Have you ever heard of bardoto, the cross between a horse and a donkey? Such an animal is called a hybrid. Understand what this means and if the dog by crossing with other animals can generate a hybrid puppy! For more details: http://soundcloud.com/tonieakes
What is a hybrid animal?
Hybrid animals come from the crossing of different animals, more precisely from parents of different species, but of the same genus. In general, they are sterile, due to the genetic incompatibility of the parents.
This is the case with the hinny, male and female, resulting from a cross between a horse and a donkey. When the cross is made between the mare and the donkey, the offspring are called mule (female) and donkey (male).
Remember a little biology
To explain how this happens, we'll go back to a concept from biology. The animals mentioned are mammals, from the kingdom Animalia, from the phylum Chordata, from the class Mammalia, from the order Perissodactyla, from the family Equidae and from the genus Equus.
The horse and mare belong to the genus Equus, a species of caballus. Donkeys and donkeys belong to the genus Equus, species asinus. The hybrids are called Equus asinus and Equus caballus.
These are therefore very close animals, phylogenetically speaking, but which do not have the capacity to generate offspring capable of generating other animals of the same genetics.
Regarding the number of chromosomes of these animals, the horse and the mare have 64, while the donkey and the donkey have 62. The hybrid animals resulting from these crosses have 63 chromosomes, so they are sterile.
But what does this have to do with dogs interbreeding with other animals? For this to be possible, the animal must be of the same genus and species as the dog (Canis lupus familiaris). Puppies must be fertile or of the same gender (Canis) with infertile puppies.
Have you ever heard of the wolfdog?
The wolfdog is the result of crossing a dog with a wolf (Canis lupus). The young are fertile. This resulted in the phylogenetic reclassification of the dog, which was called Canis familiaris and given the name mentioned above, being classified as a subspecies of the wolf.
wolfdog traits
The wolfdog is known to have retained wolf instincts such as hunting and guarding. It is therefore not recommended for inexperienced tutors. It is a successful example of crossing dogs with other animals.
It is a larger animal than ordinary dogs, with the same dense coat as wolves, active, courageous and suspicious of strangers, which can be used as a companion and guard dog at the same time.
The mating of a dog with a wolf has already been formalized in three breeds of wolfdogs: the Czechoslovakian wolfdog, the oldest breed, the Saarloos wolfdog and the Kunming wolfdog.
Czechoslovakian wolfdog
The Czechoslovakian wolfdog is the result of crossing a Carpathian she-wolf and a German shepherd. Experiments began in 1955 and ended in 1965. In 1982, the breed was recognized in the country. In 1989, it was recognized by the Kennel Club.
The temperament is that of a fearless, courageous, suspicious dog, loyal to its guardians, suspicious of strangers, resistant to the different climatic conditions common in the country, with quick reactions and versatile utility, making it an excellent example dog crossed with other animals.
Saarloos Wolfdog
It is not known for certain whether this dog is the result of a cross between a zoo wolf and a German shepherd, the dog of a subspecies of Russian wolf, or a Canadian wolf.
It is a tall, slender dog, measuring around 75 cm and weighing 35 kg. It is muscular, has short ears, a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years and is very active, requiring a high level of physical activity.
It was developed by Leendert Saarloos, a dog enthusiast. He first tried to make this species a guide for the blind, but the animal's shy, wary and cautious temperament did not live up to these expectations. It is a rare dog and practically unknown, even in its country of origin.
Kunming Wolfdog
This is a breed originating from China. It was widely used as a military assistant, performing various tasks, such as detecting buried mines. Currently, it is a pet.
The development of the breed took place with numerous animals, the vast majority without pedigree, so the origin is not known with certainty, but we imagine that there is an involvement of the German Shepherd.
Crossing of dogs with other animals of different sexes
Crossing animals of different genders is not possible due to the large difference in genetics and number of chromosomes. Dogs have 78 chromosomes.
For example, if a dog is crossed with a cat, which has 38 chromosomes, it will not be possible to have offspring. Even if animals attempt to mate, the genitals are incompatible, as is the physiology of reproduction.
Now that you understand the biology behind how dogs crossbreed with other animals, if you're interested in having a puppy at home, head to a Petz store. We have everything you need!