One of the most rewarding things you can do in life is to raise a pup. Most pup owners will not dispute that. A survey conducted by the American Products Association between 2021-22 showed that over 69 million U.S households own a canine.
However, for many reasons, most dog owners prefer to raise a purebred dog. Perhaps, all they want to see is something known as an ‘authentic look.’ Or maybe they undervalue hybrid dogs.
But the truth is that there’s no remarkable difference between Mutt dogs and their purebred counterparts. Rather, looking out for a mixed breed dog is highly beneficial.
What Is A Mutt Dog?
Yes, we all know that purebred dogs have a unique appeal. However, you can always enjoy the best of two or more breeds in one charming dog. This type of dog is known as a mutt or mixed breed. In any case, they are also called “designer dogs.”
There’s a slight difference between Mutt dogs and designer dogs. By mutt dogs, we mean that two or more breeds’ negative and positive qualities are blended in one canine. On the other hand, designer dogs require the conglomeration of the best qualities of two or more breeds in one dog.
Mixed-breed dogs can vary in look, coat, shape, size, color, and personality. They also have what’s known as “hybrid strength.” So it’s no wonder most rescue pet store owners call them “hybrid dogs.” This often makes them a smarter choice than purebred dogs.
The best part is that the weaknesses of purebred dogs are the most significant strengths of hybrid dogs. Mixed breeds tend to exhibit more warmth, devotion, and love toward their owners and other dogs. This makes them excellent family dogs.
Choosing a mixed breed is similar to friendship. Opting for a purebred dog is like saying, “I only befriend Germans.” You can bond with a few pooches and end up ignoring the ones that are even more suitable for you.
The truth is that sometimes, the background is not a determining factor. For example, you can connect with a mixed breed because you both love to stroll. In any case, you don’t want to overlook a dog breed because the internet says it has both an Australian and German origin.
The next time you come across a mixed breed, you should not be too quick to judge. Instead, you consider their strengths rather than the breed. In this way, you can appreciate the joy of raising a pup.
Trainability
Trainable dog breeds can easily connect with action words such as “sit,” “leave,” “come,” and many others. They also know the benefits of obeying simple instructions. For instance, they could get fresh fruits to pay attention to. However, other dog breeds might need more determination, patience, and special techniques during training.
Many breeds are clever. But the problem is that they pay little or no attention to training. In this case, you will need to tame these dog breeds with special treats.
In any case, purebred dogs have been designed to carry out specific activities such as guarding. Unfortunately, these specific traits in designer dogs often become problematic for dog owners. On the other hand, a mixed breed or a designer dog is more adaptable and easier to train. This is because they combine traits from two or more breeds.
It wouldn’t be bad to engage your mixed breed in obedience and agility training, such as dog sports. Hence, it’s important to keep in the back of your mind that training can significantly impact your pet’s temperament, social skills, and mental and physical health. In short, it can improve its overall well-being.
You can also engage your mixed breed in intelligence training. It can help it to feel upbeat and mentally stimulated. Certain dog breeds, such as Horgi, Pomsky, and many others, need mental exercises to feel relaxed. For instance, you can try out a “hide-and-seek” game.
The goal is to allow your mixed breed to spend the day doing something fun and useful. Since they are amenable to training, you should train them. You never know how resourceful a mixed breed can be unless you train them.
Health Needs
A mixed breed dog is usually considered healthier than a designer dog. The reason is simple. They possess two or more genes. For instance, a Goldador Retriever is a popular dog breed that comprises the gene pool of a Golden Retriever and a Labrador Retriever.
However, you can’t assume that a mixed breed dog is the finest one you’ve ever adopted. In this case, you will need to research.
It’s easy to research your mixed breed. All you need to do is to ascertain the heritage of your mixed breed dog. By this, we mean that you can look for one or more breeds that make up the breed. Afterward, you should look for health issues common to these dog breeds.
Below is a list of ailments that are common in most dogs.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip Dysplasia is a condition that limits the mobility of most dog breeds during the growth stage. It results in weakness in the hip joints, which usually causes intense pain and malfunctioning of the system. The more the dog breed matures, the more its hip bone wears out. As time passes, it leads to muscle atrophy and other severe hip disorders.
The bad news is that it’s an inherited condition. Some dog breeds show physical signs of discomfort and numbness in their legs and hips. Some don’t. Hence, X-ray screening is one of the most significant ways to diagnose the condition.
