So, you want a dog, and you’re not sure if you want a pure breed dog, or if you just want to pick up a mutt from the local shelter. Is there a difference in pure breed dogs and mutts? Which one will make a better pet?
Different breeds have vastly different dispositions, attitudes, and personalities, so you need to take that into consideration when you are choosing your dog. If you absolutely have to have a particular look or trait, you might want to go with a pure breed dog. There really isn’t a comparison if you want, say, a German Shepherd. Mixed breeds or mutts aren’t going to give you the look you want, and it’s a toss-up if you’re going to get the same protectiveness that German Shepherds manifest unless you go with the dog that you are sure is one hundred percent pure bred. On the other hand, the qualities of a breed are often passed on to mixed-breed offspring. If you know for sure that German Shepherd features prominently in the mutt’s makeup, then chances are your mixed breed dog will show German Shepherd traits.
Another thing to keep in mind is that because pure breed dogs are often in-bred to retain a particular look and trait. This means that there is a greater chance of health problems being passed on to pure breed offspring. Labrador retrievers are prone to hip dysplasia, and there pure-breed offspring is going to be particularly prone to this problem. A mixed breed offspring, however, if there is no hip dysplasia on the other side, is much less likely to display this problem. Mutts make great pets, as well, and are sometimes easier to train and even smarter than pure breeds, because of this very in-breeding that is being done. In-breeding can cause the natural intelligence of a breed to decrease, and this isn’t a problem with mixed breed or mutts.
Pure breed dogs are also much more expensive than a dog you can pick up at a shelter; a good pure breed dog from a reputable breeder can cost thousands of dollars. Mutts, however, can be picked up at a shelter for a very small amount. If you’re going to buy from a breeder, you also want to be careful and research them carefully. Dogs kept in poor conditions and poor breeding practices can make bad pets, and you don’t want to become attached to a dog only to find that he (and you!) are the victim of a bad dog breeder. You should think carefully about quality of life for your dog, and how this will affect you as well. You are getting this dog for the rest of his life, so make sure that you pick well.
There are just as many reasons to pick a mutt as there are to pick a pure breed dog. It largely depends on what you want and what you’re able to afford. A mutt can make just as good a pet as a pure breed dog can, and can make you just as happy. Make sure that you pick a dog that fits your family and living situation, and one whose personality that fits well with your own. And have fun with the process; choosing a dog is meant to be fun, and can be one of the best decisions that you make in your life.
