Well, finally got brave enough to get back on this.  Still don't really know what I.m doing but I have to start somewhere.  One reason I started or am trying to start this is to educate I guess "beginner" pet owners for lack of a better name.  You hear purebred pet owners that don't like or don't understand the reason for mixed breeds and mixed breed people who don't like or don't understand the purpose for purebreds.  While I am by no means an expert there is this thing called common sense and I do a LOT of research so I am hoping to dispel, educate, etc .  Since I and my husband are purebred owners I will discuss this first.  Apparently many dog owners do not know there is a very definite reason for purebreds.  These dogs were bred for specific traits to accomplish a specific task.  Many of these have developed over hundreds of years.  For example, the Poodle many do not know was one of if not the first retreivers--yes a poodle.  It wasn't made to be the Fu Fu dogs like many people think.  Labs, Goldens are Retreivers...there are many other types out there developed in different countries for the sole purpose of retreiving for hunters.  Collies, Shelties, Shephards are just some examples of herding dogs.  Bred for the sole purpose of herding cattle, sheep, ducks etc.  Terriers are earth dogs "ratters" as they are sometimes called.  Look up the meaning of "terrier" and that will explain this breed of dog.  So the next time you as a mixed breed dog person decide to demean a purebred dog person understand again these were bred for specific purposes and this is the reason purebreds exist.  One of the oldest purebreds is a Basenji and a Saluki.  There are others these are just 2.  Grab an encyclopedia or now days Wikipedia on the Internet or just type in the purebred you are interested in and its amazing what you can learn..  I have yet to see a mixed breed dog herd, flush out ducks or retreive.  Thats not to say there is not a purpose for them as well.  Most people don;t set out to purposely breed mixed breed dogs particularly with 6 or 7 dogs in the mix.  That is called irresponsible pet ownership by not spaying or neutering.  And yes there are irresponsible purebred owners as well we all know they are there.  They are called puppy mills.  These are people more interested in the dollar signs than bettering the breed. Now for the mixed breeds dogs.  First and foremost these are primarily again products of irresponsible breeders and not spaying and neutering which fall on irresponsible pet owners.  A lot of people won't like this but tough--its true.  Without irresponsible pet parents, breeders etc there would be no mixed breed dogs.  People again did not set out to "breed" mixed breeds.  Now on the opposite side, for those who are not interested in a specific breed for a specific purpose these dogs have a purpose as well.  There are things you can do with mixed breed dogs if you choose. Agility, Obedience --I think you can do Rally and Flyball as well.  The sad thing is on both side because of irresponsible pet parents and breeders you see many of these dogs on both sides in Shelters, Rescues, on Doggy Death Row etc.  The main reason for this blog again is to educate and maybe somehow save some dogs from the irresponsible humans that breed and own them.  My husband and I have 5 we know purebred dogs.  The 2 smallest ones a Yorkie and a Pom most likely from an irresponsible backyard breeder (the Yorkie) and the Pom was purchased from a Flea Market by my step-daughter 7 years ago.  We have her thank goodness because my son - in - law is allergic to dogs with undercoat.  Flea market pups should be your first clue about how the dog was bred.  Both have health issues.  The Yorkie will be 14 in March and is losing coat--nicely bred Yorkies do not have that issue even at that age and the Pom has had Alopecia since birth--she just turned 7, again a bad breeding issue.  Many of your mixed breeds have issues as well contrary to what people think they know or want to believe.

Ok, its late so I will use this as my stopping place for tonight.  The next issue is treating your new dog, pup right.  I guess I need to title it : "Your Pet is not a piece of Furniture";   Keep your furrkids safe.  Love them unconditionally because that's how they love you.