What is a mixed-breed dog?
A mixed-breed dog, or a "mongrel dog," is simply a dog whose parents are not of the same breed or of no breed at all. This can be a homebred, free-roaming, or stray dog that has inherited a mixture of genes from different breeds.
Without a DNA test, it is usually impossible to determine which breeds a dog has inherited. Mixed-breed dogs are often found in animal shelters and rescue centers, or live as strays in poorer countries around the world. Genetic diversity can, of course, be greater in mixed-breed dogs—depending on how often the ancestors mixed with different breeds. But this does not rule out the possibility that genes leading to disease are still passed on, which refutes the myth that mixed-breed dogs are necessarily healthier than purebred dogs due to their genetic diversity.
What is a purebred dog?
Purebred dog breeds are a relatively new concept. Archaeological evidence suggests that dogs and wolves formed separate breeding populations between 18,800 and 32,100 years ago. However, intensive, selective breeding to develop a specific and uniform phenotype, or breed, only began in the mid-19th century. Today, over 350 different breeds are recognized worldwide, each with a closed or semi-closed breeding population and clearly defined characteristics.
Animals of any species that have been bred without interbreeding for several generations are considered purebred. Modern purebred dogs have a pedigree documented in a stud book and registered with a national kennel club. Each breed club creates a written description that captures the ideal structure of the dog to fulfill its original purpose, called the "breed standard." HonestDog recognizes breeds as purebred if they are recognized by the Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen (VDH) or the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI).
There are two types of registration in national breed associations—open and closed stud books. Closed stud books do not allow any outside blood, meaning all dogs descend from known ancestors with a pedigree. One result of a closed stud book is consistent and recognizable characteristics of a breed, such as the gray color of a Weimaraner or the short legs of a Dachshund. However, this generally also leads to a limited gene pool, inbreeding due to lower genetic diversity, and an increased risk of genetic diseases. Open stud books allow a certain degree of cross-breeding or outcrossing—this is common among working dog breeds, as their function is considered more important in selection than their appearance.
Purebred dog breeders share the common goal of breeding dogs that exhibit consistent and predictable breed-specific characteristics, including physical traits such as appearance and size, but also energy, health, and behavioral tendencies such as retrieving or herding. This general consistency is maintained and preserved by dog breeders across generations by striving to produce puppies that conform to the ideal described in the breed standard. However, natural variations and environmental influences still play a role, meaning that not every purebred puppy grows up to perfectly conform to its breed standard, despite the best efforts of purebred dog enthusiasts.
Not all purebred dogs are well-bred. Registration papers do not guarantee that a purebred dog is healthy or capable of performing the work for which it was bred. Registration serves only to establish parentage and to record and preserve the pedigree. The quality of a dog depends on the health and temperament of the parents and other relatives, the breeder's management practices, including veterinary care and nutrition, and puppy-rearing activities, such as socialization. Unfortunately, there are people who breed purebred dogs using irresponsible breeding methods—often for profit and with unethical actions such as falsifying health tests and registrations, circumventing import regulations to minimize the introduction of disease, and failing to stand up for their dogs when a problem arises.
What is a hybrid dog?
Hybrid dogs have been known since at least the 1950s, but only became popular in the 1990s and 2000s. The last 10 years have seen an explosion in the popularity of mixed-breed dogs, particularly among the "doodle" breeds that have a poodle as a parent or recent ancestor.
Hybrid dogs are often referred to as F1, F2, or F3, or even F1b or F2b. This is only the accepted nomenclature used to distinguish the different generations of hybrid dog breeds. This naming standard applies not only to hybrid dogs and mixed-breed dogs, but is also generally applied to cats, cattle, plants, and most living organisms.
Generation P designates 100% purebred dogs. In our example, these are a purebred Labrador (Dog A) and a purebred Poodle (Dog B).
Purebred Dog A and purebred Dog B produce the F1 generation. For example, it could be a Labradoodle whose mother is a purebred Labrador and the father is a purebred Poodle.
The F1b generation is a mix of 75% purebred Dog A and 25% purebred Dog B, or in other words, they are created by mating an F1 parent and a P parent. This serves to reinforce traits that are present in the breed of the P parent. In our example, the F1b generation of the Labradoodle would have the mother a Labradoodle and the father a Poodle.
Other types of crossbreeding are multi-generational crossbreeding, such as B. the crossing of two first-generation Labradoodles (either F2 or Fb1).
For a better overview, we have created the “Labradoodle Generation Chart.”
In the past, when combining breeds, it was difficult to predict the characteristics of the resulting puppies without appropriate testing. With the advent of affordable, commercially available genetic tests for size, coat, and color, the predictability and consistency of breeding for specific traits has improved significantly. In addition, crossing purebreds can produce traits not possible within a particular breed, increasing genetic diversity and reducing inbreeding depression.
Responsible crossbreeding programs aim to combine the best traits of each purebred breed and leave behind less desirable traits. A successful crossbreeding program incorporates many of the standard procedures developed by pedigree dog breeders—these include careful screening and selection of potential breeding dogs, as well as knowledge of the breeds and breeding. As with purebred dogs, proper health testing of the parents is required to reduce the risk of the puppies inheriting health conditions common to both breeds.
Unfortunately, there are breeders of hybrid dogs who engage in unethical practices, such as not screening their breeding dogs for inherited diseases and not vouching for their dogs if a problem arises. It's important to note that some unscrupulous breeders promise safety regarding physical traits by advertising their dogs as completely "hypoallergenic," even though coat length, shedding, dander, grooming requirements, or size predictability can vary greatly depending on the cross and the breeder's effectiveness in utilizing genetic testing to reduce trait unpredictability. These practices can lead to a mismatch between the owner's lifestyle and the puppy's reality, increasing the risk of surrender or abandonment.
What types of dogs can I find at HonestDog?
HonestDog is a place for all dogs from responsible sources - whether purebred, crossbred, or mixed, a puppy or adult, from a shelter or a breeder.
Our goal is to give as many people as possible the opportunity to experience many types of dogs and decide which type of dog best suits their lifestyle. We hope that by educating and providing information, we can help you make an informed decision about the right dog and connect you directly with a responsible source to avoid dubious sellers and illegal puppy trafficking and, in the long run, eliminate them.
Displacing dubious "puppy producers" and promoting responsible breeders is an important part of our mission. However, we can only successfully fulfill our mission if we unite the good forces in the dog world and become strong enough to displace the bad.
HonestDog's Commitment
We connect you with good breeders of all breeds. HonestDog takes a comprehensive approach to reviewing all breeding programs to ensure our standards are met, regardless of whether the dogs are purebred or hybrid. We recognize breeding programs that prioritize the health and well-being of the animals. We strive to connect the public with responsible breeders who stand behind their dogs for life.
We know that navigating the dog world can be challenging and finding the right dog for you and your family is incredibly important. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions: info@honestdog.de.