The range of designer dogs continues to increase, with over 75 crosses having been named to date. The trend is now firmly established to combine parts of the name of both ancestral breeds in that of the designer dog. Hence Labradoodle, reflecting a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle, or a Cock-a-Poo, which is the result of a Cocker Spaniel-Poodle ancestry.
Although to an extent the breeders of such dogs are simply following what has been occurring over the course of centuries, there is another aspect underlying the designer-dogs phenomenon. They reflect a growing quest for individuality, as purebred dogs have become almost indiscernible from eachother in terms of type if not colouration today, when seen in the show ring. Designer dogs are essentially 'one-offs'-- they stem from purebred lineages, and yet littermates often vary quite widely in terms of their overall appearance. This exclusivity is further emphasised by the relatively high prices that such dogs can command, as they are often more costly than either of their purebred ancestors.
A further feature of designer dogs is that they are often promoted as being potentially healthier than their purebred counterparts. This reflects the fact that top show lineages of pedigrees are often closely related, and may be at risk from a host of breed-specific health problems.
Nevertheless, there is no absolute guarantee that designer dogs will suffer less from hereditary or congenital health ailments. They can be vulnerable to hip dysplasia, for example, as this is a relatively common condition affecting a range of larger dogs. More unusual metabolic problems, however, such as a copper storage disease, which is seen largely in the Bedlington Terrier, are probably less likely to arise.
Just as significantly, howvere, the responsiveness of designer dogs is frequently better than that of their purebred counterparts, as far as training is concerned. As an example, Beagles are lively, good-natured companions, but being scenthounds, they are hard to train, often running off on their own, and they need plenty of exercise. If crossed with the Pug, however, created so-called Puggles, you have a type of dog that is less demanding in terms of its hunting desires and yet is also likely to prove more responsive, as a result of the fact that Pugs have been kept as pets for centuries. The extreme flattened face of the Pug, which can be off-putting to some would-be owners, is effectively modified too, creating dogs that are less vulnerable to eye injuries.
While initially there can be a wide divergence in appearance between littermates from such crosses, breeding such dogs to each other (taking care to avoid matinng closely related individuals together) then results in the development of characteristic traits.
Where I mention that some people may be put off by the appearance of the Pug- I just feel I must mention that I am definitely not one of those people and I love Pugs to bits and think they are beautiful!
