Would you clone your dog?

[Saeleofu]

And, as a matter of fact, turns out that cloned animals are not always identical to their "parent", though you'd think they would be.

True. This is because even some physical characteristics, including pattern and some color, is influenced by environment. For example, a cloned calico may not actually be calico. If you cloned an appaloosa, the spotting won't be the same. The white markings on, say, a boxer may not be the same.

 

[BostonBanker]

My dog? No. I adore her beyond what is reasonable, but the fact that such an amazing creature came out of a kill shelter means there are certainly more such remarkable animals in need. It wouldn't be fair to them.

The breeding thing, I kind of get. If you have an animal with very rare genes, or an exceptional animal who is unable to breed for some reason...I get wanting to make that option. Gem Twist, one of the most amazing show jumping horses in history, was cloned. He was gelded (neutered), and from some fairly old, very successful bloodlines. From the information I remember reading, they were working to train and compete the horse as well, not just breed with him. The clone can't be that old at this point - two years, maybe? So it will be a while before anyone knows how it is going to work out.

I did tell my friend just the other day that she needs to clone her stallion so I can have one of him (and geld it young!).

 

[Inga]

I wouldn't clone any of my dogs. It would be awful for me to have a dog that looks like Summer but I would know it wasn't her. Also, I would miss out on other dogs and new personalities. I have thought all my dogs were pretty swell even if they're all different.

Something about cloning pets really bothers me for some reason. It sucks that dogs don't live that long, but I wouldn't want a replica of my dog when they were gone.

That is EXACTLY how I feel. It would just be a sad reminder of the dog I missed. Kind of like how I feel about stuffing animals too. It would kill me to see dust on glass eyes that were in the shell of a much loved pet. I don't know how people can do that.

Now, If I could have my old dog back.... I would do it in a second. I miss my old dogs soooooo much.

 

[Southpaw]

Only if I could clone personality. Don't really care about looks--that would be weird--but it's the personality that makes them who they are, why I love them...

 

[JennSLK]

My dog? No. I adore her beyond what is reasonable, but the fact that such an amazing creature came out of a kill shelter means there are certainly more such remarkable animals in need. It wouldn't be fair to them.

The breeding thing, I kind of get. If you have an animal with very rare genes, or an exceptional animal who is unable to breed for some reason...I get wanting to make that option. Gem Twist, one of the most amazing show jumping horses in history, was cloned. He was gelded (neutered), and from some fairly old, very successful bloodlines. From the information I remember reading, they were working to train and compete the horse as well, not just breed with him. The clone can't be that old at this point - two years, maybe? So it will be a while before anyone knows how it is going to work out.

I did tell my friend just the other day that she needs to clone her stallion so I can have one of him (and geld it young!).

Didn't they do that with a Quarter Horse too? From what I know, you cant reg a clone. Now you can do SJ with out being reg as a breed, however they are worth more money if they are reg.

 

[BostonBanker]

They've done other horses, I know. Don't know much about which ones.

I think you could breed a three-legged mule from Gem Twist and it would be worth a small fortune. Registrations mean next to nothing in most non-breed related sports. I'm sure the clone (they named it Gemini, which I give them serious props for ) isn't registered, as Gem Twist was a Thoroughbred, which last I knew, didn't even permit AI yet.

The original:

Article on the clone:
Can Gemini duplicate Gem Twist's stellar career? | New Jersey Sports - - New Jersey Sports - NJ.com

 

[KenyiGirl]

No. There are too many pups without homes for me to consider cloning with a clear conscience.

 

[Paige]

They've done other horses, I know. Don't know much about which ones.

I think you could breed a three-legged mule from Gem Twist and it would be worth a small fortune. Registrations mean next to nothing in most non-breed related sports. I'm sure the clone (they named it Gemini, which I give them serious props for ) isn't registered, as Gem Twist was a Thoroughbred, which last I knew, didn't even permit AI yet.

The original:

Article on the clone:
Can Gemini duplicate Gem Twist's stellar career? | New Jersey Sports - - New Jersey Sports - NJ.com

For sure. Not many people really care in the non breed sports if their horse isn't registered. Papers don't prove the horse has talent. I can think of a few horses off the top of my head that are worth a pretty penny and no one could even tell you where they were born.

 

[Renee750il]

No. Just, no.

It might look like my dog on the outside, but I still believe you can't clone a soul.

 

[Whisper]

No. Just, no.

It might look like my dog on the outside, but I still believe you can't clone a soul.

I completely agree with that.
The one thing said on this forum that astounded me more than any other thing was when someone said dogs don't have souls- only people. I don't even remember who it was, just that it was brought up in a religious debate.

 

[Paige]

Even if you could Renee I wouldn't want to. What bonded me to Bandit so deeply was the time he and I found each other and our growth together. You could spit out an identical dog right down to his personality and soul and it would not be the same. Relationships start and end regardless of how you part ways. Death is apart of life for a reason. A reason I have yet to fully understand but with it I grieve and grow.

Bandit wouldn't be looking for an exact copy of me if I passed on so I'll give him the same respect and remember him fondly.

 

[Dog Connections]

No I would not. I think dogs and pets are wit us to help us understand certain things about life. They teach us unconditional love but also letting go and passing away.
Don not get me wrong it will be a very sad day when my doggie goes!