Mutts, America's Dogs: a Guide to Choosing, Loving, and Living with Our Most Popular Canine Brian Kilcommons and Michael Capuzzo ISBN 0446519499 amazon.com   USD $15.37 amazon.co.uk  £12.74 A light-hearted encyclopedia of mixed-breed dogs. More Information ORDER YOUR COPY FROM AMAZN.CO.UK Click on your country of choice and add the book to your shopping cart.

Reviewed by: Elizabeth Gredley

Mutts is a delightful look at the dogs which result from "love matches" as opposed to "match-making" -- dogs which are closer to what nature intended. This is a book which sets out to show that mixed breed dogs are as good as, and in most cases, better than, their purebred relatives, and adopting one from a shelter saves a life too.

Go to your local animal shelter. Trust that nature, and the miracle of hybrid vigor that created our American democracy, produces better stock than faulty human-controlled breeding...

Like an encyclopedia of purebred dogs, Mutts divides mixed-breeds into types complete with descriptions and recommendations. But it's also filled with the stories of real-life examples.

There's advice on how to choose a dog and how to turn an animal who may have had a poor start in life, into a good companion. Mutts are dogs you rescue, not deliberately breed. The authors are very clear that there is a dog overpopulation problem and people can help by adopting a mutt --  and getting a better dog in the process.

Chapter Titles

Part One: The World's Greatest Dogs
INTRODUCTION: A Rallying Bark for Mutts
A Special Note on Breeds and Breeding
The M-Word: A Short History of Misunderstanding
Hybrid Heroes
Mixed Breed Dogs Die Needlessly Every Day
Mutts: The Invisible (Not Silent!) Majority
Hybrids are Like Honda Accords
Hybrid Vigor
Setting Official Standards
What Color is Your Para-mutt?

Part Two: 101 Mutts
THE SPORTING MUTTS
Descriptions and Standards of the Sporting Mutt
The Retriever Mixes
The Setter Mixes
The Spaniel Mixes
The Pointer Mixes

THE HOUND MUTTS
Descriptions and Standards of the Hound Mutt
The Sight Hound Mixes
The Scent Hound Mixes

The Working Mutts
Descriptions and Standards of the Working Mutt
The Flock-Guarding Mixes
The Gentle Giant Mixes
The Nordic Mixes
The Property- and People-Guarding Mixes

The Terrier Mutts
Descriptions and Standards of the Terrier Mutt

The Toy Mutts
Descriptions and Standards of the Toy Mutt

The Herding Mutts
Descriptions and Standards of the Herding Mutt

The Non-Sporting and Mystery Mutts
Descriptions and Standards of the Non-Sporting and Mystery Mutts

Part Three: Selecting and Training Your Random-Bred Dog

selecting a mutt

The Sporting Mutt
The Retriever Mixes
The Setter Mixes
The Spaniel Mixes
The Pointer Mixes

The Hound Mutt
The Sight Hound Mixes
The Scent Hound Mixes

The Working Mutt
 The Flock-Guarding Mixes
The Gentle Giant Mixes
The Nordic Mixes
The Property- and People-Guarding Mixes

The Terrier Mutt
The Toy Mutt
The Herding Mutt
The Non-Sporting and Mystery Mutt

Adult Dog Evaluation and Selection
Puppy Evaluation and Selection

Training Your Mutt
Adopted
Abandoned
Abused

Solving the Top Mutt Behavior Problems
Inappropriate Chewing
Barking
Jumping Up
Housebreaking Mistakes
Submissive Urination
Pulling on Lead
The Demanding Dog
Not Coming When Called
Separation Anxiety
Stealing Objects
Hyperactivity