Four Money-Saving Advantages of Owning A Mixed-Breed Dog

Now don't get me wrong. I like purebred dogs too (in fact, I own two of them; however, no doubt one of my dogs has questionable genetic lineage), but there can be certain financial advantages of owning a good, old-fashioned "mutt". Here are four:

1. Mixed-breeds dogs generally cost less to maintain medically over their lifespan. Many researchers believe this is due to a genetic phenomenon known as "hybrid vigor", where a mixing a genetic material produces a hardier individual. Certainly mixed-breeds have a reduced incidence of genetic diseases, simply because their gene pools are so diverse.  Of course, environment and preventive care play huge roles in health and lifespan as well, so don't skimp on those just because your dog has a "checkered" ancestry.

2. If you own a purebred dog, there is always a chance you'll succumb to consumer temptation and purchase all sorts of "stuff" related to your dog's breed, seriously denting your pocketbook. For instance, I recently purchased a wall calendar with Boxers plastered all over it, even though I have three other wall calendars that all do exactly the same thing. And that Boxer calendar wasn't cheap!

3. Many people purchase pure-bred dogs so they can compete with them in AKC organized events. But this costs money.  While your mixed-breed will never wear the crown of AKC Best in Show, you can still experience the thrill of competition with your colorful pooch without spending a ton on the show circuit. That's because mixed-breeds are allowed to compete in many agility events held across the country (google "U.S. Dog Agility Association").  They can also be trained for search and rescue and used for therapy or service purposes.

4. Mixed-breed dogs don't cost an arm and a leg to purchase. And talk about uniqueness! No two are exactly the same. You can spend a lifetime trying to figure out what the heck your dog is made up of. But don't waste your money on those commercial genetic tests for dogs to do the job for you. They have been shown to be unreliable in most instances.