There is absolutely nothing wrong with owning a mutt or mongrel dog, and the good news is that there is no evidence that they are any more or less happy than their pedigree cousins.
Mongrels can still be beautiful to look at, and even those that are not quite so aesthetically pleasing can have fantastic personalities and make brilliant pets and loving companions. The great thing about mongrels is that they are totally unique in every way – you’ll never see anyone with a dog that looks exactly like yours!
What’s the difference?
Pedigree: When you buy a pedigree dog you will receive papers giving full details of the dog’s family tree, going back at least three generations. Pedigree dogs are sometimes called purebreds.
Cross-breed: The (often accidental!) result of two different but recognized breeds mating. It may be easier to predict the characteristics of such a dog than it is for a mongrel, particularly if the breeds are from the same group, such as hunting or herding dogs.
Mongrel: The result of two dogs of unknown breeding mating. This unknown lineage means it can be difficult to predict how the offspring will eventually look and behave.
Mongrels: Pros and Cons
In the USA, mongrels are sometimes referred to as mutts, mixed breeds, mixies or ‘All Americans’ reflecting their unknown, multi-racial backgrounds! These dogs:
Pros
- Look unique.
- Often enjoy good health.
- Cost less to buy.
- Are readily available.
- Are cheaper to insure.
- Are less likely to be stolen.
Cons
- May look cute as puppies but not necessarily as adults.
- Can inherit behavior problems.
- May be excluded from top showing or agility competitions.
- May not be fully vaccinated.
Pedigrees: Pros and Cons
There are over 400 pedigree breeds to choose from. With these dogs:
Pros
- You know exactly what the dog will look like.
- Health problems and behavior traits are predictable.
- You will be buying a dog fully vaccinated against disease.
- A properly recorded family tree will be provided along with the dog.
- Breed clubs can provide advice and support.
Cons
- Your puppy will be expensive to buy.
- You may have to wait months for availability.
- Your pet may be targeted by thieves.
- Some are prone to health problems.
I have both a pedigree and mongrel dog right now. I picked up one from the local shelter and the other one was bred as a guide dog (he’s still in training). Both dogs are great and actually look very similar like black labs.
The main drawback I had with picking up a dog from the shelter was he was very sickly and anemic from fleas and a stomach virus. It cost about $300 in vet bills to get him healthy, but was well worth it and probably cost less than most pedigree dogs.
I have one Chihuahua who is 18 yrs old. Still hanging on but has CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease)which the Vet gives 3 to 6 months. His name is Poncho after the coat. Bosco was also a Chihuahua but Psycho was more his line. He passed away almost 4 yrs ago at age 17. Was too smart for his britches and very agressive to strangers, great watch dog. Have a picture of Bosco with my husband looking at a 12 pack box of tacos from Taco Bell a few years before Yo Quiero Taco Bell Dog came. Should of sent it in then for the idea. Both are Dear Chihuahua, weight 10 to 12 lbs. Larger the dog, the less likely the life it will have as the same for human, larger the person more problems they will have. Will adopt from a rescue but prefer to find a Chihuahua again for people throughout the last 20 years, that’s all we own, Chihuahua presents. It’s our trademark.
I prefer to think of my dog as a “custom blend”. He is free of the inherit genetic weaknesses that result from generations of inbreeding to produce pedigreed dogs (which reinforces the genetics, bad as well as good, from a limited gene pool). He’ll never win a dog show but he’s worn our hearts and has been the best four footed friend we could ask for these past 12 1/2 years.
I prefer a mongrel. They just seem to make nicer pets.
Excuse me, Dogs that have happy, loving homes, with positive reinforcement training, (yes, dogs need to be trained just like our children do), to become a welcome part of a loving family, and not a dog that is kept outside, or kept in a basement, or chained to a tree, make nice pets, not just mongrels as Jane says, but any dog, purebred OR mongrel….I have three purebreds, that’s all I have had, that is all I will ever have, (standard poodles), great dogs, smart, fast learners, obedience, agility and rally trained, many titles and lots and lots of ribbons.
We own a full bred Chihuahua and initially costed as much as $ 450 in vet visits, medicines and else, plus whatever we paid to get him, so I think that cost wise both full bred and mutt cost lot. We haven’t had to take him to the vet for a couple of months now, so he is not that expensive to keep, plus he loves everyone who loves him… you can take a look at him at our blog http://www.dogs-news.com look for Dali, we’ll be pleased. Thanks
As far as I’m concerned it’s mutts for me! All 4 of my dogs are mutts and have been found or rescued in some way. I have 2 that are going on 10 and they both have been very healthy for their whole lives no special problems like you get with some purebreds.
Not that I’m against purebred dogs but I would rather rescue one from the pound like our dog Baron than pay for a pedigree dog. There is no shortage of people looking for purebreds and I’d rather give a rescue/pound dog a 2nd chance.
All I have ever had is mutts as many as 4 at a time and to me they are personality plus. They love unconditionally. It is the only way to go.
We had a Mutt for three years 1964/5/6 Then Norwegian Elkhounds 1967- 1978, the a Bassenji for 1 year, then Chow Chows for 15 years. Then back to a Mutt 4 years ago.
Give me Mutts anytime !!!!!!
