Studies on cross breeds relating to health / longevity:

G.J. Patronek, D.J. Walters, L.T. Glickman, Comparative Longevity of Pet
Dogs and Humans: Implications for Gerontology Research, J. Geront.,
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, 1997, Vol 52A,No.3, B171-B178

"The median age at death was 8,5 years for all mixed breed dogs and 6,7
years for all pure breed dogs... For each weight group, the age at death
of pure breed dogs was significantly (p=.0001) less than for mixed breed
dogs." (p. B173) Mongrels lived 1 - 3 years longer.

H.F. Proschofsky et al, Mortality of purebred and mixed breed dogs in
Denmark, Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 2003, 58, 53-74

Higher average longevity of mixedbreed dogs (lumped together! Age at
death mixed breeds Q1 8, Q2 11, Q3 13, purebreds 6, 10, 12

R. Beythien, Tierarten- und Hunderassenverteilung, Erkrankungshäufigkeit
und prophylaktische Maßnahmen bei den häufigsten Hunderassen am Beispiel
einer Tierarztpraxis in Bielefeld in den Jahren 1983-1985 und 1990-1992,
1998, Diss., Tierärztl. Hochschule Hannover

Mongrels less often in a vet surgery

B.N. Bonnett, A. Egenvall, P. Olson, Å. Hedhammar, Mortality in Swedish
dogs: rates and causes of death in various breeds, The Veterinary
Record, 12/7/1997, S. 40 - 44)

Insured dogs ."Mongrels were consistently in the low risk category" (S. 41)


A. R. Michell, Longevity of British breeds of dog and its relationship
with sex, size, cardiovascular variables and disease, Vet. Rec., 27 Nov.
1999, S. 625-629

"There was a significant correlation between body weight and longevity.
Crossbreeds lived longer than average but several pure breeds lived
longer than cross breeds, notably Jack Russell, miniature poodles and
whippets" (S. 627) - Thus only small and toy breeds, as to be expected

A more negative study but the imbalance in size between the dogs in both groups
helps to explain the difference (on average smaller dogs live longer)

K. Stromberger, Genetisch-epidemiologische Untersuchung ausgewählter
Erkrankungen beim Hund - Vergleich Rassehund - Mischling, Thesis,
Veterinary University Vienna, June 2000

Only study using epidemiologic procedures and opposing the category
"pedigree dog" with the category "mixedbreed" (no weight groups).

No difference found, though some heterosis stated. Severe bias: there
where ca. 50% small dogs among purebreds as against 5% in mongrels .

An interesting study that shows that whilst mongrels tend to be healthier than
purebreds, some hunting breeds (no idea if they have a closed stud book or
not)are even healthier than the mongrels.

A. Egenvall, B.N. Bonnett, P. Olson, Å. Hedhammar,Gender,
age, breed and distribution of morbidity and mortality in insured
dogs in Sweden during 1995 and 1996, The Veterinary Record,
29/4/2000, p. 519-57

Insured dogs. "The low risk for morbidity of mongrels also agrees with
previous findings
that mongrel dogs are less prone to many diseases then the average
purebred dog." (S. 524)
Second lowest morbidity and mortality of mongrels in ten "most
common breeds" (again, without size distinction in mongrels).

(Lowest risk breeds, however, are 10 other breeds, of which 9 are
Scandinavian native hunting dogs, and Sibes. Results probably
skewed by this fact and therefore residences in remote regions.)



It must be born in mind however that this is talking about populations of dogs
not individuals, I am not suggesting for one minute that all mutts are healthier
than all pure bred dogs, that is obviously nonsense.


Mike









-----Original Message-----
From: weimaraner@yahoogroups.com [mailto:weimaraner@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of Leslie Like
Sent: 27 August 2008 20:01
To: weimaraner@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [weimaraner] Re:article of interest/pedigreed dogs exposed

The quote from Dr Padgett seems odd. There is no such study on curs and mixed
breeds, it is merely conjecture on his part. A poor reflection on his being a
"Dr."


Leslie Like
Silver Rain Weimaraners
Hillsboro, Oregon
silverrainweims@...
www.oregonweimrescue.org