Why do people advocate against mutts? I've heard them called "poorly bred junk"?

Question

I saw a question yesterday from someone asking how much they should pay for a mutt and he was told over and over to pay NOTHING. Ive spent the morning on the phone with several dog health insurance providers, as well as my own vet (our dog is being discharged from our vet today after 3 days in post-op recovery). I learned some very interesting things that contradict the attitudes of many of the contributors in this community. During my second inquiry for an insurance quote, the company rep asked me for Jack's breed. I made a very casual comment in response: "He's actually a mix of MinPin and something else...perhaps Manchester terrier, but I'm not sure. I'm sure that affects insurance rates, right? Ill pay more because he is a mutt, huh?" Her answer shocked me. She said that actually rates tend to be a tiny bit lower for mixed breeds because statistically they live longer and have less vet visits!! Surely, I thought, this couldn't be right, so when I spoke to my vet (who is by far the most in-demand vet around because he is a brilliant surgeon who has been published in many Veterinary Journals and received countless awards here in Florida for his work) about an hour later when I checked in on my dog, I mentioned this and asked his opinion. His exact words were that it's a common misconception that mixed breed dogs have issues and are less desirable than purebreds. He said that, in his opinion, the reason mixed breeds end up in shelters more is because of this false belief, and that it is actually the misinformed community that perpetuates this baseless belief and causes this preference for purebred dogs. He cited the fact that in many parts of Europe, mixed breeds are preferred over purebreds and they don't have the issue of too many mixed breeds in shelters because of this. Well, I did find studies from Denmark, Britain, Sweden, Germany and France. So I kept looking, thinking that if American insurance companies based their rates on this, they must have some kind of credible info. Finally, I found it: in a landmark study done collaboratively between several of the top North American teaching hospitals, the mortality data from 23,537 pet dogs from different breeds and varying sizes was analyzed. It was determined that mutts do, indeed, have a longer life expectancy than purebreds: the median death age for purebreds was 6.7 years, for mutts it was 8.5 years. In fact, I learned that most purebreds, including Jack Russels, Blue Heelers, Golden Retrievers, Bulldogs, Boston and Fox Terriers, etc, had actually started out as mixed breeds. The main argument is that purebred dogs have a very limited gene pool, so they are almost inevitably inbred to some degree. But other arguments make sense as well: for example, many of the traits that are sought-after in purebred dogs, such as the squished face of a bulldog or the long body of a Daschund, are actually GENETIC DEFORMITIES that are not natural! By definition, a purebred dog is a breed developed using planned intervention of humans, while a mixed breed is one allowed to evolve without human intervention. Purebred dogs are ARTIFICIALLY CREATED due to HUMAN PREFERENCE. It has been suggested by numerous studies that, contrary to purebred breeders claims, mixed breeds consistently show better health records and even higher intelligence. The main argument breeders use against mixed breeds are that they have behavior problems. Again, not true, according to studies. While it's true that we are better able to PREDICT the personality and nature of purebred dogs, this doesn't mean that the occurrence of temper and behavioral issues is higher than mixed breeds.further, the theory of hybrid vigor dispells the belief that if two dogs who happen to be "poor specimens" mate that their offspring will be a "poor specimen" as well. There is no science behind that belief whatsoever. In conclusion, I've learned that scientists, vets and other experts are beginning to believe that the higher ratio of mixed breeds to purebreds in shelters is a direct result of IGNORANCE perpetuated by the misinformed public and breeders who seek to nurture these attitudes in order to keep their business going or maintain credibility. As Stephen Elloqui, noted zoologist and one-time breeder advocate said, "it's Coke vs. pepsi, really. If the animal-loving public and the community of owners of domestic dogs realized that owning a mongrel is better than owning these purebred dogs that breeders sell for top dollar, the business would be obsolete, and mixed breeds would disappear from shelters. So of course they argue the science." I am completely open to other views.

Answer 1

Would you rebut the argument that it is ethically wrong to subjugate the welfare on dogs produced for greed by puppy farms that supply consumers with the mutts that command an inflated price because they are popular or back yard breeders that use their dogs as a secondary income stream and are clueless or indifferent about the importance of mental and physical soundness and health testing.



What people are rightly critical of are substandard unethical breeding practices - breeding on consecutive seasons being one - but it is unnecessarily rude to label a mutt as "junk" when it may be a sound dog, purchased as a companion/hobby dog and a source of enjoyment for its owner.

Answer 2

The only reason that would be REMOTELY true is because that MOST purebred breeders are not health testing and are therefore breeding genetically unsound purebreds and creating more genetically unsound pups.



Any quality breeder would health test their dogs and breed those that are healthy to create healthy dogs. Sadly, this doesn't always happen. And since mutts have NO standard there is nothing really to look for and therefore it would be a waste of time to health test - so they aren't and they are producing genetically unsound dogs.



I can promise you that very few mixed-breed breeders are health testing, and most of the ones that do are creating working dogs.



