Pedigree, Crossbreed or Mongrel?

Pedigree
The term ‘pedigree dog’ is commonly used to refer to a dog that is registered with the Kennel Club (and whose parents are also registered). The pedigree is simply a ‘family tree’ setting out a dog’s ancestors. To a person familiar with the breed, knowledge of the ancestors can give an indication of the potential quality of the puppy. If you are buying a ‘pedigree’ puppy, make sure that you are given the Kennel Club Registration Certificate and transfer ownership into your name immediately. Buying a registered pedigree puppy enables you to have a reasonable certainty of what it will be like as a fully mature adult.
 

Crossbreed
A true crossbreed is a cross between two pedigree dog breeds. Often this is the result of an accidental mating; but there is a growing fashion for ‘designer dogs’ which can attract high prices, such as the labradoodle (a labrador x poodle), and the cockerpoo (cocker spaniel x poodle). Cross bred puppies can vary greatly, particularly if the parents were very different and there is no real certainty what the offspring will be like as fully grown adults.

Sometimes two breeds are deliberately crossed for a purpose - for example Guide Dogs for the Blind have found that Labrador / Golden Retriever crosses from carefully selected parents combine the desirable attributes of the two breeds that make good guide dogs
 

Mongrel
A mongrel is a dog of mixed breeds, sometimes humourously known as a ‘Heinz 57 (varieties)’ or a ‘Bitsa’ (bits of this breed and bits of that). Because there can be such a mix of breeds, you really take ‘pot luck’ with a mongrel puppy.

So many surplus unwanted dogs end up in rescue centres and being put-down that it is totally irresponsible of anybody to deliberately breed mongrel dogs. There are plenty of dogs available, without creating more.

It is often said that mongrels and crossbreeds suffer from fewer health problems than pedigree dogs, but there is little real evidence of this. Indeed, the parents of a carefully bred pedigree puppy will have been chosen to minimise the risks of hereditary conditions; while there is no way of knowing what faulty genes a mongrel puppy may have inherited.