat dog and a teenage daughter. Keep in mind though, my first love was the dog; I've always loved animals, but dogs have had a special place in my heart (now cohabited by cats).

So as I promised in my blog yesterday, we will be discussing how to spot a good breeder. This is a sort of continuation of my Adopting vs Buying post, if you guys want to see the first part you can check the archive on the right!

Here's a comic for motivation:

To start, I present you with a golden rule to live by: do not buy puppies over the internet. The internet is very sketchy (In fact do not buy puppies from puppy mills, or sketchy persons milling parking lots either).A good breeder should ONLY sell a puppy to someone he has met in person. He should allow you to visit the living areas of the puppies, and said living areas should be clean and spacious (relative to the breed's needs). A good breeder should not have a gazillion puppies milling about, and should only have one or two breeds he specializes in. The puppies that are bred from a good breeder should appear healthy and clean, have vaccination and medical records, and should not be caged 24/7 or show fear of strangers.

In addition, a good breeder is responsible. This entails caring for each and every life it creates--many breeders will have you sign a contract to confirm that should you not be able to take care of your dog, your dog will be safely returned to the breeder instead of a shelter or a pound. Responsible breeders should also have you sign a contract stating you will spay or neuter your puppy, unless there are extenuating circumstances. 

A good breeder should keep his puppies the way any responsible person keeps his pets: healthy, clean, and happy. Should you have any questions about the puppy's parents or any genetic disorders, your breeder should be able to answer them and may even offer his assistance in regards to future training, or give references to veterinarians. Most good things in life do not come easily, and neither should buying a puppy. Hope this helps. :)

~S

Canine Intelligence: Methods of Testing

Ja, with no preamble, let's get into canine intelligence. Sit tight :)

Psychologists have classified two different types of intelligence in people, fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence. In short, fluid intelligence is a capacity you are born with and is independent of acquired knowledge, where as crystallized intelligence is acquired through experience, like your abilities to apply the knowledge and skills you have. Fluid intelligence is something that can't really be improved on once you reach a certain limit, but crystallized intelligence is always growing, in accordance to you experience. Most human IQ tests are a combination of both of these types of intelligence.

Unrelated fact: the names actually confuse me a lot at first, because if you think about it, water is more fluid and has more capacity to change...and crystals are just...there. They're solid and...immutable...I guess you just have to associate the name with the opposite meaning?

In any case, according to Dr. Stanley Coren, a dog trainer and a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia, fluid and crystallized intelligence may be applied to dogs as well. He claims that dogs, like humans, can be taught to improve their IQ. Similar to humans, dogs can only improve the crystalline part of their intelligence, through gaining new experiences and handling various new situations. 

Because fluid intelligence is defined as "the capacity to think logically and solve problems in novel situations" (Wikipedia), most intelligence tests utilize problem solving skills as a way to gauge intelligence. For example, one of the common tests you'll hear about is the "treat under a bucket" test. What you are supposed to do is place a dog treat under a bucket or can after showing it to your dog, and time how long it takes him to knock over the can and get to the treat. Supposedly, the shorter the time it takes your dog to solve this particular puzzle, the smarter he is. Honestly, I'm not very convinced by these, because I don't believe in simple solutions, but that's just me. I do think that they can give you a verrrrrrrry vague idea of how smart your dog is, though. 

In fact, for you dog owners, here are a couple of similar IQ tests for your dog, if you'd like to give it a shot: http://www.abc.net.au/animals/dog_test/test1.htm

I'm somewhat skeptical because I think this author is kind of offensive...Apparently if your dog scores less than five points, he "must be an Afghan." Unless he's joking...then he's still offensive, but I'm just humorless. I have been told that before, unfortunately.

~S

P.s. Next time we'll take a break from intelligence and discuss how to spot a good breeder (Thanks VZ!), and then get back to it when we discuss instinctive and adoptive intelligence in dogs. Until then~

Intro to Canine Intelligence: Difficulties

Sometimes I feel bad for only feeding my fish once or twice a week, i.e. when I write my blog posts.

Guilt aside, we're starting a discussion on canine intelligence today! This is actually quite a difficult area to breach, because  unlike health, which is pretty universal, there is no set way to gauge intelligence for dogs. Although there are various tests that have been invented for that purpose, none of them are general enough to be accurate for all breeds of dogs.

Similarly, the IQ test for humans is not an accurate judge of intelligence either. In fact, intelligence itself is hard to define; if you look it up on Google like I just did, you'll find the definition is "the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills." However, does knowledge mean instinctual behaviors, like being housebroken to keep the living area clean? Is it the ability to repeat an action forced upon the dog a hundred times, like learning how to sit? Or is it independence and innovation, the act of learning without being taught?

