No more pure breds for us.
Through my life I’ve had mutts and registered dogs and noticed no differences in any when it came to their intelligence and mannerisms. I also got them when they were just taken from their mother. That makes a huge difference.
By the way, I’ve got a super-cute mini-dachshund and she is the love of my life!
>Certain breeds of dogs have certain inbred temperaments.<
Why yes, they do. Dog breeds have evolved because throughout history human beings have molded Man’s Best Friend to do different jobs and to play different roles. As a rule these traits are not interchangeable. For example you cannot take a Komondor, a breed bred to guard livestock, and easily hunt ducks with it.
As AnAmericanMother noted upthread, a Labrador can either be a great pet and family companion, or a “Marley” type canine wrecking crew. In knowledgeable hands, the competition field bred dog can and does make one heck of a dog. In a typical, “I just want a pet” home, the dog will be a nightmare for its people.
For so many people, dogs only have one role; that of the placid pet who enjoys a stroll around the block, then who plops down by the fireplace with the family.
Other people fall in love with a given breed of dog for the combination of traits that make superb performance dogs. These folks compete in a wide range of sports such as field trials, schutzhund, agility, flyball, obedience and countless others. They cherish the traits that would drive average suburban pet owners crazy, but in doing so they commit to working these dogs constantly to burn off energy and by perfecting the human/dog bond so that both species understand the other brilliantly.
For so many people, a mixed breed dog fits their needs perfectly. Some folks want a certain breed because they grew up with it. For these folks, especially if they wish to give a homeless pooch a 2nd chance, adoption is the perfect route. For the individual who chooses to compete with his canine friend, or who needs a certain set of breed traits for a job (like livestock protection, for example), a carefully bred purebred from a responsible, careful breeder will fit the bill.