| The Puggle,Maltipoo,Goldendoodle,Maltichon,Yorkiepoo and Cockapoo are just a few of the designer hybrids that are all the rage in the current dog world. Cross breed dogs have shed the archaic title of 'mutts' and have emerged as some of the most sought after and desired pets, each one a unique creation. Cross or Mixed breeds are finally getting the attention they deserve! The intentional practice of mating two pure bred dogs to produce crossed offspring has become incredibly popular in the past few years, not just to produce cute puppies, but to create the ultimate companion dogs. Breeders selectively cross certain purebreds together, infusing the best qualities of the pedigree parents into the crossed offspring. There is a multi-fold logic in breeding designer crosses. The first intention for creating certain crosses is to lessen the hair loss and dog dander found in higher shedding purebreds, while still retaining favorable personality traits. A good model is the Labradoodle (Labrador Retriever/Standard Poodle cross). Labradoodles were first bred in Australia in the 1970's to produce a lower shedding seeing-eye dog to assist vision impaired people who suffer from dog dander related allergies. By combining the genes of the hypoallergenic Poodle, breeders hope to lessen the possibility of an individual reacting to the Labrador's heavily shedding coat. The popularity of lower shedding hybrids is astonishing! These adorable puppies offer more options for families suffering from dog allergies, as well as shed conscious individuals. Today you can find multitude of lower shedding crosses, the most popular including: Peek-a-poos (Pekingnese/Poodle), Schnoodles (Miniature Schnauzer/Poodle), Bichon-poos (Bichon Frise/Poodle), and Cavachons (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel/Bichon Frise). The second reason behind creating designer hybrids is that the pups will hopefully possess a more sound temperament, and not have all of the personality quirks that purebred dogs are known for. Lastly, but diluting the gene pool the puppies should be less susceptible to the hereditary and congenital issues that plague their purebred counterparts. Hence, breeders must consider dominant and recessive genetic factors when creating a designer dog. A perfect example of these breeding techniques is the Puggle (Pug/Beagle cross). Because they were bred to hunt in large packs, Beagles tend to need constant companionship and often suffer from separation anxiety when their owners are away. However, when the Pug's happy-go-lucky personality is introduced a mellower dog results. Conversely, Pugs tend to suffer from hereditary health issues such as Luxating Patellas (floating kneecaps), a genetic defect that affect mobility; as well as Stenotic Nares, a birth defect that inhibits the breathing of short nosed breeds. Beagles do not generally suffer from either of these issues, hopefully lessening or negating any potential for these problems in a hybrid. Puggle fanciers get the best of both breeds! |
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