Mix or Pure Bred?

Sister · 09-03-2006, 11:14 AM

I currently own a pug. Prior to adopting my pug, all of my dogs have been mixed breeds. I have had a lot of issues and heartbreak with my pug. I know that it's going to be a very long time before I am ready to commit to another dog. I'm not sure if I'll go purebred or not at that point. Either way I will adopt an adult or adolescent dog.

tiffsdoggiedelights · 09-03-2006, 05:41 PM

I have owned both. I have found personally that my purebreds are easier to train and seem to be more social around other dogs.

Tiff

Sister · 09-03-2006, 05:44 PM

I'm really attracted to yorkies. I've just been so burned by breed-specific problems. Of course, I was completely unprepared for my pug experience. He was a bit of a rescue.

Amanda21 · 09-04-2006, 12:16 AM

I've had a mutt before, but now I own two Purebreeds.

I love Purebreeds. IMO less health risks. My Mutt i had, was a Golden Black lab mix. She was a sweetheart i LOVED her to peices she looked more like a Golden. so to this day i can't look at goldens without getting teary eyed. and she was put to sleep due to serious health problems about 9 years ago. and i'm still not over it.

with Purebreeds i liek the fact that you have a list of parnets grandparnets etc etc to take a look from. see where the lines came from.

and even Bettering the breeds later on. I plan to Show/Breed Great Danes, and papillons.

I love those breeds and i am SO decated to bettering the breed, and getting my dogs all CH. LOL this has been a dream of mine since i was around 5.

but by Mixing breeds it shows to me that the breeders are not decated to the breeds and just want the money. although some are mistakes. but it wouldn't be a mistake if they were spay/neutered. My Golden mix was free because her litter was a mistake from an old lady.

opokki · 09-04-2006, 12:37 AM

I currently own one of each. My purebred originally came from a BYB and is a mess with both temperment and health issues. My mixed breed (who was not breed intentionally as designer breeds are) is fabulous, very healthy and has a wonderful temperment.

I think there is some risk no matter where you get a dog from. There are lots of great, healthy dogs in shelters.

Melos · 09-04-2006, 09:51 AM

I just adopted a mixed breed dog - poodle & terrier (of some sort) mix. At least that's what they came up with to describe her. All my dogs will be adoptions, and I don't care what their bloodline is. They are just good pets to me.

gojo431 · 09-04-2006, 03:36 PM

My dogs have all been mixed breeds. I don’t know if they have been less smart or have had less problems than a purebred health-wise. All my dogs have been cool and were /are great companions.

I’m an awful pet owner, I break all the rules. I feed them dit-bits from my plate as I eat. I allow them on the furniture and some sleep in the bed with me. Haven’t taught the rascals any tricks. Had a cat once that did this little snake dance after eating a treat. So we kept a treat on top of the tv for him always. He’d jump up there and eat it and do his little dance. The dogs will pull on the leash when I start to walk them and then will settle down some on their own. We will fuss over them and hug and kiss them. When I come home from work all of them are at the door to meet me.

My dogs have turned to mush. They all will lay in my lap, or sit with me in my chair as I type. The big one will lay his head in my lap, he is my big beautiful Ben. They are always by my side.

But………they are not purebreds; just simply mutts. The ones I have now are basically rescues but in the past I had mutts just because, nothing honorable at all. Maybe because I was too cheap to pay for a purebred. I think purebreds are cool. I see no difference in a purebred and a mutt, I would treat them the same. My dogs have never been for show. They have all just been part of the family.

Sugar:

Moppet:

Big Beautifu Ben:

Sister · 09-04-2006, 06:53 PM

gojo, your dogs are adorable. You sound like a wonderful pet owner to me.

kokotai · 09-04-2006, 11:29 PM

I prefer mix breeds. I think they are calmer.

alundy · 09-05-2006, 06:32 AM

I don't think one is better than the other. Sure, you might find a lot of poorly bred purebreds who as a result have health problems or are high-strung. And you might get a mixed breed who, through luck of the draw, has health problems or is high strung.
Purebreds are great if you want to show dogs or breed (responsibly), or if you have a specific working trait in mind and want a dog that was bred for that purpose - ie. cattle herding.... not that there aren't tons of mixed breeds who can herd cattle very well, but by getting a purebred you have a more "sure thing".

