National Mutt Day, also known as National Mixed Breed Dog Day, was established in 2005 to celebrate mixed-breed dogs and raise awareness of the high number of them awaiting adoption in shelters across the country. Recognized on July 31 and December 2 every year, National Mutt Day is all about embracing and saving mixed breeds, which make up the majority of dogs in shelters.
While purebreds in shelters are often adopted quickly, mixed breed dogs battle the stigma of being the less appealing dog, often remaining in shelters longer. Their amazing characteristics often go unnoticed, with many individuals and families unaware of the positive attributes a mix of dog breeds can create. As veterinarians, we understand that all dogs deserve a loving home, so we’ve compiled a list of reasons why a mutt should be a consideration as the dog of choice when visiting a shelter in search of your next pet.
1. Mutts Are Less Prone to Some Inherited Conditions
While diseases and illnesses impact all dogs regardless of breed, purebred dogs run a higher risk of issues related to inherited genetic conditions. Breeding dogs that share a similar genetic makeup increases the likelihood of passing along conditions they carry. A large study of genetic disease in dogs found that most of the inherited disorders it looked at were more common in purebreds, including several heart conditions, hip dysplasia, and certain cancers—though a number occurred at similar rates in both groups, and one, a ruptured cruciate ligament, was actually more common in mixed breeds.
In other words, adopting a mutt improves your odds when it comes to breed-specific inherited disease, but it isn’t a guarantee of good health. Every dog still needs regular wellness care, parasite prevention, dental care, and a healthy weight, and mixed breeds are just as susceptible as any other dog to the problems that come from going without them.
2. Mutts Can Be Wonderfully Adaptable
Purebred dogs are often bred for a specific task, such as hunting or herding, and those instincts don’t switch off in a family home. A working breed with no outlet for that drive can develop behavioral problems that take real effort to manage. Because a mutt’s ancestry is mixed, their drives are often less intense and less specialized, which can make them easier to fit around the way you actually live. That said, personality varies enormously from dog to dog, and shelter staff who have spent time with a particular dog will tell you far more about their temperament than their ancestry ever could.
3. Mutts Are Truly Unique
A mixed-breed dog is unlike any other, with physical traits that can’t be predicted and a promise to stand out among purebred dogs with their unique characteristics. They’re often the dogs that stop random strangers in their tracks, curious about the breed and what gives them the unique qualities they possess.
4. Mutts Perform Duties Just as Well as Purebreds
If you’re interested in training your dog to become a service dog, mixed breeds train and perform duties just as well as purebred dogs, with many mutts successfully used for drug and bomb-sniffing, search and rescue, and guiding the blind.
5. You’re Saving Another Dog’s Life
By adopting a mixed breed from a shelter, you are helping to save another dog’s life. When you bring your new dog home, you’re making space for another dog in that shelter—and the statistics tell us that dog is likely another mixed breed awaiting their forever home. Adopting is also taking a stand against puppy mills and backyard breeders, which have unhealthy and inhumane breeding practices with a focus only on income.
This year on National Mutt Day, visit your local shelter and give the mixed breeds the consideration they deserve. If the timing isn’t right to adopt, consider donating to a local shelter so they have the funds to care for the mixed breeds that currently call it home. If you've recently adopted a mutt and want to get them on the path to optimal wellness, please give us a call to set up an appointment!