Discussion split from NI and Utonagan owners thread Discussions

You are aware they don't just use labs aren't you. You could always contact them and see if they will tell you any figures.

Perhaps one of the reasons they crossbreed, is that they don't have enough dogs within one breed with 0:0 hips. I've got no idea if that is the case, but imo it would make sence.

Met a stunning dog being puppy walked a while ago, he was a gr x gsd, 10 months old, and around the size of an average adult gsd, he was a very dark brindle with typical black gsd markings.

Didn't look much like either parent breed, but certainly more gsd than gr.

All good thanks. Hope you are all well - and Mack and Meg?

I have seen reports on wolf crosses in the USA and it made me very sad indeed.

No, that is not true, the bulk of the cost for insurance companies is not replacement value - it is veterinary fees. And mongrels statistically have less veterinary procedures.

We are all good thanks, and both dogs are doing really well, hate to jinx it, but they both have never been better. xx

To prove the point, in a matter of minutes with no effort at all, I have the following:

"Sainsbury's Bank reveals the cost of owning a pedigree pet

Article by UK Insurance Index
Posted: 29/3/2007 - Last updated: -
Rating: 0.00 (0 votes)

Research by Sainsburys Pet Insurance has shown that the cost of owning a pedigree pet can be up to 34% more expensive than a cross-breed.

The supermarket bank found that a pedigree dog owner will typically spend around £537 a year compared with £430 for cross-breeds, and pedigree cat owners £427 compared with £319 for cross-breeds.

Sainsbury's Bank says that one of the main reasons for this difference in expenditure is the amount spent on vet fees. Pedigree animals may incur higher vets bills because certain breeds are prone to various hereditary conditions. In fact, more than 350 inherited diseases have been identified in pedigree dogs alone.

Head of Sainsburys Pet Insurance, Steve Johnson, said: "Certain breeds, after generations of selective breeding, can be prone to various hereditary conditions which can require long term treatment. It's therefore best to insure a pedigree puppy or kitten as soon as you take it into your care and select a policy which provides adequate levels of long term cover. Once a condition becomes apparent it may be impossible to get it covered under a new policy."

There are doubtless many more scientific and serious studies that have produced the same conclusion.

Could also be due to pedigree owners are more likely to spend more on their pets?

£537!! I wish my lot cost me that per year!!!

You don't need research from insurance companies---thats obvious!

You need independant research from vets surgeries---you need numbers of each as well.

For instance if you have 100 dogs to look at how many are x bred? Do the insurance company count lurchers, jrt's, NI's etc as x bred. Very likely they don't as they charge more for a 'named' breed, even if it isn't a breed!

Too many variables that aren't looked at and 'research' done by a company trying to sell a product!

You surely don't buy into the cross breeds being healthier because they are crosses----do you???

rune

That's interesting. Perhaps it's because they can identify the hereditary conditions in a pedigree dog but a cross, being a mix, is a relatively unknown quantity.

So can you explain to me why a few Insurance companies have Wolf Hybrid types on their lists of the dogs they will not insure???? They are mongrels are they not so should be less payouts etc... from insurance companies Mmmm

Totally agree with all this, well said

If you compare behaviour, like Gnasher is so quick to do with Hal, then there is more wolf in Ozzy (CKC)than there ever was in Morse (NI) so that argument of hers is totally ridiculous. Hal was a beautiful boy but there was no wolf in him IMO

Every one who knows me knows my passion for wolves and should I ever win the lottery I will move to scotland and have a pack of wolves running wild in my hugely vast highland estate HOWEVER until such a time I would never ever want to keep a wolf in the confines of a cage or house, that is wholly un-natural and anyone who claims to love wolves would never subject them to such domestic cruelty.

I have been involved in these crossbreeds for years and nothing will convince me there is anything wolfy about them.

If you take the 'look' away the dogs are just dogs---with their own foibles etc but similar to many and the same as many others.

rune

Re the insurance----there is no information on HOW MANY purebred dogs or HOW MANY cross bred dogs were surveyed! So it means NOTHING. Surely Gnasher you can understand that? On top of that you'd need to actually know how many of each were in an area----how many are registered as what breed and SO much more.

It is far more likely that you are given a puppy insurance with a pedigree and therefore more likely that you will carry it on.

Many owners of x breeds register them as pedigrees because they don't know any better.

Have you never played the game with insurance and changed the purchase price on on line quotes? Makes a huge difference to some of them (I haven't played with all of them so I wouldn't be stupid enough to make a blanket unproveable definite statement!)

rune

Gnasher, how old was Hal when he died?

10 - he had a routine operation, but unfortunately something went wrong inside, and he developed septocaemia. He came home after his op, all was well, he suddenly went downhill, rushed him to the vet, by the time we got to the vet he had made a miraculous recovery, vet could find nothing wrong, came back home, all well for a day or two, went downhill again, rushed him back. This time vet kept him in for 2 nights because she believed us when she said there is definitely something wrong. Couldn't find anything, we went down to fetch him and I was greeted by a very distraught vet saying that he had suddenly collapsed and was on a drip in the surgery. As you know, I took the decision to put him down on the vet's advice. She said in her opinion he would probably have lived to around 14, he was such a healthy dog. It was a real tragedy.

Werewolf beat me to it Tassle, many rarely wait till the age of 2 years.

I wouldn't say Dita is a 100% but shes pretty damn close if I take her out alone without the influence of the other 2.

I can maybe help a little here. I have an extended 12 gen pedigree for my dogs that was provided to me by the NIS some years ago. About 5 or 6 generations back Angel has a dog called Tara listed with nothing before her, that is because Tara is/was a pure GSD. She was apparently one of the last injections of pure blood into the NI. Therefore all of her progeny were NI x GSD. One of these dogs is Whitco (I think), would need to pull out the pedigree to be absolutely sure.

Angel is a right mard **** and I never thought he would guard but in more recent times he has proven me wrong on that and do wonder if it is down to the higher GSD content in his line.

Misty is very protective of the kids and will physically put herself between them and anyone unfamiliar that gets too close or anyone making sudden movements around them but other than that is a totally useless guard as is Dita, she couldn't even protect herself nevermind anyone or anything else!

Very interesting. Do you know about any other pure injections from that sort of time period? I have a print out that I was given way back, I will have a look, see if any of those names are on it.
And thanks for the info, (I am assumming it was said to you by a reliable source ) xxxxxxxxx

Gosh these vets of yours, really have some wonderful skills. Psychic aswell!

What was the "routine" op?

I remember he had kidney problems, stones was it? Obviously thats certainly not "routine" was wondering what the routine problem was.

Today, I received a few messages of concern about the NIS and the closure of their website and some issues in the committee.
Is this a demise or an issue of concern for the paying members?

Its been down a few days hasnt it? Not just the bills being paid then?

pmsl. I dont know I dont go there for my own sanity. But if its down for days then something is wrong. I remember times when they took over from the webmaster who built the site and I took over. That was a catastrophe in the making. I could tell so many stories to fill ya boots lol