Mutts hold a special place in my heart, so I’m happy to see that mutts are getting a little more love and recognition. July 31 is National Mutt Day, an observance established to save 10,000 mixed breed dogs. If you’re considering adopting a dog, here are some tips — seven solid reasons why you should add a mutt to your family.
1. You like to follow trends
Mutts are gaining momentum with the general population. VetStreet.com conducted a recent survey of the most popular dog breeds, and six of the top ten breeds were mixed breeds. They are the Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever/Poodle mix), Puggle (Pug/Beagle mix), Labradoodle (Labrador Retriever/Poodle mix), Maltipoo (Maltese/Poodle mix), Yorkipoo (Yorkshire Terrier/Poodle mix), and a Shihpoo (Shih Tzu/Poodle mix).
2. You want a healthier dog
With a mutt, you get the benefits of both breeds. Purebred dogs are more prone to genetic diseases as a result of interbreeding, but a mixed breed dog is less likely to develop an inherited disorder. These could include issues with the dog’s temperament, intelligence, or health.
3. You like surprises
Your puppy is a combination of two or more breeds. How tall will he or she be when full-grown? How heavy? What will his or her face look like as an adult? With a mixed breed puppy, it’s more difficult to predict what breed features will be more prominent, versus a purebred puppy, where you will have a better idea how the dog will look grown up.
4. You like to fool your friends
A friend of mine recently adopted an adorable puppy named Toby that looked like he was a Dachshund mixed with something else. She ordered a DNA test because she was curious what breed he might be mixed with. The results were not even close to Dachshund. His lineage includes Chihuahua, Chinese Crested, and Old English Sheepdog.
5. You want to save money
Mixed breed dogs cost less than purebred dogs purchased from breeders. Save that extra cash to buy some dog toys or to go on a vacation with your new furry best friend.
6. You want a dog who’s unlike any other
Most of the dogs in my life have been mutts. There’s my current fur baby, Sasha, an Australian Shepherd/Border Collie mix, and my beloved Buster who crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, also an Australian Shepherd mix. From my childhood there was Willie, an adorable Maltese/Poodle mix, and feisty Cuddles, a Maltese/Spitz mix. Each of these dogs has had a unique look and personality to match.
7. You want to save a life
Perhaps the best reason of all! Only about a quarter of all shelter dogs are purebred, according to the Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), so you’re more likely to fall in love with and adopt a mixed breed dog from an animal shelter or rescue group.
Do you have a mutt? Can you add to this list? Tell us in the comments!
Learn more about dogs with Dogster:
- Why Do Dogs Lick People?
- 6 Ways to Thwart an Off-Leash Dog Rushing You and Your Dog
- I Worked at a Large Commercial Pet Store, And What they Do to Puppies Will Shock You
About the author: Cathy Weselby is a purple-lovin’ ambivert who enjoys exploring new places and ideas, the arts, humorous memoirs, collecting old magazines, and making collages. She and her husband live with Sasha, a rescued Australian Shepherd/Border Collie mix, in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California.
2 thoughts on “7 Solid Reasons to Adopt a Mutt”
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That dog Toby looks EXACTLY like my puppy! The rescue we got her from labeled her a terrier mix based off the mom. We’re going to DNA test her around Christmas time. I can’t wait to see the results, I wonder if it will have the same breeds as Toby. She definitely has some Chihuahua in her.