Why MEHS Doesn’t Label Adoptable Dogs by Breed

If you’ve ever seen an adoptable dog posted by Metro East Humane Society, there’s a good chance you’ve had the same question many other people ask: “What breed is that dog?”

It’s one of the most common questions we receive online and at the shelter, and we understand why! A dog’s appearance can make us curious about where they came from, what breeds might be part of their background, or what traits they might have.

But you may notice that MEHS doesn’t typically assign a specific breed to our adoptable dogs. That’s intentional. While breed can be an interesting part of a dog’s story, we don’t want to make guesses about a dog’s breed based solely on their appearance. Instead, we focus on getting to know each animal as an individual because who a dog is matters much more than what breed we think they might be.

And when someone asks us, “What breed is that dog?” our favorite answer is: “They’re a solid supermutt!”

Why Can’t You Just Look at a Dog and Know Its Breed?

Many dogs in shelters are mixed-breed dogs with unknown backgrounds. Without information about a dog’s parents or background, identifying a dog’s breed based only on appearance is essentially an educated guess. And those guesses aren't always accurate.

Research and experience have shown that even people with experience working with dogs, including shelter professionals and veterinarians, can have difficulty accurately identifying a dog’s breed just by looking at them. Different people may look at the same dog and come up with completely different breed guesses.

A dog may have the physical characteristics we associate with a particular breed, but that doesn't necessarily mean that breed is part of their genetic background. This can be especially complicated with dogs that people commonly describe as “pit bulls.” The term itself doesn't refer to one specific breed, and different people may use it to describe dogs with very different appearances and backgrounds.

That’s why you'll often see dogs described as “mixed breed” or without a specific breed listed. We would rather be honest about what we know than provide a label based on an assumption.

Does a Dog’s Breed Tell the Whole Story?

Breed can be an interesting piece of information, and it's completely natural to be curious about it. Different breeds can be associated with certain physical characteristics and behaviors. But breed alone cannot tell us everything about a dog's personality, behavior, energy level, or what kind of home they will thrive in.

Two dogs that look very similar can have completely different personalities. One might be an energetic dog who loves playing and exploring. Another might prefer curling up on the couch with their favorite person. One may enjoy meeting new people, while another may need more time to warm up. Those characteristics are much more useful when you're trying to determine whether a dog is a good fit for your home.

What Do We Look At Instead of Dog Breed Labels?

At MEHS, our goal is to help people find a pet who fits their lifestyle, not simply a pet who looks a certain way. When getting to know an adoptable dog, we pay attention to things our staff, volunteers, and fosters can actually observe, such as:

• Personality: Is the dog playful, affectionate, independent, curious, goofy, calm, or somewhere in between?

• Energy level: Does the dog enjoy lots of activity, or are they happiest taking things at a slower pace?

• Social behavior: How do they interact with people and other animals?

• Preferences: What activities, toys, treats, or environments seem to make them happiest?

• Home environment: What type of household might allow this dog to feel comfortable and happy?

• Individual needs: Are there things a potential adopter should know to help the dog adjust and thrive?

These observations give potential adopters information they can actually use. Instead of asking, “What breed is this dog?” we encourage people to ask: “What is this dog like?”

Why Getting to Know the Dog Matters

Adopting a pet is about finding a relationship that works for both the animal and the person or family. Breed labels can sometimes create expectations before someone has even met a dog. People may assume that a dog will behave a certain way because of how they look or what breed they are believed to be.

But dogs are individuals. Their behavior and personality are influenced by many factors, including genetics, past experiences, environment, relationships, training, health, and the opportunities they have to learn and grow. That's why we believe the best way to get to know an adoptable dog is to spend quality time with them, ask questions, and learn about the dog in front of you.

What About DNA Tests?

You may be wondering: “What if we just do a DNA test?” DNA testing can be a fun and interesting way for adopters to learn more about their dog's genetic background. However, genetics are only one piece of the puzzle and can't predict a dog's personality, behavior, or what they will be like in a particular home. With so many animals in our care, DNA testing every dog isn't practical or necessary for us to get to know them and help find the right match.

If you adopt a dog from MEHS and decide to do a DNA test down the road, we'd love to see the results! Feel free to share them in the MEHS Adopters Facebook group. We always enjoy seeing what our former shelter pets' “supermutt” backgrounds turn out to be, and it can be a fun way to stay connected with the MEHS community.

So… What Breed Is That Dog?

Sometimes, we genuinely don't know, and that's okay! If you ask us about the breed of an adoptable dog and we don't have reliable information about their background, we may not be able to give you a specific answer. That doesn't mean we don't know anything about them. In fact, we may be able to tell you much more useful information about who they are and what they're looking for in a home.

So if you ask us, “What breed is that dog?” and we tell you they're a solid supermutt, know that we're not trying to leave you without an answer. We're simply reminding you that there's a lot more to discover.

Looking Beyond the Label 

At Metro East Humane Society, we want adopters to see each dog for who they are, not just what someone might guess they are based on appearance. Just like you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, we don't want a dog's appearance to tell the whole story. Every dog has their own personality, preferences, quirks, and needs, and those are the things we want to help adopters discover.

Choosing not to assign breed labels isn't about saying that breed doesn't matter. It's about recognizing that we can't reliably determine a dog's breed just by looking at them, and we don't want a guess to become the most important thing people see about that dog.

So the next time you see an MEHS dog and find yourself wondering, “What breed is that?” we invite you to ask one more question: “What is that dog like?”

And if we tell you they're a solid supermutt, we hope you'll see that as an invitation to get to know the dog in front of you rather than a label we need to figure out. Because finding the right match starts with getting to know the dog behind the label.

Want to Meet an MEHS Solid Supermutt?

If you're looking for a new best friend, take a look at our adoptable pets and learn more about the dogs currently looking for homes. You don't have to know their breed to know when you've found your match.

Not ready to adopt? Fostering is another great way to help an MEHS dog find the right home while giving them a chance to show you who they are. Learn more about fostering with MEHS.