I own a lovely labradoodle called lizzie. i love all dogs, whether they are pedigree or not, but i have always thaought mongrels have always got something very unique about them, and as stated above, you will never see anyone with a dog that looks exactly the same as yours. to me, that makes mongrels all the more special. I don’t doubt at all that pedigrees are less beutiful or characteristic than mongrels, but there always seems to be something that attracts me to a slightly different dog. For me, it has got to be mongrels
Not everyone gets a dog to exhibit it in a show. We had two as I was growing up – a pedigree poodle (courtesy of my godfather who bred them) and a mutt whose mother was a rescue dog belonging to a friend. The poodle only lived to seven but the mutt managed 14, and was robust and healthy for almost all of his life.
I would never get a dog just to show it off.
rowdybubba2 – so purebreds love conditionally? Right now I’m writing a final essay for my english writing course on a topic “purebreds vs mongrels” and i have read many articles and comments and forums on this topic and i have seen SOOO many people saying “mongrels love unconditionally” and i really can’t see how one can say that. because i personally am 100% sure that a dog itself has no clue whether it’s a mongrel or a pedigree and definitely – doesn’t give a damn about it. a dog will always love his/her master unconditionally! and about my own experience..when i was little and living in the country, my dad and i were suckers for doxies..then we took one but ofcourse not a purebred, we didn’t know these things then..it turned out to be like a doxie but with long legs and a bright orange colour..the whole family loved her, she was great and she did look a bit like a doxie. when she died at the age 12 i was all grown and wanted a dog back in my life..since i was still a sucker for doxies, i decided to try out a real one..took a black and tan dapple doxie and i really love it, its great personality traits and the beautiful looks (and cuteness lol). and though i am happy with my purebred, it makes me realize that mongrels and purebreds are both great, since i was also happy with my mongrel.so what i’d actually like next would be a doxie-like mongrel or a mixed breed doxie, since doxies DO melt my heart.. but having had both mongrels and purebreds i understand both sides, why poeple prefer ONLY mutts or ONLY pedigrees. but at the same time THEY don’t udnerstand me and why you should love both.. that’s all from me:)
I have a beautiful one year old Boxer and she means the world to me. In my opinion, purebred or mogrel, every dog deserves a loving home!
Whether your dog is from champion blood lines or the local pound, they are equally as loving. You cannot base the level of love a dog will show you by what breed they are.
I own a standard poodle, but it is because my mom bought the dog. I am a 22 year old college kid that definitely couldn’t afford a $800 puppy, but I lucked out. If it wasn’t for that I would have adopted a pet instead and used the little money I have to support the pet. Regardless there are specific qualitys of pure bred dogs that people desire when getting a new pet. This debate will continue, as will pet shelters being full of dogs while people are breeding pure breds like crazy.
Hii there….
I too am a proud owner of mongrel an yes its better to give a homeless a chance to live life to the fullest then looking for a pure breed. There r many of them waiting for a new home and adopting from the shelter will definitely give them a new life…..my dogs name is cupid and he a abosolutely amazing he has learnt many commands and healthy and obedient..what else does any one ask for more than having a best companion…..
I have a 14 year old mongrel who we got from a shelter. He has always been well behaved and despite his advanced years he hasn’t had any health problems at all.
Mongrels are the way forward- it makes me really sad when you see relatively young Labradors with awful hips because they’ve been inbred for years. Genetic diversity for the win!
I don’t have a problem with expensiveness but “can inherit behaviour problems” sounds pretty bad. I don’t want to wait for months and don’t want my dog to have health problems of course, so I think I’d prefer a Mongrel (based solely on this article). Actually, I think it’s all about the mind (aspiring psychologist) so it would be better to have health problems than behaviour problems. I may have to opt for some other type of dog (neither Mongrel nor Pedigree). I’m going to get a pet very soon.
I have a mongrel dog fully vaccinated, strong and health, a beautiful dog, i have train the dog to understand wen am angry with him, when it got sometin damage and i show my mongrel dog, it squat, lie down and way the tail,, but immediate it notice my voice going louder, the dog runs and hide. I have been trying to study the character, some relating with people is not stable, sometime friendly after a while changes it’s attitude. I love my Dog and anyone that sees my loves it….. Any special food for Mongrel Dog? My Dog eat fish, snacks, milk, meat, stash-food and tea
Mongrels are on average more genetically healthy and mentally well balanced than pedigree dogs. They are also as mentioned unique looking with a unique personality. That should be reason enough to opt for a mongrel.
Who wants a clone that behaves like every other dog of it’s breed anyway? You may as well get a robot instead of a living animal if you want it exactly to predetermined specifications.
I wanted a mongrel when I went to the pound to rescue a dog, unfortunately there was not a single cross-bred or mongrel dog in there…(yes it’s true – this is the only pound for the tiny community I live in and everyone here seems to get pedigrees only so mongrels never end up in rescue) I was very disappointed.
Instead I took a border collie home – since this is at least a breed that has been bred for function rather than looks it isn’t as unhealthy as some breeds. I love him to bits and he really fits into my life well, but I would have preferred a mutt to be honest, since I’ve only ever kept moggies and mongrels before and I’m quite anti pedigree (inbreeding).
But it’s of course true that (most) dogs have no idea what breed they are so any dog of any breed (or non-breed) will love you just the same and be just as lovable as any other.
All dogs regardless of breed deserve a loving home