Why is it that a mutt is so worthless solely because it has no value in the ring??

Question

I, personally, am against most breeders of any kind, because puppy mills are the devil, BYBs are only ever run by people who don't know anything, and the reputable breeders everyone says you should go to usually charge you out the butt regardless of what the puppy is worth. But my question is, are mutts not good pets? I have three dogs in the neighborhood, all mutts, all wonderful dogs. Does the fact that they're not pedigree and thus have no monetary value make them worthless to me *or the owners of the two that aren't mine*?
They're all shelter rescues, so it's not as though we paid the median price of either breed that was mixed in *chihuahua/terrier, pom/whatever, and the other looks like he's got some corgie in him* I'm not saying we should all go out and make puppies indiscriminately. But is a mutt you grow up with really worth less than a purebred that might not even live as long? Paying over, say, $700 tops for any dog is crazy, mutts and PBs alike.

We just need to try to get everyone to see that a mutt is worth just as much as any PB, which is whatever the buyer is willing to pay.
And anyone that doesn't know who's saying that mutts are worthless, just wait till this question attracts the attention of the neo-nazis of the dog world, and you'll see the horrible reasons they give, which ususally *the only reason given as to WHY they're worthless* consists of they aren't pure. Anybody see a ressemblance to a certain someone in history that thought the same of certain people? Yup yup, that's what those who answer with that kind of answer probably are. I just need to think up a word for it...

Dude, I'm in shock about the responses so far. Not one of you in the first six has said a bad thing about mutts in general, and only one related a bad experience with a mutt and didn't pass it off as being that EVERY mutt would be like that. I LOVE these answers!

Jade T- AMEN! And to get that out of me, now that's something. You'll probably be picked best answer, but I still want to get a response from someone that dissagrees with me entirely, like a PB purist as you put it.
Or maybe has this question and answers proven a point to the idiots that think only PBs are worth even the air they breath that a good dog is a good dog regardless of pedigree.

As a note completely unrelated to the topic of dogs, irriegardless is not a word. Look it up. And then stop using it. REgardless is the term every ignorant person that says irregardless means. *ignorance is only bad when one refuses to see, it means that they have not been informed or have been missinformed or otherwise don't know. it's NOT a derogatory term*

And finally we get the response I was looking for to prove my point, the answer from the retard known as Tyke who doesn't know how to use words for emphasis and thus uses stars and caps lock to get his *its?* weak point across.
If a PB is all you're interested in, more power to ya. Just don't go calling us retarded for your hitler-ish veiws on the dog world. I repeat, the only thing that makes your dog worth $2500 is the fact that you're willing to pay that much. Does that make you stupid? I kinda think so but that's an opinion, not a fact, same as your opinion of mutts being POSs. Personaly, I'd rather pay $200 for a dog that's what I want it to be than pay $2500 for a puppy that I'm told will grow to be what the breed standard says it should be.
An opinion will never be fact, but it will allways hold true that everything is only worth what the buyer is willing to pay.

Um... I just noticed something about an answer. Some breeds *not all* aren't hundreds of years old, and on another note, any hybrid has the potential to become it's own breed somewhere down the road if done right. A breed is only a dog bred for specific traits, and if crosses had never been made we'd have only one kind of dog, period.
With that nollege, can anyone say that a hybrid now *as unpredictable they may be* at the moment is worthless compared to the hybrids that created some of today's breeds?

Answer 1

People buy pure breds because they want to know the approximate temperament and look of the dog when it grows up. I am a dog breeder not a byb or a puppy mill but registered with the canine council and when i breed, I do proper research and breed with the best I can find - looking at all factors which include bloodlines, and championships but in particular I look at things like genetic defects. Temperament is my main priority though - no point in breeding dogs that look perfect in the ring but die due to heart deformities at 11 months! I'm not a purebred "purist" though. I enjoy mutts just as much as I enjoy my purebreds. I have one mutt who is my eldest dog, and I wouldn't sell him for $100 000!! It's up to us to place value on our dogs. The monetary value initially paid for a dog has no indication on what the dogs will mean to us. For me, my mutt is as priceless as any purebred I own. By the way, proper breeders who charge higher prices for their dogs do so because of the high costs associated in running a kennel.

