Buying or Adopting a Mixed Breed Dog

Should You Even Get a Dog? Are You Sure?
Important – I've been helping people choose and find dogs for nearly 40 years, and honestly, some people who decide to get a dog are making a big mistake... [read more]

The Truth About Purebred Dogs
Pros and cons... (most people don't know about the cons)

The Truth About Crossbred Dogs
Pros and cons... (don't get taken by breeder hype)

The Truth About Mixed Breed Dogs
Pros and cons... (are mixes inferior to purebreds and crosses?)

Is a mixed breed dog the right choice for you?

Mixed Breed Review
I'll tell you what's good about 'em, and what's bad about 'em... most honest review you'll ever find

Dog Breed Traits – Which Traits Are Right For You? In this brand new series, I'll help you decide which dog breed traits would best suit you and your family, your home and yard, and your lifestyle, so you can choose the best dog breed for your family.

Are YOU the right owner for a mixed breed dog?

Can you provide what a mixed breed dog needs?

• Someone home most of the day
• Fenced yard (not an electronic/underground fence) – the height of the fence depends partly on how athletic the dog is, yes, but should also depend on whether there are other dogs in your neighborhood who might try to get IN and attack your dog
• No young children in the household – if the dog is very small, fragile, or sensitive
• No large dogs in the household – if the new dog is very small and could be injured simply by a large dog playfully jumping around
• No very small dogs in the household – if the new dog is large and/or vigorous
• No dogs of the same sex in the household (or being even more cautious, no other dogs at all in the household) – if the new dog is dominant/aggressive toward other dogs; many dogs do best as an only dog; if in any doubt, don't put your existing dog at risk
• No cats in the household – if the new dog is a confirmed chaser
• Ample exercise after maturity – enough ongoing exercise that your mixed breed dog stays slim and is tired enough to sleep contentedly and not get into mischief
• "Mental exercise" – interesting activities that keep the mind stimulated, such as a challenging dog sport (like dog agility, or rally obedience, or flyball.... there are many fun sports to try); challenging dog toys; a homemade obstacle course; tricks and games such as Musical Toys and Hide 'n Seek; instructions in my training book, Teach Your Dog 100 English Words
• Brushing, trimming, clipping – however much is needed
• An indoor lifestyle, except for exercise and bathroom breaks
• A meat-heavy diet, either homemade or commercial – meat is expensive, so people with less money should opt for a small dog
• An owner with enough money to treat health problems– pet health insurance can really help here!
• An owner who is okay with however much the dog sheds or slobbers
• Commitment to establish the right Leader-Follower relationship with your mixed breed dog, teaching him to listen to you and do what you say

Which sex? What age?

Male Dogs vs. Female Dogs
Which one makes a better pet?

Puppies vs. Adult Dogs
Should you get a young puppy, an older puppy, or an adult dog?

Where can you buy or adopt a mixed breed dog?

It's estimated that just over HALF the dogs in the United States are mixed breeds. And most of these are wonderful dogs.

Adopting From Dog Rescue Organizations
Lots of mixed breeds are available from Dog Rescue groups. Owners may give up their dog because of a physical mismatch – the dog is too small or too large, needs more grooming or sheds more than the owner wanted. Sometimes there are behavioral issues, although these are often the result of the owner failing to provide the proper exercise, socialization, companionship, and training.

Many mixed breed dogs are given up simply because of changed family circumstances, and these dogs may have no behavior problems at all.

Adopting From Public Animal Shelters and Humane Societies
Shelters and humane societies are filled with mixed breed dogs. Just be aware that the labels on the cages can be very misleading. A dog is not necessarily a shepherd mix or a shepherd/collie/husky just because he looks a bit like those breeds. Only a DNA test can reveal which breeds make up a mixed breed dog.

Buying From a Seller
If you check the classified section of local newspapers, or craigslist online, you'll find lots of people selling puppies, some of which are crossbreeds or mixed breeds. But don't assume that a person knows what he's talking about when he declares that his puppies are some specific combination of breeds. Most people really have no clue.

Pet Shop Puppies: Buying a Puppy From a Pet Store
I have seen mixed breed puppies in small town pet shops. I have plenty to say about buying a puppy from a pet shop!

Which puppy?

Choosing the Right Mixed Breed Puppy
How to test the temperament and personality of mixed breed puppies and pick the best puppy in a litter.