# Can these dogs mate ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 25, 2005, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-these-dogs-mate/296174 "2005-03-25T07:50:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![1point618](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/c57346/32.png) [@1point618](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1point618)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-these-dogs-mate/296174/21 "2005-03-27T06:18:10Z")
> [@irishgirl](#): > > Why doesn’t she just get another big breed of dog. > Newfoundlands, Pyreneans, St Bernards, Bernese, something like that. That is pretty much what she is planning on. My friend actually works at a pound and so sees bad mixes and such all the time, and has some experience in breeding, and this wish of hers for a Malahound was more theoretical; I did a poor job representing it in my post. The question was more “Could this ever come out good?” rather than “I’m gonna do it, how should I?”. Thanks for the advice though, I learned much about dog breeding from this, but also, you don’t always have to act like an ass just because someone knows less than you do (as a few people in the first few posts did). Everyone here is here to learn, not get bitched at. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-these-dogs-mate/296174/22 "2005-03-27T07:03:57Z")
I Googled various combinations of “Malamute” and “Wolfhound” and found few matches. Under Google Groups in rec.pets.dogs.breeds I found [this thread](http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.pets.dogs.breeds/browse_thread/thread/2fe552ca593b11bd/c8b3a6580028fb47?q=%22wolfhound+malamute%22&rnum=1#c8b3a6580028fb47) discussing an attack by a rumoured Wolfhound/Malamute cross in which Wolfhound breeder Alan Cowen states that > [@Alan Cowen](#): > > This is the reason that Wolfhound owners and breeders are so protective of their breed and do whatever they can to retain and maintain their stable > temperament. Crossing a wolfhound with any other dog known to have a less > stable temperament is totally irresponsible. Perhaps a more specialised board/group such as the newsgroup quoted above could provide a more in-depth summary of the pros/cons of crossing the breeds? ---
**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-these-dogs-mate/296174/23 "2005-03-27T07:53:45Z")
On a semi-related topic: Say we have a boy Irish Wolfhound and, oh, a girl toy poodle. Natural conception would probably really difficult, of course, so let’s say we do artificial insemination. Wouldn’t the pregnancy kill the mother? Irish Wolfhounds are huge, I imagine even a half-breed would be too big in the womb for Mom to handle. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-these-dogs-mate/296174/24 "2005-03-27T09:22:03Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > No, I will not give advice to someone who doesn’t even know that mixed-breed dogs are possible advice on how to breed her dog. That’s just a disaster waiting to happen. A-freaking-men. I won’t give advice on breeding Pugs if I even suspect the person wants to do it for profit only. Want to breed a litter to pass some quality traits, only to sell them? Fine. As long as there aren’t any genetic flaws, you’re breeding a quality set to continue the Pug health and disposition. The health problems still exist, but eventually the breed gets healthier with responsible breeding. My youngest has excessive flesh in the nose-folds which could be passed on. She’s fixed. Want to breed them so you can make the $300-$700 (depending on where you live) per pup just to make some money? Nope, see ya later. Breeding is done for the breed, not the wallet. (I’ve owned Pugs for over 20 years now) And cross-breeding? If you’re doing it for shits and giggles, you’re going to do it. Some breeds are the result of cross-breeding, but they (AKC and UKC accepted) were done with an interest in the breeds selected. Not just a thought of “Hey, let’s get these two to fuck and see what we get!” ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-these-dogs-mate/296174/25 "2005-03-27T09:24:01Z")
> [@Abbie Carmichael](#): > > On a semi-related topic: > > Say we have a boy Irish Wolfhound and, oh, a girl toy poodle. > > Natural conception would probably really difficult, of course, so let’s say we do artificial insemination. > > Wouldn’t the pregnancy kill the mother? Irish Wolfhounds are huge, I imagine even a half-breed would be too big in the womb for Mom to handle. Reverse the sex and that’s how it starts. A poodle may never want to leave with all the room. Though why anyone would want a Poodle line to propegate (sp?) to another breed is beyond me. :dubious: 😉 ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-these-dogs-mate/296174/26 "2005-03-27T15:26:42Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Though why anyone would want a Poodle line to propegate (sp?) to another breed is beyond me. :dubious: 😉 Actually, there are a lot of very popular poodle crosses, many with cutesy names likes cockapoos (cocker spaniel) and schnoodles (schnauzer.) Apparently the idea is to get from the poodle side the (relatively) non-shedding coat and its (relatively) high intelligence/trainability with something of the looks and personality of the other side. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-these-dogs-mate/296174.md?page=1)