The main issue is how to differentiate the signs of intelligence, since each breed is particular to certain behaviors. For example, Border Collies are naturally good at obeying commands due to their shepherd instincts, while Siberian Huskies are very independent problem-solvers. So which of these traits portray more intelligence? If a dog is more prone to follow commands, it could be because he is motivated by rewards--treats or affection; but if he has no such motivation and would rather do things his own way, like Huskies, who are famous and ingenious escapees, can they be called stupid?

On that lovely note, we'll continue this discussion next time, because I have a killer headache.

~S

Diseases and Other Fun Things: Part II

Hey guys,

You're all in luck today! Today's topic is hereditary diseases (and other fun things) as opposed to non-hereditary diseases (like heartworms, which we discussed in the last blog post).

One hereditary disease that is on the rise is diabetes. Like humans, dogs also get diabetes. Also like humans, diabetes are more common to females and overweight dogs. The number of affected dogs right now is low, but on the rise—an increase of 32% since 2006—precisely because it is hereditary.

A 2007 study published by the "Journal of Heredity" claims that the Cairn Terrier and the Samoyed are the breeds with highest rate of diabetes. This study provided evidence that small dogs are more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, and also tentatively claims that more mixed breeds have diabetes, even though the breeds with the highest diabetic rate are pedigrees. It is unknown whether this is because mixed-breeds are actually more susceptible, or because there are more mixed-breeds; there are other factors that must be taken into account. Regardless, both mixed-breeds and purebreds can and will inherit diabetes, although it is less likely to manifest until a dog is older. 

Enjoy the fluffy Samoyed puppies!

Symptoms may include excessive drinking and urination, poor coat health and dry, scaly skin, weakness in rear legs, vomiting, and weakened immunity. If left untreated or poorly regulated, diabetes could cause blindness and renal (kidney) problems. 

Unfortunately, canine diabetes is incurable, with very rare exceptions. It is dependent on insulin production, but can be treated with medicine (insulin-injections, etc) and regulated with diet and exercise. However, treatment is generally life-long.

Ending on a more positive note, if your dog is not genetically susceptible to diabetes, it can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle--diet and exercise. Even if he is, he may be treated and will live normally, aside from the need for insulin injections, so never lose hope!

~S

Diseases and Other Fun Things: Part I

Hey all! We are briefly examining the exciting (?) topic of diseases today, so prepare yourselves for a barrage of disease-related information. :)

Fortunately, most of the common canine and feline diseases are actually non-hereditary. Why is this fortunate, you say? Well, due to the increased amount of vaccines and medicine, common non-hereditary diseases such as rabies and flea infections have decreased and are actively being prevented from manifesting and spreading. In addition, even if a dog is contaminated with a disease, it is likely curable. This is not to say hereditary diseases are incurable, but that they are harder to cure and may be passed on to a new generation.

Unfortunately, there are non-hereditary diseases that are very hard to treat-- such as heartworms. I was going to drudge up some disgusting, gruesome pictures for you guys so you can have the visual experience like I did, but I decided that  I would be a good person instead (and also keep my dinner). Heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) are parasitic creatures similar to roundworms, but spend their adult life in the right side of the heart and the large arteries and veins connecting the heart to the lungs. Heartworms lay larvae in the bloodstreams and may reach 14 inches in adulthood; these larvae are spread to other animals through mosquitoes (yet another reason to hate mosquitoes) and migrate to the heart and, in some cases, the lungs to leech off nutrients for food. An infected organism may have hundreds of heartworms living in its heart; the symptoms are decreased appetite, weight loss, coughing, listlessness, accumulation of fluid in the abdominal area, and fatigue during exercise, or even heart failure.

Even though heartworms may be exterminated, the process can be  long and painful, depending on the severity of the case. There are preventive medicine and drugs to kill heartworms (immiticides) that can be injected into the muscle of the back, but these treatments usually take weeks to complete, not to mention they contain arsenic that may cause side effects (in rare cases). Even after heartworms are killed, the carcasses may block up the arteries and still cause heart failure in severe cases.

Such diseases are common to all dogs, whether they are pedigrees or not. A dog is a dog, and heartworms have been identified in all fifty states of the US.

If you like spaghetti, I would suggest that you do not look up heartworms, because that's what they look like...except bloody and alive and eating your heart (Not to worry, it is extremely rare for humans to be infested with heartworms).

~Someone who won't be eating spaghetti for a long time.

Let's talk...Mixed breeds!

Hi y'all,

Today's topic is mixed breeds! Also known as "mongrels," "mutts," or "hybrids." Personally, I prefer the term mixed-breeds or hybrids (less to type! That's always good), because it kind of makes me uncomfortable to call a dog a mutt. I know, it's ridiculous: the term mutt as applied to dogs is generally not derogatory (but do not call people that!), I just do not like using it.

