Day of the mixed breed dog: It's all in the mix!

The Day of the Mixed Breed Dog, also known as National Mutt Day, is celebrated every year on July 31 - and for good reason. It was created to draw attention to the often overlooked beauty and uniqueness of mixed-breed dogs. While pedigree dogs are often in the spotlight, countless mixed-breed dogs are waiting in animal shelters for a loving home. The aim of the campaign day is to encourage people to rethink: instead of buying from a breeder, adopt a mixed-breed dog - and not only give a dog a second chance, but also enrich your own life with a loyal, unique companion.

As far back as I can remember, it was always mixed-breed dogs that accompanied me in my life. I remember beautiful animals with lovable characters.

Since dog owners take responsibility for a living being and give it a place in their lives (and hearts), characteristics such as character and health should always come first, not breed and appearance. As responsible owners, we have the opportunity to make a conscious decision on the question of origin and breed, which should always be weighed up carefully.

For many owners of mixed breeds, animal welfare is the strongest argument in favor of adoption. That's certainly the case for me and the rest of the VEGDOGteam. We don't want to support commercial breeding because there are too many family-less animals who want nothing more than a home, a family, regular meals, care in case of illness and a caressing hand.

There are breeders for whom appearance and profit play a greater role than animal welfare. Qual breedsare a keyword here - missing tails make communication difficult, noses that are too short make breathing difficult, certain colorings promote blindness or deafness. Adopting an animal doesn't just mean taking in a unique member of the family. It also means giving an animal a home, a second chance. And they feel this and express their gratitude at every opportunity.

One mixed-breed dog is rarely like another. At least I have never seen a dog that looked like my Negrutu. There is much more diversity among mixed-breed dogs and there are some really crazy, unique mixes that are mainly created on the street. But that's exactly what's exciting and fascinating. Colorful, funny, diverse individuals - who should of course also be healthy!

I will always choose to take in a mixed breed from animal welfare. And it's also fun to puzzle over what might be inside the four-legged friend. You're constantly discovering new things that point to another origin.

Personally, I find it more exciting to adopt an animal that doesn't have to follow a requirement profile in terms of genes, appearance, character, etc., which means that the nature is already determined.

And if you do want to know what's actually hidden in the four-legged friend: breed tests are one way to find out. You're sure to be in for a surprise here.

But beware: the accuracy can vary greatly and the results can differ depending on the test. The risk of inaccuracy increases, especially with mixed breeds. So our mixed breeds always remain a bit mysterious.