The Beauty Of The Mixed-Breed
Every dog is beautiful in its own way, but there’s something extraordinarily special about mixed-breed dogs. It is their imperfections and lack of conformity that makes each one of them so unique and ultimately defines them. National Mutt Day, also known as National Mixed-Breed Dog Day, was created to acknowledge and celebrate this beauty and uniqueness that is the mutt. But what exactly is a mutt? What are the major differences between mutts and purebreds? And why would a mutt make a great dog? Keep reading to find out.
What Exactly Is A Mutt?
We’ve all heard the term “mutt” thrown around to describe dogs, mostly in a derogatory way. But, not everyone truly knows what this word means or what it stands for. Let’s elaborate. A “mutt” or mixed breed is defined as a dog that has two or more different dog breed parents. Mutts are usually the result of random breeding between two different breeds of dogs and is typically unintentional. There are many people who believe that a dog’s breed is essential and will go to extreme lengths to get a particular type of dog with specific characteristics and appearances. The ugly truth is that several people in the dog loving community are very particular and downright snobby about a dog’s breed and lineage. As a result, many people often look down on mutts or mixed-breeds for not having these specific characteristics, appearances, or lineages that are often sought after by many dog breeders. Essentially, these people want a perfect dog and believe they can achieve this through selective breeding. However, there is no such thing as a perfect dog and this is a good thing! Like people, it is a dog’s imperfections, flaws, and quirks that make them unique, give them personality, and ultimately define them. A dog doesn’t need to be perfect in order to be a perfect pet.
About National Mutt Day
National Mutt Day is celebrated twice a year. Once on July 31st and again on December 2nd. This special holiday was created to raise awareness of the plight of mixed breed dogs in shelters all around the country. Roughly 80% of dogs in American animal rescue shelters are mixed breeds. These mixed breed dogs are usually overlooked and outshined by the “purebred” dogs that end up in shelters because people are quick to adopt purebreds as a means to avoid paying the typically high costs that dog breeders charge for purebred dogs. This is why National Mutt Day is so important as it’s aimed to educate people about mixed-breed dogs, the adoption struggles they go through, and why they’re just as valuable and lovable as purebred dogs. National Mutt Day was founded in 2005 by animal welfare advocate and celebrity pet & family lifestyle expert Colleen Paige. Thanks to Colleen’s efforts, more and more people have become more accepting of mixed-breed dogs and have learned to acknowledge that it’s not a dog’s appearance that matters but rather what’s on the inside that counts.
Mutts Versus Purebred
A purebred dog is defined as a dog that comes from a line of other dogs of the same breed. A purebred dog’s biological parents are of the same breed as their ancestors and so on. This is commonly referred to as “cultivating varieties” and is used in breeding other animal species as well including horses and pigs. One of the main reasons why mixed-breed dogs are less attractive to the general public is due to their comparison to purebred dogs. As mentioned in one of our previous blogs, The Truth About Puppy Mills, many people want to adopt a brand new puppy of a particular breed of dog and will quickly overlook older and/or mixed breeds of dog as a result. While purebred dogs are beautiful in their own right, they often come with a variety of health problems as well due to genetic mutations from inbreeding. While these health issues vary from breed to breed, some examples of these health issues include various types of cancer, joint pain, skin allergies, chronic hip pain, dysplasia, heart conditions, ear infections, eye ulcers, respiratory problems, seizures, progressive vision loss, and melanoma just to name a few. It’s important to keep in mind that purebred dogs are not the product of nature, but rather the product of humans. Humans have been domesticating and breeding dogs for thousands of years which has led to “selective breeding” of specific dogs with particular traits and features. This is why there are so many different breeds of dogs today, because over time we have shaped and molded dogs to meet our needs and desires through selective breeding. Regardless of our personal needs and desires, all dogs of all breeds make good pets and need a good home and a loving family.
Why Mutts Are Great Dogs
Plain and simple, mixed-breed dogs are just as loving, loyal, and adorable as purebred dogs. Realistically, nobody truly needs a purebred dog unless you’re competing in dog shows or something of that nature. Although some people take great pride in the lineage of their dog or having paperwork to prove the thousands of dollars they paid for their dog, it’s all superficial. You don’t need paperwork to know that your dog is amazing. Although purebred dogs are often beautiful, they all look practically the same as that is the intention. But mixed-breeds on the other hand are the exact opposite. No two mutts look quite the same which makes each one of them unique and special in their own way.
How You Can Celebrate
There are many ways you can contribute to this terrific holiday. Donating money to or volunteering your time at your local animal shelter is a great way to support all the mixed-breed dogs in shelters that desperately need a good home. The next time you adopt a dog or know someone that’s adopting, encourage them and yourself to give the mixed-breed dogs a chance. You might even be surprised just how beautiful and loving a mutt can be. Tell your friends, tell your family, remind the world on social media that mutts matter and that we can make a difference for all dog-kind.
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