Just been looking on BBC News (Internet).  South Korea have just produced five cloned puppies of a pet dog.  I believe it is a woman in the USA who paid $50,000 to have this done of her pit bull terrier Booger.  They have even said they will try it with camels next year for the rich in the far east.
Apart from the price (if this was no issue) how many would clone there dogs.  Where does the behaviour come from, would the cloned puppies be exactly like him down to every single detail or what.  Just curious.
Jane

No, I would not clone because a dog is more than the genes it is born with.  Lots of things go to make the final animal, all things it, and its nuturing mother, imbibes and experiences along the way. So for a doting owner there could be much disappointment when they don't get a replica of their beloved departed. 
In dog breeding terms I don't think it is of any great value either.  The higher orders have got to where they are because the have the advantage of sexual reproduction, allowing them to develop and adapt to changing environments and requirements.  Isn't evry breeder looking to improve on what has gone before.  There may be advantages with things like meat or dairy animals when you many want to produce lots of lots of the animals meeting the requirements of the time.
Mind you, I would not get too excited about any scientific claims coming out of S.Korea as there have been some jiggery pockery in the past :-)

There's not even a guarantee that any coat patterning would be identical. Behaviour is greatly down to experience, so each dog will behave differently to the others, let alone the original dog. If she wants pups just like her old dog she's going to be very disappointed!

I heard a theory that, with cloning, the age of the cells that the DNA is taken from (ie, the age of the animal) affects the lifespan of the clone. The older the parent cell, the shorter the clone's life.

Well that was the case with Dolly, the sheep, wasn't it?  Did Dolly not have premature age related ailments, like bad arthritis?  Makes me wonder then, won't those puppies have cancer?  Or soon develop it?  The original dog died of cancer and the article I read was not clear but it looks like DNA was harvested from Booger after he got cancer.  Not to condone but I can understand why the owner would want to keep that dog, since he saved her life.

Dollys general poor health has raised questions but some have argued that we cannot exclude the fact that she lived a very restricted life almost entirely indoors.  She eventually died of a lung disease associated with indoor sheep.

Would never ever do it, just don't see the reasoning myself.  Also as other say Dolly didn't do well did she the poor thing.

I lost a very special dog very young but even if I had the money I wouldn't do it

Like Cava14Una I have lost a couple of very special dogs but still wouldn't consider it.

I think the whole exciting bit about getting a new dog/puppy is what is its personality going to be like.

From how the dog looks I guess it would be like twins they have the same genes but can be slightly or very different

Emma

Identical twins are in effect clones of each other coming from just one sperm and egg cell yet they are totally different individuals and even have small differences in their looks.

> Identical twins are in effect clones of each other coming from just one sperm and egg cell yet they are totally different individuals and even have small differences in their looks.

Exactly! I was on about this today with my dad. 2 of my uncles are identical twins and 2 of my cousins are identical twins. They may look identical at a quick glance, but there are diferences between them, and they each have thier own individual personalities with thier own set of like & dislikes.

ETA, no, I wouldn't have my dog cloned (supposing I had that sort of cash to spare anyway, lol)

No way. I dont think they should do it anyway. Nevermind how many dogs are actually home less, there are too many unwanted litters as is.

I think I am even more sceptical about this story now.  Some of our more mature posters may remember this lady :-D

All of us know how heart-wrenching it is to lose a beloved pet.  But I totally agree with what has been said here - that all dogs are different because of factors other than just breeding (in this instance cloning) and you can never replace but have to move.  Each dog is a very special companion in its own way.

Louise

This might sound a bit harsh to some but I think it is typical human selfishness - putting our needs i.e. being bereaved of a loved pet before the problems that an animal might encounter through being a clone.  One has to remember the feelings of getting to know your dog and how your relationship developed.  This will happen again with another, different animal - it won't be quite the same but still as wonderful in its own way. 

There are so many lovely animals that need loving homes, I wish more people would consider this option.  My two rescues are delightful and I have met countless others.  The other day, I met a brilliant dog (staffy/collie cross) with one eye who had been abused when young.  He is now a fantastic young man who is brilliantly trained and a dog to be proud of.  Maisie fell in love with him at first sight because (unlike quite a few pedigrees we have met) he was well behaved and didn't rush up to her trying to invade her space and pushing in between her and me.  He just played nicely with her.  Another lady I know has got two fantastic lurcher crosses and I know quite a few 'jack russells' who are like mine, of very dubious origin and they are all lovely. 

Instead of cloning animals, contact your local dogs trust, RSPCA or Battersea - or any of the other myriad of charities out there!