“Designer dogs” are defined as a cross breed of two purebred dog parents or the result of inbreeding of these offspring. These hybrid dogs often demand high prices and may be more expensive than pure breed dogs! While cross bred dogs were once considered mutts who were the result of the neighbor dog slipping under the fence, some pure breeds were crossed with the intent to create dogs for a specific purpose.

Poodles are often chosen as one of the parent dogs, to take advantage of their low-allergy coats. Cockapoos became popular in the 1950's as companion animals for families with allergy sufferers. Likewise, Labradoodles combine the intelligence and low-allergy coat of the Standard Poodle with the outgoing personality of a Labrador Retreiver. Labradoodles were developed as service dogs for people with disabilities who have dog allergies.

Traditionally, intentional cross breeding was from a desire to create a litter of puppies with the best qualities of both parents. Poodles are often one of the parent breeds used, in hope that the poodles’ high intelligence and low-allergy coats will be passed on to the litter.http://www.dog-breed-facts.com/articles/Poodle-hybrid.html

Today’s designer dog breeds have become little more than expensive status symbols; cute little dogs used as fashion accessories. Maltipoos, Puggles (Pug and Beagle), Shih Poms, Chi-Poos and Yorkie-Poos are common designer dog varieties.

The first person to register a cross breed dog gets to name the variety, with some interesting results: Jack-a-bee (Jack Russell Terrier/Beagle); Bowzer (Basset Hound/Miniature Schnauzer); Brat (Boston Terrier/Rat Terrier); Carky (Cairn Terrier/Yorkshire Terrier);Dorkie (Dachshund/Yorkie); Cheeks (Chihuahua/Pekingese); Munchkins (Chihuahua/Bichon Frise); Chiweenie (Chihuahua/Dachshund); Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever/Poodle);and so on. The list is almost endless, given the huge number of standard dog breeds and their possible combinations.

However, there is no guarantee that the resulting puppies will inherit the characteristics the breeder desires. Subsequent litters from the same pure breed dog parents may have little resemblance to the first litter or any other that comes after, and even littermates may not resemble one another.

Several generations of inbreeding are necessary to produce genetically superior puppies with predictable characteristics that create a new breed standard that is accepted by the American Kennel Club and other major dog registries..http://www.dog-breed-facts.com/articles/Poodle-hybrid.html

Designer dogs produced by knowledgeable and responsible dog breeders tend to be quite healthy. Unfortunately, the mad rush to fulfill the demand for designer dogs has created many unhealthy specimens when amateur breeders and puppy mills have profit as their motive.http://www.canismajor.com/dog/puppymil.html

Pure breed dogs may have genetic defects common to that breed, and the same defect may be present in other breeds, also. When two different breed parents with the same potential genetic defects are bred, the puppies have a highly increased risk of being genetically inferior.http://www.dog-breed-facts.com/articles/a-the-roodle.html

Breeding stock should be tested for inheritable genetic traits before puppies are produced. When the parents are known to be free from genetic defects, cross breed dogs are less likely to inherit faulty genes that can create physical diseases and conditions, or behavior and temperament problems. http://www.dog-breed-facts.com/articles/a-the-roodle.html

Tiny designer dogs often fall victim to Small Dog Syndrome, which is not an inheritable condition at all, but the result of an overindulgent owner who treats his dog as a child, fashion accessory, or plaything instead of a dog. These yappy, nippy, and annoying little dogs are only exhibiting natural dog behaviors which haven’t been trained out of them effectively. It is possible to retrain these dogs, but takes much patience and persistence.http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/smalltoydogs.htm

Designer dogs are not accepted for registration or show by the American Kennel Club and other major dog registries and kennels. Dog groups such as the American Canine Hybrid Club have formed for the purpose of recognizing and promoting hybrid dogs. Designer dogs may compete in agility and obedience trials and other dog activities where AKC registration is not required for entry.