Mixed breeds: Not just a mutt anymore

Some historians and dog enthusiasts have traced certain breeds of dogs back almost 8,000 years. The American Kennel Club officially recognizes more than 160 breeds with almost 60 listed as Foundation Stock. With all these breeds to choose from, why would anyone want to create another?

The current rage of “new” breeds probably began in the late 1970s by an Australian trying to help find a seeing-eye dog for a woman whose husband was allergic to most dogs. According to the International Labradoodle Association, a member of the Royal Guide Dogs suggested mating a Labrador to a Standard Poodle and the first “Labradoodles” were born. One of the three pups born in the litter, Sultan, eventually made his way to Hawaii and the vision-impaired woman with the allergic husband. Since that time, more than 3,500 dogs have been registered with the ILA. Miniature Labradoodles have even been bred!

But, the Labradoodle is not the only cross breed to catch the public’s attention. Many different mixes, such as Cockapoos, Schnoodles, and Yorkiepoos have also had their time in the spotlight. In fact, the American Canine Hybrid Club, lists more than 500 cross breeds. With names as amusing as the Woodle (Welsh Terrier-Poodle mix) to the powerful “Ultimate Mastiff” (Dogue de Bordeux-Neopolitan Mastiff mix), the ACH Club has been recognizing cross breeds for more than 30 years. One of the latest crosses to become famous is the Puggle. As the name suggests, the Puggle is a Beagle-Pug cross and is being hailed as a great family pet.

Not everyone is excited to see these new “breeds” arise. According to the editor-at-large of Dog Fancy and Dog World magazines, Allen Reznik, society seems to have become infatuated with labels. Now, the trendy thing is not to have a Cocker Spaniel mix, but rather a Cockapoo or a “Corkie” (Cocker-Yorkie cross). Reznik goes on to say that having a hybrid breed will not insure that your dog will be free of the hereditary problems that seem to associate with many of the purebred dogs.

Beverly Manners, head of the ILA, believes that the current excitement about hybrid breeds has encouraged many uninformed people to start trying to create their own breeds. Just as the choice of mates in a purebred line can have splendid or disastrous results, randomly choosing two breeds to mate could also create unforeseen consequences. Nor is popularity a guarantee of being recognized by the American Kennel Club. According to their website, the AKC may not recognize a new breed due to lack of a parent club or registry records that fail to meet their standards. New breeds must have predictable characteristics and fulfill a specific purpose, in addition to having certain numbers of dogs across a set number of states. Finally, a minimum of a three generation true-breeding pedigree must be shown.

Even Wally Conron, the man credited with developing the Labradoodle is shocked at the explosion of new “breeds.” He is quoted as saying, “I wonder, in my retirement, whether we bred a designer dog – or a disaster!”

One of the biggest surprises to many is the price tag associated with these hybrid breeds. Labradoodles have routinely been sold in the United States at prices as high as $2,000 or $3,000 dollars. A spokeswoman for the AKC warns consumers to not be taken in simply because the dog has a trendy breed name and price tag. “I’d like to know how long these breeders have been breeding Puggles. Do they own a beagle and their friend has a poodle and they get together and breed a Puggle?” says Lisa Peterson.

For many people, the bottom line is simply that the puppy had a face that said “pick me.” Thoughts of breed history, monetary value, or AKC rankings often fade away when one is looking down into the eyes of a puppy. Your veterinarian can be a wonderful advocate for helping you to find the right breed, hybrid or otherwise. And don’t forget to check out your local shelters and rescues as you look for your new family member.

Thank you to Veterinary News Network for contributing material for this week’s column.

Dr. Watts is a companion animal general practitioner and owner of Clevengers Corner Veterinary Care. He can be reached through Clevengers Corner.com or by calling 428-1000.