Learn About Different Breeds and Mixes

Dogs fall into one of two categories: purebreds or mixed breeds. Most animal shelters have plenty of both. The only significant difference between the two is that purebreds, because their parents and other ancestors are all members of the same breed, generally conform to a specific "breed standard." This means that if you adopt a purebred, you have a good chance of knowing how big he'll get when he gets older and what general physical and behavioral characteristics he's likely to have. Of course, the size, appearance, and temperament of most mixed breed dogs can be predicted as well. After all, mixed breeds are simply combinations of different breeds. So if you can recognize the ancestry of a particular mixed breed puppy, you have a good chance of knowing how he'll turn out, too.