Mongrel

Mongrels, also known as mutts, are mixed-breed dogs. Unlike ‘designer’ mixed breeds, such as Goldendoodles, Cockapoos, or Puggles, a mongrel results from the unintentional breeding of two dogs. It is estimated that there are about 150 million mongrels around the globe.

Many people prefer adopting a mongrel over purchasing a purebred from a breeder. They are significantly less expensive than the price you’d pay for a purebred and often have fewer health issues because of less inbreeding. The personality and temperament of a mongrel can vary depending on the breeds that are included in their genetic makeup. If you are unsure of a mongrel’s bloodlines, this can make it more of a challenge to guess what their temperament may be.

3 Pros And Cons Of Owning A Mongrel:

History Of The Mutt

As the mongrel, or mutt, has been around just as long as purebred dogs, it is believed that they date back to very ancient times, although each dog has a different history, as they all have a different lineage. A dog that is a mix of chihuahua, Pekingese, and Cavalier King Charles will not have the same ancient lineage as a dog that is a blend of Labrador and spaniel.

Types Of Mongrels

Because a mongrel is an unintentional mix of multiple dogs and does not belong to one specific breed, there is an infinite number of how many types of mongrels there can be. It is believed that there are over 150 million different mongrels throughout the world, and since there is no definitive breed of parentage for every dog, it is hard to pinpoint each type of dog.

Size And Weight

Since Mongrels feature a mix of different breeds, their size and weight can vary greatly. Mongrels that are a mix of two larger breed dogs will likely be larger, and mongrels that are mixed from smaller breed dogs will likely be smaller in size. However, many Mongrels include a large mix of dog breeds, and their size can vary a lot.

You can use the size of the feet of a Mongrel puppy to try to predict their full-grown size. Puppies with feet that look overly large for their body will end up being larger, whereas puppies that look more proportional in relation to their body will likely end up being a smaller or medium-sized dog. In general, dogs are about two-thirds of their full-grown size by the time they are four months old, so this can also help you predict the final weight a Mongrel will reach.

Common Health Issues

Since the genetic makeup of a Mongrel is unknown, the breed-specific health issues they may suffer from are also a mystery. There are, however, a few health concerns that are common among all breeds that you should be aware of before you adopt a mutt.

Some Mongrels, like humans, will develop cancer as they age. Depending on the severity and location of the cancer, your veterinarian may be able to provide treatment or give your mutt surgery to remove cancerous cells.

Heartworm is also common among Mongrels. Since it can be prevented with monthly treatments, be sure to speak with your vet about starting your mongrel on a heartworm medication.

If you adopted your mongrel from a shelter, it may have kennel cough. Mongrels with kennel cough will need rest, food, and water to help them recover. In more severe cases, your veterinarian may prescribe an antibiotic.

In summary, a few of the possible health issues mongrels may suffer from include:

• Cancer
• Heartworm
• Kennel cough

Temperament And Behavior

A Mongrel’s temperament is not as easily predicted as that of a purebred. Each breed of purebred shares some common personality traits, which can give owners a clue about the personality and behaviors they can expect from their dog. Mutts are less predictable since you won’t know the genetic makeup of your mongrel and which traits will come out stronger in your specific pup. Mixed-breed dogs can end up being very sweet and even-tempered, high-energy and aggressive, or anywhere in the middle. This guessing game often means that your dog may not be the best choice for homes with young children, where a child-friendly pet is a must.

How To Take Care Of A Mongrel

Each mongrel will be unique, so you will want to work closely with your veterinarian to determine the type of care your dog needs. Once you’ve owned your Mongrel for a while, you will begin to learn more about its temperament, activity needs, and attention needs, and can use this information to offer the best possible care.

The Best Dog Food For Mongrels

One of the best perks of owning a Mongrel or ‘Mutt’ is eliminating most of the worst health problems that can plague purebreds and ‘designer’ dogs and shorten their lifespan.

The amount of food that your pet will need will vary based on his size, activity level, age, and the type of food you feed him or her. Check with your veterinarian to determine the best type of food and the appropriate amount for your mongrel. Most Mongrels do best when they are offered two meals each day.

Keep in mind that puppies have a smaller stomach than adults, so a Mongrel puppy will need to eat three or four smaller meals throughout the day. By the time most puppies are six months old, they should generally be fine with just two meals. Look for high-quality puppy food for your puppy.

Maintenance And Grooming

Again, the amount of maintenance and grooming your mongrel will need will vary based on the mix of breeds in their DNA. Longer-haired dogs will require at least weekly brushing, and many shorter-haired dogs also do best with regular brushing to keep their coat looking nice. If you notice that your Mongrel’s coat is shedding a lot or getting tangled, increase the number of times you brush them each week. If their coat is unmanageable or too long, you can consider bringing them to a professional groomer every few months.

Your dog will also need his or her teeth brushed a few times each week. Be sure to keep their nails trimmed so they don’t get too long and make it painful to walk. Keeping your pet’s ears clean is also important; if too much wax builds up or too much debris gets in their ears, it can lead to ear infections.

Training

While you won’t know the exact personality of your mongrel, it is always a good idea to begin the training process once you bring a puppy or adult mutt home. Start socializing your dog and look to sign up for obedience classes to help them learn how to follow commands and act appropriately in different situations. Most dogs respond best to positive training methods, so keep this in mind as you are training your mongrel.

Exercise

The amount of exercise your mutt will need will also vary based on their genetic makeup, but all dogs need daily activity. Aim to take your pup for a daily walk and provide them space to run and play in a fenced-in backyard. If your dog seems overly energetic or becomes destructive, it may be an indication that they are not getting enough exercise, so you should aim to increase the amount they get each day.

Puppies

All puppies, regardless of their genetic makeup, will need a safe environment free of anything that could potentially cause them harm. Before bringing home a mongrel puppy, inspect your space to make sure it is safe for them. Remove anything potentially hazardous. Puppies, in general, are also known for chewing on things, so be sure to pick up and put away any of your personal items that you wouldn’t want to see destroyed by a puppy.

Mongrel puppies will need food, a crate, a bed, a leash and collar, toys, treats, and other supplies. Be sure to purchase all of these materials before you bring home your puppy so that you are prepared and everything is set up.

Mongrels And Children

As we shared above, a Mongrel’s personality is less easy to predict than purebreds. For this reason, adopting a mongrel puppy may not be ideal for homes with children, especially younger children. If you’re adopting an older Mongrel from someone who can reliably let you know what their personality is like, they could be a good fit for homes with children.

Famous Mongrels

Some mutts have made the big time and been in a variety of movies and TV shows. Here are a few famous mongrels:

• Buster from the movie Bruce Almighty was a mongrel.
• Lucky from the movie Dr. Doolittle was a mongrel.
• Duke from the movie Bad Boys was a mongrel.
• Sweeties from the movie Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days was a mongrel.