A mutt is a dog that does not belong to one officially recognized breed, including those that result from intentional breeding. The terms "mongrel," "mutt," and "mixed-breed dog" are used interchangeably, although "mixed-breed dog" is sometimes preferred. The words "cur," "tyke," "mutt," and "mongrel" are used, sometimes in a derogatory manner. In the United Kingdom, "mongrel" is the unique technical word for a mixed-breed dog, while North Americans generally prefer the term "mix" or "mixed-breed." "Mutt" is also commonly used in the United States and Canada.
While the word "mutt" can have a negative connotation, it simply means that the dogs parents were not registered and both parents are not of the same breed. These types of dogs come in a variety of coat types and colors, shapes, and sizes that rival any purebred dog. Mixed breed or designer dogs are different names for what is essentially a mutt. Dogs called crossbreeds are deliberately bred to combine characteristics of two or more recognized breeds, while mutts, also known as mongrels, are the result of accidental mixing of breeds.
In the late 1800s, "mutt" was a derogatory term meaning either "stupid person" or "stupid dog". However, most dogs are mutts, and many of their owners are fine with the word "mutt," despite the words original implication of an "inferior, mixed breed dog".