So if you’re adopting or buying a mixed breed, you should guard against the ones with hip dysplasia. You can ask for shreds of evidence that the canine has been tested for this condition.
Allergies
Allergies are a dysfunctional response by the body’s immune system to foreign substances. They are a common health condition in every human being and canine breed. So, it’s not surprising that most mixed breed dogs or designer dogs come with these concerns.
There are several types of allergies. They include allergens, hypersensitivities, clinical signs, and inherited forms. All these types pose challenges for mixed breeds, purebred dogs, and their breeders. However, it’s worse in mixed breed dogs because the symptoms of different allergies may overlap in a single dog.
Allergens include allergies, skin contact, flea, and inhalant allergies. These conditions are caused by your pet’s reactions to certain foods, dust, bedding, mildew, flea powders, shampoos, pollen, and many others. In any case, a mixed breed could suffer from two or more allergens, which is life-threatening.
The most toxic type of allergy in canines is hypersensitivity. Like human beings, dogs also experience anaphylactic shock. This happens when they have severely reacted to an allergen. This can cause death or a terminal ailment if not treated.
Vaccine reactions can activate an anaphylactic reaction in most mixed-breed dogs. This is why it is always important to observe your mixed breed after the administration of a new drug.
Most allergies appear in a six-month-old pup or more. However, most dogs start to get such reactions when they are one or two. So if you want to purchase a mixed breed, you will need to find out whether it has any allergies.
Treatment measures vary depending on the nature and severity of the allergic conditions. Some allergies do not have a permanent cure. In this case, your mixed breed might require a few clinical therapies to temporarily desensitize its immune system against specific reactions. These include anti-inflammatory therapy, hyposensitization therapy, and many others.
Allergic conditions that have a permanent cure might require your mixed breed to observe some dietary restrictions. Your vet may also prescribe some medications, such as antihistamines. He/she may also suggest that you move your mixed breed to a different location.
In essence, mixed-breed dogs stand the risk of more allergies than purebred dogs. So next time you want to adopt mixed breeds, you should ask the breeder whether they have allergic conditions or not. In this way, you can inform a vet about the condition so that he/she can map out an effective treatment plan for your pet.
Generally, the following symptoms would show that your mixed-breed dogs have an allergic reaction:
- Hives.
- Facial swelling.
- Sneezing.
- Itchy eyes.
- Swelling of the throat.
- Swelling of the lips.
- Puking.
- Itchy ears.
- Diarrhea.
- Acute ear infections.
- Inflamed skin.
The symptoms mentioned earlier can occur simultaneously with other disorders. Hence, it’d be best to diagnose your mixed breed with the help of a veterinarian. Make sure that you prepare your canine to receive a full diagnostic analysis. In this way, the health professional can figure out other causes of the health issue.
Ear Infections
Ear infections are prevalent among dogs. However, mixed-breed dogs with floppy ears are more prone to these conditions. It is usually caused by bacteria, allergies, autoimmune disorders, injury in the ear, yeast, and many others. Sometimes, it could be a conglomeration of two or more of the causative agents.
Unlike in purebred dogs, this condition could get worse in mixed-breed dogs. This is because they can easily combine various causative agents.
The worst-case scenario is that some mixed breeds show no obvious signs of infection in their ears. So you will need a veterinarian to examine them. However, you can well check out the following symptoms in your mixed breeds to rule out the condition.
- Itchy ears.
- Pain in the ear.
- Dark discharge.
- Inflamed ear.
- Crusting.
You may be able to guard against some ear infections by keeping your pup’s ear clean. However, you should allow a vet to recommend appropriate ear medications.
Cancer
Cancer can occur in both human beings and dogs. There are several types of cancers. However, their treatment plans vary depending on the nature of each case.
Some cancers require the surgical removal of tumors in your pet. In other cases, it may require chemotherapy or vaccines.
Studies from the veterinary analytics team have shown that purebred dogs, such as Golden Retrievers, are more prone to cancer than hybrid dogs. However, this does not mean that hybrid dogs are immune from this condition.
There are several cancer risk factors in pooches. Even though a purebred dog is more receptive to them, mixed breed or designer dog owners should also be wary of these factors. These include age, gender, diet, obesity, and environment.
So you should consider getting mixed breed dogs that are not prone to cancer risk factors.
Grooming Needs
Just like human beings, canines must consume adequate water and food. Make sure that you also keep them in a clean environment.
