Crossword Genius

Initially breeding bird and dog (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

beagle

'dog' is the definition.
(I know that beagle is a type of dog)

'initially breeding bird' is the wordplay.
'initially' indicates taking the first letters.
'bird' becomes 'eagle' (eagle is a type of bird).
The first letter of 'breeding' is 'b'.
'b'+'eagle'='BEAGLE'

'and' is the link.

(Other definitions for beagle that I've seen before include "Small short-legged hound" , "hunting animal with smooth coat" , "Darwin voyaged in this ship" , "Small hunting dog" , "Small, sturdy breed of hound" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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