Purebred or Mixed Breed?

It makes sense that this question would come up a lot in dog conversations and different people have different opinions as to which is the better choice. Today, I just want to let you know what the pros and cons of each are so you can make an educated decision. I’m going to go over purebred dogs first and then I will talk about mixed breeds.

PUREBRED DOGS:

Pros:

• It is easy to research any health problems the dog is predisposed to based on her breed
• You will know how large she will get, and what behaviors to expect
• You have the option of showing your dog
• You have the option of breeding your dog (and collecting stud fees or selling the purebred puppies) - NOTE: this should only be done if you are financially and emotionally capable of raising a litter of puppies, always consult with a reputable breeder to be your mentor if you are seriously considering breeding your dog.

Cons:

• Buying a purebred dog can be incredibly expensive depending on what breed you are looking for and where you buy her
• Incredibly popular breeds or breeders may put you on a waiting list, so don’t assume you will get your puppy right away
• Your dog’s risk for developing breed-specific problems is greater than if you were to get a mixed breed

MIXED BREED DOGS:

Pros:

• These dogs are readily available - you can go to a shelter, humane society, etc.
• She will be much cheaper than buying a purebred dog - the average cost will be somewhere around $100 or less (if purchasing from a shelter or humane society, they will include spaying/neutering procedure as well as first set of vaccinations)
• You will be giving a dog that was abandoned another chance at life (if you adopt)

Cons:

• The behavior in these dogs is generally unpredictable - if she is a mix of two breeds she could have behavioral tendencies from both breeds
• It is hard to judge how large she will be (unless you adopt an older dog)
• Her family history (diseases in the family, etc.) will be unknown

I always thought (and still do) that people don’t really pick their pets. In fact, it is the other way around. I can remember when I was a kid, my parents took us to find a puppy, we got to see the whole litter and play with all of them. Do you know which one we ended up taking home? It was the one who fell asleep on my little sister’s lap. She picked us to be her family, and I think if you talk to most owners, they will tell you something similar.

No matter what type of dog you decide to get, make sure it is the right one for you and your life. Most decisions we as human beings make about animals are with our hearts. The decision needs to be equal contributions of heart and mind.

Thanks for reading! As always your participation in comments and discussions is encouraged and greatly appreciated!!

P.S. I want to wish my younger sister a HAPPY BIRTHDAY today!!