Allen Pretty good comparison, in my book. In fact, I would have sided with the mutts until I acquired a pure-bred yellow lab. This dog is smarter, friendlier, prettier, etc. than any dog I have ever had. Unfortunately she is now deaf, covered with tumors and can hardly walk. I am sure a mutt would be in much better shape at her age, which brings us back to what is important? Health, management, good looks, you pick. Perhaps the dog is not such a good comparison. A dog can be a pet as well as a work animal. Bees don't make that good of a pet, though I am sure to get some argument there. But like pets, we want them to know us, or at least not hate us. If we were raising rattlesnakes, if might be a different story. There you know you are dealing with trouble 24/7. With bees, there are times when we get along as well as we do with our pet dog. That would no doubt all change if we were to adopt a highly aggressive bee which might be very healthy but require constant smoking, special clothing, and you could never be rough with them. I don't necessarily mean the African Bee either. I have seen strains of bees isolated by beekeepers that they claimed were better producers, healthier, etc. and they were also mean. Myabe these traits are linked ... PB