Mongrel

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A bi-color mongrel. DNA sequencing shows a heritage of Boxer, American Pit Bull, and Great Dane, amongst others. Mongrel 1.jpg
A bi-color mongrel. DNA sequencing shows a heritage of Boxer, American Pit Bull, and Great Dane, amongst others.

A mongrel, mutt, or mixed-breed dog is any dog which does not belong to one officially recognized breed. While such terms may refer to all dogs of mixed breeds, the terms "dog crossbreed" and "designer dog" specifically refer to mixed-breed dogs which are intentionally bred.

Contents

Mixed-breed dogs may have ancestries that include any combination of purebred dogs and other mongrels.

Excluding designer dogs, mixed-breed dogs are generally considered less financially valuable than purebred dogs. Mixed-breed dogs are thought to be less susceptible to the genetic health problems associated with inbreeding (following the concept of heterosis or "hybrid vigor").

Estimates place the prevalence of mixed-breed dogs at 150 million animals worldwide. [1]

Terminology

Mixed-breed and crossbreed

In the United States, the term mixed-breed is a favored synonym over mongrel among people who wish to avoid negative connotations associated with the latter term. [2] The implication that such dogs must be a mix of defined breeds may stem from an inverted understanding of the origins of dog breeds. Purebred dogs have been, for the most part, artificially created from random-bred populations by human selective breeding with the purpose of enhancing desired physical, behavioral, or temperamental characteristics. Dogs that are not purebred are not necessarily a mix of such defined breeds. [3] Therefore, among some experts and fans of such dogs, mongrel is still the preferred term. [4] [5] [6]

Dog crossbreeds, crossbreed dogs, or designer dogs, are mixed-breed dogs [7] which are often the product of artificial selection and intentionally created by humans.

Naming conventions

A Corgi-Siberian Husky mix, sometimes referred to as a "corgsky", "siborgi", or "horgi", portmanteaus of the two breeds' names Corgi-Siberian Husky Profile.jpg
A Corgi - Siberian Husky mix, sometimes referred to as a "corgsky", "siborgi", or "horgi", portmanteaus of the two breeds' names

Mixed-breed dogs may either be referred to by a combination of their breeds (if known); e.g. "Corgi - Siberian Husky"; or via a portmanteau, e.g. "corgsky", "siborgi", or "horgi ", in the case of a Siberian Husky-Corgi. [8] [9] Portmanteaus are particularly popular with designer dogs, [10] for example; the schnoodle (Schnauzer and Poodle cross), shepsky (German Shepherd Dog/Siberian Husky cross), the puggle (Pug and Beagle cross), and the German chusky (German Shepherd Dog, Siberian Husky and Chow Chow cross) [11] The resultant portmanteau names are generally not capitalized as they are not officially recognized dog breeds, though this practice varies. [12]

Regional and slang terms

The words cur, [13] tyke, [14] mutt, and mongrel [15] are used, sometimes in a derogatory manner. There are also regional terms for mixed-breed dogs. In the United Kingdom, mongrel is the unique technical word for a mixed-breed dog. North Americans generally prefer the term mix or mixed-breed. Mutt [16] is also commonly used in the United States and Canada. Some American registries and dog clubs that accept mixed-breed dogs use the term All-American to describe mixed-breed dogs. [17]

There are also names for mixed-breeds based on geography, behavior, or food. In Hawaii, mixes are referred to as poi dogs, although they are not related to the extinct Hawaiian Poi Dog. In the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, the common term is potcake dogs (referring to the table scraps they are fed). In South Africa, the tongue-in-cheek expression pavement special is sometimes used as a description for a mixed-breed dog. In Trinidad and Tobago, these mixed dogs are referred to as pot hounds (pothong). In Serbia, a similar expression is prekoplotski avlijaner (over-the-fence yard-dweller). In Russia, a colloquial term дворняга (yard-dweller) is used most commonly. In the Philippines, mixed-breed street dogs are often called askal , a Tagalog-derived contraction of asong kalye (”street dog"), while in Singapore, they are known as Singapore Specials. [18] In Puerto Rico, they are known as satos ; in Venezuela they are called yusos or cacris, the latter being a contraction of the words callejero criollo (literally, street creole, as street dogs are usually mongrels); and in Chile and Bolivia, they are called quiltros. In Costa Rica, it is common to hear the word zaguate, a term originating from a Nahuatl term, zahuatl, that refers to the disease called scabies. In the rural southern United States, a small hunting dog is known as a feist. In Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, they are called "malix" (ma.liʃ), meaning "no breed" in Yucatec Mayan.

