Understanding Your Dog

Mixed-breed dogs are every bit as adorable as their purebred counterparts. This dog doesn’t know he doesn’t have a pedigree! (For more on what makes a mixed breed a mixed breed, check out Chapter Mixing It Up: Introducing the Mixed Breed.) The Cockapoo was one of the first designer dogs — intentional crossings of two purebreds…

 In This Chapter Showing off your mixed-breed dog Playing games Becoming a good citizen Having fun outdoors Helping others There are loads of fun activities you can do with your mixedbreed dog — none of which require a pedigree! From competition to helping others, you can participate in many activities where both of you would…

 In This Chapter Competing in performance trials Making your dog a star Your dog doesn’t have to be pedigreed to compete in shows or participate in fun activities. In this chapter, I introduce you to the world of obedience shows, agility trials, and Rally-O. I also let you know how you can get your mixed…

 In This Chapter Knowing when your dog becomes a senior Caring for your senior dog Recognizing age-related health issues Knowing when to say goodbye Getting old is never easy, but you can make the transition a smoother one for your mixed-breed dog. In this chapter, I help you identify when your dog is really a…