I realize it's kind of late to pipe in here, but want to anyway as somebody who's had both a wheaten cross and a schnauzer. My wheaten might have been purebred, I'm not sure since like the schnauzer he came from the pound. Both were delightful dogs, although the schnauzer was awfully yappy until he blessedly started losing his hearing at 10 ;-). He lived to 19, BTW.

There are a couple of things the AKC folks fail to mention. For one thing, many breeds out there are the result of people breeding particular breeds together in order to get a new breed with particular qualities. So, when did the evolution of dogs stop? When the AKC decided? Some of the toughest, adaptable and smartest dogs out there are the indeciferable mixes you see in places like Mexico. Sled dogs that are mixes often fetch much bigger bucks than a Husky (better for speed in races but otherwise not the best sled dog for regular work).

Another thing is that the AKC has bred into breeds many of the problems that plague them. For example, somebody somewhere decided that "sloping hips" were a desirable trait for a German Shepherd. Now it's very hard to get one that doesn't have hip problems. Short noses and squished in faces for dogs like pugs and shiz tzus resulted in breathing problems. Ever heard a little pug on a hot day? Wheezing and snuffling? Wouldn't he be better off with a longer nose? But then he wouldn't pass the beauty contest!

I'm really not trying to rip the AKC - but I resent the fact that they try to say that these dogs are somehow "better" than a mixed breed mutt. My beloved Wheaten cross just died of cancer, and I'm seriously thinking about a designer mutt to replace him. I have allergies and a whoodle (wheaten/poodle) sounds like a smart, soft, and good natured mix. So, maybe they aren't recognized breed according to the AKC, but I don't think labradoodles are yet, either. Yet they are extremely popular. A shnoodle, whoodle, labradoodle? Why not? Maybe they'll be "recognized" one of these days. A shnauzer without skin problems, a less high-strung version of a poodle? How could these possibly be considered bad breeding?