by Jennifer Lee

Created on: May 06, 2009   Last Updated: May 08, 2009

Designer dog breeds are the latest fad in pet ownership. Those searching for a canine companion often fall victim to deceptive practices used by unscrupulous puppy producers.

Individuals breeding these designer dogs are combining two breeds of totally opposite or unknown traits together with promises of magical offspring combining the best of both worlds. However, guarantee's cannot be made that ANY desired genes will surface, nor can they always predict a dog's coat, size, temperament, or characteristics at maturity.

We've all seen them: Puggle's, Cockapoo's and Golden-doodles, being presented as one of a kind, unique and "rare" in order to persuade buyers into purchasing. Does this mean they're better than a purebred puppy? Are these breeders ethical? Are they even healthy pets? Didn't we used to call them mutts?

These mixes are just that, mixes or mutts. Unfortunately back yard breeders and puppy mills have jumped on the bandwagon by mixing breeds, calling them something whimsical, and charging big bucks for them. They're not abiding by any breeder's code of ethics when they fail to follow a breed standard as set by reputable organizations like the CKC, AKC or UKC. They are not breeding to improve a breed, they are marketing puppies. There are thousands of these animals in shelters all across the country, yet people continue to breed more of them...

No ethical breeder would allow a purebred dog to become part of a cross breeding program. The breeding stock used to produce these puppies are typically low quality and often quite unhealthy. This results in poor quality unhealthy puppies.

How do these people convince the public that by combining two distinct breeds, they will produce a dog with genes that eliminate genetic defects? It's just not possible. If breed A is susceptible to eye diseases and breed B is susceptible to hip displaysia now you will have puppies that could potentially have both diseases. In the late 1990's the late geneticist Dr. George Padgett found more hereditary diseases in cross bred dogs than in purebred dogs. His findings were printed in Dog World Magazine.

You may have heard the term "hybrid vigor". A cross bred dog is NOT a hybrid. A hybrid is defined as offspring of two different species. A mule is a good example of a hybrid (a cross between a horse and a donkey).

The predictability of a breed comes from many generations of careful selection for traits that are desirable. Buying from a reputable purebred breeder assures temperament,

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