Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Some people are Great Dane devotees, and can’t imagine owning any other kind of dog, while others wouldn’t be able to sleep at night knowing they’d chosen a purebred when shelter puppies need good homes. The push to rescue pets is growing ever-popular, creating a constant divide of conviction about which kind of dog is best: a mutt or a purebred?
Mutts
- Owning a mutt is a great way to help pounds, animal shelters and rescue homes find a good place for one of the many dogs in need of a good home.
- Mutts are one of a kind! It has been observed that a mutt or mixed dog, could be a combination of many desirable features or qualities in a pet, while tempering down a breed’s negative aspects or genetic defects. For example, a Labrador mixed with a Poodle might be sweet and cuddly without the high-strung disposition or meticulous grooming requirements. Or, maybe the family-friendly demeanor of a Golden retriever mixed with the beauty of a Rhodesian might result in a more reliable pet with a less aggressive nature.
- Mutts have a more diverse genetic make-up than purebred dogs. Many people believe that mutts are less likely to suffer from genetic disorders that trickle down the breed lines in purebred pets. Mutts seem, on the whole, to suffer from fewer incidents of spinal diseases, heart diseases, cancers and skin diseases than many of the purebred counterparts. [However, this topic is hotly debated and may not be the best reason upon which to base the purchase of your mutt.]
- Mutts are more affordable. There is no doubt that a $200 rescue fee is preferable to buying that purebred puppy for $3,000 just because he is a blue-colored French Bulldog. When you factor in vet bills, shots and puppy care items, everything starts to get a lot more expensive!
Purebreds
- One of the best aspects of buying from a dog breeder, is that you know what you are getting in the breed. When you adopt a purebred dog, there is plenty of information about your breed’s behaviors, tendencies, needs, and best training tactics. The lack of mystery in your dog breed allows you to know how to meet his needs and set him up to succeed socially and behaviorally.
- Purebreds suffer less from behavioral issues that stem from fear-related disorders. This is because they are well socialized in a stable environment in the first weeks of their life, and then are usually passed to a safe and loving home. This transfer occurs when the pup is around 8 weeks old, when he is most likely to develop social skills based on his surrounding environment. Puppies that end up in rescue homes, shelters or pounds are in a limited space or shared environment, causing them a greater potential to develop fear and agitation in their behaviors.
- Purebred puppies are less likely to pick up a “kennel cough” or other infectious diseases affiliated with shared living spaces. Though most shelters and rescue homes provide immunizations and basic health care, it is more common for mutts to have respiratory infections when they are adopted than purebreds.
- Owning a purebred also present potential opportunities to the buyer to breed or show the dog. While this is not always a possibility in every case, mutts are neither able to be shown, nor are they as marketable as a purebred.
- Purebred pup owners have the benefit of a breeder to contact through the duration of the dog’s life. The breeder agrees to advise and guide the owner through any difficulty that may arise.
The reality is, there are pros and cons to both lists. So whether you prefer a loveable old mutt, or a sleek purebred pup, we can all agree that dogs are well worth the time and effort we spend in bringing them into our lives. After all, everybody needs a best friend!