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What do you call a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Dalmatian?
Last updated at 09:14am on 24.04.07Whatever you call them, pups Arnie and Angel could be the first of a new breed.
Cath and Graham Wilson think they might have uncovered a new breed of dog after their Dalmatian Tom madted with their seven-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog Cassie.
Cath and Graham, of Croston, Lancs, have dubbed the two unlikely puppies Bernations.
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Despite scouring the internet they've not found any evidence that the dogs exist elsewhere.
Proud Cath said: "They're the most beautiful puppies I've ever seen. The parents are the most opposite dogs you could ever think of.
"Tom the Dalmatian is only a year old, very energetic and we thought he was too young to mate, whereas Cassie is getting on a bit and very laid back. She is seven and this is her first ever litter - and her last!"
Cassie gave birth to the two pups, a boy and a girl, last month. They were born with black bodies, white feet, white tips on their tails and black ears. In the last few days, their Dalmatian spots have started coming through and their personalities are already as opposite as their parents.
"Arnie is not even a month old and he is already a big chunk, while Angel is very sweet," said Cath. "Every day people want to come and look at them and I've got about 250 of them waiting to visit." The Wilsons, both 48, run the local garage Drinkhouse Service Centre.
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They admit that work has been hectic since the arrival of the 'Bermation' pups. "It's been a mad house," says Cath. "For the first two weeks I had to sleep downstairs on the settee with them because Cassie didn't know what had happened.
"Now she is great with them and Tom is being a good dad for a one-year-old, playing with them and licking them."
Cath says it had been a very traumatic time for the old Bernese Mountain Dog, who has a history of phantom pregancies, as she also gave birth to two more pups that sadly were still-born.
Cath and Graham used to breed Dalmatians, but got Cassie specifically because she was completely different to the dogs they'd had before.
Withy Grove Veterinarian Michael Clarke said: "When you cross two breeds it doesn't automatically generate a new breed - that takes several generations of pure breeding resulting in the same each time - like the Labradoodle.
"But it should make a very good cross because Dalmatians are bouncy and friendly and Bernese are placid and friendly too."
Reader views (21)
I am looking forward to what the offspring of the 2 pups looks like! Very nice.
- Tom Rombo, New York, USA, 16/02/2010 17:59
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If they've bred Dalmatians before, they should know that most dogs are sexually mature between 6 months and one year. If they weren't planning to breed Tom, he should have been neutered like any responsible pet owner would do.
Admittedly, the puppies are adorable but they serve no purpose like many other hybrids (Puggle, Schnoodle, Chiweenie.) The Labradoodle was bred specifically to be a low-allergen service dog. The others were bred to be 'cute' and make a profit for their breeders. I've seen Yorkipoos go for thousands of dollars while plenty of other pure and mixed-breed dogs sit in shelters or pounds.
Let's just hope they don't continue breeding their dogs on purpose and adding to the pet overpopulation problem.
- Hailey, Ft. Worth, Texas, 29/01/2010 01:50
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Q: "What do you call a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Dalmatian?"
A: " ugly. "
- Wave, across the street, from You, 28/01/2010 20:59
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Great..another mutt breed that people are going to charge a premium for. While cute, I am sure they will not stay that way...all puppies are cute. That being said, I am sure they are very tasty with a nice Bearnaise sauce.
- Greg Therozine, Phuk Yew, Phillipines, 28/01/2010 17:25
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A breed crossed with another breed is a mongrel, or a cross bred, or whatever. Nothing wrong with that, they're gorgeous puppies. But they can only be a new breed if you breed them together (or two from a different litter with different parents obviously) and get the same type of dog. Labradoodles and Bermations exist in the imaginations of their owners. They're mongrels, people. Get over it!
- Primm, Brisbane, Australia, 28/01/2010 12:07
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They're adorable! I would love to see more photos of these two ^_^
Just a heads up to those commenting, Peter Glazier, Sharon, Claire Pertie-Milliam, if you read the article properly you might have noticed that they said, "Tom the Dalmatian is only a year old, very energetic and we thought he was too young to mate," Meaning that it was a accident. It was not irresponsible, if a dog wants to mate with another dog, it doesn't consider breed and they were probably waiting till he was old enough to get de-sexed.
- Bridget, Brisbane, Australia, 28/01/2010 11:34
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If you want to breed dogs of different breeds, I personally think its great. I have a Pit bull Boxer mixed. both parents where pure breeds and I don't consider it a new breed. Its like Humans, when we mix races do you consider is a new just cause two different races had a baby??
- Robert, Camp Victory Iraq, 28/01/2010 08:57
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"Sharon, Bristol", You are a idiot! Cross breeding dogs brings out the strongest traits. These dogs will have far fewer issues than their parents.
Cross breading is the best way to eliminate 'breed issues'.
With the right owners, I bet these grow to be great dogs.
I've never heard so much stuck-up elitist crap "Bernation“ is an aberration"...Get Over Yourselves!!