A mutt with a heavy, counter-shaded winter coat Poligraf Poligrafovich.JPG
A mutt with a heavy, counter-shaded winter coat

Slang terms are also common. Heinz 57 , Heinz, or Heinz Hound is often used for dogs of uncertain ancestry, in a playful reference to the "57 Varieties" slogan of the H. J. Heinz Company. In some countries, such as Australia, bitsa (or bitzer) is sometimes used, meaning "bits o' this, bits o' that". In Brazil and the Dominican Republic, the name for mixed-breed dogs is vira-lata (trash-can tipper) because of homeless dogs who knock over trash cans to reach discarded food. In Newfoundland, Canada, a smaller mixed-breed dog is known as a cracky, hence the colloquial expression "saucy as a cracky" for someone with a sharp tongue. In Sweden, these dogs might be humorously referred to as a gatu korsning, which translates to intersection, but literally to 'street crossing'. [19]

Determining ancestry

This Golden Retriever/German Shepherd mix has on average more mongrel traits than any distinct traits of either parents' breed. MuttShepherdRetriever 72.jpg
This Golden Retriever/German Shepherd mix has on average more mongrel traits than any distinct traits of either parents' breed.

Guessing a mixed-breed's ancestry can be difficult even for knowledgeable dog observers, because mixed-breeds have much more genetic variation than purebreds. For example, two black mixed-breed dogs might each have recessive genes that produce a blond coat and, therefore, produce offspring looking unlike their parents.

In 2007 genetic analysis [20] became publicly available. The companies claim their DNA-based diagnostic test can genetically determine the breed composition of mixed-breed dogs. These tests are still limited in scope because only a small number of the hundreds of dog breeds have been validated against the tests, and because the same breed in different geographical areas may have different genetic profiles. The tests do not test for breed purity, but for genetic sequences that are common to certain breeds. With a mixed-breed dog, the test is not proof of purebred ancestry, but rather an indication that those dogs share common ancestry with certain purebreds. The American Kennel Club does not recognize the use of DNA tests to determine breed. [21] [22]

Many newer dog breeds can be traced back to a common foundational breed, making them difficult to separate genetically. For example, Labrador Retrievers, Flat-coated Retrievers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, and Newfoundland dogs share a common ancestry with the St. John's water dog –a now-extinct naturally occurring dog landrace from the island of Newfoundland.

Health

Six-year old female American Pit Bull Terrier and Labrador mix Female pitador.jpg
Six-year old female American Pit Bull Terrier and Labrador mix

The theory of hybrid vigor suggests that as a group, dogs of varied ancestry will be generally healthier than their purebred counterparts. In purebred dogs, intentionally breeding dogs of very similar appearance over several generations produces animals that carry many of the same alleles, some of which are detrimental. If the founding population for the breed was small, then the genetic diversity of that particular breed may be small for quite some time.

When humans select certain dogs for new breeds, they artificially isolate that group of genes and cause more copies of that gene to be made than might have otherwise occurred in nature. The population is initially more fragile because of the lack of genetic diversity. If the dog breed is popular, and the line continues, over hundreds of years diversity increases due to mutations and occasional out-breeding. This is why some of the very old breeds are more stable. One issue is when certain traits found in the breed standard are associated with genetic disorders. The artificial selective force favors the duplication of the genetic disorder because it comes with a desired physical trait. [23] [24] The genetic health of hybrids tends to be higher. [25] Healthy traits have been lost in many purebred dog lines because many breeders of showdogs are more interested in conformation – the physical attributes of the dogs in relation to the breed standard – than in the health and working temperament for which the dog was originally bred. [26]

Populations are vulnerable when the dogs bred are closely related. Inbreeding among purebreds has exposed various genetic health problems not always readily apparent in less uniform populations. Mixed-breed dogs are more genetically diverse due to the more haphazard nature of their parents' mating. The offspring of such matings might be less likely to express certain genetic disorders because there might be a decreased chance that both parents carry the same detrimental recessive alleles, but some deleterious recessives occur across many seemingly unrelated breeds, and therefore merely mixing breeds is no guarantee of genetic health. When two poor specimens are bred, the offspring could inherit the worst traits of both parents. This is commonly seen in dogs that came from puppy mills. [27]

Several studies have shown that mixed-breed dogs have a health advantage over purebred dogs. A German study finds that "mongrels require less veterinary treatment". [28] Studies in Sweden have found that "Mongrel dogs are less prone to many diseases than the average purebred dog" [29] and, when referring to death rates, that "mongrels were consistently in the low risk category". [30] Data from Denmark also suggest that mixed breeds have greater longevity on average compared to purebreds. [31] A British study showed similar results, but a few breeds (notably Jack Russell Terriers, Miniature Poodles and Whippets) lived longer than mixed breeds. [32]

