Miriam Fields-Babineau - Mixed Breeds For Dummies

3 Part 1: Getting Started with Mixed Breeds Part 1 Chapter 1: Mixing It Up: Introducing the Mixed Breed Chapter 1 A Mutt by Any Other Name: Defining Mixed Breeds A Tale of Two Dogs: How Mixed-Breed Dogs Come to Be Even Toy Dogs Aren’t Toys They Don’t Call ’Em Man’s Best Friend for Nothin’ Chapter 2: Designer Dogs: Not Your Mother’s Mutt The Pros and Cons of Designer Dogs The Major “Labels” in the Designer-Dog World Chapter 3: A Little of This, a Little of That: Deciding Which Mixed Breed Is Right for You Asking Yourself the Right Questions Looking at the Different Breeds Considering Age: Puppy or Adult? Gender Bender: Male or Female? Adding It Up: The Right Dog for You Chapter 4: Choosing Your New Best Friend Finding Your Very Own Mixed-Breed Dog Knowing Which Questions to Ask Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me a Match: Temperament Testing

4 Part 2: Living with Your Mixed-Breed Dog Chapter 5: Getting Ready for Your Dog’s Arrival Dog-Proofing Your House Your Mixed-Breed Dog’s Bedroom Giving Your Dog a Place to Eat Stocking Up on Supplies Chapter 6: Bringing Home Your Mixed Breed Giving Your Dog the Guided Tour Fighting Those First-Night Blues Scheduling Time for Your New Dog Chapter 7: Chasing the Chuckwagon: The Basics of Feeding The Basics of Nutrition Types of Dog Food How Much to Feed Special Dietary Needs It’s My Treat: Giving Your Dog a Little Something Extra Chapter 8: Grooming Your Mixed Breed Why Grooming Matters: Inside and Out Brushing Your Dog Cleaning Your Dog’s Ears Look, Ma — No Cavities! Brushing Your Canine’s Choppers The Eyes Have It: Caring for Your Mixed Breed’s Eyes Mani/Pedi Time: Clipping Your Dog’s Nails Bathing Your Dog Checking for Parasites The Daily Once-Over: Checking Your Dog for Problems Chapter 9: Exercising Your Dog Knowing How Much Exercise Your Dog Needs Finding an Activity Your Dog Enjoys

5 Part 3: Training Your Dog Chapter 10: Housetraining When You Gotta Go: Looking for Your Dog’s Warning Signs Scheduling Potty Breaks Crate-Training to Prevent Accidents Other Training Methods Watching for Success Working on Some Advanced Housetraining Techniques Chapter 11: Hup, Two, Three, Four: Good Manners and Basic Training Preparing for Training Training the Basic Commands Sit Down Stay Dealing with Distractions Finding a Trainer Chapter 12: Tackling Mixed-Breed Training Challenges Unpacking the Mental Baggage: Helping a Dog Who’s Been Abused or Neglected Alone and Frightened: Separation Anxiety No More Mr. Nice Guy: The Aggressive Dog Jumping for Joy Chewing Your Dog Out for Chewing From Beggar to Chooser: Getting Your Dog to Stop Begging at the Table Nipping and Mouthing Digging to the Center of the Earth

6 Part 4: Keeping Your Dog Healthy Chapter 13: Finding and Working with a Vet Choosing a Veterinarian Spaying or Neutering Your Pet Microchipping or Tattooing: Keeping Your Dog Safe Keeping Up with Regular Healthcare Addressing Special Health Problems Chapter 14: First Aid: Dealing with Emergencies Gathering Emergency Contact Information Assembling Your Canine First-Aid Kit First-Aid Basics If You Lose Your Dog Chapter 15: The Special Needs of Senior Dogs How Old Is Old: Knowing When Your Dog Has Earned Senior Status The Early-Bird Special: Feeding Your Senior Dog Use It or Lose It: Exercising Your Senior Dog Identifying Health Problems Common to Seniors Recognizing Behavior Problems That Sometimes Come with Age Saying Goodbye

7 Part 5: Having Fun with Your Dog Chapter 16: Not Just for Purebreds: Showing Off with Your Mixed Breed Participating in a Mixed-Breed Dog Club Media Hound: Getting Your Dog on Camera Chapter 17: Traveling with Charley Deciding Whether to Bring Your Dog with You Finding Pet-Friendly Places to Stay Packing for Your Trip Traveling by Car Flying with Your Dog Leaving Your Dog Behind

8 Part 6: The Part of Tens Chapter 18: Ten Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Dog It Doesn’t Cost Much — and It May Be Free! Breeding Is Time-Consuming and Expensive You Reduce Your Dog’s Risk of Cancer You Help Control the Number of Unwanted Dogs in the World Your Dog Won’t Be as Likely to Stray from Home Your Dog Will Be on Her Best Behavior Your Dog Will Be Easier to Housetrain Reproduction Can Be Risky Your Dog Will Be a Better Watchdog Your Dog Isn’t You Chapter 19: Ten (or So) Fun Activities You and Your Mixed Breed Can Enjoy Together Competing with Your Dog at American Kennel Club Events Participating in United Kennel Club Events Training Your Dog to Dive Joining the Fun at the American Treibball Association Camping and Hiking: Finding Fun Outdoor Activities Helping Your Dog Become a Good Citizen Help Your Dog Help Other People Dancing with Your Mixed Breed Flying High with Flyball

9 Index

10 About the Author

11 Advertisement Page

12 Connect with Dummies

13 End User License Agreement

1 Chapter 9TABLE 9-1 Breed Group Exercise Requirements

2 Chapter 13TABLE 13-1 Single Vets versus Veterinary Clinics

3 Chapter 14TABLE 14-1 Emergency Contact Information

1 Chapter 2FIGURE 2-1: Labradoodles have three coat types, two of which do shed. FIGURE 2-2: Goldendoodles are a great combination of two great family dogs. FIGURE 2-3: Cockapoos are great medium-sized dogs that shed very little, love t...FIGURE 2-4: Schnoodles are medium-sized dogs with loads of personality. FIGURE 2-5: The Terripoo can learn to work as a therapy dog. FIGURE 2-6: Peke-a-poos are lap potatoes, much like one of their parent breeds,...FIGURE 2-7: Here’s a typical Borador. You can see both breeds very clearly in t...FIGURE 2-8: The Bordernese looks very much like a larger Border Collie with the...