Look at it like a deck of cards. With a purebred, you'll be testing for, say, the face cards as genetic problems. When you start mixing breeds, you have to pay attention to multiple breeds. Some may have disorders in common (like hip dysplasia) but some may be more breed specific (like collie eye anomaly). So now you're watching for the face cards to show up, in addition to the joker, number 2, 4, 6, etc. depending on how many breeds involved. The deck may be bigger -- which some think reduces the chance of a problem popping up -- but there are more problems that can present themselves so your chance really remains about the same.



Anyone who is spewing that purebreds are less healthy is spewing crap. A quality purebred will be statistically healthier. I'm not saying mutts are worthless - I have three - but I wouldn't pay ANYONE for one unless it was a shelter. Simply being mixed doesn't make the dog healthier, just as it doesn't make the dog nicer or less likely to shed. That is a lie that those breeders feed to make a profit.



FWIW - of my four dogs I have one purebred and he is healthier than my mutts are.

Answer 3

ALL dogs are man-made. If man had not intervened, our pet dogs that we own today would be WOLVES. That's where all these dogs came from - wolves. Many hundreds of years ago, humans bred WOLVES to create dogs.



Also, almost any dog can be a good one. It just depends on whether or not you are a good dog-owner or not. For instance: You can have a Pit Bull, & if you put in the hard work to train, socialize & basically care for it, you'll get the best family dog you could have ever wished for. A Pit does not have to be a vicious creature unless you want it to be - same with any other dog.



But, I agree. I love mutts. The dogs we have currently are mutts. My first puppy will be a mutt. Many of my future dogs will likely be mutts. & it's probably the same with a lot of people. Although, I would never buy a mutt from a breeder. I buy from shelters because I believe in second chances, & I'm at least saving one animal from a pointless, undeserved death.



*Chance*

Answer 4

Oh please not this crap again. All you've heard was WRONG. Mongrel junk is NOT healthier. Gdamnit people are so fcking stupid. I'm tired of this argument. I'm tired of defending why I prefer purebreds. I don't care that you're ignorant and uneducated. 99% of mongrel breeders do not health test, which almost always results in unhealthy pups, compare that with 95% of purebred breeders. Mongrels are worthless and useless junk unless they were bred specifically for working, which 99% of the time they are not.

Answer 5

"Why do people advocate against mutts?" As near as I can tell from your long drawn out post the first line is your actual question. I, for one, have never advocated against mutts. I have stated many times most of my dogs during my long life have been mutts and I have never been sorry. What I advocate against is the breeding of mutts, for 4-5 million reasons. All of those reasons die in shelters each year. Mutts are NOT breeding quality dogs. Breeding quality dogs have been shown and tested. They are proved to be genetically sound and up to breed standards. Breeders (reputable ones) breed for the betterment of the breed. Backyard breeders/puppy mills will put any two dogs together just to make money. They do not care one little bit that their over breeding is the main cause of millions of dogs dying simply because there are too many dogs born for the amount of homes available. BYB/PM will sell you any pup, sick or not. They sell them too young so the buyer ends up with a dog with behavior problems. If a BYB has 9 pups and sells only 6 they have no problem with dumping the "extras" in shelters. They do not care if their pups that they sell end up in shelters because of poor health or behavior problems. Mutts? I love 'em. BYBs/PM's? There should be enforced laws against it.

Answer 6

I find that a little offensive too, for the fact that my rescued Pomeranian Sheltie mix is a very healthy and happy Dog.

People who call Dogs such names are what I call shallow, they aren`t thinking about the Dog alone, they hate them just because they aren`t Pure and aren`t show bred. But I think all Dogs should be respected to the fact that they have all helped humans, I have heard of many Mix breeds who are helped the blind, and are Therapy Dogs, and are just great companions.

In fact the only thing a Mix breed can`t do is to enter in a Dog show, and Dog showing isn`t n every one`s best interest, I like all Dogs, Pure bred, Mix breed, Pet quality, Show bred... In fact, I don`t go around calling Dogs such things, Dogs shouldn`t be treated like trash as they are so not trash! They are living Animals with yes, feelings.

In fact it`s the Puppy mills and other idiots who either don`t know what they are doing, or just want to make money that I don`t like, but not the Dogs themselves.

Answer 7

I always thought "poorly bred junk" refers to dogs intentionally bred by breeders who are concerned only about the money, or maybe the appearance of the pups, with no regard to temperament or health concerns.



That includes both purebreds and mixed breeds.



You will see answers with a lot of personal insults, and name-calling, and such, but I recommend you just ignore those, as they are generally obvious attempts to advance an agenda, or to engage a shouting match just for the sake of shouting, or something else other than to answer the question at hand, and instead focus on the rational answers.



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btw, that was way too much disorganized verbiage for me to wade through, too.

