Purebred vs crossbred dogs pros and cons

In Australia, around 50 percent of owned dogs are purebred and the remainder 50 percent are crossbred. Crossbred dogs have become increasingly popular over the last 10 years.

Purebred dogs come from a closed gene pool, that is, they are not crossbred with another breed. Sometimes the word purebred is used synonymously with pedigreed, but purebred refers to the animal having a known ancestry, and pedigree refers to the written record of breeding of three to four generations. Not all purebred animals have their lineage in written form.

The Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) guidelines for different purebred dog breeds include – ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensure that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential.

There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing between a purebred or crossbred dog. We’ve listed the purebred vs crossbred dogs pros and cons below to help you with your decision making.

Purebred vs crossbred dogs pros and cons

	PROS	CONS
PUREBRED	1. To a certain extent, behaviour and characteristics can be predicted, however, all dogs are individuals and their behaviour can still vary greatly within the breed.	1. Some breeds have serious inherited disorders. Choose your dog breed wisely!
	2. Has a known ancestry. Pedigreed dogs have a written record of breeding.
	3. The breeding is more regulated. However, there are good and bad breeders.
CROSSBRED	1. Considered to have a lower risk of inherited diseases than purebred dogs, although health problems from the parents may still be passed on.	1. It can be difficult to determine the exact breeding of some crossbred dogs unless you can view the parents at the breeder's premises.
	2. Generally live longer than purebred dogs due to hyrbrid vigour according to a study 'Longevity and mortality of owned dogs in England'.	2. The breeding is less regulated. There are good and bad breeders.

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