Are you preparing to get a new dog after the loss of a pet? Are you thinking of getting a dog for the first time? No matter the reason, buying a dog requires serious considerations. From age to breed and personality to behavior, there are plenty of characteristics to ponder. Plus, you have to think about the seller of the dog, the cost to buy and care for the dog, and what’s best for you and your family overall.

While you may find an adoptable purebred, you can expect to pay a higher price for the dog. Mutts cost less, even when factoring in the cost of a checkup and any shots the dog might need.

Adopting a mutt that needs a home shows friends, family (especially children), and neighbors the importance of caring for animals otherwise looked at as throwaways. Others can see you’re truly making a difference.

If you’re not looking for a working pet (a service dog, a police dog, a livestock herder, etc.), a mutt is the pup for you. Mutts can have similar traits as working dogs, but those characteristics are more manageable (e.g., around young kids) in a mutt compared to a purebred.

No one will ever have a dog exactly like yours! You’d be hard-pressed to even find two completely identical mixed-breed dogs in the same litter.

Mixed-breed dogs have lots of personality. Even better, many are easy to train because they have a blend of characteristics rather than all of their traits from a single breed.

Some people see a German shepherd and think: strong, muscular, and fierce. They see a Boston terrier and think: quick, charming, and stubborn. With a mutt, the general public will have no preconceived notion about your dog’s personality. Your mutt always gets a clean slate!

According to Scientific American magazine, “Most purebred dogs today are at a high risk for numerous inherited diseases.” A mutt will have a mix of genes, thereby being less prone to the same health risks that purebreds face.

There’s no reason to shell out big bucks for a purebred dog if you don’t plan on your pet being then next Westminster champion. Plus, a mutt might just win your heart. And that’s the best prize of all.

The ASPCA explains that a puppy mill is a “large-scale commercial dog breeding operation where profit is placed above the well-being of animals.” By not spending money on a mill dog, those who adopt mutts make it more difficult for puppy mills to stay in business.

Dogs are conversation starters, especially when family and friends come to visit, you take the dog out for a walk, or you head to the nearby dog park so your mutt can play with other pups. So each time somebody asks you about your mutt, you'll have the opportunity to rave about the benefits of adoption/rescue.

A lot of purebreds are considered valuable and are therefore prone to theft. Mutts generally are not sought after for their monetary worth, so they’re less likely to be stolen.

Low-maintenance mutts don’t care if you had a bad day or if you aren’t in a pampering mood. They just want to welcome you home with a wagging tail and perhaps some sloppy kisses.

If you’re like a lot of dog owners who don’t mind their pets on the bed, you’re in luck. Your mutt likely won’t leave your side, cozying up to you on those crisp winter nights.

Children who bond with a rescue dog can learn to be more responsible by helping to take care of it. Kids can also develop their ability to have true compassion for animals and people.

There are plenty of adult mutts in shelters that need a good home, so if you don’t want a puppy you don’t need to adopt one. Some of these older dogs may even be fully trained too!

You have to get off the couch to let the dog out anyway, so why not enjoy life with a new workout companion? Playing fetch and going for long walks benefits both the dog and you.

Most mutts end up in shelters through no fault of their own, and unless they’re lucky enough to be adopted quickly or dropped off at a no-kill shelter, it’s sadly the end of the road for some of them. By adopting a mutt, you’re giving the pup a fully deserved second chance at a happy life.

By adopting a mutt, you’re opening up a space for another dog and giving that pup the chance to find a forever home.

We live in a world where we want choices and we want them now. When it comes to animal shelters, you’ll find all kinds of mutts from small to large, young to old, active to tame, and everything in between.

Millions of animals regularly enter shelters across the country. The more people turn to mills and pet shops for new litters from particular breeds, the more crowded the shelters get. Adopting mutts decreases the demand for new dogs and helps alleviate the large population at shelters.

Many animal shelters offer free follow-up check-ups to their customers, in addition to low-cost services such as microchipping and nail trimming. Plus, all pets are sterilized before adoption thereby alleviating another cost.

Seeing the condition of the mutts that make their way into the shelter, employees know what’s on the line when it comes to each dog. These workers will give you heartfelt advice and help you find the perfect pup for you.

Dogs can be a great alarm system, sensing danger with their incredible hearing and sense of smell. It’s also nice when your “guard dog” can also be cute and cuddly.

Adopting a mutt can change your life in more ways than one. Cuddling can reduce anxiety, simply being around them can ease loneliness, and they love you unconditionally without judgement.

Not all mutts benefit from being housed in a no-kill shelter. That means that oftentimes when you adopt a mutt you are literally saving a life.