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Dr Pauline Taylor on Hong Kong’s Tong Gau (mongrels)
Dr Pauline Pets Central veterinarian
Today about 400 breeds of dog exist worldwide. The local mongrel dog (Tong Gau) is bred from one or more of these subspecies that exist in Asia. Additionally, it could harbour genes introduced from other dog species brought to Hong Kong from anywhere in the world.
What are some of the benefits of adopting a mongrel over a purebred dog?
Many arguments exist for people to adopt a mongrel dog. The most well known is that usually you end up saving a mongrel dog’s life that otherwise may not get a forever home and even could possibly be euthanised. It’s suggested due to hybrid vigour in crossbreed dogs they are generally healthier and less prone to many diseases especially hereditary ones that purebred dogs get. But this is not always true and often some mongrel dogs get similar medical conditions as purebred dogs so it does depend on the mongrel’s gene pool. You may have noticed when a purebred breed becomes popular in Hong Kong, shortly thereafter local mongrels may show characteristics of the purebred e.g. spots on mongrel dogs after the movie ‘101 Dalmatians’. Purebred dogs usually come with a price on their head and sadly many (but not all) come from breeders only concerned about making money.
Do you think the stigma around mongrels has improved in recent years?
I have seen huge changes in attitude to getting mongrel dogs since I first came to Hong Kong. Nowadays families are happy to adopt a crossbreed dog where years ago a certain status symbol was created by buying and walking around with an expensive full breed dog. Let us remember many ‘in vogue’ crossbreed dog breeds such as the cockapoo did not exist a few years ago in any great numbers and certainly not by that name.
Nowadays many animal welfare groups contribute to rescuing mongrel dogs whereas these groups did not exist 20 years ago. With marketing and good PR these groups have altered the stigma around having a mongrel dog.
Are there any special precautions people should take when adopting a mongrel?
The answer depends on each individual dog. A young friendly mongrel pup less than 16 weeks of age that can be appropriately trained to be socially acceptable with other dogs, animals, humans and fit into family life from as young an age as possible should be easy to find a permanent home with a family that would like a mongrel pup in their life. Special precautions kick in with adult mongrels who maybe set in their ways but that is no different from adopting a pure breed adult dog. It is generally felt that mongrel dogs cause fewer veterinary bills than many of their pure-bred counterparts.
