I posted the original query "looking for a smaller breed". Thanks for all
the helpful suggestions. What are your thoughts about choosing a pure vs
mixed breed? I would like to rescue a dog from the local pound if possible.
Almost all the dogs there are mixed breeds. We are not looking for a show
dog but rather just a good companion. I loved my poi (cannot see any
particular breed in the dog) dog, which looked more like a calico cat. I
assume that the pound makes sure that the dogs have their shots and are
relatively healthy. Thanks for any suggestions.

"tenplay" wrote in message
news:IvCbc.175812$po.984312@attbi_s52...
I would like to rescue a dog from the local pound if possible.
Almost all the dogs there are mixed breeds.

Actually I've seen stats that suggest otherwise. A surprisingly large number
of dogs in "pounds" are pure-bred.

Looking into a rescue for a dog is a good idea. We got our one baby from a
rescue and our other is purebred. The lab mix is as sweet as can be and we
helped the rescue out in taking her in.

"tenplay" wrote in message
news:IvCbc.175812$po.984312@attbi_s52...
I posted the original query "looking for a smaller breed". Thanks for all
the helpful suggestions. What are your thoughts about choosing a pure vs
mixed breed? I would like to rescue a dog from the local pound if
possible.
Almost all the dogs there are mixed breeds. We are not looking for a show
dog but rather just a good companion. I loved my poi (cannot see any
particular breed in the dog) dog, which looked more like a calico cat. I
assume that the pound makes sure that the dogs have their shots and are
relatively healthy. Thanks for any suggestions.

I think mixes are wonderful. At least my personal experience of them, and
that of everyone else I know with them, has been great. As for what the
shelter will do, each is different. Most of them will vaccinate and
spay/neuter the dog prior to adoption. That's not a guarantee of a full
physical though. If you want to be relatively certain of the dog's current
health then you will likely want to consider going to an all-breed rescue
group. Check www.petfinder.org

--
Tara

"C.L." wrote in message
...

"tenplay" wrote in message
news:IvCbc.175812$po.984312@attbi_s52...
I would like to rescue a dog from the local pound if possible.
Almost all the dogs there are mixed breeds.

Actually I've seen stats that suggest otherwise. A surprisingly large
number
of dogs in "pounds" are pure-bred.

Looking into a rescue for a dog is a good idea. We got our one baby from a
rescue and our other is purebred. The lab mix is as sweet as can be and we
helped the rescue out in taking her in.

I think it depends on the area. I hear there are many more mixes & fewer
purebreds and very rural areas. That would make sense since rural areas
tend to have the roaming dogs. I've noted that most urband shelters (in my
region) have lots of purebreds to go along with lots of mixes.

--
Tara

"tenplay" wrote in message
news:IvCbc.175812$po.984312@attbi_s52...
I posted the original query "looking for a smaller breed". Thanks for all
the helpful suggestions. What are your thoughts about choosing a pure vs
mixed breed? I would like to rescue a dog from the local pound if
possible.
Almost all the dogs there are mixed breeds. We are not looking for a show
dog but rather just a good companion. I loved my poi (cannot see any
particular breed in the dog) dog, which looked more like a calico cat. I
assume that the pound makes sure that the dogs have their shots and are
relatively healthy. Thanks for any suggestions.



i'd go to the pound and meet some dogs, see what you think. each dog will
have their own individual personality, so i can't say one is better than the
other. some rescue groups will take information about what you're looking
for in a dog and try to match you up with a good fit, maybe that will work
for you?

i have one mix and one that's probably purebred, both from shelters/rescue,
and i love them both very much.



-kelly

tenplay said in rec.pets.dogs.breeds:

I posted the original query "looking for a smaller breed".
Thanks for all the helpful suggestions. What are your
thoughts about choosing a pure vs mixed breed? I would
like to rescue a dog from the local pound if possible.

After reading your previous posts, an older (one year or more)
dog from the pound would be a great choice. When you meet an
older dog, you'll have a pretty good idea as to her eventual
size and demeanor. If you're still not sure, ask your shelter
about local rescue groups - while shelters don't have the time
to evaluate each dog, private rescue groups often do.

As to mixed versus pure - I like both, so I take turns.
Temperament is most important to me, so shelter/rescue is
probably the way I'll go next time, too.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

Mixes are often healthier.

"tenplay" wrote in message
news:IvCbc.175812$po.984312@attbi_s52...
I posted the original query "looking for a smaller breed". Thanks for all
the helpful suggestions. What are your thoughts about choosing a pure vs
mixed breed? I would like to rescue a dog from the local pound if
possible.
Almost all the dogs there are mixed breeds. We are not looking for a show
dog but rather just a good companion. I loved my poi (cannot see any
particular breed in the dog) dog, which looked more like a calico cat. I
assume that the pound makes sure that the dogs have their shots and are
relatively healthy. Thanks for any suggestions.

Rich said in rec.pets.dogs.breeds:

Mixes are often healthier.

Cites?

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

"Rich" wrote in message
. com...
Mixes are often healthier.

A common self-fulfilling fallacy.

Well bred pure breds are by far more health because you know what you're
getting genetically on many fronts. Mixed breeds are the opposite. That
said, there's a lot of poorly bred purebreds, and a poorly bred dog
(regardless of breed or mix) is a poorly bred dog.

wrote in
:

Mixes are often healthier.

so are purebred dogs. HTH!

--
shelly (perfectly foul wench) and elliott and harriet
http://home.bluemarble.net/~scouvrette