In one study, the effect of breed on longevity in the pet dog was analyzed using mortality data from 23,535 pet dogs. The data were obtained from North American veterinary teaching hospitals. The median age at death was determined for purebred and mixed-breed dogs of different body weights. Within each body weight category, the median age at death was lower for purebred dogs compared with mixed-breed dogs. The median age at death was "8.5 years for all mixed breed dogs, and 6.7 years for all pure breed dogs" in the study. [33]

In 2013, a study found that mixed breeds live on average 1.2 years longer than purebreds, and that increasing body weight was negatively correlated with longevity (i.e. the heavier the dog, the shorter its lifespan). [34] Another study published in 2019 confirmed this 1.2 year difference in lifespan for mixed-breed dogs, and further demonstrated negative impacts of recent inbreeding and benefits of occasional outcrossing for lifespan in individual dogs. [35]

Studies that have been done in the area of health show that mixed-breeds on average are both healthier and longer-lived than their purebred relations. This is because current accepted breeding practices within the pedigreed dog community result in a reduction in genetic diversity, and can result in physical characteristics that lead to health issues. [36]

Studies have shown that crossbreed dogs have a number of desirable reproductive traits. Scott and Fuller found that crossbreed dogs were superior mothers compared to purebred mothers, producing more milk and giving better care. These advantages led to a decreased mortality in the offspring of crossbreed dogs. [37]

