Mixed breeds generally suffer far fewer inherited defects that pedigree dogs can exhibit. Breathing problems with snub nosed dogs like boxers, pugs and bulldogs, hip displasia in breeds like German Shepherds. They seem to have better behaviour too, although training goes a long way to alleviate this. Pedigree dogs are fine, but you must be sure of the animal’s bloodline to avoid inherited defects, and a good animal is going to be expensive. Really, a mutt is likely to be a much happier, fun dog that will probably live longer too. I’m not a dog person really, but I’ve had two dogs in my family that were Heinz dogs (57 varieties), both were well behaved, even tempered animals that both lived to around sixteen, seventeen years.