With
that said, choosing a mixed breed dog includes all
the challenges of choosing a purebred without any
guarantee. As a matter of fact, it's a good
idea to research purebred tendencies as you look for
your perfect mutt (assuming he/she hasn't found you
first by wandering in and adopting
you).
That Rottweiler/chow
mix puppy who is such an adorable ball of fluff
today will probably grow up to challenge your
position as "pack
leader" on a regular basis.
In this
case, Rottweilers and Chows are both dominant,
aggressive breeds and your cute little puppy will
almost certainly grow up to be dominate and/or
aggressive without the proper home and training.
You
must keep this in mind and avoid dominant mixes if you're the shy retiring
type who can't imagine yourself correcting your
pooch.
Speaking of
temperament, evaluate yourself first to see what
kind of dog "fits". When shopping
for a family dog, take into account the
personalities of not only the adults, but the
children as well.
As a general rule, if
you have a child who is young (under 9) or
shy/timid, assume he/she would be unable to assert
him/herself over the family pooch and be sure to
choose a submissive breed mix. In general,
spaniels (not Cockers, as a general rule
though) and retriever mixes tend to make good
pets for families with small children, as do many
hound mixes (Bloodhound, Bassett,
Beagle).
If in doubt, check
several unbiased sources. Since each breed seems to have
it's enthusiasts who insist their breed is EXCELLENT
with children, despite overwhelming evidence to the
contrary, be sure to get more than one opinion. Remember, it's going to be easier
to predict the temperament of a
purebred/purebred cross than a true "Heinz
57" whose "pedigree" doesn't sport a
purebred dog for several
generations.
Ah,
there's the rub and the biggest drawback to a mixed
breed. Which parent's genes will
dominate? A Newfoundland/ lab mix puppy may
end up being a smaller, less hairy version of the
calm, lovable Newf. While a littermate,
through the hi-jinx of genetics, may end up to be an equally lovable but a very large, very hairy,
very, very active hairy Lab.
Note: If the
thought of a Labrador's
activity level in a Newfoundland size
body doesn't frighten you, nothing will.
So even if you've
chosen to rescue a dog from your local animal
shelter, you're still faced with a lot of research
into which breed(s) you want represented in your
mixed breed. Adopting any dog is a huge
commitment. Don't spend more time researching
your next automotive purchase (an inanimate object
that won't be physically or emotionally harmed if
you decide to trade it in two years from now) than
you do choosing your dog!
If you can't find the
perfect breed maybe it's because you're not really
ready for the commitment to bring home a
puppy. Even if you have found the perfect
breed or mix of breeds, remember that puppies,
will chew on everything
they can get in their mouths, no matter how
valuable or irreplaceable,
will find ways of
ruining your carpet/floors/furniture/walls in
ways you never imagined,
will require more
supervision than even the most precocious
toddler,
and will
eventually do grow up into adult dogs who
occasionally indulge in periods of puppy like
destruction or behavior.
It's a big decision,
mammoth in it's proportions. Almost as big as
deciding to have children. Don't make this
8-18 year commitment lightly.