While admiring the speed of Greyhounds on Youtube I came across this video.

The gentleman talking in this video sounds very knowledgeable, he says 11 pups were produced from this particular mating but 10 out of the 11 had to be put down as they grew up to be man biters or dog reactive (talks about this from about 5 minutes into the video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8-H4MpLIqY

Many moons ago when I was young I grew up with various cross-breeds and all had lovely temperaments but with all the cross-breeding that's going on today I do wonder if the crossing of some breeds is really a good idea .....? (example: various working back grounds) even if the breeds themselves have good temperaments.

Just thought I would put this video on here for anyone considering buying a cross-bred dog as a FAMILY PET to think long and hard about it first.

For me there's a difference between a first cross which may involve two breeds being put together who are TOTALLY different temperamentally, and of course, really only done to produce money from the gullible (with too much money to spend!).   The there's the Heinz 57, the true mongrel.  I'd suggest that the mongrel maybe less likely to be producing 'a mistake' which probably explains why hears ago, the 'good old mongerl' was fairly reliable and ok for people who just want 'a dog'.   Not a breed to do a specific job?

I did watch some of that vid. but not all of it.  I think the article I'll copy/paste after this,  sums it up .......

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2564373/The-hidden-suffering-dogs-bred-cute-Adorable-looks-Cuddly-names-like-Labradoodle-But-trend-cross-breed-dogs-raises-disturbing-questions.html

I think when pet dogs were more allowed to roam years ago a dog who was nasty and bit people would be picked up by police and PTS- or the neighbours would arrange for it to disappear...   this did mean the roamers who bred were mostly pretty decent natured and clever enough to cross roads and keep out of trouble.  These mongrel crosses were often good dogs
Its not the same as someone pairing 2 neurotic pedigree dogs with dodgy temperaments who aren't good enough to breed purebreds because the cross will make
£££s

With apologies for all the typos in my last post, just re-read .   I WISH the option to edit lasted longer than it does.   Ditto for deletes!!!

Thanks for the link M.B. I remember a time as I would imagine many on here do when Cross-bred dogs were free, how times change

"These mongrel crosses were often good dogs"

I agree they had to be good dogs and as you suggest very streetwise

I was watching the Dogfather last night and he had to deal with a cross Springer and Cocker and he was of the opinion that was a bad cross.

It's only 150 years ago that Springers, Cockers and Field Spaniels could be found in the same litter and were classed as whatever breed they most resembled. Or so I've heard as I wasn't around then!

I suppose a Springer/Cocker cross would be an ideal dog for one person but not for another. If they are bred for the correct reason like working ability, the parents will have been selected carefully. If they are just two neurotic, hyper dogs that have been bred together to make cute puppies then they could end up being a disaster.

"I suppose a Springer/Cocker cross would be an ideal dog for one person but not for another"

I wonder is there a name for this mixture ....?

A Sprocker.

I like this name the best https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKi34_9yT5E

I would imagine there's probably been a fair few of these bred together, that said I bet the female would have to be the bulldog though, who knows ....?

Funnily enough I have been talking to my daughter today about this - ie dogs roaming around villages etc.  When I was three we moved to a small village in Dorset and lived in a small close.  A couple of neighbours owned dogs who habitually wandered around our road and down into the village (no doubt paying a visit to the butcher) but these were docile creatures who wandered in and out of peoples's  houses.  Gosh writing this makes me feel like Methusalah!!  I am thinking of getting a companion Miniature Schnauzer for my existing fella -but my goodness - the prices

Dogs loose around the streets were normal in my  young days. I used to round them up and walk them across the town moor. I still remember them fondly - Biscuit 'because she is crackers'. Mac the lab , Trixie who bit me, and others.

I remember theose days too. I remember the SFT that bit my calf hard when I was about 10. Of course, it was my fault for saying hello to him. Then there was the crossbred GR who jumped our wall and mated with my pedigree GR, - it was a stilboestrol injection that the vet gave in those days. And I can't forget Snuffy, next door's Golden Cocker who used to rape my small daughter as she played in her sandpit. All of these people either couldn't keep their dogs on their own property, or saw no reason why they should have to.

There were still loose unaccompanied dogs in our local recreation ground for my first dog born 1988 to play with.

Amazing what a difference the advent of the 'Dog Warden' made.

Owners whose dogs habitually roamed found it cheaper to Dog Proof their (mistly privet hedged) gardens than pay the fee to get their dogs back.

It was £30 a day then.

Sadly I expect some never bothered reclaiming their dogs.

Bristol also chipped them before release.

One of the Mums at the school gates (early 90's) had a beautful bitch that looked like a mini Golden Retriever (small cocker size), who was always getting pregnant. Pups were sold through free adds for a small price.

All the old crossbreeds that would be out running the streets years ago and mating (1 female & about 20 males all trying) this was a bit like 'natural selection' (dogs had to be street wise/intelligent physically strong enough to fight off other males etc) that's why the dogs I remember from back then were clever and robust they also had to be good with people, that said though I did get bitten on my butt by 2 of them