A dog that has characteristics of two or greater breed types and whose ancestry is basically unknown, or is a descendant of pariah or feral dog populations is known as a mixed breed dog. A genetic term that means a breed, population or animal that was developed or bred without the intervention of humans and its genetic and ancestry makeup is basically unknown is what’s known as “Random bred”.
The idea that mixed breed is a blend of defined breeds comes from a reversed understanding of the start of dog breeds. For the most part, pure breeds underwent artificial methods of creation from populations that were random bred for the purpose of improving desired temperament or physical characteristics. Not all purebred dogs are a result of a blend of these defined breeds.
However, a crossbreed dog refers to dogs created by the deliberate crossing of 2 different breeds of known purebred dogs. Dogs freely interbreed, except in cases where there are extreme differences in size, and because of this free interbreeding dogs vary in color, shape, and size which make it difficult to classify them.
There are many phrases and terms used to describe dogs that are not identified as a pedigreed or purebred dog. The terms mongrel, mutt, tyke, and cur are used oftentimes in a manner that is derogatory. Mixed-breed dogs also have regional names. In the U.S. Kingdom a mixed breed dog has a unique technical word that referrers to it called mongrel. The term mutt is commonly used as an indicator of a mixed bred dog in the United States and Canada and is most time done in a manner that is affectionate.
Additional names for mixed bred dogs are based on food, behavior or geography. Mixed bred dogs in Hawaii are often called poi dogs and the common term for them in the Bahamas is potcakes. There is a tongue and cheek expression for mixed bred dogs in South Africa known as pavement special.