How we calculate a mix

A mixed puppy inherits a random half of each parent's genes. Nobody can predict one dog exactly, so every figure on this site is a range built from the two parent breeds.

Breed figures

Height, weight and life expectancy come from the published breed standards, collected in the open akcdata dataset (MIT license) from the American Kennel Club's breed pages. Where that dataset turned “up to 6 pounds” into a single number, we corrected it by hand from the standard. Shedding, energy, trainability and grooming are rated on a five-step scale from the same source and restated in our own words.

Some names cover more than one dog. Poodles and dachshunds come in several sizes, so each mix uses the size closest to the other parent and says so on the page. “Pit bull” is a type rather than one breed; we use the American Staffordshire Terrier standard for it.

Size

The likely weight is the average of the two parents' lower limits up to the average of their upper limits. The full range runs from the smaller parent's minimum to the larger parent's maximum. Most dogs land in the first range. A few land at the edges of the second.

Lifespan and traits

Lifespan is the midpoint of both parents' ranges. For traits we average the parents when they are close, and show both ends (“moderate to very high”) when they are far apart, because a puppy can follow either one.

Which mixes are listed

We cover pairs that people actually search for in the United States, plus crosses with an established name such as the Goldendoodle or the Pomsky. A pair missing from the site is usually rare enough that there is no typical dog to describe.

Photos

Photos of the purebred parents come from Wikimedia Commons, each credited with its author and license. We do not show generated images of mixes, since they would only be a guess.

Spotted a wrong figure? Tell us on the contact page.