What kind of dog you want is a personal decision. Some people are adamant about rescuing homeless dogs, others prefer a purebred. Before my yorkies, I’ve always had mutts. Hearing my kids say “look what I found” was the way we got a new pet.

I believe in adopting and rescuing, partly to give a homeless animal a home and partly to support the many men and women who donate countless hours caring for these animals. Unless you yourself donate time working with a shelter, I assure you you have no idea how much work these volunteers really do.

However, I also love the study and ancestry of purebreds. Many of these breeds can be traced back thousands of years. There are dogs with webbed feet who could rescue a drowning child, dogs with a herding instinct that provide efficient and inexpensive help to farmers, dogs with a refined sense of smell that can detect narcotics, dogs that can kill rats, defend property, assist the handicapped. These are not accidents but the result of careful and selective breeding.

One of the biggest benefits of getting a mixed breed dog is that no other dog will look exactly like him! Since mixes don’t breed “true”, (meaning that a poodle mom and yorkie dad could produce many litters with no two the same) the sky is the limit as to what the various combinations could look like. This uniqueness is very appealing to many people.

Mixed breeds are more readily available. Our shelters are full of so many different kinds of dogs, it’s hard to imagine you couldn’t find exactly what you are looking for.

Cost can also be a factor. Quality purebred dogs can be quite expensive, sometimes costing thousands of dollars. Shelter/rescue fees are very reasonable and backyard mixes are usually free or have a nominal price tag.

Since mixed breeds generally come from a shelter or rescue group, there is the added sense of community fulfillment in the acquisition of one of these dogs.

Some think a rescue dog might have behavior problems that can’t be overcome. This is just nonsense. Almost any dog can be taught how to behave properly. If they’ve been in a shelter, then it’s most likely that they are very well socialized, having spent time with lots of other dogs.

Many shelters, due to lack of space, place their dogs in foster homes. This is an excellent way to know how a dog might get along with kids, cats and others in the family. It’s also a reliable source to know if the dog is housebroken or not.

One of the biggest benefits of purebreds is predictability. You can look at a puppy and have a very good idea of his adult looks, size and temperament.

If you get a purebred dog from a good reputable breeder, you will have his/her help and advice for the life of your dog. Breeders like this are likely to mentor you through issues like training, diet, sicknesses, grooming ,etc. and be a resource to you for years to come.

When you have specific needs you can select a dog to accommodate these needs. For example, if a family member has allergies there are dogs who are less likely to produce irritating allergens. (Be careful of the numerous mixes who claim to be hypoallergenic. A mix may or may not be hypoallergenic and may or may not shed. If this is a serious issue for you, then be safe and just get one of the many non-shedding hypoallergenic purebreds.)

You can compete in AKC Obedience and Sporting events. The AKC has numerous dog-related activities and are great fun for the whole family.

It is important to fully understand that nearly all purebred dogs were bred for a specific purpose - to pull sleds, guard livestock, herd sheep, to kill vermin, etc.   These traits are genetically hard coded into purebred dogs.  It is imperative that you not only know which of these temperaments you are getting, but that you can accept it.   Do not expect to "train out" the herding instinct, or "correct" the terrier tenacity.  These dogs are hard wired on purpose, and if they are good representations of their breed, this is how they should be.   

Many people think that purebred dogs will have more health problems. This is not necessarily true.  The health of any dog is dependent upon the medical pedigree of its ancestors. Reputable breeders follow their litters and track this information so as not to repeat any breeding that produced genetic defects, others simply breed for puppies.

If a dog is registered, it must be a purebred. This may or may not be true. AKC is the only registry that tracks pedigree. They now require DNA samples on all sires when a litter is registered. Other registries simply track ownership of dogs and it has little to do with their genetic makeup.

An interesting site that offers common sense advice about purebred dogs is:  www.yourpurebredpuppy.com  You can click on "180 Dog Breed Reviews" and find some helpful information regarding all of the different breeds.     

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So whatever type of dog you decide on, you can look forward to years of love, affection and devotion!