What Exactly Is A Designer Dog and Which Designer Dogs Make The Best Pets? (Part One Of Two)

Designer dogs, also referred to as hybrid dogs, are the results of controlled cross-breeding which takes place between two purebred dogs.

First, let’s define what the term purebred dog means. A purebred dog is bred from members of a recognized dog breed, strain, or kind without a mixture of other blood over many generations.

For example, a purebred Poodle puppy has a purebred mother Poodle and a purebred father Poodle. A purebred Yorkshire Terrier puppy has a purebred mother Yorkshire Terrier and a purebred father Yorkshire Terrier. A purebred French Bulldog puppy has a purebred French Bulldog mother and purebred French Bulldog father. Make sense?

When breeding a designer pup, the purebred mother of one dog breed is matched with a purebred father from a different dog breed. For example, a purebred Poodle mother is paired with a purebred father Labrador Retriever.

People who are looking for certain qualities in a dog breed tend to adopt designer dogs. For instance, the beloved Labrador Retriever has many outstanding qualities. From its very warm and loving temperament to its quick-witted and loyal personality, the Labrador Retriever is an all-around great dog. One downside to this breed, however, is that it tends to shed a lot. By breeding the purebred Labrador Retriever with the purebred Poodle, the end result is a litter of puppies who retain the great personality of their parent Labrador Retriever and the no to low shedding qualities of their Poodle parent. The puppy was “designed,” so to speak.

This type of dog breeding is very popular and produces very healthy and well-rounded puppies. The puppies generally inherit the best traits of their parents, which vary from breed to breed. Currently, there are more than five hundred dog breeds considered to be “designer” breeds. With all of these breeds to choose from, which breed is best for you and your family?

In part two of this blog, we will explore the top designer dog breeds that have become very popular in the US and review some of their best traits.