You have grooming costs, worming costs, vaccination costs, food costs, toys, food bowls, bedding, cost of entry to shows every single weekend of the year both saturday and sunday. Sometimes there are costs of hiring a handler to manage your dog in the ring. Some might outsource their grooming but most tend to do it themselves. Breeders tend to be extra vigilant about worming their dogs and will do it more often than the once every 3 months required as there are so many dogs and we don't wnat to risk them. By the same token, vaccinations are always the best - we get c5 that cover all the strains of kennel cough that you can buy because our dogs mix with so many other dogs. We screen dogs for genetic defects and pay for certifications. These things cost money. We also do full health checks before using a female to breed, have constant vet checks whilst the girl is pregnant, pay for extra wormings etc. When the pups are born, there are wormings, vet checks again, if something goes wrong during whelping and they need a caesar, this is extra, microchips to buy (this is compulsory in Australia, I don't know about the u.s.), vaccinations to pay for - the list just goes on. In addition to all of this, we tend to buy the most premium foods on the market because we know that if we buy them rubbish, their health will suffer. There are some breeders out there who will discard non breeding stock, but my kennel is full of "dead stock". My dogs have been good to me during their breeding years and I wouldn't ever thanklessly cast them aside just because they've passed their productive years. Therefore, we also need to support our dead stock that aren't going to bring our kennels any income, or help with maintenance of our good reputations. I love my dogs more than anything. They're not just stock, they're my best friends. All this into consideration, I have NEVER turned a profit from breeding. I breed out of love for the breed and I always plug way more into my dogs than I could ever hope to make back. I always rush them to the vet if there's a problem, I wouldn't never sit back and ask on yahoo answers - I would take out a loan if I couldn't afford their treatment. I don't sell my dogs for exorbitant prices either because that doesn't necessarily help to find a good pet owner. You shouldn't need a second mortgage to be a dog owner. From what I hear, dogs are way more expensive in the U.S. than in Australia and there seem to be alot of crappy breeders producing poor dogs with so many heartbreaking health problems.

I love all my dogs regardless of pedigree and I think anyone else on here would agree that they do too.

Answer 2

The mixed breed dogs are wonderful animals. They can give as much love and devotion, compaionship as any purebred. The main purpose of a dog is to be a companion to mankind. I believe wholeheartedly in rescues. I do several rescues a year, taking a dog that has been abused or neglected and get them vetted and find them homes. Some have just been dumped on us, others people will call us because they know of an animal in need. The muxed breeds are worth a million bucks to the ones who own them. But as for buying a mutt, the price should not be hundreds or even thousands of dollars. They should be enough to cover the cost of shots, etc. Or if from a shelter, I think not over a hundred. If the shelter animals are priced too high, then the people will go to a breeder and not rescue the shelter dog.

Answer 3

Mutts are fine. They have their place just like any other dog. The breeding of mutts ON PURPOSE just to make a buck is NOT OK. Breeding them and giving them a cute name so you can sell them for some outrageous price has become a very sad thing.
I encourage people to get a shelter dog, if that is something they are opened to.
However PB have their place also. Some of us like to show, do draft work, water work, tracking, agility, rally, hunting.....the list goes on and on. Some of us also like certain traits in the dogs we have. I would not do well with a high energy breed like a Lab or most of the Sporting breeds, and I could not tolerate a terrier....although I like them a lot when they belong to others!!
And because people like a certain breed for a certain reason....there are breeders who breed them and keep the breed what is should be. This is a VERY expensive and time consuming thing. Making sure the breeding stock is healthy, a great example of the breed, and has the proper temperment does not happen by itself or happen cheaply.
I have a giant breed. Everything related to their care and well being is more expensive due to their size. This is reflected in the price of a puppy. Even at $2,000 for a puppy I bred doesnot coveer the cost that has gone into producing it. You would think that if there were 5 puppies in the litter, I would be rolling in the dough right???? Well, there is ALWAYS more dog food to buy, vet bills to pay, entries to make, handlers to pay, and health clearances to get.
If people want to get a mutt, more power to them. The dog does not have any less "value" as a dog, but by the same token...if someone wants to pay thousands for a well-bred PB...should they not have that option also????? Good breeders charge "out the butt" for a reason and that is just how it is. You have a choice and you do not have to pay it. That is the great thing!!!! You have a CHOICE and can make up your own mind!!!

