The words Dog Breed Info with the letter D inside of a black paw print

Love Those Mutts

Pictures of Mixed-Breed Dogs

A tricolor, tan, black and white small dog with rose ears and a tail that curls up over her back laying in grass

"This is Sasha at 3 years old. Her mom is a Chihuahua and her dad is a Yorkie / Maltese mix breed dog."

Dog DNA Tests

Mixed-breed dogs vary tremendously in looks, size and temperament, even varying within the same litter. What is a mixed breed? A mixed-breed dog is a dog that is not a purebred; also called a mongrel, cur or mutt. Mongrels and mutts are technically dogs of unknown ancestry and questionable parentage.

A hybrid, on the other hand, is a dog that is not purebreds, but whose ancestry is known. For example, a Poodle bred to a Golden Retriever is called a Goldendoodle and is considered a hybrid.

Scientifically speaking, the term "hybrid is incorrect as all dogs are a sub-species of wolf (canis lupus familiaris) and as such, it is impossible to have a hybrid as they are two of the same species. Although technically incorrect, the term "hybrid" is the name which is overwhelmingly used for these mixes and therefore it is the name we will also use when referring to them.

A purebred is a dog that has parents of the same breed; of or belonging to a recognized strain established by breeding individuals of unmixed lineage over many generations. For example, a purebred Yorkshire Terrier bred to another purebred Yorkshire Terrier will have a litter of purebred Yorkshire Terrier puppies.

View from the side - A medium-sized, smooth-coated, rose eared, white with tan and brown mixed breed dog is standing outside in snow. Its mouth is open.

Mila, a mix breed dog as a puppy at 4 months old from Belize, a country in Central America with a coast overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

Other Names
  • All American
  • Cross Breed
  • Heinz 57
  • Mix
  • Mixed Breed
  • Mutt
  • Mix Breed
  • Pariah dog
  • Rez dog
  • Tyke