Cockapoos are a classic designer dog breed.
The term “designer dog” may have a whiff of the pretentious, and maybe even horrifying, to it. Like designer jeans or designer shoes, the term implies that you’re wealthy and have loads of money to spend on a dog that’s customized to your liking. But that’s not the case at all!
Humans have been cross-breeding dogs to get a desired result for centuries. How do you think we get certain breeds in the first place? Therefore, the notion of a “designer dog” or hybrid dog simply means that two purebred dogs of different breeds are bred for a purpose to promote a certain characteristic.
Why Breed Dogs For A Purpose?
Designer breeds are designed to take the best of two breeds and combine them into one for an outcome better than the pure breed.
Take, for example the Shih Poo, which is a cross between a Poodle and a Shih Tzu. Both Poodles and Shih Tzus are hypo-allergenic. But the Shih Tzu is also known to suffer from breathing issues because of its short nose. So when you breed the two, the Shih Poo will not only have a beautiful, hypo-allergenic coat, but its longer, Poodle-like nose will keep it from having the breathing issues of most Shih Tzus.
This is a common approach to hybrid dogs: attempting to eliminate congenital issues of purebreds who may have developed these issues after centuries of close breeding. When done ethically and done right, you could potentially have the foundation for the next purebred on your hands.
Designer Breeds vs. Mutts
So how are designer breeds different from mutts? Isn’t a mutt just a cross-breed, too? Not at all. Again, designer dogs are bred for a purpose. It’s intentional mating between two purebred dogs for a desired outcome.
Mutts, on the other hand, are typically dogs that are running wild and mated. Because a mutt could be several different mixes, you really have no idea what you are getting. Not knowing what they are lessens your ability to be prepared for temperament or health conditions. Unfortunately, mutts are generally not a planned breeding—just someone not caring and letting their dog run wild while in heat.
Things to Look Out For
Some critics point out that the demand for designer breeds can exacerbate the problem of puppy mills. Unlicensed breeders will breed dogs unethically, mixing traits that are incompatible, or mating unhealthy dogs. When these hybrid dogs inevitably develop health or behavioral issues, they wind up abandoned in shelters.
A small example of this is the Labradoodle (Poodle and Lab). The Labradoodle was initially bred to be a service dog, its sweet-natured Lab qualities and hypoallergenic Poodle coat making the perfect mix for someone disabled. However, what most breeders won’t tell you is that you need a F2-generation Labradoodle with lessened Lab traits to get the hypoallergenic coat. For someone who is expecting a hypoallergenic Labradoodle, finding out the opposite may be enough for that person to give up their new puppy for good.
Why We Love Designer Dogs
All things considered, we highly recommend designer dogs from an ethical breeder (like yours truly!). We love our Zushons, Labradoodles, and Yorkipoos because they have the best qualities of some of our favorite breeds. A huge part of our philosophy is breeding healthy, compatible dams and sires to ensure that your puppy, no matter the breed, is in turn a healthy puppy with no congenital issues. That way every puppy has a loving forever home.