Personally I will always buy a mixed breed from here on in because
a) I love how they are unique
b) Generally the shelters have a lot of mixed or unknown breeds, and they need homes
c) I am not looking for a certain working trait, just a nice companion

kelkat · 09-05-2006, 07:45 AM

I'm with you alundy, pound dogs seem to instintively know that they have been saved and are forever grateful to you. And you can get some real neat ones! We had a long legged corgi! She looked exactly like a corgi and acted like one, but she had legs atleast twice as long.

I've never been able to buy a dog when I know there are so many out there that need homes! Just me, though. All of ours have been strays or pound pups.

SHOTZYS MOM · 09-05-2006, 07:00 PM

How cute are those little guys and Ben, well he is just so handsome. I have owned both purebreeds and mutts and loved them both equally. The only dog I had a bad experience was with an Afghan. Will never own that breed again.

Amie · 09-10-2006, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gojo431

My dogs have all been mixed breeds. I don’t know if they have been less smart or have had less problems than a purebred health-wise. All my dogs have been cool and were /are great companions.

I’m an awful pet owner, I break all the rules. I feed them dit-bits from my plate as I eat. I allow them on the furniture and some sleep in the bed with me. Haven’t taught the rascals any tricks. Had a cat once that did this little snake dance after eating a treat. So we kept a treat on top of the tv for him always. He’d jump up there and eat it and do his little dance. The dogs will pull on the leash when I start to walk them and then will settle down some on their own. We will fuss over them and hug and kiss them. When I come home from work all of them are at the door to meet me.

My dogs have turned to mush. They all will lay in my lap, or sit with me in my chair as I type. The big one will lay his head in my lap, he is my big beautiful Ben. They are always by my side.

But………they are not purebreds; just simply mutts. The ones I have now are basically rescues but in the past I had mutts just because, nothing honorable at all. Maybe because I was too cheap to pay for a purebred. I think purebreds are cool. I see no difference in a purebred and a mutt, I would treat them the same. My dogs have never been for show. They have all just been part of the family.

Sugar:

Moppet:

Big Beautifu Ben:

You sound like a lovely Dog owner very lucky Dogs. Can I please come live with you

Cheetah · 09-10-2006, 02:32 PM

I don't think one is better than the other either.... I own both.

daisy · 09-10-2006, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amanda21

I've had a mutt before, but now I own two Purebreeds.

I love Purebreeds. IMO less health risks. My Mutt i had, was a Golden Black lab mix. She was a sweetheart i LOVED her to peices she looked more like a Golden. so to this day i can't look at goldens without getting teary eyed. and she was put to sleep due to serious health problems about 9 years ago. and i'm still not over it.

can you tell me about the problums you had with your mix? i have a golden black lab mix and she is a pup so fare shes fine but i wana be perpaird and know whats cumming how big did yours git? mine looks more like a black lab great dain cross but the breeder sead it was black lab golden retrever mix maby she had the femail with to mails 1 golden the other dain and she conseeved with the dain and the breeder didnt know i dont know

sheplovr · 09-11-2006, 12:23 PM

I Think Either Or Is Good As The Way You Handle And Raise Your Pet Is What Counts Most. Rarely Is One Mean Unless It Has Been Taught To Defend Itself, Then U Might Have Issues With Adopting An Adult, The Younger The Better I Would Say With Purebreds And Mixes.

drfong · 09-11-2006, 03:18 PM

I think it really depends on the mix or the pure breed. Some breeds are harder to train and some are more hyper than others. When you start crossing things I don't think it makes them 'better' or 'worse' just less predictable.

TheWriteKind · 09-11-2006, 03:20 PM

Right now, both of my dogs are purebred. However, I have had mixed breed dogs and it's unfair of me to compare between them because they were not the same. My mixed breed dogs were small dogs and my purebreds are large dogs. My mixed/small dogs were dumb and my one of my purebreds is really smart and the other is just so smart, too smart and she knows her size, so she's been difficult and long to train. I think the right dog for you is the right dog, regardless of their breeding and you will know the right dog when you find him/her.

mamaverna · 09-13-2006, 06:08 PM

Over my life I have had mostly mutts, but now have 2 purebred Shih tzu. While I have had fairly good luck with mutts, I have to say that my tzus are smarter than any other dog I have had, with the exception of maybe one. My worst dogs were shelter dogs and rescues. It seemed even though I got them as puppies, they already had a lot of issues that they could not get past. One I had to take back to the shelter, and another one that was a stray, I gave away to a friend because she just was not working in our family. But in my opinion, they are both good and bad going in both ways. Just think long and hard about what you are doing and be patient and be sure before you choose.