In the UK, author Jilly Cooper wrote books on mongrels: Intelligent and Loyal , which is one of the earliest works entirely dedicated to the type, and the series of children's books Little Mabel , which features the misadventures of a mongrel puppy called Mabel. [38] To gather stories about mongrels for Intelligent and Loyal, Cooper put an advert in newspapers asking people to share stories about their pets for the book. [39] [40]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Morris, Desmond (2008). "Feral dogs". Dogs: The Ultimate Dictionary of over 1,000 Dog Breeds (First Paperback ed.). Vermont: Tralfalgar Square. pp. 696–697. ISBN   978-1-57076-410-3. The mongrel is not a true breed, but it is certainly a common category of domestic dog. It has been estimated that, worldwide, there are 150 million of them.
  2. ↑ Witiak, Dr. Gene (2004). True Confessions of a Veterinarian. Glenbridge Publishing Ltd. p. 11. ISBN   978-0-944435-54-0. Canines of unknown lineage used to be termed mongrels—how demeaning! Over time, the term 'mixed breed' was preferred.
  3. ↑ Budiansky, Stephen (2000). The Truth About Dogs; an Inquiry into the Ancestry, Social Conventions, Mental Habits, and Moral Fiber of Canis familiaris. New York: Viking Penguin. p. 35. ISBN   978-0-670-89272-3.
  4. ↑ Riddle, Maxwell (1954). Lovable Mongrel. All-Pets.
  5. ↑ Cooper, Jilly (1981). Intelligent and Loyal: a Celebration of the Mongrel . London.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ↑ Patmore, Angela (1985). The Mongrel. London.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. ↑ Thornton, Kim Campbell (19 March 2007). "Ever hear of a floppy-faced Jujitsu?". NBC News. NBCUniversal. Archived from the original on 17 December 2025. Ever hear of a floppy-faced Jujitsu? How about a King Daley shepherd? A Germox retriever? Those are just a few of the creative monikers that clever dog owners have come up with to label their all-American dogs — mutts, to people with less imagination.
  8. ↑ Collins, Alyce (10 October 2024). "Internet Obsessed With Husky and Corgi Rescue Dog: 'Corgsky'". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. […]an adorable "corgsky" has gone viral on social media.
  9. ↑ Pickeral, Tamsin (2014). Dogs Unleashed. United States: Printers Row. p. 292. ISBN   9781626862739. The Siborgi, or Horgi [...] were developed by crossing the Corgi with the Siberian Husky
  10. ↑ Venema, Vibeke (26 May 2014). "The strange profusion of portmanteau dog names". BBC World Service . British Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 23 June 2024.
  11. ↑ "Designer dog - mammal". Britannica.com. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  12. ↑ "Does Chicago style capitalize animal breeds such as "pit bull" and "goldendoodle"?". The Chicago Manual of Style Online. Archived from the original on 14 September 2024.
  13. ↑ "Cur | Define Cur at Dictionary.com". Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved 2012-05-06.
  14. ↑ "Tyke | Define Tyke at Dictionary.com". Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved 2012-05-06.
  15. ↑ "Mongrel | Define Mongrel at Dictionary.com". Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved 2012-05-06.
  16. ↑ "Mutt | Define Mutt at Dictionary.com". Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved 2012-05-06.
  17. ↑ "AKC Celebrates All-American Breeds". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  18. ↑ "Caring for Singapore Specials". Caring for Singapore Specials.
  19. ↑ "gatukorsning". Svenska Akademiens Ordböcker (in Swedish). January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Results Revealed in Dog DNA Test". ABC News . 2007-12-17.
  21. ↑ American Kennel Club, "DNA Frequently Asked Questions". Retrieved 2011-03-31.
  22. ↑ "DNA Conditional Registration". American Kennel Club.
  23. ↑ Dlugosch, K. M.; Parker, I. M. (2008). "Founding events in species invasions: Genetic variation, adaptive evolution, and the role of multiple introductions". Molecular Ecology. 17 (1): 431–49. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03538.x. PMID   17908213. S2CID   15359463.
  24. ↑ Slatkin, M (1987). "Gene flow and the geographic structure of natural populations". Science. 236 (4803): 787–92. Bibcode:1987Sci...236..787S. doi:10.1126/science.3576198. PMID   3576198.
  25. ↑ McGreevy, P.D.; Nicholas, W.F. (1999). "Some Practical Solutions to Welfare Problems in Pedigree Dog Breeding". Animal Welfare. 8: 329–331. doi:10.1017/S0962728600021965. S2CID   255889459. Hybrids have a far lower chance of exhibiting the disorders that are common with the parental breeds. Their genetic health will be substantially higher. (p. 338)
  26. ↑ Watt, Nick (March 11, 2009) Best of Breed? Pedigree Dogs Face Disease. ABC News
  27. ↑ Hamilton, Anita (December 4, 2005). "Curbing the Puppy Trade". Time.
  28. ↑ Beythien, R. (1998) Tierarten- und Hunderassenverteilung, Erkrankungshäufigkeit und prophylaktische Maßnahmen bei den häufigsten Hunderassen am Beispiel einer Tierarztpraxis in Bielefeld in den Jahren 1983–1985 und 1990–1992, Diss., Tierärztl. Hochschule Hannover
  29. ↑ Egenvall, A; Bonnett, B. N.; Olson, P; Hedhammar, A (2000). "Gender, age, breed and distribution of morbidity and mortality in insured dogs in Sweden during 1995 and 1996". The Veterinary Record. 146 (18): 519–25. doi:10.1136/vr.146.18.519. PMID   11321213. S2CID   24303176.
  30. ↑ Bonnett, B. N.; Egenvall, A.; Olson, P.; Hedhammar, A. (1997). "Mortality in insured Swedish dogs: Rates and causes of death in various breeds". Veterinary Record. 141 (2): 40–4. doi:10.1136/vr.141.2.40. PMID   9253830. S2CID   9721674.
  31. ↑ Proschowsky, H. F.; Rugbjerg, H.; Ersbøll, A. K. R. (2003). "Mortality of purebred and mixed-breed dogs in Denmark". Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 58 (1–2): 63–74. doi:10.1016/S0167-5877(03)00010-2. PMID   12628771.
  32. ↑ Michell, A. R. (1999). "Longevity of British breeds of dog and its relationships with sex, size, cardiovascular variables and disease". The Veterinary Record. 145 (22): 625–9. doi:10.1136/vr.145.22.625. PMID   10619607. S2CID   34557345.
  33. ↑ Patronek, G. J.; Waters, D. J.; Glickman, L. T. (1997). "Comparative longevity of pet dogs and humans: Implications for gerontology research". The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. 52 (3): B171–8. doi: 10.1093/gerona/52A.3.B171 . PMID   9158552.
  34. ↑ O’Neill, D. G.; Church, D. B.; McGreevy, P. D.; Thomson, P. C.; Brodbelt, D. C. (2013). "Longevity and mortality of owned dogs in England" (PDF). The Veterinary Journal. 198 (3): 638–43. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.09.020. PMID   24206631.
  35. ↑ Yordy, Jennifer; Kraus, Cornelia; Hayward, Jessica J.; White, Michelle E.; Shannon, Laura M.; Creevy, Kate E.; Promislow, Daniel E. L.; Boyko, Adam R. (5 December 2019). "Body size, inbreeding, and lifespan in domestic dogs". Conservation Genetics. 21 (1): 137–148. doi:10.1007/s10592-019-01240-x. ISSN   1572-9737. PMC   7326369 . PMID   32607099.
  36. ↑ McGreevy, P D; Nicholas, F W (1999). "Some practical solutions to welfare problems in dog breeding" (PDF). Animal Welfare. 8 (4): 329–341. doi:10.1017/S0962728600021965. S2CID   255889459. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  37. ↑ Scott, John Paul; Fuller, John L. (1998). Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog. University of Chicago Press. ISBN   978-0226743387.
  38. ↑ "Jilly's age of anxiety". The Gloucestershire Echo. 1993-12-13. p. 9. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  39. ↑ "Why our mongrels are a dying breed". Sunday Telegraph. 2013-03-03. p. 21. Retrieved 2025-07-03.
  40. ↑ O'Hara, Monica (1983-10-29). "Paperbacks". Liverpool Echo. p. 20. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
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