There are a a massive number of varieties of Dogs in the World. If you take all the Pedigree breeds and the endless combinations that we like to refer to as Mongrels then the numbers would be endless.
But which is better?
How Many Dog Breeds Are There In The World?
According to the American Kennel Club there are approximately 160 Purebred Dog breeds. Others debate this and claim over 1000 worldwide. Each different body recognises more or less than the other so it is an endless debate. When we look at the number of mixed breed Dogs and Mutts or Mongrels there is probably no way to know how many combinations of Dogs there are in the World.
Are Pedigree Dogs Better Than Mongrels?
We all have our personal preference for which type of Dogs we prefer. Some of us will go through our whole lives only ever having one type of Pedigree Dog. Others, like me, have no preference and will simply go for a Dog they like the look of. When I choose a Dog I seem to basically just go with my instincts. If I like the look of the Dog then that is it for me. Even if I have decided I will definitely not get a Dog with thick Fur again, I am a sucker for a cute face!
There are advantages to both sides of the argument. Pedigree Dogs have certain things in their favour, as do Mongrels. Similarly, they both have the negative side.
Why Purebreed Dogs Are Better Than Mongrels
Why To Get A Pure Breed Dog
With a bit of basic research you can easily find the dominant characteristics of a Purebred Dog. Each type of Dog has, to some extent, a characteristic for that breed. You can make a much better decision on what the likely behaviour of the Dog will be.
You can near enough guarantee the size the Dog will be. If you buy a Chihuahua then you know it won’t grow up to be the size of a St. Bernard! You have a much better idea of the size the Pedigree Dog will become. You can pick a Dog that suits your Household. If you have a small House you can get a Dog to Suit.
If you don’t want a Dog that needs much exercise you can pick a breed that is happy to laze about more than other Breeds.
The bottom line with choosing a Pedigree Dog is that you have a much better likelihood of getting a Dog that has the behavioural traits and the size that you want.
Why Mongrels Are Better Than Pure Breed Dogs
Why You Should Get A Mutt
Aah, the Mutt. Mutt Dogs have so many advantages over Pedigree or Purebred Dogs. For a start their lifespan, as a general rule is much longer than many Pedigree Dogs. There is much less inbreeding in mixed heritage Dogs. They have a much more random gene pool meaning there is less chance of inherited traits that are detrimental to the Dog.
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Mongrels do generally live longer and often have less inherited medical problems but there are more reasons than this why Mutts are the best.
Mongrels give the element of surprise. If you get an eight week old Mongrel you just cannot guarantee what it will be like when it gets older. There is great fun to be had watching your Dog slowly change as it gets older. There can be endless surprises. You never quite know what Nature will throw back out of the Mutts ancestral Gene Pool.
Mongrel Dogs often have a much stronger constitution because of their mixed heritage. No selective breeding to make it’s Face have a certain number of wrinkles here.
The sad fact is that the vast majority of Dogs in pounds are Mongrels. You are doing a great service if you get your Dog from a Shelter. There are, of course, many Pure Breed Dogs in Shelters as well but there are a lot more Mutts in Shelters.
Getting a Mongrel from the Pound means you are saving a Dog from a lot of misery. Shy Dogs especially, need saving from such environments. Shy Dog Training is not easy but think how miserable its Life would have been in a stressful environment. If you get a Mongrel Spayed all the better. Female Dog Spaying is especially important, and you will have drastically cut the future numbers of Shelter Dogs if you get your Mutt Spayed. Males also should be neutered if possible.
Why Not To Get A Purebred Dog
Reasons Why Getting A Pedigree Dog Is A Bad Idea
By Buying a Purebreed Dog you are perpetuating the reality of Gene manipulation and selective breeding. So many Pure Bred Dogs have countless infirmities at an early age. There are so many Breeds that have problems because of the selective breeding process that has made them what they are today. From Hip problems, to breathing problems, sagging eyelids, difficulty seeing, walking, running, not to mention the schizophrenic tendencies of many Pure Bred Dogs, there are countless medical problems that arise because of the nature that has been bred in to them. If you want to learn how to stop a Puppy bitingyou will have a much harder time if it is a breed that has a tendency to be slightly unbalanced.
Pedigree Dogs, as a general rule, are much shorter lived than Mixed Breed or Mongrel Dogs. The selective breeding processes may have resulted in what, for many, is the perfect Dog, but it may have a much shorter life span than a Dog with a more mixed heritage.
More and more we hear about Puppy Mills and unscrupulous Breeders. Many supplying Dogs that have just been inbred for way too long. Resulting in owners buying a little Puppy that will have all kinds of problems from very early age. By buying Pure Breed Dogs the cycle is perpetuated and more and more dishonest people will breed Dogs purely from a Commercial point of view.
Why Not To Get A Mongrel
Reasons Why Getting A Mutt Is A Bad Idea
Quite often those who get a Mongrel will get it from a Shelter. They are overrun with Mongrels. We see a Dog we like and give a nominal fee and take it home with us. This is a decision fraught with Danger. We have absolutely no idea about the inherited tendencies of this Dog. We do not know, as we do with Pure Breeds to some extent, the likely behaviour of this Dog. The ancestry could be a line of Dogs that are viscous, unstable, or Dangerous.
A Mongrel could have a lineage that was mostly for Hunting. Totally unsuitable to a Home that likes to have lots of other Pets and Animals running around the place.
You take a real gamble, especially getting an older Dog that is a Mongrel. You don’t know about its past, its lineage or the likely behaviour. Although you can’t guarantee the behaviour of a Pedigree at least you have a general rule to go by. You know that if you get a Sheep Dog, chances are it will be pretty good with Sheep. Get a Mongrel from a Shelter and you may find you spent a lot of your life screaming at your Dog to stop chasing Sheep and swimming rivers to chase Herds of Cows. I speak from experience here!
You may have discovered a great new activity like Dog Scooters and yoou have picked a Dog that seems like it has the traits of a powerful and fast Dog. As it grows you realise you got it all wrong. It just looked that way when a Puppy. Or you may have a load of Nylabone Bones from your previous Dog hanging around, only to discover you have got a Dog that has ferociously powerful Teeth and you keep rushing to the Vets because it has found yet another Nylabone and chewd of a big lump.
So, you get your cute Puppy and in no time you find it is eating you out of House and Home, has Fur that seems to be constantly knotted and is growing in to some kind of Dog Mountain! You just don’t know with Mongrels exactly what they will grow up to be. You take your chances and you should be prepared to live with the consequences.
The Mutt vs Purebreed Wrap-Up
There are obviously pros and cons to both sides. A Purebreed Dog has many advantages as do Mongrels. Apart from being an awful lot cheaper Mutts can quite often be of more robust health. That being said, with Pure Bred Dogs you at least have some idea of what the likely size and personality traits will be.
Which do you prefer?
Would you only have one breed of Dog?
Do you disagree with any of the arguments?
I still love my three Bone Munching Mutts though!
May the Doggie Force be with you all,
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