Very technically, there is a difference between a cross-breed and a mixed-breed. A cross-breed is a dog that is intentionally bred and has two purebred parents. An example would be the Labradoodle, a cross between a Labrador and a poodle.

A mixed-breed is a dog that may be accidentally created, and may have mixed-breed parents as well. For simplicity's sake, I like to think of crossbreeds versus mixed-breeds as first generation (with purebred parents) versus second generation (with mixed parents). However, for the sake of this project, there is no difference between cross- and mixed-breeds. 

The entire reason for saying mixed-breeds may be healthier is because a lot of purebreds may have been inbreeding for generations, drawing from the same gene pool and receiving the same alleles over and over. Not unlike humans, where inbreeding causes extensive physical and mental problems, dogs may also have physical and temperamental issues. 

Random trivia: royalty were infamous for inbreeding to keep the line pure (sound familiar?) and keep the power within one bloodline, i.e. sisters married brothers, cousins married cousins, etc. One famous example among many is Charles II of Spain, the last Hapsburg  He lived only to be 35, and had physical deformities (so much so that he was rumored to be cursed by a sorcerer and called Charles the Hexed) and mental disabilities, as well as a history of insanity in his family. There is a good reason inbreeding has stopped in modern times, and not just because you don't want the family confusion of she's my sister...but also my aunt?!

The Hybrid Vigor theory is also called heterosis, and explains how out-breeding measurably enhances the genetics of a species or hybrid. This applies not just to animals, but to plants as well. This theory is still contested, but I believe it makes sense. After all, out-breeding enlarges the gene pool and makes it more likely for dominant traits to mask recessive ones. According to Dr. Urs Giger, professor of medicine and genetics, most hereditary diseases in dogs are recessively inherited, making it more likely for inbred dogs from the same line to have the same recessive alleles, therefore prolonging the disease's existence. 

More on mixed-breeds and health later! :) 

~S

P.s. Do keep in mind that while I strongly encourage adopting AND adopting mixed-breeds, being a mixed-breed does not make a dog insusceptible to injuries or regular, non-hereditary diseases such as rabies. A mixed-breed will be just as likely or unlikely as a purebred to get worms or rabies. 

Adopting vs Buying

Hey guys! Sorry if you've been on the edge of your seat, waiting for my next post...things have been a little hectic lately. So I thought I'd start off with a cute picture to motivate you to keep reading.

This is a Golden Cocker Retriever, and there have been a lot of internet memes going around, labeling this mix between a Golden Retriever and a Cocker Spaniel as a "Forever puppy," claiming that this is the full grown version and that a GCR will look like this forever.

As far as I'm concerned, that is not true. The parent breeds of this cute puppy are actually not very small and therefore not "forever puppy" material. With a Golden Retriever ranging from 60-75 lbs and 21-24 inches tall, I daresay the Cocker Spaniel's  relative smallness at 14-16 inches tall and 24-32 lbs is compensated for.  Below is a picture of a full-grown GCR.

See? Still gorgeous and adorable. :) 

Today's purpose is to convince you guys to adopt instead of buy. There are reputable breeders, shelters, and then there are puppy mills. If I have to give them ratings on trustworthiness, I would give breeders and shelters a 4/5 and puppy mills a 2/5. I must admit, I may be biased to equate shelters and breeders, since many of you may say it is possible for you to adopt a very sick or vicious dog...but keep in mind that it is possible also to buy a puppy from a breeder that turns out to be sick or vicious. And extra bonus? Adopting from a shelter probably means you are saving a life, because breeders have more resources to take care of their dogs. A good breeder should take care of every life it creates. 

As far as puppy mills...I would urge you to stay away from those, since it is likely you will get a sick puppy. I once asked my sister, "if puppy mills have such horrible conditions, is it not a mercy for people to go and adopt from puppy mills?" And she answered that we must look at the big picture--we may be saving one dog, but we are dooming infinitely many others (maybe not infinitely, but a lot) by giving these breeders business and a motivation to breed more puppies in substandard conditions at detriments to the puppies' health. 

I think there is a general misconception that adopting from a shelter means you will get a mixed-breed adult dog, but that is not always true. Unfortunately, homelessness and human cruelty apply to puppies and purebreds also, and there are purebred rescues if you are looking to rescue a purebred dog. Adopting a puppy should never be easy, because since when has finding a loving companion or saving a life been easy? 

I will talk to you guys soon! 

~Sonya

Hurrah for Pictures!

Hey guys! Before I try to convince you and others to adopt a mixed-breed, let's talk purebreds.

