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Loading...9 Reasons to Love Mutts
- a Care2 favorite by Nicolas, selected from petMD
- 401 comments
The largest percentage of dogs euthanized in shelters is medium to large mixed-breed dogs – a ridiculous statistic, since we all know that mutts are awesome! Here are the top nine reasons why mixed-breed dogs rule.
They’re unique
The standard for breeding purebreds calls for breeding puppies whose appearance and temperament are of exactly the same quality every time. A mixed-breed dog is awesome because without these standards, the dog is more unique. Plus, when visiting a shelter to adopt a mutt, the selection of choices is more varied and unique than you’d find at a breeder.
See also: 10 Fun Dog Facts (Slideshow)
They’re more flexible
Mixed breeds tend to be more flexible and more middle-of-the-road because they are not as strongly programmed as purebreds. Mixed-breeds are thought to adjust more easily to a variety of households and living conditions, whereas purebreds tend to be bred with a specific skill set in mind, such as herding or hunting.
Housetraining is provided
Many mixed-breeds found in shelters did belong to someone before – people who couldn’t keep them due to allergies, or moving homes, or for some other reason. Because of this, many mixed breed shelter dogs come already potty-and-housetrained. A definite plus towards their awesomeness!
Also check out: 3 Reasons Dogs Are Like Kids (Slideshow)
They have fewer health issues
There are some people who claim mixed-breed dogs are healthier than purebreds. While this isn’t proven, it is known that certain purebreds are more prone to specific illnesses. Mixed-breed dogs are thought to be less likely to develop these illnesses because even if they are part, say, Golden Retriever, they have fewer Golden Retriever genes than a purebred one.
You can skip the puppy stage
While many pet owners cherish the puppy stage, there are others who just don’t have the time and patience to train a new puppy. With a mutt from the shelter, you have the choice of adopting a young or adult dog over a baby. In these cases, the dog’s size and temperament will already be pretty set, too, so there will be no surprises in the future.
Related: Top 10 Small Dogs (Slideshow)
They have cheaper start-up costs
Many shelters only require a $50 to $200 donation in order for you to adopt a dog. Purebred dogs can run up to and over $1,000. Plus, a mixed-breed from the shelter is likely spayed or neutered and is up-to-date on vaccinations, which will save you even more money.
They can still be trained as service dogs
Being trained as a service or therapy dog is no longer limited to just purebreds. Mixed-breeds are now considered equally as awesome and capable in this regard.
You’re saving a life
Even if a purebred puppy doesn’t get adopted (highly unlikely in and of itself), the puppy is already living in the home of a breeder, probably even still with its parents. A mixed breed dog living at a shelter, however, has a high chance of being euthanized. Adopting one means you are directly saving a life, a fact your grateful new dog will not soon forget.
Their awesomeness will rub off on you
A mixed breed dog is for the adventurer in all of us. When purchasing a purebred dog, you’re buying a specific temperament that has been honed through strict breeding practices over a long period of time. With a mixed breed, a puppy especially, the unknown genetic line leaves all that up in the air. Appreciate the spontaneity behind this and that makes you awesome by association with the awesome mutt you’ve chosen to adopt.
Image Credit: Mike Baird / via Flickr
Related:
Top 3 Dog-Like Cat Breeds (Slideshow)
Top 10 Animal Videos of 2011
What Does My Dog’s Breed Say About Me? (Slideshow)
Top Reasons Mutts Are Awesome originally appeared on petMD.com
Read more: Behavior & Communication, Cute Pet Photos, Dogs, Everyday Pet Care, Fun, Humor & Inspiration, Life, Pet Health, Pets, mutts, slideshow
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Nicolas, selected from petMD
petMD is a leading online resource focused solely on the health and well-being of pets. The site maintains the world's largest pet health library, written and approved by a network of trusted veterinarians. petMD was founded to inspire pet owners to provide an ever-increasing quality of life for their pets and to connect pet owners with pet experts and other animal lovers. For more information, visit petMD.com.
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people are talking
10Q for this advice! and yes, newspapers for drying...
If the world is short of food it may not be such a bad idea
Bats are the best.
whoa!! cool!
Neat! Will have to try with he little ones!
401 comments
+ add your owndaww. I love dogs. I love ANIMALS
Love All Dogs! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Nicolas, for Sharing this!
adorable dogs
My family has had five dogs over my years and four were rescues (two from shelters, one from the side of the road and the other who just showed up one day already neutered) with the fifth being born from the dog we found on the road side.
Mix ed breed dogs & cats are awesome!!
Dedicated the last 3 years to saving kill shelter pets from Southern Idaho. 7 live with me who were deemed unadoptable. They are the best companions I could have ever asked for. My 3 pit bulls are all mixes. Only my beagle is a pure bred and he is the most difficult. LOL
I love all dogs. Had a mutt for 16 years. If I every get another dog, it will be from a shelter.
Had a Pomeranian/Maltese mix for almost 18 years, He was a gem. Never licked my face, but was crazy about licking my wrists. Also watched Kommisar Rex on TV with me sitting on my lap.
Now we have a pure bred Rotti, a beautiful sleek dog we aquired when he was not much bigger than a rat, we actually had to wait 3 weeks to take him home.
Look at him now after 15 months, wow. He has become a member of our family, he drags his bed next to mine and wakes me at 7 am to have a pee and gives me another hour or so to have a nap. Eventually I get a huge face wash, time to face reality. Retirement cannot get better than this. He learned how to suck up to me and so did I to make him my best friend. Sure, his parents were guard dogs and it shows. he is not protecting our property only, but also the property of our neighbours. When he barks he does it for a reason. He is also our doorbell. I also know how to recognize his grumbles, happy or angry.
Comes play time, wow, he loves his tugger war, but most of all a head massage, his chest and arm pits massages.
While I am writing this, the Rotti is sitting in the doorway of my study, his bed in his mouth, come on, lets go to bed, and this excactly what we will do!!!
I have a German Shepherd/Lab mix, and she's 15 years old! She's still a feisty girl. It's wonderful.
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