Dog breeds: Mixed breeds

Meet the real underdog, the one far more likely to end up in a shelter than a purebred. To adopt a mixed breed is to celebrate diversity and root for the little guy. It often means you're also giving a dog who really needs one a home.

But there's a practical side to adopting a mutt as well. They tend to be healthier than purebreds. A mix can be a softer, less intense version of a purebred. Some fans even say mutts are smarter--though this claim is hard to verify.

But all that may be beside the point. Your little whatever-he-is will find a way into your heart, whether he's running down tennis balls thanks to his dash of Labrador, or snuggling in your lap (perhaps some bichon frise?). Who knows, and--in the end--who really cares. He's your dog.