Mixed breed dogs make wonderful pets, as long as they are carefully chosen and are the right match for you.
You’ve decided you want a dog. What’s more, you’ve decided it might be nice to open your home to a shelter dog. Most shelter dogs are mixed breeds with no pedigree and little background information, but that’s not important. What you’re interested in is loving companionship.
You may have a certain type of dog in mind, or a certain breed mix. Warm, fuzzy dog movies tend to inspire fans to go out and look for the beautiful, loveable, well behaved hero on the screen. They happily get a dog who looks exactly like the movie dog and they’re certain they’ve found the perfect pet. Instead, they find that they’ve brought home an untrained, obnoxious, hairy, drooling monster who eats their tv remote and knocks them down every time they open the door. They never stopped to think that the star dog had many months of intensive training and many hours of meticulous grooming as well as the advantage of the movie set’s ability to create illusions that make the actor look like Superdog. In actuality, no dog could live up to the character they’ve portrayed. The lesson here? Don’t choose a dog based on looks and don’t set your heart on a certain breed.
Talk to the shelter workers. Let them help you find a good match for you.
Consider the dog’s needs and whether or not you are willing or able to meet them. Does he have high energy levels? Does he have special grooming requirements? Little “foo-foo” dogs can be adorable but don’t choose one if you aren’t willing to spend time and money on grooming. The shy little dog who sits in the corner and gives you those soulful looks is tempting but, if you have small, active kids, don’t choose this one either because he may become snappy if they get too rough. If the dog likes to dig, how important is your lawn to you? Consider your lifestyle and amount of space you have. A big, friendly dog who loves to play ball can be endearing but don’t choose one if you live in a small apartment and like to crash on the couch after work. Likewise, don’t choose even a smaller dog if he has outrageous energy levels. Neither of you will be happy for very long.
Special needs dogs can make good pets. Many blind dogs, deaf dogs, three-legged dogs, and aging dogs live full lives and provide lots of love. However, make sure you fully understand the needs of the dog and are willing to live unconditional commitment, before you take him home.
Spend time with possible pets, as you search for the right dog. Visit with them, play with them, allow them time to feel at ease with you. Don’t totally rule out the shy dog. Understand that dogs behave differently with unfamiliar people in distracting surroundings than they will after they’ve gained confidence in a secure, loving home. Get to know the dog and watch for signs that the chemistry is right.
Mixed breed dogs outnumber purebreds and are the most popular dogs. Adopting one means a lifetime commitment of sharing your home with another species, so consider the relationship carefully. And then choose that special one (or two or three) who will spend the rest of his life with you.
Related Articles:
- Identifying Mixed Breed Dogs by DNA
- Identifying Mixed Breed Dogs
- Advantages of Mixed Breed Dogs
- Register Your Mixed Breed Dog
- Mixed Breed Dog Heroes
- Why Shy Dogs are Shy
- Rehabilitating Shy Dogs
- Dog Names
