How Mixed Breeds and Purebreds Are All Mutts

Dogs — purebreds and mutts alike — come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Some have curly fur, some have shaggy fur and others even have dreadlocks, but they're all dogs, no matter what their lineage is. And yet, some people value one type of dog over another. Here, we examine how mutts and purebreds are equally awesome — and aren't that different after all.

Everyone's Actually a Mutt

Purebred dogs are mated to enhance or emphasize certain physical characteristics or exhibit a specific personality trait. This is done by mixing different breeds of dogs over time. So, if you think about it, purebreds are really mutts because there are lots of variations of canine DNA in their genetic backgrounds. Mutts, of course, are the result of breeds that haven't been crossed under careful supervision, but the end result is still a dog with a variety of canine DNA in his blood. In the end, all pooches are really mixes of different canine ancestors of all types.

It's All About Recordkeeping

The real difference between purebred dogs and mixed breeds is the recordkeeping of their lineage. Purebred dogs from reputable breeders are registered with organizations who maintain a pedigree registry of the bloodline of these pups. Mutts, on the other hand, have no such registry. Since no one is maintaining a record of their lineage, there is really no information available about their ancestors on file with anyone. Records or not, though, each type of pup is equally special.

Accentuate the Paw-sitive.

Because of their mysterious lineage, mutts can wind up giving birth to puppies who are a bit of a surprise in terms of looks or size. That's because you may not know exactly who their parents were or what types of genes are in their line. Purebred puppies can be a little less of a surprise because they've been so carefully mated over time, but in the end, they are still just dogs — with a fancier title. Depending on if you value a surprise over consistency or vice versa, either type of dog could be a good fit for you.

Marketing Makes a Difference

Purebreds have great marketing. They're expensive, have shows dedicated to them and are sold by people who specially breed them. This makes them seem special — and every dog truly is! Mutts, on the other hand, are more often found in shelters and don't come with a steep price tag (the Humane Society of the United States estimates that only around 25% of shelter dogs are purebred). But these factors don't have anything to do with the dogs themselves — it's all about their marketing. In fact, when shelters list pups on their websites with a higher adoption fee and by the suspected breed mix they come from — for example, "short-tailed goldendoodle mix" — adoption rates go up because these pups appear more desirable. But really, in the end, let's face it, all dogs are actually pure joy, pure love and pure fun, and that's all that counts.

July 31 is National Mutt Day! How will you celebrate with your mutt — whether he's an accidental mixed breed or a purposeful one?

Photo Credit #1: "Graduation !" by TheRebelRobin via Flickr. License info.

Photo Credit #2: "Happy Dog Max" by moonjazz via Flickr. License info.