Do you think pure breeds are better then mixed?

Question

I love my dogs that are a bit of a mix!
One’s a boxer/Rhodesian ridgeback and my other dog is a German shepherd/otter hound/Irish wolfhound
They are both very healthy and lovely and I wouldn’t change a thing about them
So I’m wondering what is so great about pure breeds that make some people seem so obsessive to have them as a pet?

I don’t mean for training purposes r breeding I just mean as a pet

Answer 1

Nope. ALL make wonderful pets and one is no better than the other.

Answer 2

Well...my Beagle/Basset mixes were always better hunters than the pure-bred Beagles. Also, the "Best Bred" Beagle I had was nothing but a handful of medical problems. The bloodline was so close that he had epilepsy. I had that dog at the vet's at least every 4 months for one thing or another.

All of my Minature Schnauzers have been pure-bred dogs, but again, those with lesser pedigrees seemed to be healthier. All of my schnauzers lived well past 12 years except the one with the "best pedigree" who only lived to be ten. (Between my parents', grand parents, and me we've had 7.)

My grandma's 3/4 German Shepherd-1/4 Wolf mix...now there was a healthy dog. Never had any medical problems until she got old..like 12. She was even hit by a car and had a full recovery from a double concussion and two broken ribs in no time flat.

I have to know where you found an Irish Wolfhund-Otterhound mix? I love the way both of those dogs look and my wife and I someday want an Otterhound and a Wolfhound (like that will happen...I need a big *** yard.)

Answer 3

I don't see them as "better".. I love my mutts just as much as my pure breds.. However, I can see why some owners of purebreds would be proud.. My dream dog is the Irish Wolfhound.. (although I was raised with Schnauzers).. Irish Wolfhounds are beautiful, their personalities are great.. and having a beautiful example of this stunning breed would thrill me to no end.. They are not an easy breed to get .. let alone take care of properly.. so, if you have the ability.. it's a great feeling.. you can also sense the connection to the past.. My schnauzers for example.. are identical to the schnauzers from Germany from many years ago.. they have the same instincts.. .. Knowing that someone put their heart and soul into producing animals with all of the good qualities of the breed is a bit of a thrill ..

I however love to research breed histories.. so that could be why I feel that way..

This does not stop me from adoring my beagle/basset hound .. nor would I ever snub a "mutt" ..

Answer 4

It all depends on the breed really and what you want them for. Some pure breeds have health problems later in life and can be a hassle where as some are known for good health. One thing to remember about pure breds is that they were bred in the old days for specific reasons and that stays in their blood. Certain hunting dogs can be quite a handful but excellent hunters. Others can be loyal but unpredictable. It has been my experience that mix breeds make very good pets when their only purpose is to be a pet. most people want pure breds so they can say they have one or show it, either way I think that your shepard mix sounds like a great dog.

Answer 5

I don't know how you define "better" but I do love having my purebred Ridgebacks and enjoy all the characteristics of the breed. But I am a lover of all dogs, so I wouldn't really say it's better having a purebred.

It is fun to participate in dog events, conformation, lurecoursing, agility and most require a purebred dog.

I am breeding my Ridgebacks and doing my best to produce the healthiest best temperament dog I can, so that is one reason I have purebreds here at the zoo.

Answer 6

If all I intended was to get a dog for the kids to go out into the back yard and play with, I would get the dog that floats their boat, pure bred or mixed.
Sense I need a dog to help me get cattle down from summer range when the snow starts to fall, I have a dog that I KNOW can do the job. I am not going to go to a shelter and go through two dozen dogs trying to find one that is capable. So I have a heeler (ACD)
When I go duck hunting I want a dog that is able to find every bird I shoot, not just some of them. So I have a retriever (Labrador)
I also have a pack of Beagles because I love rabbit hunting.

In the final analysis it still comes down to WHY do you want a dog.

edit
quote
"Honestly the mix is better than the purebred because of the fact that the purebred is more vulnerable to getting sick faster or worse getting a disease. The mixed is an obviously mixed dog that has different blood and better shields to getting sick.. In other words the purebred is more expensive but weaker when it comes to diseases the mixed is stronger."

