Introduction
The concept of a “purebred” dog is quite ingrained in our collective consciousness. We’re all familiar with breeds like Labrador Retrievers, Poodles, and Beagles. But if you dig a little deeper into a dog’s family tree, you’ll find that the idea of a “pure” breed is more myth than reality.
In this article, we’ll explore the history of dog breeding, the issues with purebred dogs, and why practically every dog alive today likely has some mutt in their ancestry. While purebreds still have value for some owners, crossbreeds and mutts offer the best of both worlds in many regards.
So let’s dive in to answer the question: Are all dogs technically mutts?
Definition of a Purebred Dog
A purebred dog is one that has been intentionally bred over many generations to breed true, meaning pups will inherit the distinctive characteristics of the breed. Rather than being a vague mix of traits from random ancestors, purebreds are bred for a specific look, talents, and temperament.
To be considered a purebred, a dog’s parents must be of the same breed and its pedigree must show other dogs of that breed going back several generations. Breed clubs maintain breed standards that spell out exactly what the ideal specimen of the breed should look like and act like.
Purebred dogs exhibit predictable, homogeneous physical and behavioral traits that result from generations of purposeful, selective breeding. They have a recognizable “type” standard for their breed in terms of size, proportions, coat, color, and temperament.
History of Dog Breeding
The practice of breeding dogs for specific traits and purposes began in the Victorian era. Prior to that time period, dogs were bred more haphazardly, with less emphasis on maintaining pure bloodlines or enhancing particular characteristics. The Victorians took a more scientific approach to dog breeding, carefully selecting dogs with desired traits like hunting skill, herding instinct, or a pleasing aesthetic, and then intentionally breeding these dogs together to reinforce those attributes in their puppies.
Over generations of selective breeding, many modern dog breeds were developed and standardized during the Victorian period. For example, Collies were bred specifically for herding sheep, Retrievers for hunting and fetching game, and Bulldogs for bull baiting. The Kennel Club was founded in 1873 to establish breed standards and registries. As the dog fancy boomed, hobbyist breeders and dog shows became popular Victorian pastimes. For the first time, maintaining the purity and registration of breeds became incredibly important. The Victorians took dog breeding from a casual practice to a systematized science with rigid breed standards.
Problems with Purebreds
While purebred dogs may boast distinctive traits, pedigrees, and breed standards, they can also suffer significant health problems due to inbreeding. Since purebred dogs only mate with other dogs of the same breed, the gene pool shrinks over generations leading to less genetic diversity.
This lack of genetic diversity causes purebreds to have a higher incidence of inherited disorders and chronic health conditions. According to one study, 25% of purebred dogs develop inheritable disorders such as hip dysplasia, certain types of cancer, cardiac issues, endocrine diseases, eye problems, epilepsy and allergies. These conditions can be painful, debilitating and often significantly shorten a dog’s lifespan.
Due to inbreeding, once a genetic disease appears in a bloodline it can quickly spread throughout an entire breed population. Some breeds are predisposed to over 450 genetic illnesses! Responsible breeding practices can reduce the frequency of inherited disorders, but a degree of inbreeding is inevitable in maintaining the purity of a breed over multiple generations.
The Myth of the Purebred
While some dog breeds like the Saluki and Afghan Hound can be traced back thousands of years with relative purity, most modern breeds as we know them today were developed from crosses of other breeds. For example, the Labrador Retriever was bred from the St. John’s water dog and larger hounds and setters. The German Shepherd was created in the late 1800s from a mix of farm and herding dogs. Even a breed as iconic as the Golden Retriever is descended from crosses between setters and water spaniels. In fact, very few breeds predate Victorian England, when dog shows became popular pastimes for the elite. To create dogs for showing, breeders extensively crossed and experimented to develop dogs with standardized physical traits. The quest for “purity” is a modern obsession. In truth, almost every breed has mixed ancestry, and purebred standards are based on looks rather than genetics.
Every Dog Has Mutt Ancestry
Go back far enough in any dog’s family tree and you will find mutts. All of today’s pedigreed breeds originated from mixed breeds at some point in history. For example, about 150 years ago, breeders started intentionally crossing various terriers and bulldogs to create the Boston Terrier breed. At the beginning, these dogs were mixes of existing breeds. Through careful breeding over many generations and establishing a breed standard, the Boston Terrier became an officially recognized breed. This story repeats across most modern breeds – they did not magically appear as “pure” breeds. Humans intentionally created them by mixing dogs with desired traits. So behind every purebred is a long line of canine ancestors who were mutts.
Purebreds Still Valuable
While purebred dogs may not be truly “pure,” they still offer some advantages that make them desirable to many families. Purebred dogs have predictable traits and behaviors that have been shaped through many generations of selective breeding.
For example, herding breeds like Collies and Shepherds have innate herding instincts and high energy levels suited for farm work. Sporting breeds like Labradors and Retrievers have soft mouths ideal for carefully retrieving downed birds. And hounds are driven by their strong sense of smell and desire to follow a trail.
So while purebreds may technically have some mutt in their ancestry, dedicated breeding has honed them into dogs well-suited for specific jobs and environments. For families looking for particular temperaments, exercise needs, or hypoallergenic coats, purebreds offer more predictability and certainty.
Best of Both Worlds?
When it comes to dog health and wellbeing, there may be benefits to thoughtfully combining purebreds. Responsible outcrossing or crossbreeding of two purebreds can potentially increase genetic diversity and reduce the prevalence of inherited disorders. For example, crossing two breeds prone to different conditions could lessen the likelihood of puppies inheriting two copies of an unwanted disease gene. The puppies would also benefit from hybrid vigor.
However, crossbreeding is still controversial among many breeders. And poorly planned crosses that ignore health testing could introduce new problems. The goal should be responsible, ethical breeding for health from a diverse gene pool. With care and planning, mixing purebred lines has the potential to provide the best of both worlds – preserving breed traits while improving genetic soundness.
The Takeaway
To summarize, while purebred dogs have been carefully bred over many generations to maintain consistent physical and behavioral traits, all dogs originally descended from mixed ancestors. When we look far back in canine history, before dogs were selectively bred by humans, they were in fact mutts in the truest sense – naturally mating and mixing with all types of dogs and wolves. So technically, every breed of dog has some mutt ancestry if you go back far enough.
However, purebred dogs today still have great value. Purposeful breeding has given us dogs excellently suited for specific jobs, from herding sheep to guiding the blind. And predictability in terms of appearance and temperament is important to many families looking for the perfect pet. At the same time, we’ve seen that excessive inbreeding can introduce health problems in some lineages. Perhaps the best solution is to thoughtfully mix the best of both worlds, blending some of the hybrid vigor of mutts with the unique virtues of individual breeds. With mindful, ethical practices, both mutts and purebreds can continue enriching our lives.
References
Dogster. (2021). The evolution of dog breeds: a complete guide. https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/dog-breeds-evolution
PetPlace. (n.d.). Purebred vs. mixed breed dogs. https://www.petplace.com/article/dogs/pet-care/purebred-vs-mixed-breed-dogs/
UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. (n.d.). Inherited diseases in purebred dogs. https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk491/files/inline-files/Purebred_Brief_May20.pdf
American Kennel Club. (n.d.). Dog breeds. https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/
Hopkins, S. M. (2019). Are all dogs mutts? Modern Dog magazine. https://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/are-all-dogs-mutts/105039
Ostrander, E. A. (2007). Both ends of the leash—the human links to good dogs with bad genes. New England Journal of Medicine, 357(7), 636-646. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmsr078139