Like I mentioned in my first few blog entries, I used to prefer pure pedigree dogs and having a cross-breed dog like Smug (she's a cross Retriever and Spaniel) was just pure fate, basically an "accident"! But as time went, I got to know more about my dog, and because I was now a pet owner, I noticed things about dogs more, and became friends with many other dog owners and their dogs, my previous perception about "Pedigree dogs being the best and cross-breed ones are rubbish" is now completely and forever changed. I realised that cross-breed dogs are clever, they're fit (it is believed that they only inherit the best things from their parents, hence if a dog has crossed 4 different breeds, it has the best parts from 4 different breeds of dogs, so they eliminate the bad qualities of each breed). Also I find them extremely loyal and calm, definitely more stable than many rat size little dogs.
I would not swop Smug for any expensive pedigree dog now (so does that mean I now discriminate pedigree dogs 
). I'm ashamed to say that, before, whenever I was asked what kind of dog my Smug was during our walkies, I used to say that she was a Golden Retriever, sometimes Cocker Spaniel. It depends, if the person who asked me had a retriever themselves, I would usually say she's a spaniel as I think they would kind of know what a retriever dog looks like and notice the difference between Smug and theirs. And if the person had a small dog or a spaniel, I would swing back to Retriever, as to them, a retriever should be big, and my dog is usually much bigger than their "rats on string", so it should be convincing.
About a year of having her, I started to tell people the truth, that she's a mutt, feeling a little inferior as I replied. And the reactions and responses from people just really really annoyed me. Typically they would looked quite surprised (because I must proudly admit that Smug does look very pretty and fit, quite a bit tidy looking than cross-breed dogs in general), then they would have this awkward smile and nine out of ten would coo, "Oh, she looks very nice for a mutt!" Or, "Oh, she doesn't look anything like a mutt, she's not ugly at all!", before they reluctantly put their snobby paws on my dog and start patting her, expecting me to feel happy and grateful about their "compliments" about my dog. Some even stopped their dogs from playing with Smug after they found out Smug wasn't a pedigree dog like theirs.
I try not to bite back or be horrible to these people, at the end of the days, what can I say, I used to have the same misconceptions about cross-breeds. I can only try to "sell" my ideas about them and how they are also sweet little darlings if given the chance, but of course, people aren't usually that interested or convinced about what i say.
Nowadays, when I'm asked what type of dog Smug is, I proudly announce that she's in fact, a "very pure, pedigree Mutt!"
Because I think mixed-breed dogs are a very special kind of dogs in their own rights and have many attributes that other breeds of dogs don't have. And it breaks my heart that many people would not dream of giving this particular kind of creatures a chance, it's usually the cross-breed dogs that get abandoned and become strays. That's why people generally see cross-breeds as scruffy, because they often have to live on the street, getting kicked by kids and becoming walking meals to fleas and ticks! I'm sure given a chance, any mutt can look good and smart, just like my Smug.