That my friend is a complete fallacy.
The illusion that mixed breed are somehow healthier is created by the fact that health problems in pure bred dogs are tested for and tracked while health problems in mixed breed dogs are just euthanized and forgotten.

Answer 7

For a pet a healthy dog with a great temperament is best but with a mixed breed you can never be sure of it's hereditary health problems since it's parents weren't checked for bad hips, eyes, allergies etc. With a mix pup you can not be sure of the mix or size until grown. My g/f has had several mixes and had bad hip and skin problems plus one she adopted at 6 weeks from the street who attacked her housemates unprovoked both cats and dogs. Plus attacked a couple of dogs at matches and training classes. I have a Dobe whose parents were checked for every problem known to Dobes and he has a great temperament and should never have any health problems that are hereditary. I prefer purebreds since I like certain breeds but own 6 rescues, 1 a BYB dog and 1 the Dobe and the rest are unknown breeding/pedigrees. My Lab is field bred so not a stocky show Lab but has a great temperament, health and is the best housedog. When I got him I was not necessarily looking for a pure Lab but wanted a Lab, GSP, Weim or a mix of the breed. The temperament, health and soundness were more important than the pedigree. Looks and soundness go together, a dog with a bad front or cowhocks is not only not good looking but can not live out his life comfortably or exercise fully and his unsound skeletal structure will lead to lameness and arthritis.

Answer 8

I wanted something specific.. I found that in my purebred dog.

Some people like the predictability of knowing what you get when you purchase a well-bred purebred dog. If you want/need something specific for training or work purposes you are better off to seek a purebred that has the qualities you want/need.

Some people like the fun of being surprised with a mixed breed.. you never know what it will be like in size/personality or temperment until its full grown.


To some people, its a status thing to have a papered dog.. but then again having a "designer" mutt is also a status symbol anymore.

Answer 9

I have to agree with many of the others that when you go the reputable breeder of a purebred dog you are much more aware of what you are getting. Reputable breeders health test their dogs and also breed for a quality temperament. Showing up at your neighborhood BYB they are only usually only interested in your pocketbook and not the quality of the home their animals are going to. I know many good breeders that stay in contact with their families the entire life of the dog and would step up in a heartbeat if any of their bred animals needed to be rehomed.

I agree that many mix breed dogs can and are wonderful, it's a little hit and miss the aspects they pick up from their respective mix not to mention any health issues the "oops" or even worse intentionally bred litter can have.

Answer 10

Hey, I have a Boxer/Ridgeback mix as well!
I don't think purebreds are better pets but the advantage you do get with purebreds is that you have a better idea of what you are getting. For instance, when I got my Boxer mix, I was familiar with Boxers but not as familiar with Ridgebacks. She has been so much work because she was not properly socailized as a puppy and when I got her as an adult she was highly dog aggressive, which is something Ridgebacks are known for if they are not well socialized. In getting my Dobies, I knew exactly what they are like, I knew what to expect and for the most part all of my Dobermans have been rather predictable. When you get a mixed breed, you don't often know all they are mixed with and so you rarely know what to expect. So for that reason, I prefer to go with a purebred, only because I know what I am going to get and I know I will be able to handle it.

Answer 11

To me it doesn't matter. As long as my pets are rescues I don't care if they are pure breeds or mixed breeds.

And I agree that it really doesn't matter if you are just keeping a dog as a pet. But for some people they might want a specific pure breed dog because they suffer from allergies and they want to be SURE they are getting a hypoallergenic dog. Or maybe they were raised with Cocker Spaniels, and really love the breed. I am happy as long as they either rescue one, or buy one from a reputable breeder. Maybe they have had issues with ear and skin problems in the past, and they want to be sure they are getting a well bred healthy puppy with a good temperament.

The only thing that really bothers me is if people get a dog from a backyard breeder, a 'designer' dog breeder, or a pet store.

**She is asking why anyone would want to get a pure breed dog as a Pet, not as a working dog. She didn't ask that, so I'm sure she knows why some people prefer to get a pure breed dog for working purposes.