What is a mutt? Understanding mixed breed dogs

13/02/2024

A mutt or mutt dog, is a mixed breed dog. Simple! It’s normal for new pet parents who have adopted doggos from shelters to ask ‘What breed is my dog’, but there are also some curious carers out there who may suspect their pup has different doggy DNA.

We’re going to discuss all things mutt-related today - from making a mutt definition, some common mixed breeds you’ve probably heard, some cross-breed pups you may never have come across, and whether there are health issues mutt parents should be aware of.

Just as a side note, mutts used to be referred to as ‘mongrels’ but this has recently been deemed an offensive term. Because of this, we won’t be using this word to define our mixed mutts.

Mutt mittens at the ready, let’s dig into the diverse doggy world…

What is a mutt?

Mutt is just another way of describing a cross-breed or mixed-breed dog. A pup’s parents breed will determine whether or not your pooch is purebred. So, to understand what a mutt dog is, we need to define what purebred dogs are.

Purebred pups are doggos with a mom and dad who share the same breed type which must ready sit on a registered list with official organizations like the American Kennel Club. The ancestry of the mom and dad must also consist of only that breed for many generations. So, Labrador Retrievers or Siberian Huskies are two separate purebred dogs. Now if you take two purebred breeds, let’s say a Golden Retriever mom and a German Shepard dad, you’re going to end up with a bunch of beautiful mutt puppies (Google the images for these mutt puppies, they genuinely look like teddy bears).

So, to summarize the science - purebred dogs will have parents that share very similar genetics and physical characteristics that are recognized by a governing body. Mutt dogs will have more genetic diversity than either of their parents because they are a mix. Cool! Right, back to the mixed fur babies…

Did you know a mutt dog can also be called a designer dog? C’est magnifique! Why? Well, because breeders can design (or attempt to design) a dog with specific characteristics. You can make a mutt from literally any breed, and oh boy are there some fabulous combinations!

Common mixed mutt dog breeds

Mutts can be made by literally bringing any two or more dog breeds together - if you have two mutt parents, it can be difficult to predict what their puppies will look like! However, here are some common mixed mutt dog breeds you’ve most likely heard of:

• Cockapoo - Cocker Spaniel and Poodle
• Pomsky-Pomeranian and Siberian Husky
• Labradoodle - Labrador Retriever and Poodle
• Puggle - Pug and Beagle
• Goldendoodle - Golden Retriever and Poodle
• Cavachon - Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Bichon Frise

Rare mixed dog breeds

Okay, now for some rather unusual mixes. All we’ll say is some of these creations are best left to the imagination, but they do exist:

• Corgimatian - Corgi and Dalmation
• Shepherd Pei - German Shepherd and Shar-Pei
• Puhuahua / Chug - Pug and Chihuahua
• Pitsky - Pitbull and Siberian Husky
• Beabull - Beagle and Bulldog
• Daniff - Great Dane and Mastiff
• Golden Dox - Golden Retriever and Dachshund

Health issues found in cross-breed dogs

Or, lack of! A mutt mixed breed is less likely to inherit health issues found in specific purebred dogs. Because there’s more of a mix in the gene pool, this allows for new pieces of DNA to be brought into the making of a doggo. So, for example, if you take a breed prone to hip dysplasia (like a Golden Retriever or Bernese Mountain Dog) and allow them to have puppies with a dog breed that is less likely to have this health issue (e.g. Sighthounds), their pups will be less likely to have hip issues. Add another breed into the mix and it helps to ‘dilute’ the DNA.

This isn’t to say that new health issues won’t crop up from mixed breeding pooches. Always talk to your vet before deciding to breed any dogs together as they can still pass down genetic disorders. Similarly, if you’re adopting from a breeder, be sure to do a thorough health check on the parents to trace any possible problems. For those adopting from a shelter, there’s no way of telling where they’ve come from, so just be sure to keep up with your regular vet checkups.

Do you care for a mighty mutt or a marvelous mix? Join the conversation on our Community Forum to share which breeds your pup is made up of or if you’ve met any unusual mixed breed dogs on your latest sit.

For pet parents, it doesn’t matter whether you care for a purebred dog or a mixed-up mutt, what’s important is finding the paw-fect sitter for your precious pooch. Check out our list of lovely dog sitters who are keen to become your fur family’s next best friend.

Meet our veterinary expert, Jnanee

This article has been checked by veterinarian Jnanee Krishnasamy, BVSc (Massey). Dr Jnanee is a small animal veterinarian. She was born in sunny Singapore and spent her formative years there, before studying veterinary medicine at

Massey University. Since graduating from vet school, Dr Jnanee has worked in a variety of settings that include private practice, shelter medicine, and veterinary telemedicine. Due to her varied experiences, she is well-informed on many aspects of the veterinary industry!