Answer 4

Some people just want to have a purebred dog. I see nothing wrong with that, but spay and neuter, that's tops on the list. A mutt makes just as good of a dog as a purebred. A dog learns what hes taught, so it just depends on the owner no matter what kind of dog it is, rather they are a good dog or not. Personally I think a Heinz 57 varieties is the best way to go. There is so many unwanted dogs in shelters, its very sad. I recently got a shelter dog who is two years old, medium size short hair, and he is the most perfect dog and loving and smart. I don't understand why he ended up where he did. I wish I could bring them all home. The prices of purebred dogs is very high though I agree with you, and those puppy mills, that is just sick. I watch animal cops on animal planet all the time, and some of those people I would like to torture!! :)

Answer 5

There is nothing wrong with mutts. They are dogs just like any other dogs. They are just as loved by many people as pure breeds are. Cross breeding *might* even eliminate some, but not all, of the health problems associated with the pure breeds. Most of my dogs have been Mutts. Some were healthy, my Cocker Spaniel/Poodle cross lived to be 17.5 years old. Some are not, my Border Collie/Blue Heeler cross died of cancer at 14 years of age.

The problem with Mutts is that too many people are jumping on wagon to cross breed the small breed dogs that have become so popular. This popularity, in the hopes of making money, is leading to unethical breeders and puppy mills.

spazrats
http://spazrats.tripod.com

Answer 6

The conversation we just had, I wasn't basing Kobe being better then Lebron on just the fact the Kobe has more rings. Rings mean something, if rings didn't mean anything the Eagles Franchise would be better then the Steelers, It represents more than physical ability. You have to be mentally strong to win a Super Bowl, YES it's a team sport but rings matter individually. Nobody ever bases someone being better then another because the sole purpose of having more rings, that's dumb. But you can have a debate over who's better between two great players, and include rings in the conversation. Kobe Bryant - 4 Lebron James - 0 Kobe >Lebron. =D

Answer 7

I personally disagree with this viewpoint.

Although I do show, race, and occasionally breed my purebreds, I grew up with rescues and mixes in my house, and believe that they make great pets for someone just looking for a good companion.

My philosophy is this: If you just want a buddy, someone to hike with or take to the park, go to a shelter or rescue group and find a dog. You will be saving their life, and they will adore you.

If, however, you are looking for a specific breed due to specific traits that you desire in your companion (i.e. coat-type, endurance, agility, behavior with children, etc.), then get a well-bred purebred from a responsible breeder.

We put these dogs in the world, intentionally or through our own ignorance, or both. They are living things, and they all have intrinsic value. Unfortunately, many people don't respect that. Which is what makes the shelter/rescue/puppymill situations so unbearably sad.

JMO

Answer 8

I have had many many dogs in my life. And all have being mutts! Mutts are wonderful pets, great with children, very loving temperment. Purebreds tend to be more agressive and higher strung. I would never pay a breeder for a pet. The only time I would spend money to buy a pet would be from the Humane Society. We need to stop breeding for now, and start finding homes for all the thousands of pets that are ownerless/homeless.

Answer 9

Personally I prefer mutts. Where do you think pure breds came from? Cross breeding different breeds over a period of time to get the quality that the breeder wants. The ones that don't have the
breeding qualities are then passed onto pet people. But mutts
can do anything that pure breeds can do. Get obedience titles,
agility titles, freestyle, hiking, swimming, camping, etc. all except
akc titles/breeding material. all of mine are spayed/neutered but
still do everything else that a pure bred dog can do.

Answer 10

Do you have an idea how much it costs to breed well? ANY idiot can be irresponsible enough to let their dog get bred by the neighbors dog. Do you think they health tested their stock before breeding? Do you think they did hours and hours of pedigree research before deciding who to use?

Your mutts may be fine, or they may be a train wreck, it is a complete tossup. A well bred PB will have appropriate testing done and the breeder will know generations of dogs in the pedigree. Of course, if you are stupid enough to buy a commercially bred dog, all bets are off.

Lets look at a hypothetical litter of Papillons.

$500 Health testing, including Brucellosis (eyes, ears, heart, I doubt they would need hips/elbows done.
$800 stud fee
$500 Travel expenses to get the ***** to the stud. OR
$900 for an AI
$400 for checkups for the *****/puppies

This does not take into consideration ANY emergency care, nor the basic care and hourse of work to raise a litter well. How much do you think a breeder SHOULD lose on a litter?

"I, personally, am against most breeders of any kind"

Yeah, except for *YOU*!

"*ignorance is only bad when one refuses to see, it means that they have not been informed or have been missinformed or otherwise don't know"

Yep, I AGREE!!! And you have shown that you refuse to see.

Answer 11

mutts are making a come back.. (sorta).. now breeders are breeding mutts and selling them as purebreeds. You have your labradoodles, your cockapoos, puggles.. etc. People are paying crazy amount of $$ for these dogs. I help out with a rescue, and its sad to see all the reasons dogs are given up (and yes we've even had one come in b/c the new owner was changin the colour of hte carpet and the dog no longer matched)