by Katherine Miller

Created on: October 15, 2009

My mother always referred to our Mutts as Heinz dogs, as they came in so many varieties with so much substance. So for me I've always referred to dogs of differing backgrounds as Heinz Dogs!

Throughout my life, my family both immediate and extended always had purebred dogs, which throughout the years included breeds like Great Danes, Dobermans, Bull Terriers, English Bulldogs, Shitzus, Golden Retreivers, Airdale Terriers, Bull Mastiffs, Mastiffs, Miniature Schnauzers, Fox Terriers, Miniature Pinschers, Rottweilers, Dachshunds, and Chihuahuas, but we also usually had a Heinz dog thrown in the mix at differing times.

Apart from the standard fact that no-one usally knew what breeds the Heinz was made up of, as it usually was just a guess. They usually made extremely loyal and lifelong companions, with more emphasis on the lifelong. Although purebreds surely look beautiful, have the ability to stop complete strangers in their tracks to converse with you about the times they had a Miniature Schnauzer or a Doberman or whatever breed it is you have, they usually do not have a great track record for living out long and healthy lives in fact it is probably one of the first questions a breeder is asked when a potential family comes to buy one of their puppies, what is their longevity. No-one wants to be heart broken 3 years down the track, we all know that they have such a short time with us already, so to shorten that even more can be very distressing to the owner and family.

Purebred dogs also usually come along with many headaches. Health disorders, bone disorders, diseases, all resulting from inter breeding to gain that ideal looking purebred dog. Yes there are many an association working toward this being more controlled but it is still happening whether we like it or not.

People will argue that Heinz dogs are unreliable because of mixed heritage, but usually that is more of a strength than a issue. Everyone loves a puppy, even the ugliest puppy will stop anyone in their tracks for a few moments of unadulterated attention. The puppy has no idea of their background or what they look like, but usually the strength of mixed genes in a dog gives it traits that the purebred dog may only have parts of. Heinz dogs can be extremely smart and are often used in commercials and movies for that reason.

Price is also a factor in this even though it doesn't necessarily work into the subject of which is better, it does associate with the fact that Heinz dogs can be more affordable to the average person and as such the need for these wonderful half, quarter, eighth or millionth breeds to exist and play an important part in all of our lives.

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