Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: neilep on 12/03/2011 17:21:05

Title: Can a big dog breed with a small dog?
Post by: neilep on 12/03/2011 17:21:05

Dearest Dog-ologists,

As a sheepy I of course get requests daily to perform  for all types of peeps and all types of species!.....after all...can ewe blame them really ?

This got me thinking........see  Quog and Quirp here ?

big-dog-little-dog_u.jpg (109.34 kB . 497x537 - viewed 24384 times)

Quog Looks Up To Quirp But Does Have Anger Management Issues

Quirp is a big dog and Quog is a little bitch ! (I have labelled them so that ewe are not so confused)

Is it possible for Quog and Quirp to do the deed and make puppies ?....what if the gender was reversed ?
Is it actually possible ? (and I don't mean the practical logistics of getting a ladder etc)...I mean are they biologically capable of making puppies?

Whajafink ?

Hugs & Shmishes

mwah mwah mwah

Neil
I prefer Feline to Canine
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Title: Re: Can a big dog breed with a small dog?
Post by: old_bob on 16/03/2011 15:32:48

There are much better forums for you to post on..

Title: Re: Can a big dog breed with a small dog?
Post by: SeanB on 17/03/2011 18:07:53

They are both descended from the original wolf, though they have been bred by selection for traits over the centuries. They do have the ability to breed, though the size issue means that it is better for the bigger dog to be female, as otherwise the unborn puppies may kill the mother by growing too big.

Also having the male as smaller does mean that you will not need duct tape.............

Title: Re: Can a big dog breed with a small dog?
Post by: CliffordK on 18/03/2011 06:18:05

Quote from: SeanB on 17/03/2011 18:07:53

Also having the male as smaller does mean that you will not need duct tape.............

Duct Tape?
Is the idea to tape the Chihuahua MALE to the back of the St. Bernard FEMALE?

Artificial Insemination might help.

Note, Dogs have 78 Chromosomes (39 pairs).
Red Foxes have 34 Chromosomes (17 pairs), and other foxes may have different numbers of Chromosomes.

So...
While domestic dogs can interbreed.
You may be able to get 1st generation dog/fox crosses (like mules).
But, it is unlikely that you could get 2nd generation dog/fox crosses.

Title: Re: Can a big dog breed with a small dog?
Post by: Geezer on 18/03/2011 19:43:17

Aren't domesticated dogs much more closely related to grey wolves than they are to foxes? I think dogs and grey wolves are always able to interbreed.

Title: Re: Can a big dog breed with a small dog?
Post by: CliffordK on 19/03/2011 06:13:49

Quote from: Geezer on 18/03/2011 19:43:17

Aren't domesticated dogs much more closely related to grey wolves than they are to foxes? I think dogs and grey wolves are always able to interbreed.

Yes,
Sorry, I was thinking of a fox as being an exception to the rule.

Title: Re: Can a big dog breed with a small dog?
Post by: chris on 26/08/2017 22:37:00

Different breeds of dog are a similar phenomenon to different "breeds" of human. In the same way that while people indigenous to different geographies differ in appearance across the planet - so native Africans tend to be very black with curly hair, Indians tend to be straight-haired and dark skinned, and east Asians tend to have "Chinese" facial features etc, yet we are all inter-fertile (can breed because we are all the same species), dogs also differ in appearance but are also still the same species and hence can breed.

That said, there might be one or two structural and anatomical challenges standing in the way of a successful mating between very differently-proportioned dogs, but, as they say, love often finds a way...

Title: Re: Can a big dog breed with a small dog?
Post by: SquarishTriangle on 27/08/2017 07:11:30

This happens all the time, regardless of breed genetics and physical attributes, and in both directions (large female to small male, large male to small female). As SeanB mentioned, it's generally better for the female to be the larger/same size in the pair, to reduce the risk of life-threatening birthing difficulties that require C-sections (as the pups become too large to pass through the pelvic canal, as in natural birth).

Love (or rather, hormones) do find a way.