However, you need to estimate your mixed breed’s food to keep it in good shape. Leaving out food twice a day will suffice. Generally, you can measure its meal depending on its weight, age, activity level, and many others.
The quantity of food is not enough. Hence, the quality of food also matters. This is because the quality of what you feed your mixed breed contributes to its general well-being. It will nourish its system and manage some health issues.
If you’re unsure about the quantity and quality of food that your mixed breed needs, it’d be best to contact your vet.
Just like a purebred dog, a mixed breed or a designer dog comes in different coat colors and textures. Hence, its grooming needs vary based on the nature of its coat. In any case, bathing is imperative for all dog breeds.
The types of coats attributable to most mixed breeds include a high shedding coat, low shedding coat, curly coat, short coat, and wire coat.
Low-shedding and high-shedding coats require weekly brushing with a pin brush. Two to three times per week will do. Westie mixed breeds tend to have a low-shedding coat. On the other hand, the Golden Retriever mixes tend to have a high shedding coat.
You should also assess your mixed breed’s ears every week for waxes or an unpleasant odor. Make sure that you wipe them out with a clean cotton ball. In this way, you can prevent ear infections.
Brush your pet’s teeth and trim its nails every step of the way. By doing so, you can prevent bacteria build-ups in the teeth and nails.
Physical Needs
Compared to other dogs, most mixed breeds are agile. By this, we mean that they’re always set for action. They have enough stamina to engage in various activities every day, such as jumping, sourcing for new smells, and many others. Hence, pooch owners will need to indulge them in a substantial amount of exercise to keep them in excellent shape.
Some mixed breeds can also be playful. In this case, they’re always begging for playful activities. On the other hand, some of them are more serious and prefer solitude. In this case, you should consider whether an overly playful or less playful dog breed will match your needs.
Perks Of Getting A Mutt Dog
There are many perks to getting a mutt. However, we will carve out the four major ones. As you connect more with your mixed breed, you will find out the rest of its impeccable qualities.
- A mutt is less likely to develop hereditary disorders.
- A mutt is more clever than a designer dog.
- Most mixed breed dogs have unique and charming personalities.
- Most mutt dogs are rescue dogs, offering you the chance to rescue an abandoned pet.
15 Interesting Mutt Dog Breeds
There are several mutt dog breeds out there. Hence, it is impossible to make a case for all the breeds. However, we’ve handpicked the most interesting mixes. Everything from Pitsky to Morkie – you need to see these 15 mutt pooches.
#1. Goberian
Genetic pool: Husky +Golden Retriever mix
The combination of the two genetic pools mentioned above makes Goberian an endearing personality. There are many things to like about this dog breed. One of them is their immense devotion to their family.
Whether it’s a designer dog or a mixed breed, Goberian is one of the best family puppies.
#2. Pitsky
Genetic pool: Husky + Pitbull mix
Pitbulls are one of the most toxic dogs in the world. In the same breath, husky breeds are known for their humorous personality.
In this case, the husky gene does an excellent job of balancing out these varying personalities. It’s no wonder that Pitsky breeds are one of the most agile and loving pets you could ever have.
#3. Bullmat
Genetic pool: Dalmatian + Bulldog mix
The fascinating thing about these mixed breeds is their calm personality. They can be collected, friendly, and charming when you get along well with them.
#4. Pomsky
Genetic Pool: Husky + Pomeranian mix
Pomskies are cute hybrid dogs. However, they can be silly sometimes. They are charismatic and thrive better with family.
One downside of owning a Pomsky is that they have a high-maintenance coat. It sheds every step of the way.
#5. Gerberian Shepsky
Genetic pool: Husky + German Shepherd mix
Gerberian Shepsky is a clever and agile pooch. In this case, they are hard workers. They can also make excellent police puppies.
#6. Shi Chi
Genetic pool: Chihuahua + Shih Tzu mix
Shi Chi is a fragile dog breed. So they tend to have minimal tolerance for rough play. This is because they have low emotional intelligence and social skills. However, they can improve with effective training.
#7. Yorkipoo
Genetic pool: Toy poodle + Yorkie mix
Yorkies are known for their intense playfulness. However, they prefer playing while relaxing on your lap. You would rarely see them jumping over a fence.
They bark at anyone and anything to communicate something.
#8. Horgi
Genetic pool: Husky + Welsh Corgi mix
The strongest point of Horgi breeds is that there’s never a boring moment with them. However, it can be challenging to train them because they are less attentive creatures.
