Mixed Breed Dogs: What's Good About 'Em, What's Bad About 'Em
Mixed breed dog temperament, personality, training, behavior, pros and cons, advice, and information, by Michele Welton, Dog Trainer, Behavioral Consultant, Author of 15 Dog Books
Also read The Truth About Mixed Breed Dogs.
Whether purebred, crossbred, or mixed, all dogs are individuals. But when it comes to predicting what any given individual will be like, mixed breed dogs are the hardest to pin down.
A dog of mixed breeding might be energetic or placid. He might be sweet-natured or hard-headed. He might love everyone, or be wary of strangers. He might be dignified or a goofball.
I will say this: the extremes of temperament and behavior so often seen in purebred dogs are less common in mixed breeds.
This is because purebreds were developed to do a certain type of work. Purebreds located pheasants and rabbits for the hunter to shoot. They herded sheep, drove cattle to market, guarded farms and mansions. They pulled carts and sleds, killed vermin in the barn, assisted police officers, and tracked missing people.
To help purebred dogs accomplish their work, useful "working behaviors" were bred into their genes. High energy, endurance, independent thinking, strong instincts to chase, to bark, to dig, to guard.
Certainly these behaviors can occur in mixed breeds, too, but they are by happenstance, on an "individual dog" basis, rather than by deliberate design into a breed as a whole.
This tendency of mixed breeds to be less strongly "programmed" by their genes can make them more flexible and better able to fit into a variety of households and living conditions.
Unfortunately, when you acquire a mixed breed puppy, you can't know what he or she will grow up to be like, because he has inherited a virtual smorgasbord of genes. When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential – what he one day will become. On the other hand, if you acquire an adult mixed breed, you're acquiring what he already IS. This is much easier to see and judge.
So if you want a dog who...
- Is unique – doesn't look or act exactly like any other dog
- Is often "middle-of-the-road" in temperament and behavior.
- Usually has good genetic diversity (has inherited a variety of genes from several different breeds), which can result in better long-term health
- Doesn't cost much to acquire
- Is readily available
- Really needs a home (may be put to sleep if no one chooses him)
A mixed breed dog may be right for you.
Read The Truth About Mixed Breed Dogs.
If you don't want to deal with...
- The unknown. Typically you don't know anything at all about a mixed breed's parents. Knowing and meeting both parents can yield important clues about the physical, behavioral, or health traits a dog might have inherited.
- Shedding. Most mixed breeds are average to heavy shedders. It's uncommon to find a mixed breed dog who sheds lightly.
A mixed breed dog may not be right for you.
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. |
Keep in mind that the inheritance of temperament is less predictable than the inheritance of physical traits such as size or shedding. Temperament and behavior are also shaped by raising and training.
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"Respect Training for Puppies" and "Teach Your Dog 100 English Words" are free step by step guides to teaching your pup to be calm and well-behaved.
"11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy" is a free guide to keeping your dog mentally, physically, and emotionally happy and healthy so you can enjoy a longer lifetime of companionship.
My best-selling books – now available FREE on my website
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