The Case for Mutts

Certain dog breeds enjoy steady popularity, the laborador

retriever being one of the most popular. There are also
trends and fads in dog breeds just as there are with
clothing and music. Cerain breeds such as chihuahuas,
dalmations, and Jack Russells are "in style" for a while,
usually due to media exposure (think Taco Bell chihuahua and

Paris Hilton, "101 Dalmations", and "Frasier"). I want to
plead the case, however, for the "sooner" (sooner be one
breed as another), the "Heinz 57 variety", and/or mongrel.

I currently own three dogs, and not one of them is
pedigreed. Mia is a dog that I "inherited" from my younger

son and appears to be an Australian Shepherd mix. Elijah
may be part lab and may also be part pit-bull; we're not
sure. And Kylie, another dog inherited from my younger son,

appears to be a Cairn Terrier mix. I love all three of my
dogs. They are all healthy, and have good dispositions,
though the younger ones can still get into mischief. My
dogs are "mutts", and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Purebred dogs are expensive, and can be an expensive mistake

if the dog breed is not suited for your needs. Neither
chihuahua, dalmation, or Jack Russells, which have enjoyed
temporary popularity, are the best choice for families with

small children. Many of these breeds were adopted and later

returned for these reasons. They were not a good fit for
the family. Many purebred dogs are also more prone to
certain genetic health traits such as hip dysplasia, simply

because they become "inbred", and can more easily pass those

genetic traits on.

Mutts, on the other hand, are mixed breed, decreasing their

chances of passing on genetic health traits. The mutts that

I have had all had good dispostions, and most were pretty
intelligent. Certainly no purebred puppies could be cuter
than my mutts were.

Unfortunately, many mutts, or mongrels, are unwanted. Many

will be left or abandoned as strays, or taken to shelters,
where the majority will be euthanized. The biggest factor
in my adoping mutts is the satisfaction of knowing that I
probably saved a dog from being "put down" as unwanted. I
am fortunate to enjoy the companionship of my "mutts" and
give them a loving home.

So, go ahead, pay the outrageous prices to buy your "toy"
breeds, and other purebreed dogs. I'll still be here, happy with three of the best dogs on the planet!

Ms. Lowe is a dog owner and lover. She is also webmaster for "doggy-training.com", a popular resource for dog care and dog training information.