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Originally Posted by ldw  Funny... growing up I always thought a Mutt was a slang word for a dog and a mongrel was I guess what you call a mutt or a derogetory word for a mixed breed dog.
I have often referred to dogs as mutts but with no intention of insulting the animal nor owner. I guess I just thought a Mutt was another word for dog 
Can't political correctness get quite confusing?  |
Actually, I think you are close to right. By definition:
mutt
1.a dog, esp. a mongrel. 2.a stupid or foolish person; simpleton.
mon·grel
1.a dog of mixed or indeterminate breed. 2.any animal or plant resulting from the crossing of different breeds or varieties. 3.any cross between different things, esp. if inharmonious or indiscriminate.
Really, according to that, any dog is a mutt, but a mixed breed is a mongrel. But the word mutt derives from "muttonhead" for stupid or foolish? implying that a mutt would be of lesser quality. And I don't think that being a purebred would rescue all dogs from that category. (Because so many BYB breed for $$$$ not for breed.)
But I read alot here, lurking in the background, and the only time I have "heard" put downs for mixed breeds is the designer breeding and when people are defending their babies/worried about lineage.