Part I. Just the Facts Ma'am --
Part II. Living with Your Mixed-Breed Dog --
Part III. Training 101 --
Part IV. Keeping Your Dog Healthy --
Part V. Having Fun with Your Dog --
Part I. Just the Facts, Ma'am --
Chapter 1. Mixing it Up: Introducing the Mixed Breed --
Mutt by Any Other Name: Defining Mixed Breeds --
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 --
Pros and Cons of Designer Dogs --
Major "Labels" in the Designer-Dog World --
Intelligent perceptions: Border Collie hybrids --
Chapter 3. Little of This, a Little of That: Deciding Which Mixed Breed Is Right for You --
Asking Yourself the Right Questions --
Do you have enough time for a dog? --
Do you have enough money for a dog? --
Are you ready to give your heart to a dog? --
Looking at the Different Breeds --
On the hunt: The Sporting Group --
Ain't nothin' but a hound dog: The Hound Group --
Workin' like a dog: The Working Group --
Tenacious terriers: The Terrier Group --
Big personalities in small packages: The Toy Group --
All shapes and sizes: The Non-Sporting Group --
Round 'em up: The Herding Group --
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 --
Be gentle: Testing for touch sensitivity --
What's that? Testing for movement and object sensitivity --
Who's the boss? Testing for dominance and submission --
I'll get that! Testing for possessiveness and retrieval ability --
Follow the leader: Testing for social skills --
Part II. Living with Your Mixed-Breed Dog --
Chapter 5. Getting Ready for Your Dog's Arrival --
Dog-Proofing Your House --
Removing chewing hazards --
Protecting your furniture --
Pushing up daisies: Giving your dog a place to dig --
Born to run: Making sure your dog can't escape --
Your Mixed-Breed Dog's Bedroom --
Crate or pen? Your dog's first place to sleep --
Thinking outside the box: Letting your dog sleep outside a crate or pen --
Giving Your Dog a Place to Eat --
Stocking Up on Supplies --
Chapter 6. Bringing Home Your Mixed Breed --
Giving Your Dog the Guided Tour --
Walking her in and showing her around --
Taking her out to do her business --
Showing the dog her sleeping area --
Fighting Those First-Night Blues --
Scheduling Time for Your New Dog --
Chapter 7. Chasing the Chuckwagon: The Basics of Feeding --
Commercial dog food: Canned or dry --
Don't touch! Foods and plants that are poisonous to dogs --
Feeding according to your dog's age --
Feeding according to your dog's size --
It's My Treat: Giving Your Dog a Little Something Extra --
Chapter 8. Grooming Your Mixed Breed --
Why Grooming Matters: Inside and Out --
Cleaning Your Dog's Ears --
Look, Ma -- No Cavities! Brushing Your Canine's Choppers --
Eyes Have It: Caring for Your Mixed Breed's Eyes --
Mani/Pedi Time: Clipping Your Dog's Nails --
Checking for Parasites --
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 --
Part III. Training 101 --
Chapter 10. Housetraining --
When You Gotta Go: Looking for Your Dog's Warning Signs --
Scheduling Potty Breaks --
If you work away from home all day --
If you work out of your house --
If your schedule changes frequently --
Crate-Training to Prevent Accidents --
Introducing your dog to the crate --
Teaching your dog to go in a specific area --
Teaching your dog to get it done faster --
Other Training Methods --
Giving freedom only when she earns it --
Working on Some Advanced Housetraining Techniques --
Training your dog to potty on command --
You rang? Getting your dog to ring a bell when she has to go --
Chapter 11. Hup, Two, Three, Four: Good Manners and Basic Training --
Preparing for Training --
Targeting: The first step in training --
Using a marker: The second step in training --
Buying the right training tools --
Making your voice and body work for you --
Getting started: The basics of Heel --
Trying the Heel off-leash --
Taking it up a notch: A game of Round Robin --
Getting your dog to come from a Stay --
Dealing with Distractions --
Looking at the different levels of distraction --
Introducing distractions to your dog --
Helping your dog be reliable off-leash --
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 --
Recognizing the symptoms --
Knowing what to do about it --
Severe anxiety: When to seek outside help --
No More Mr. Nice Guy: The Aggressive Dog --
Recognizing the types of aggression --
Knowing what to do about it --
Keeping your dog's feet on the ground --
Curing the insistent jumper --
Chewing Your Dog Out for Chewing --
Understanding why dogs chew --
From Beggar to Chooser: Getting Your Dog to Stop Begging at the Table --
Understanding why dogs nip and mouth --
Preventing the problem --
Digging to the Center of the Earth --
Giving your dog a place to dig --
Part IV. 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 --
Regular checkups and yearly vaccinations --
Addressing Special Health Problems --
Chapter 14. First Aid: Dealing with Emergencies --
Gathering Emergency Contact Information --
Assembling Your Canine First-Aid Kit --
Broken bones or dislocations --
Run-ins with wild animals --
Before your dog is lost: Getting proper identification --
What to do when your dog is lost --
Chapter 15. Special Needs of Senior Dogs --
How Old Is Old: Knowing When Your Dog Has Earned Senior Status --
Early-Bird Special: Feeding Your Senior Dog --
Use It or Lose It: Exercising Your Senior Dog --
Social time with other dogs --
Identifying Health Problems Common to Seniors --
Recognizing Behavior Problems That Sometimes Come with Age
Part V. Having Fun With Your Dog --
Chapter 16. Not Just for Purebreds: Showing Off with Your Mixed Breed --
Participating in a Mixed-Breed Dog Club --
Competing in obedience matches and dog shows --
Media Hound: Getting Your Dog on Camera --
Knowing what animal agents look for --
What to expect when your dog performs in front of the camera --
Chapter 17. Traveling with Charley --
Deciding Whether to Bring Your Dog with You --
Finding Pet-Friendly Places to Stay --
What to do before you leave --
Caring for your dog before and after the flight --
Leaving Your Dog Behind --
Finding an in-home sitter --
Knowing what to look for in a kennel --
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 --
Chapter 19. Ten Fun Activities You and Your Mixed Breed Can Enjoy Together --
Competing with Your Dog at the Classic K-9 Show --
Participating in United Kennel Club Events --
Having Fun at Mixed Breed Dog Clubs of America Events --
Training Your Dog to Dive --
Joining the Fun at the Australian Shepherd Club of America --
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.
