"Watch a cat when it enters a room for the first time. It searches and smells about, it is not quiet for a moment, it trusts nothing until it has examined and made acquaintance with everything."

- Jean Jacques Rousseau

Making The Right Choice Between Purebred And Mixed Breed Puppies

To say locating just the right puppy for a particular person or family is difficult is an understatement. With so many choices, looks and personalities, the right match is most certainly out there, but deciding can be difficult. Choosing between purebreds and mixed breeds, too, presents another quandary. There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

When it comes to dogs in general, there are solid choices in both classes. Both purebreds and mixed breeds have their individual dogs that are outstanding and those that simply are not. Dogs are like people in the sense they have their own personalities, likes and dislikes. There are some generalizations about both kinds of dogs, however, that can help a person on the hunt for the right puppy make the choice that works for them.

Purebred dogs

Pros

1. Set characteristics. A person who wants a dog that looks a particular way, will likely find that purebreds are pretty solid on this. While there might be some individual variations, a Labrador retriever, for example, will almost always be a mid- to large-size dog, whereas a toy poodle will be small with curly hair, and so on.

2. Standard behaviors. Purebred dogs each have their own personalities, but as a standard, dogs of the same breed tend to have similar behavior patterns. Some breeds tend to be full of energy, others are more suited to a laid-back lifestyle, for example. This can be great for someone who knows what type of personality they are looking for in a dog. While it won't always pan out, the odds are in the person's favor.

3. Breeding possibilities. For those who want to show and breed dogs to make money, a purebred is generally the only choice.

Cons

While there are not many cons of choosing a purebred, there are a few cautions. These dogs to tend to have a greater incidence of medical issues, depending on the breed and the breeding conditions. There is also the consideration that purebreds tend to cost more.

Mixed breeds

Often combining the best of both worlds, mixed breeds are favored by many for a number of reasons, but there is a down side or two, as well.

Pros

1. Less health problems. Mixed breeds tend to not suffer as much from the genetic issues some purebreds do, but this is not always the case.

2. Lower cost. Mixed breed dogs are generally given away for free or sold at a very minimal price.

Cons

1. While many mixed breeds have some of the best personalities going, it can be a gamble on trying to figure out eventual temperament. Will they pick up the playfulness of one breed or the aggression of another?

2. Health problems. While it is true mixed breeds tend to avoid a lot of the genetic issues that can go along with their purebred counterparts, this is not always the case. Getting a mixed breed dog doesn't guarantee total avoidance.

Making the choice between purebred and mixed breed can be very difficult. Dogs, in general, are wonderful additions to a family. If they're loyal and loving, a "mutt" will be as much a welcomed part of a family as a pedigree.