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Mixed breed dogs or purebred dogs?
Mixed breed dogs, crossbreeds and purebred dogs can all make wonderful companions. So what's the difference and what would be the best pet for you?
On this page: What's the difference between mixed breed dogs and purebred dogs? Why buy crossbreeds or mixed breeds? What's the difference?A purebred
dog is a dog whose parents are both of the same breed. The breed should
be recognised by a national kennel club. Purebred dogs are the result of many years of selective breeding. Most dog breeds were developed to suit a particular purpose (eg hunting or pulling sleds or catching rats or just being a good companion). A pedigreed purebred dog is a purebred dog whose parents are known and who has a pedigree showing its ancestors going back several generations. A registered pedigreed dog is registered with a national kennel council. A crossbreed or mixed breed dog (or mongrel) is a dog whose parents are from different breeds. These dogs are not pedigreed. Some crossbreeds or mixed breed dogs are also known as 'designer dogs'. The terms 'mixed breed' and 'crossbreed' are often used interchangeably, but some people say 'mixed breed' means the dog may have several different breeds in its ancestry while 'crossbreed' means the dog had two purebred parents of different breeds. TopWhich should I buy?If you're looking for a doggy companion, it doesn't matter whether you get a purebred or a mixed breed puppy. If you're interested in showing your dog at dog shows to win prizes, you will need to buy a pedigreed purebred dog, as these shows are about judging the dogs that best demonstrate the characteristics of a breed. If you want to enter obedience competitions or agility competitions, it doesn't matter whether you buy a purebred or a mixed breed dog or crossbreed dog. Both purebred dogs and crossbreeds or mixed breed dogs will make excellent
companions, if carefully chosen to suit your needs and lifestyle. Check
our Puppy adoption
page to find out where to get your purebred or crossbreed dog. Why buy a purebred dog?When you buy a purebred puppy from a registered breeder, you have a good idea about what sort of dog you're getting: its height and weight when grown, what its coat will be like, what its temperament is likely to be and so on. Find out more about registered breeders and pedigrees at Where to buy puppies. You can do the research about the different puppy breeds and about choosing a dog breed that suits your lifestyle, budget and living circumstances. It's not always expensive to buy a purebred dog. Unless you need a pedigree with your dog because you want to enter it in dog shows to win prizes, check your local animal shelter or council pound. They will often have purebred dogs and puppies available and your puppy will come already desexed, wormed and vaccinated. What about inbreeding? Aren't all purebred dogs inbred?A good registered breeder will check the health of their dogs before they breed from them to make sure they don't carry hereditary problems or diseases. In fact, registered breeders are not allowed to breed mothers and sons and fathers and daughters together, under the terms of their registration with their national kennel council.They will go far afield - even all over the world - to find new dogs to add to their bloodlines. This way they keep the gene pool healthy. When you buy from a registered breeder, you can visit the parents of the puppy you want to buy. You can look over the pedigree and see for yourself whether there is too much inbreeding. Check the breeder's dogs carefully. Are they happy dogs? Do they look healthy? Do they move well? Do they have friendly natures? Are they snappy or wary of strangers? Do
some research! Top Why buy crossbreeds or mixed breeds?Mixed breed puppies or crossbreeds can be cheaper to buy than a purebred dog. Some people also prefer a dog that's a little bit different from all the other dogs, depending on what breeds he has in his ancestry. After all, most Labradors look like other Labradors but a Labrador crossed with another breed could look quite different! A good mixed breed
dog (or 'mutt'!) can be a great pet
and a dog pound or animal shelter
is the best place to find one. Why not try puppy adoption
instead?
But beware! There are several important things to consider when buying a crossbreed. Find out what breeds the parents were. This will give you a better idea of what the puppy will be like when it's grown and whether the puppy will suit your lifestyle. So many dogs end up on death row in the council pound because the owners had no idea the little cute pup was part Irish Wolfhound and part Bullmastiff - and they can't afford to feed it now it's grown. If someone tries to sell you a puppy and they don't know what breeds went into its ancestry, be careful. More puppy info at PuppyPrimer.com
Sometimes people cross breed dogs that should never be bred together, such as fighting dogs with dogs that have a strong prey drive. You could end up with an aggressive dog that likes to chase animals and people. When buying mixed breed puppies, you won't know whether the parents were healthy and free from hereditary diseases. If the parents carried genetic problems, they could show up in your dog in later years. Do your
research!
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