What Is a Mutt or Mixed-Breed Dog?

When choosing a new companion for life and adventures, we have to decide whether we want to adopt a purebred dog or one without a breed — colloquially known as a mutt or mixed-breed dog.

For some people, saying "mixed-breed dog" sounds derogatory, but in most countries it simply means "crossbred dog" — it's not a derogatory term at all.

Let's take a look at the benefits of adopting a dog without a breed, and how to go about it.

What Is a Mutt?

Mixed-breed dogs or mutts are any dogs that don't belong to a specific breed or don't come from purebred crosses — puppies born from crossing two different breeds, from crossing a purebred dog with a non-purebred dog, or from crossing two non-purebred dogs.

Are Purebred Dogs Better Than Mixed-Breed Dogs?

It's a bit absurd to think a purebred dog is better than a mixed-breed dog, or vice versa. Every dog is different, and how they turn out depends on many circumstances — their environment, their upbringing, their diet, and so on...

While it's true that purebred dogs tend to have more health issues due to repeated crossing within the same gene pool, it's also true that a good pedigree helps rule out those conditions.

That said, it's often claimed that mixed-breed dogs are stronger, tougher, and more resilient genetically (health-wise). And it's not just a street theory — in any species, crossing different individuals tends to produce hardier offspring. The same holds true for dogs.

What Disadvantages Does a Mixed-Breed Dog Have Compared to a Purebred?

None — it's all upside. Purebred dogs are generally sold by breeders, which means an extra cost. Mixed-breed dogs or mutts, on the other hand, can be adopted from just about any animal shelter, practically free of charge.

It's also true that purebred dogs tend to share a set of predictable traits we can know in advance. In other words, if we get a Labrador or Golden Retriever puppy, chances are that as an adult they'll be playful and very affectionate, like the vast majority of dogs of that breed.

But it all comes down to their upbringing. Mixed-breed dogs can be just as affectionate as purebreds. Training and socialization are key to shaping their character.

Why Should I Choose a Mixed-Breed Dog or Mutt?

There are plenty of good reasons to choose a mixed-breed dog over a purebred one, but here, as with everything, it's up to you to weigh what you're really looking for.

At SoyUnPerro we can point you toward some of the strongest reasons, but you should weigh them and think them through carefully — remember, when you choose a companion for life, you'll be with them for an average of twelve to fifteen years.

• You don't have to pay anything for them — you can adopt them from pounds and shelters, paying only for the microchip and vaccines (which vary by country)
• They're more resistant to illness and inbreeding problems
• They're completely one of a kind, unlike purebred dogs, which are practically identical to one another
• There are millions of dogs in shelters looking for a home — why would you pay for a purebred one?

Our Mixed-Breed Pups

These are two of our fur-kids, both mutts (mixed-breed, no papers). The little black-and-tan one is Beltxa — we think he has some Pinscher in him, judging by his coloring and build, but as they say around here, he's a "thousand-milk" mix (a bit of everything). He was a super affectionate, playful dog, and sadly passed away a few years ago from cancer, at ten years old.

The brown dog is Yako, also mixed-breed and very affectionate. He's very protective and playful — some people have told us he might be a Boxer/German Shepherd mix, though we've never really cared either way. We adopted him at four months old, and he's now twelve. We hope he'll live many more years — he's a little old man now.