The Day of the All-American Dog

The federal estate tax is now called the death tax. Illegal immigrants became undocumented workers and now aspiring Americans. Once upon a time we ate foreign food. Today? Ethnic cuisine. Likewise we have Mutts. Heinz-57s. Mixed breeds. Funny how over time, we change the words we use to represent the same things. Perfect example: I was watching the agility competition of the Westminster Dog Show the other night, and I was pleased to see the inclusion of mixed breeds or what they affectionately referred to as "All-American Dogs." Maybe the day of the mixed breed has come!

The thing that was apparent to me in the course of this competition was the spirit of the All-American Dog. It didn't matter if it was a shepherd mix, a collie mix or an eclectic mix of some other stripe or spot, the unyielding, tenacious, joyful spirit of the All-American Dog was just as vibrant as any pure-bred competitor. And I think that's an important distinction to make. Purebreds may have the pedigrees and the controlled genetic input at the cellular level, but the soul and canine spirit reach beyond that and are shared by mixed breeds and purebreds alike. 

Only a handful of genes are responsible for all the variations in man's best friend. How these genetic "switches" are flipped determine the characteristics of each dog. Floppy ears or perk ears? Long legs or short ones? Smooth coat or curly coat? Large, broad head or fine, narrow one? It's amazing enough when you realize there are literally hundreds of breeds, from the tiniest Chihuahua to the giant Irish Wolfhound. But when you consider the countless combinations that go into mixed breeds, it's simply mind-boggling. No two are exactly alike. And do genetics play a part in that less tangible part we call the soul? I believe they do along with the immediate environment and circumstances of each canine. Like us, that's where it moves into the nature vs nurture debate. From where I sit, it's two sides of the same coin.

Why am I writing about this anyway? Because while mixes and purebreds each have their staunch supporters, there is room for both. We need the purebred dogs, and in the hands of responsible breeders, they can be a solid foundation for the entire dog genome. We need the mixes as they provide variety and are a prime example of the flexibility and beautiful randomness that opens doors to new possibilities and news ways of thinking about dogs. And the best part? Both categories exhibit that unflappable, loving spirit that makes them man's best friend.

Another reason I've been thinking about this lately is because the vast majority of dogs in shelters around this country are mixes or All-American Dogs. Some people think that somehow makes them less desireable or lesser companions. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, it only takes a few seconds of looking into their eyes for those walls of prejudice to come down, and I wish more people could experience that. If nothing else, it can open one's eyes to that essence of the canine spirit common to all dogs. And really, that's the part we fall in love with, isn't it? 

We may never see All-American Dogs in the Best-In-Show ring because there are no breed standards or benchmarks to compare them to. In a way, that's part of their charm. But I'm glad to see Westminster's decision to allow them entry into the agility trials. This certainly benefits all of dogdom and shows a greater openness to celebrate the canine spirit without restrictions. I think that's something we can all appreciate.