Is "mutt" a deragatory word for a mixed-breed dog?

I would think it depends on how it is said. You state your daughter said it in a soothing way, so it sounds like a term of endearment to me. If someone was to use the word in an angry tone, then it would be derogatory.

I’m ok with it. I’m a Heinz 57 mutt.

It depends on the word placed before…

No good…

Mangey…

Worthless… Mutt.

Now forgive me if I dont show much sympathy for Mutt becoming the new Faggot, or Nigger, or Chink, Spic, Cracker Whore. I just don’t think of Mutt on quite the same level.

Nah, just humans. Lol.

I think it has a “rebel” feel to it or perhaps a “commoner” feel to it but I love it.

I don’t have a problem with describing a dog as a mutt but some people seem to. I affectionately refer to my dog as a mutt when people ask me what she is and on a couple of occasions have been corrected.: “She’s a mix” or “She’s not a mutt, she’s a mixed breed.” Silly, I think, like referring to a used car as “previously-owned” instead of “used.” Just silly.

The only way it’s derogatory is if the dog is offended. If the dog is offended it needs to file a protest. If the protest is upheld the offender must apologize, in writing, to the offended. Upon receipt of written apology the offended is then entitled to three days of free and clear ball-licking in the living room in front of company. If the offended is a female, or neutered male, it may instead bite the offender on any body part the offended deems fit.

Dogs don’t understand the nuances of English and so it is highly unlikely that using the word “mutt” is going to insult the dog and/or damage the dog’s self esteem.

The owner is another story.

I disagree about the negative connotation. Purebred dogs are generally weaker, more susceptible to illness and injury, and more high strung than mutts. Mutts take the strongest characteristics of the various progenitors, and the combination is a hardier and more well rounded dog.

Give me a mutt any day.

@elbanditoroso You got it! Mutts are the best dogs.

Okay…forgive me, but, is there going to be PC terminology for dogs now too?
It wouldn’t surprise me, but no, she’s a dog, she only hears mumbling and happy sounding voices. You know the Farside cartoon with the guy talking to his dog….” Lucky, blah, blah, blah, Lucky, blah, blah..” lol

I call my cat “scruffy man”..oh oh…the cat police are coming for me!

@Coloma Seriously… the mindless pratter I used to spout to my dog should have sent me to the nut house. I would think of every name that rhymed with Molly and say it to her while petting or brushing her: Molly, golly, Polly, wolly, dolly, folly, etc. Yeah, silly and stupid, but she didn’t complain.

@chyna
LOL…okay, you went first, so I’ll follow suit..I sing this little rhyme too…

’ Muffy man, puffy man, little scruffy, huffy man ”...yeah, us pet lovers, we’re certified. haha

Love it! No, I don’t think the dog cares much. I think most of my husband’s issue is with teaching our daughter not to be unkind or call names in general, but he says it in a way that gives me the impression he is offended on behalf of the dog.

I don’t want her saying, “come here you dumb ugly dog” but I think he is overreacting. She isn’t being mean and isn’t going to start calling kids on the playground names if she calls the dog a mutt. He’s making it into something it isn’t.

Reesie peesie meesie pie

I would be in trouble with you all. I say the most ridiculous things to my dogs. They like it. I don’t think mutt is a bad word for a dog. I am sure the dog doesn’t care.

My dog Olivia – Livvydivvydog

Isn’t mutt synonymous with mixed breed? I remember the day my daughter told me she wished she wasn’t a mutt, but all Irish. Her father and I have 8 different nationalities in our background. Mutt is slang, but for me, the connotation is cute, scraggly and lovable and descriptive, not an insult to anybody.

I call my dog a “mutt” all the time. I certainly don’t think it’s “mean” rather endearing.

The dog absolutely will not mind if you call her a mutt. It just means mixed-breed.

It might be in AKC crowd where they are purist doggy snobs. Nothing bad about the term in fact I believe it’s synonymous with character in a dog.

@woodcutter That’s kind of what I was thinking. Obviously the dog isn’t going to be insulted, but if some AKC person calls a dog a mutt, in a derogatory way, to somehow imply the dog is less worthy because it is a mixed breed then it is meant to be derogatory and an insult to the dog’s owner. But that only happens with dog snobs. I think most dog people just love dogs and don’t care. And some people think mutts are the best dogs.

@woodcutter and @lillycoyote I remember my Aunt (who shows her Pedigree Retrievers and Spaniels) once getting a little defensive when I jokingly called her Field Spaniel a mongrel!!!

Less of a chance in getting an inbred with mutts as they aren’t money makers thus there is no temptation to inbreed them for the sake of making a buck.