Answer 8

Most people have nothing against mutts.. At least that's what's going on here at Y!A. We don't hate mutts, (I own one) we hate the people who breed them. The designer mutts. You know, the "labradoodles," "shorkies," "cockapoos," "cavachons" etc. They're a big scam. Backyard breeders (people who only breed for money) enjoy breeding for money. They take two breeds, not caring about genetics, slap em together, and voila. A "new breed" to most new unsuspecting dog owners. And also to the public. All they have to do is slap a stupid name on the dogs and they're all set.



These dogs are usually quite unhealthy also, because they don't know what they're doing when it comes to breeding. No good breeders would ever breed mutts- it goes against their purpose, to create fine working examples of a breed and improve it in whatever ways they can. Why would they ruin all that work that's been put into their breeding lines?



See, there's nothing wrong with mutts. But there are thousands of mutts in shelters euthanized daily because people choose to buy the exact same kind of dog, just mutts, from crappy breeders because they think they're some new hybrid breed. Not to mention lots of people still believe in hybrid vigor.

Answer 9

I have never owned a mix breed dog, but I would have no problem rescueing a mutt. They are dogs too. dogs that need homes and dogs that are very loving. A lot of peopple wont rescue a mutt because they want a top of the line show dog with health garuntees and stuff. But I just want a companion dog. So I would get a mutt.

Answer 10

To each his own. It's purely about personal preference.



You can make lists all day long on the pros and cons of both Purebred and Mutts and it won't matter one bit. People like what they like for their own very valid reasons and that's that. It does not matter one hoot who thinks which is better because it's their choice. Who cares whether the animal is "better" ~or not~ by society's standard ~ as long as it's "best" for them.



I celebrate both ~ they're dogs. I have Purebreds I favor and those I don't... same with Mutts. They're dogs. Different flavor, different size, different issues, different look... they're still DOGS.

Answer 11

Mutts/mongrels are any crossbreed. Ever met anyone with a labradoodle (labrador X poodle)? They probably paid a lot of money for it....and in reality it's still a mutt. Funny how if you can give it a name combining the 2 breeds (Labradoodle, Cockapoo etc) the price seems to increase as they are regarded more as "designer dogs"



I'd say that pure bred dogs would have a higher chance of genetic problems due to them being bred for specific looks - e.g wrinkly faces. Some dogs have far too much skin on their faces due to being bred for wrinkles that it affects their eyesight as the skin folds rub the eyes.



From a personal point of view a dog is a dog. I have a beautiful tricolour border collie who came from a line of show dogs. Except he was an accident and can not be registered for shows as his mother was over a certain age when she had him. But we never wanted to show him anyway. He cost £100 from a friend. Our other dog (I call her a "Lolliesheiler" as she is a Labrador x collie x German shepherd x rottweiler and although she was free (from another friend) she has a lovely character and although she isn't anything special (just a mongrel) I wouldn't change anything about her. For me it's more about the dog and its personality than whether it is easily recognised as a certain breed.

Answer 12

Same crap, different day.

This has been hashed over and over, but if you feel posting this makes your point and you're right..keep thinking that.

Have a great day.





You only heard of this just now?

Why not go through the thousands of questions, rants and debates that have been plastered all over this site in the last 5 years and learn the truth, not some bias crap spewed out by "breeders" who want to promote their mixed breed designer dogs as the new super dogs, because that's where all this stems from. It's an attack on reputable breeders making them look like they are trying to hold on to the market by bashing mutts when in reality, it's the less then ethical breeders pumping out the lies.

..and since you only seen the "light" this morning, maybe you better rethink what you've read...



I mean no insult, and have no agenda, but will call BS when I see it.

Answer 13

This manifesto is so transparently contrived.



PS ... care to provide a web address for "paws together"? I googled it and found absolutely no reference to it whatsoever.

Answer 14

You were ignorant of a lot of things until very recently, including the difference between a tibia and a femur. You should devote your time to making enough money to care for your dog and your family, rather than ranting at people who have more dog knowledge in their little fingers than you will acquire in your lifetime. BTW, ever heard of paragraphs?

Answer 15

And yet again about mutts, but, this is much longer, yet, its still ignorant no matter how hard the OP tries to extol the virtues of mutts.

Do a little research in YA, this question gets asked 956 a week, its old, boring and no one will change their minds...this from someone who was born and raised in Europe...

Answer 16

LOL



And you are using an insurance company as a reliable source? I almost spit out my drink! Thanks for the laugh!

Answer 17

wow long question

Answer 18

No way in hell I'm reading that mile long paragraph of complete bullshit.

Answer 19

I will tell you right now, I didn't read all of that... It's really long. BUT I read what your vet said, and he is 100% correct. Mongrels normally live much longer lives and tend to be much healthier. My last dog was a purebred golden retriever who died of spleen cancer! It may be hard to believe, but mutts are healthier, but a lot of people are undereducated on them.

Answer 20

Having a mixed breed does not affect your insurance rates. You will pay no more if it's a purebred, crossbreed, or mixed breed.