With an increase in the popularity of cross-breeding dogs, the “designer dog” concept has gained popularity amongst pet owners. Designer dogs are basically hybrid dogs.
While the trend may appear new, it began in 1988 when Wally Conron cross-bred a Labrador Retriever with a Standard Poodle and introduced the first “Labradoodle.” Another famous creation that soon followed was Morkie Poo, a cross between a Maltese, a Yorkshire Terrier, and a Poodle. Morkie Poo is a sweet, lovable-natured dog who is lively and intelligent.
The media has used the phrase “designer dog” to portray the progeny of a carefully managed cross-breeding of two different pure-bred canines. People adore the range of mixed-breed dogs. As a result, the number of mixed-breed dogs in the United States has surged in the last decade.
With celebrities making popular designer dogs, it is quite evident who sparked the designer dog craze. But it is less clear how it became so popular, with more than two times the number of cross-bred dogs listed as pure dog breeds. Is it all simply “bull-shit” (Bulldog / Shi-Tzu cross-breed) marketing?
The most common reason that drives the appeal for designer dogs boils down to the novelty aspect. Some would say that cute names or the notion of possessing a unique and fashionable item drives the aspiration for designer dogs. People mostly prefer unique items and this factor triggers the practice of cross-breeding.
Desire to have a non-conformist lifestyle
Designer dogs have increased in popularity due to a need for pets that better fit their owners’ lives. The most popular breeds nowadays are influenced by both fads and modern lifestyles. People prefer smaller, less demanding dogs like Morkie Poo because their homes are smaller, and they work long hours but still yearn for a dog. On the other hand, people with allergies are looking for non-shedding breeds. People living in cramped city flats are looking for smaller canines that require less exercise. Finally, the demands of modern life are evolving, fueling the need for cross-breeding of dogs.
What are the Benefits of Choosing a Designer Dog?
Unique appearance
Some individuals prefer a dog that does not resemble any other breed they are familiar with, and cross-breeding can produce such a dog. When two different species are combined, it’s a coin flip as to how the bloodlines will mix. Hence, each pup in a litter can look distinct from its littermates, making for an interesting litter.
Fewer congenital issues
Many pure-bred dogs suffer from hereditary disorders handed down from generation to generation. If only one parent is a carrier, careful cross-breeding may reduce the odds of passing on the disease. According to popular perception, mixed-breed dogs have “hybrid vigor” and are healthier than pedigree dogs. Pure-bred dogs are more prone to develop genetically inherited diseases, but this does not directly indicate that designer dogs live longer, as they can succumb to various other ailments.
Designer dogs lay the groundwork for a future a pure breed
Keep in mind that many pure-bred dogs today result from crosses of several breeds that have been improved via selective breeding to create the features they have today. If breeders structure themselves and follow a precise plan, some of today’s designer dogs could become tomorrow’s pure breeds. One example of a breeding program that exhibits this possibility is the Morkie poo.
How to Choose the Right Designer Dog for Your Home?
When you cross two pure-bred dogs, you are getting the combination of positive and negative attributes present in each breed. So you need to find out the temperament of both the breeds first. Then, arises the know-how of the cross breed’s care and grooming.
Be prepared for the mix of various traits in dogs. If the personalities and attributes of both species match yours and your family’s, you can be confident that this dog will fit well for your home and family members. Else, you must avoid a cross if any of the attributes of either breed does not match what you are searching for. In any case, do not make the mistake of assuming or hoping that only the positive traits will emerge in the new designer dog.
In the end, irrespective of what traits emerge, you can rest assured that you are bringing home a furry buddy who will love you unconditionally and will present many priceless memories for your heart. Pets are very therapeutic creatures and great stress relievers. If you love dogs as pets at home, then go for designer dogs.
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Clare
Hi, I'm Clare (Emmy's Mummy). A former Nanny and Mother of 2 - Emmy (born February 2010) and Harry (born October 2012). We are Essex based and share our adventures and misadventures of a busy crazy life.