#9. Chiweenie
Genetic pool: Dachshund + Chihuahua mix
Chiweenie is the most petite dog breed in the world. In any case, they have bright personalities.
Since they are small breeds, they don’t appreciate teasing from little children. So you will need to offer socialization training at an early age so that they can learn to be more adaptable.
#10. Beagador
Genetic Pool: Beagle + Labrador Retriever mix
One unique quality of this hybrid dog is that it has a keen sense of smell. So it makes an excellent hunting dog.
It is easy for dog owners to train them because of their inquisitive nature.
#11. Border Aussie
Genetic pool: Aussie + Border Collie mix
Border Aussies are one of the best herding puppies that you will ever encounter. So don’t even consider owning them if you have a passive lifestyle.
These mixed breeds showcase the best version of themselves when you ask them to perform specific activities.
#12. Corgidor
Genetic pool: Labrador Retriever + Corgi mix
Like the border Aussie, Corgidor is a hard worker. It needs to engage in daily tasks to stay positive.
However, they can be a little territorial and protective. So don’t even think about bringing other pets to live with them.
#13. Bernedoodle
Genetic pool: Poodle + Bernese mountain pooch
The best part of Bernedoodles is their ability to socialize with everyone. They rank among the breeds of dogs that are easiest to teach. This is because they have an attentive side to them.
#14. Boxador
Genetic pool: Boxer + Labrador Retriever mix
Like many mixed breeds, Boxadors like the spotlight. So they’re typically affectionate towards people.
However, one drawback is that these breeds do not have a gentle side towards small children. Their excessive enthusiasm could cause them to hurt a small child unintentionally.
#15. Morkie
Genetic pool: Maltese + Yorkie mix
Everything else about the Morkies is perfect, except that they require daily brushing. So if you can manage to groom it every day, it’s an ultimate choice in terms of personality.
Is A Mutt A Good Dog?
A designer dog activates the adventurous spirit in you. However, with a dog of the same breed, you’re opting for a specific personality, which is not always great.
Mixed breeds have well-balanced personalities. This is because they are not tailored toward specific tasks such as guarding or hunting.
Mutts can be loyal and loving, especially when you adopt them from rescue groups. They make excellent companions.
Some mutt dogs require daily grooming. On the other hand, other breeds may require weekly grooming. Either way, they will be worth your while.
So yes, mutts are good dogs.
How Do You Tell If Your Dog Is A Mutt?
You will need thorough research to know whether a dog is a mixed breed or a purebred. This is because you cannot easily tell at a glance.
You should examine the mutt’s features, such as its appearance and temperament. Many pooch breeds have some traits that will help you to rule out the possibilities. Somehow, you may be able to tell whether it is a part of a Labrador Retriever or Golden Retriever or other breeds.
Another way to know if your pet is a mutt is to conduct a DNA test. All you need to do is present your dog’s saliva for examination. An added advantage is that a geneticist can also walk you through hereditary disorders affecting your mutt.
If you’re unsure about how to get started, you should seek the help of a veterinarian.
How Long Do Mutt Dogs Live?
The lifespan of a mutt ranges from 8 to 15 years. However, its average life expectancy stretches from 13.2 to 14 years. This is unlike purebred dogs, who live for ten years on average.
FAQ
Are Mutts Healthier?
The general idea among veterinarians is that hybrid dogs are healthier than their purebred counterparts. This is because their genetic pools strengthen their immune systems. In this way, they can resist various diseases. Due to this, these breeds also have extended life spans.
However, this does not mean that mutts are immune to serious health issues. In this case, mixed breed owners should not overlook the general well-being of their pets.
What Is A Super Mutt Breed?
A super mutt breed is a hybrid dog that has the physical and mental characteristics of more than three dog breeds. For example, this breed could have the qualities of a Golden Retriever, Poodle, Labrador, and Corgi in one dog. How interesting this can be!
It’s often challenging to tell what breed it is. This is because there are so many qualities that you will need to examine. So it can be confusing.
The best way to ascertain whether a breed is a super mutt is to reach out to a geneticist or a veterinarian.
Conclusion
Mutt dogs draw strength from the weaknesses of purebred dogs. They are usually loyal, warm, compassionate, and friendly. In any case, these breeds have a few downsides. Now that you know, you should give it a shot.
Related topic: Cuddliest dog breeds that will melt your heart
*photo by ccestep8 – depositphotos