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Designer Dog Breeds
We’ve all seen them, “Designer Dog Breeds”, Morkie’s, Bi-Tzu’s, Malti-poos’, “one of a kind”, “unique”, and expensive. Are they really dog “breeds”? Does an expensive price mean they’re worth the cost? Are they even healthy pets? Are these breeders ethical? Didn’t we used to call them mutts?
These mixes are just that, mixes or mutts. Unfortunately back yard breeders and puppy mills have jumped on the bandwagon by mixing breeds, calling them something whimsical, and charging big bucks for them. They’re not abiding by the breeder’s code of ethics when they fail to follow a breed standard as set by reputable organizations like AKC or UKC. They are not breeding to improve a breed; they are breeding to make money. This contributes to the issues of pet overpopulation and millions of unwanted pets being euthanized annually.
The purpose in breeding a purebred is to have a set breed standard that guides what the offspring will look like and act like. Ethical breeders use this standard to guide their breeding decisions and improve the breed. Crossing 2 different breeds means that the offspring are randomly going to represent different characteristics, and these characteristics aren’t necessarily going to be the good ones. You might have a healthier puppy, or a sicklier puppy ridden with all the health issues of both breeds. The sad part is there are many mix breed puppies euthanized in shelters on a daily basis because no one wants them. Why are we paying more money than some well bred purebred puppies, when so many dogs and puppies need good homes?
Some claim that they are producing hypoallergenic puppies. But the fact is it takes 2-3 generations and a careful breeding program to produce a hypoallergenic breed. Just mixing a poodle with a random breed does not necessarily produce the hypoallergenic property. In fact, did you know that no dog breed is completely hypoallergenic? They simply have less pet dander than other breeds and are more easily tolerated by those with allergies. Did you also know that there is a list of about 46 breeds that fit the hypoallergenic status? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoallergenic_dog_breeds
Few “designer breeds” have a real purpose, but one example of an appropriate mix is the labradoodle for the purpose of a hypoallergenic service dog. This breed is needed for the disabled with allergies. Through ethical and responsible breeders, some mix breeds may have a future. It will take ethical knowledgeable breeders to write a breed standard and work years to produce a consistent type & characteristics to create a breed with purpose. In the meantime, adopt a pet in need or purchase a quality purebred puppy from an ethical breeder. Only then will you know what you are going to get.