A purebred dog generally has a "breed standard," or a set of external characteristics that makes him or her a purebred dog of a specific breed. Such characteristics may include temperament, agility, or physical appearance such as coat color and size. There has yet to be a national breed standard for every breed; rather, these standards are written by breed clubs and may vary from club to club.

Outer appearance (a breed standard) is how most people recognize dogs. Trivia time: you see a wolfish dog with icy blue eyes. He is about 20 inches tall at the shoulder, weighs approximately 60 pounds and has a gray and white coat. What breed is he?

You probably said Siberian Husky! Based on what I described of the Husky's outer appearance, you would be correct. However, Huskies are often mistaken for Alaskan Malamutes, which look remarkably similar:

The bigger dog is the Malamute, weighing around 85 pounds and standing about 25 inches tall at the shoulder. Temperamentally, they are a tad different, but...still predictable.

Breed standards make raising a purebred puppy predictable. If you adopt a golden retriever puppy, you will know approximately what size he will grow up to be, whereas having a hybrid makes his temperament and outer appearance less predictable.

I do agree that purebreds are just as lovable as mixed breeds, and I think it is important to preserve the breeds--it would be tragic if a breed were lost completely. But while I hold those opinions, I also love having mixed breeds around. Sometimes predictability gets boring; however, both types of dogs are lovable and deserve kindness and homes!

If I were rich I would own a giant farm and adopt dogs and cats (and other animals) from shelters and just let them run amok on my farm. For real.

~S

Up...Date...Update!

Ever wonder why an update is called an up...date? Yeah, me neither. Until now.

I would not say my project had the most exciting start; in fact, it started off with some (mildly?) bad news. I contacted the animal hospital which I was supposed to be interning/volunteering at before school ended, and they let me know that there is no longer enough space for me to come in frequently. In fact, I was told that I would have to limit my days to a day a month, which is definitely not enough for my research. Of course I understand that they have too many volunteers and it is a work place, not a shelter, but I'm still pretty bummed.

But never fear, I am looking into more options at the moment, including another animal hospital just down the street, the Petsmart Paw Placement program (Yes to alliteration!), and maybe even going to my sister's place up in Baltimore because she works at the local SPCA. It would be easier to work at a shelter, any way...plus, Baltimore, man! I'll keep you guys updated! (Down...dated? Is that a word?)

In any case, a pretty significant part of my project will be independent research (on the internet, in the library), so I'll try my best to keep moving forward.

But I do admit, being able to sleep in every day is pretty fantastic. Hope you guys had a good week!~ I'll update (hehe) you guys soon.

~S

P.s. notice the awesome colorful fish I "adopted"? You can feed them! :D

A Legend Begins...

So I was thinking about Batman before I started my first post. If you'll notice, Bruce Wayne does not have a dog in "Batman Begins," but in the 1950's DC comics, he did have a "Bat-hound" named Ace.

Of course, neither Batman nor Ace the Bat-hound have any real connections to my project, aside from the fact that Ace is a pure-bred German Shepherd.

Purebred dogs, or pedigrees, are perceived to be healthier and more intelligent than mixed-breed dogs. They have a much higher rate of reclamation (67%, according to the National Animal Interest Association) at shelters and pounds as opposed to mixed-breed dogs (47%); mixed-breeds are also twice as likely to be euthanized at said shelters. A survey on the NAIA has concluded that the reason people are more likely to expend more resources to search for their pedigree pets and reclaim them from shelters is because the purebreds have a higher initial cost (adoption fee or sale).

But does a higher cost directly relate to the quality or loyalty of your pet, let alone his health or intelligence? In my project, I will study the health of both mixed- and pure-breed dogs in terms of longevity, cost of maintenance, and survival rate of offspring to prove mixed-breeds are just as healthy and intelligent as pure-breeds, if not more.

I am extremely privileged to intern at the Hillside Animal Hospital with experienced veterinarians Dr. Rosonke and Dr. Council, who are kind enough to let an amateur like me observe various surgeries and help out at Unleashed, the dog kennel.

The ultimate purpose of this project is not to belittle pedigrees and idolize mixed-breeds, or even for the simple sake of proving superiority. My goal is to prove the equality of our loving canine companions, regardless of heritage, so future dog owners will be more willing to adopt mixed-breeds that would otherwise be abandoned and euthanized.

And of course, it is not who you are underneath, but what you do that defines you. This does not apply exclusively to Mr. Wayne, but to dogs and cats as well; prestige should not precede character, and a brand name should never outweigh qualities of loyalty and love. Lastly, thanks for reading my first blog entry! :) I hope you guys stay with me throughout the course of my project!!

~Sonya