Purebred vs. Mix Breed Puppies as Pets

Decisions, decisions. It seems as if we are always making decisions about something. Sometimes we don’t think about one of the most important decisions we can make – choosing a puppy for a pet.

One of the hardest decisions to make when considering a new puppy is whether to get a pure bred puppy or a mixed breed puppy. There are benefits to both – it just depends on what you want.

• You know the dogs history
• You know the dogs health
• You will know what your dog will look like
• You will have a pedigree for your dog
• You can get a dog that is bred for your needs

When you buy a purebred puppy, you know the history of the puppy you are getting. You know its pedigree – its parents and grandparents and great-grandparents. With purebred puppies, you are less likely to end up with a puppy that has a serious health defect – if you buy from a responsible breeder.

If you want a hunting puppy, you can get a purebred puppy that was bred purely for hunting and has generations of good hunting genes that will make your puppy easier to train. If you want a puppy for your children, you can find a breed that has been shown to be good with children. If you want a guard puppy, you can find a breed that has been bred purely to be a guard puppy.

You can also better predict the behavior of your pet if you choose a purebred. If you know the mother and the father of your puppy and know what type of personality they have, you can usually predict the behavior of your puppy. They will be pretty similar.

• Your dog will be less expensive
• You could rescue your dog from a shelter
• You can have a dog that has the best of more than one breed

Some people prefer a mixed breed puppy – or mutt. There are many reasons to choose a mixed breed puppy over a purebred puppy. One of the primary reasons might be cost. You can often find a mixed breed puppy in the newspaper or computer ads for free or at a very low cost, unlike a purebred that can cost hundreds, or even thousands of dollars.

Another reason people prefer mixed breed puppies is because they want to rescue their puppies from a shelter. Many times the puppies you find at shelters will be mixed breed puppies. You can find mixed breed puppies of all ages – from puppies to older, more mature puppies. You can see the personality of the older puppies, but the puppies will be hard to predict. Some people choose their puppy based purely on looks alone – and that’s okay if you are prepared to train your puppy to rid it of any bad habits it may have picked up over the years.

Some people prefer having a puppy that has the best of two or more breeds – some people call these puppies designer puppies. In reality, they are just higher priced mixed breed puppies. Some popular types of designer puppies are crosses between Labrador retrievers and poodle – or labradoodles. Another type is a chiweenie – a cross between a Chihuahua and a dachshund. These puppies can be great puppies and have the best of both breeds, but you must be careful, because they can also have the worst of both breeds.

Whatever your choice, mixed breed puppy or purebred, you must do your research. Don’t just pick the first puppy you see. Make sure the puppy will fit with your family. See if you can introduce your family – your children and any other pets you may have – to the new puppy before you bring it home. Because in the end, it doesn’t matter if your puppy is a purebred or a mixed breed puppy, it just matters that you will love your puppy and take care of it for the rest of its life.