My wife's coworker is offering bluetick/lab mix puppies for free
adoption. It sounds like two breeds that are strong in the same traits.
Could this be an uberbreed? Has anyone ever had this mix?

"MaxofMO" said in rec.pets.dogs.breeds:

My wife's coworker is offering bluetick/lab mix puppies for
free adoption. It sounds like two breeds that are strong in
the same traits. Could this be an uberbreed?

The puppies could have every congenital problem known to both
breeds, or have none of them. It's a crap shoot, especially if
the breeder hasn't tested the line for common health issues.
Actually, on such litters I'd bet below the line, because if the
sire and dam had known good backgrounds, it would have been
mentioned.

For the time being, I'd ask about canine hip displaysia (CHD)
and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). The breeder should be
keen to discuss such conditions.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

"MaxofMO" wrote in news:1165103032.344862.82250
@f1g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

My wife's coworker is offering bluetick/lab mix puppies for free
adoption. It sounds like two breeds that are strong in the same
traits.
Could this be an uberbreed? Has anyone ever had this mix?


I'm not sure I understand the question.

In terms of whether or not this dog would make a good pet for you (is
*that* what you're asking), the answer lies more in what you'd be
looking for in a dog and what your lifestyle is like (and how much
squidge room there is for change in that....cuz no matter *what* breed
you get, there is going to be a change in your lifestyle).

I'm sure you knew what you meant by "uberbreed, but I sure don't.
Besides, an F1 mix (first generation mix) is defeinitely not a breed.
The pups could come out with traits like a Lab, traits like a bluetick
or anything in between on the spectrum. Some could come out looking more
Labbish, but acting more Bluetick, have a tendancy to retrieve, but a
stronger tendancy to wander. Who knows. That's the nature of a mixed
breed.

Besides, the breed tsnadard in itself is only a vague detrmination of
traits in the individual dog. If the breeder isn't breeding dogs that
are true examples of those standards (and since you give no info on the
breeder AND since the vast majority of breeders in the US are *not*
being responsible about breeding healthy examples of their breeds, I
have to assume this one isn't), then its even less likely that anyone
will be able to tell you how the pups will turn out.

If, hoever, either of these breeds look like a dog you could comfortably
incorporate into your family life (with a lot of training and
socialization of course grin), then its a decent bet that you could
live with one of these pups....with the understanding that you're taking
only a slightly smaller chance than you would be with a shelter pup. In
other words, while you will at least know a little bit about what their
tendancies are, you won't know the full extent until they are older.

I have no idea if I answered your question.

Tara

"MaxofMO" wrote in message
ps.com...
My wife's coworker is offering bluetick/lab mix puppies for free
adoption. It sounds like two breeds that are strong in the same traits.
Could this be an uberbreed? Has anyone ever had this mix?


Not intentionally. It happens a lot when people are careless with their
intact dogs. Probably could find some at your local shelter. Seeing an
adult version of the puppies that were probably an "oops" litter on your
wife's coworker's part might give you some idea. Or not. First generation
cross breeds (and that's assuming that the bluetick and the lab were
purebreds themselves) are pretty much all over the map.

But it could be a very nice dog as long you know it's a crapshoot and you're
willing to handle whatever the dog becomes. When people aren't willing and
able to do that, these dogs end up at the shelter.

Which leads back to my first paragraph.

Judy

"montana wildhack" wrote in message
news:2006120311083627544-montana@wildhackcominvalid...
However, these were dogs who needed homes and found them with us. They are
both really nice dogs.

Exactly. I'm sure the majority of the people here have had mixed breed dogs
in their lives. I sure have. And each one was a really nice dog. Every
bit as wonderful a companion as the purebreds that I have had. Their hearts
have been as purebred as any registered dog.

Although my current dogs are purebred, some of my favorite dogs owned by
other people are various mixes. They are truly "one of a kind".

Just so that no one thinks that there is anything special or new and
exciting about a crossbred puppy.

Judy

"MaxofMO" wrote in message
ps.com...
My wife's coworker is offering bluetick/lab mix puppies for free
adoption. It sounds like two breeds that are strong in the same traits.
Could this be an uberbreed?


I'm really not sure what you mean by "uberbreed", but if your question is
whether the puppies would have something that's not in the parents' DNA, the
answer is no.
Second, Bluetick Coonhounds and Labradors are quite different in many ways.
The only major similarity that comes to my mind is of energy level being
roughly equivalent IF the Labradors in question are from high-energy and/or
working lines; there are many lines of Labs which are big fat mellow couch
potatoes.
Others have already pointed out that since these pups are first-generation
crosses, they could be all over the map as to which traits each individual
takes from which parent, so I won't say anything more.

If your question refers to the possible hunting ability of the pups, see
above - it depends entirely on A, whether the parents have good hunting
ability and B, whether the crapshoot of genetics would combine those
abilities in a useful way.
WRT B, it's possible, but not definite.