“Bichon Frise Chihuahua Mix”
There’s no doubt that owning purebred dogs comer with the prestige that’s not really associated with owning mixed breed dogs. But then you have to really ask yourself—is prestige the most important factor in becoming a dog owner for you? If that’s the case, then it’s true that mixed breed dogs aren’t your best choices. But it can also be argued that perhaps you’re not exactly the ideal owner of dogs in the first place.
So what’s the profile of the ideal owner of mixed breed dogs? Here are a few key characteristics that you ought to possess:
You Don’t Care about Prestige
All over the world, various purebred organizations recognize a limited number of dog breeds and varieties. They’re more expensive, and various groups offer official competitions for select breeds.
When you have a mixed breed, you don’t get the recognition and the opportunities to socialize with owners of the same breed of dogs. In certain social circles, people may look down on you for owning what they may call a “mutt”. Some people even look at owning a purebred dog as “trading up”, like exchanging a Ford Fiesta for a BMW.
On the other hand, who needs snobs for friends? Besides, more and more organizations are recognizing the value of mixed breeds. They’re used as therapy dogs and service dogs for people with impairments. There are even national competitions for mixed breed dogs.
You Can Deal with Surprises
This is one of the main differences to owning a mixed breed. Simply put, you just can’t tell what you will get in terms of temperament and intelligence.
In some cases of designer breeds, you have a dog with two different purebred dogs as parents. So the pup can favor one of the parents in size along with hair color, length, and texture. It can be a mix too.
But that’s just what you can see. The main problem is about temperament and intelligence. The pup may exhibit the best traits of their designer dog parents, but it’s also very possible that they may get the worst traits of their parents.
You just don’t know what the ancestry of some hybrid dogs are, simply by looking at them. A mixed breed may come from 2 purebred parents, or from 2 designer breed parents of the same type. Or they may come from different breeds altogether.
It is possible to guess the temperament of a pup if you do know the breed of the parents (or if you get a DNA test). But then again you can’t really be sure. The pup can get their temperament from either parent, or it can be a balance between the two.
In fact, part of the uncertainty is that sometimes a dog may not behave like most of their counterparts of the same breed. Golden Retrievers are supposed to be friendly, but it’s entirely possible for one to be shy or even aggressive. You’ll find some pit bulls that get along well with other dogs, and Rottweilers can actually be very friendly to strangers.
Again, you just never know what kind of temperament you’ll have to deal with. Can you handle that? It’s a bit like adopting a child—you have to be ready for anything, and you need to treat the pup as part of the family no matter what.
Of course, it helps if you can get proper training and socialization for your pup no matter what. After all, this type of training is good for all dogs. In the end, dogs tend to be individuals rather than exact stereotypes. Even with purebred dogs, you can’t really be sure that they’re not exceptions to the rules.
Also, it’s more probable that your crossbreed pup will exhibit moderate “middle of the road” behavioral tendencies. They’re less likely to display the extreme traits of purebred dogs.
You’re Prepared to Deal with Health Issues
It’s said in many circles that mixed breeds are generally healthier than their purebred counterparts. In some ways, this is true. It’s generally healthier for any species if they come from a widely diverse genetic stock. That’s why some pure breeds are prone to certain health issues.
Still, the issue here is that often the mixed breed dogs don’t usually come with proper medical history. Purebred breeders tend to take note of the medical history of potential parents before a couple can breed. That’s not usually the case with mixed breeds, and it’s entirely possible that the pup may be susceptible to double the number of medical conditions that may be threats. You’re not just dealing with the health issues of a single breed, but the health issues of two or more breeds.
It Feels Good for You to Take an Unwanted Dog
It’s a lot easier to get a mixed breed than it is to get a purebred dog. Most people only give away mixed breeds, as purebred dogs are much more expensive. So you can get a mixed breed pup from a neighbor or a friend, but not a purebred.
You may also notice that if you go to a dog pound or shelter, the vast majority of the dogs there are mixed breed. They’re sadly less likely to have an owner that will claim them. So you can just buy one there and the costs will be minimal. Besides, the expenses will offer vaccinations, a general health exam, and perhaps even sterilization.
Final Words
Let’s boil down this discussion to the single most important question: Are you dog lover? If that’s really the case, then the precise breed of the dog won’t really matter. With your love and affection, along with early training and socialization, it’s very likely that you will end up with a dog that’s both cute and lovable, and who will both obey and adore you.
What’s more, everyday can be surprise. With mixed breeds, you may not know precisely what you’re in store for, but then having such a dog love you is part of the reward.
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