re: It's time we select breed dogs again.

Fred, my mutt that I picked up off the centerline of the interstate is a fine hound; mutts really are the best dogs and are usually very easy to OB train.

Most people are so much better off getting a mixed breed than they are getting a high-octane, purebred, inbred, backyard bred, puppy mill, run-of-the-mill, hip-dysplasia-waiting-to-happen, "registered, block head, otter tail," working breed, purebred.

And the more generations away from the purebred the better.

One argument for purebreds though, is that the breed's tendency to develop specific health problems is actually a good thing for the veterinarian attempting to treat the dog. In mixed breeds, diagnosing a problem can be more difficult. I'm not saying I 100% agree with that sentiment, just putting it out there.