- Lincoln, New Zealand, 28/01/2010 08:37
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I don't see how this is cruelty. Sure, each breed has its own health issues that are particular to that breed, but the great majority of dogs in the world are mixed breeds. I don't find this "new breed" to be an abomination to the canine world, nor do I consider it to be cruel to have two different breeds mate. How many dog breeds out there today weren't bred from two completely different breeds, no matter the "functionality" of the pups-to-be? Dogs will like dogs, and they're not picky about the breed. "Cruelty"... bah.
- Liz, California, 28/01/2010 06:31
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The comments on this post are completely unresearched and have no facts behind them at all. All dogs are not meant to be pure breads. Be informed before you make idiotic comments. This is exactly like political debates among the common people. No one knows what they're talking about!
- Tanya, tucson, usa, 28/01/2010 06:24
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I just want to remind every one that it's just a DOG and nothing more. To another dog it doesn't matter if your pure bred or not the ANIMAL will chose based current health, size and scent.
An ANIMAL of PURE bred is only a HUMAN invention similar to one know known as race.
Dogs don't care if your brown, white or gray they love you and their mates regardless if your pure bred or a mongrel. (In case you didn't know ALL humans aren't pure bred)
- Eric, Tempe, AZ USA, 28/01/2010 06:19
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That's cute. I'll name him Rorschach.
- John Trepp, Los Angeles, 28/01/2010 06:09
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All of you are being overly apathetic towards this situation, and it is apparent that all but one of you know the first thing about dogs, other than shows.
The terms "irresponsible" and "mistake" are used by breeders, who promote purebred dogs and their birth defects. These are the people culling puppies who appear wrong. So to all of you who said that, you disgust me. Nothing loves you like a dog does, no matter what it is.
Secondly, this is not irresponsible in the least. If you read the article, it clearly states that this is the first known crossing of it's type. This is NOT a designer breed, like labradoodles, or small-dog mixes. These are two unique puppies, who happen to be mixed. And no, in case you were wondering, mixing two breeds with genetic health defects actually makes the puppies LESS LIKELY to inherit those problems-because they are breaking away from INBREEDING-essentially what purebreds are.
You all should be ashamed of yourselves. Dogs are not show toys, they're living, breathing things, and for a lot of us-they are our best friends. You disgust me.
- Chris, Providence, USA, 28/01/2010 05:52
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Take the 2 sickest dog breeds - and mate them - These creatures will be dead in 4 years 5 tops - probably from cancer... or put down because of severe hip/joint problems.
- Guy, USA, 28/01/2010 05:33
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I think that after watching the BBC programme about the interbreeding of dogs to get a pure breed is animal cruelty.. after all the money spent on these dogs your buying one with defects. I own a bernese mt dog crossed with a husky, and so far have had no problems with her health. I have had pediree german shepherds in the past and after my x breed wouldn't concider getting another pedigree dog. These people quick to criticise others are more than likley making stacks loads of money of these animals. It's no different to selling a car with loads of things wrong with it. but your less likley to get your money back form the breeder when the problems arise and pet insurance is cheaper for x breeds as they have fewer proplems than pedigree dogs...FACT....
- Karen Novell, west sussex uk, 19/09/2008 07:59
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Question: "What do you call a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a dalmatian?"
Answer: A careless mistake.
- Jan, Leamington, UK, 25/07/2008 14:25
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Why not wait and see if health problems arise before judging this as animal cruelty - the circumstances behind this pregnancy were not mentioned in the article, yet people have already decided to criticise.
Keeping purebreds pure is what contributes to genetic health issues, so surely 'not' cross-breeding them to vary the genes present should be seen as more irresponsible? By cross-breeding, health problems may even diminish by crossing genes between two purebred lines.
I think the Bernation is far more acceptable than breeding one or two of the same breed that do not meet the accepted standards for that breed. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly people will condemn others when things aren't done 'by the book' even though they clearly don't know all the details of the situation at hand.
- Katrina, Hook, UK, 01/10/2007 12:49
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Why go and create two more mongrels, when there are plenty in rescues up and down the country.
How many people are going to see this and think "oh great money spinner" I think that this is as irresponsible as you can get.
- Claire Petrie-Milliam, Henfield, West Sussex, 01/10/2007 11:49
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If they love animals as they appear to suggest they should be ashamed of themselves.
There are exceptions as I believe the Irish Wolfhound was, at one time, declared extinct and was “reborn“ by the crossing of a Deerhound with a Great Dane. Other animals are bred (crossed) for specific functions but the “Bernation“ is an aberration.
- Peter Glazier, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 01/10/2007 11:49
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Mongrel! I am pretty sure the breed is called 'Mongrel'. The word is first recorded in 1486 and means 'a mixed breed dog'.
- Threaded, Roskilde, Denmark, 01/10/2007 11:49
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Question: What do you call a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Dalmatian?
Correct answer: Irresponsible.
Disgusting, two dogs with their own breed specific health issues, then you mate them together, you end up with pups with major problems... it's animal cruelty!
- Sharon, Bristol, 01/10/2007 11:49
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