Dog Breeds | Designer Dogs

Is a Designer Dog a True Breed?

I don’t suppose this posting will be too popular with those set on getting aDesigner Dog,  or worse yet, those people breeding Designer Dogs for profit.   I have had all kinds of dogs throughout my life, and although knowing the breed  in advance helps to give you some insight as to what the grown dog will be like,  frankly, each dog is unique, at least in personality and temperament.    I have seen loveable Pit Bulls, Rottweilers and Dobermans I would trust with my baby, and was bitten by a vicious Toy Poodle!!  All dogs from the same breed are not identical.  You have got to understand that basically Designer Dogs are a type of  Mutt, and at best what we use to call a Mixed Breed.  Of course using a name such as a Cock-A-Poo, a Snoodle or a Puggle sounds more aristocratic than a Mutt, but it is still a Mutt! Don’t get me wrong.  I am using the word “Mutt” in the most affectionate way.  Some of the best dogs on this planet are Mutts.  And to help smooth over some ruffled feathers, let me remind you that all  breeds accepted by the American Kennel Club (AKC), the United Kennel Club (UKC), etc. are descended from a mix – wolf or otherwise.  The difference is that with a true Mutt, the lineage may be questionable, while with a Designer Dog originally both parents were suppose to be registered purebred dogs.   Of course as the fad catches on, breeders are now breeding “like cross breeds” to try and continue the mix.  However, until the AKC or any other Breed organization demands DNA proof of lineage, you as the purchaser can never be 100% sure that any dog you purchase is from the lineage the papers say!  Now I know I am going to get grief from that statement, but over my life time I have seen two separate supposedly reputable sources switch dogs and papers on a regular basis, so like I said, without DNA proof, you are taking somebody’s word!  To me bragging that, “I have a Designer Dog” is the latest craze in the dog world.  However, with free enterprise, I really can’t fault the breeders for making a buck when they can.   Hey, if someone wants to pay several hundred or even thousands of dollars for something with a unique name, why not!  And since we live in the Land of Opportunity, it is not surprising that The International Designer Canine Registry  ® (IDCR) was born.

The Best of Both Breeds?

Many believe that by breeding two different breeds together you get the best of both breeds.  But who is going to guarantee that ?  What happens to the puppies that end up on the other end of that stick!  The ones that inherited the worst of both breeds!  When breeding dogs, you put the best you have together, and keep your fingers crossed, but the bottom line is that you are still at the mercy of the gene pool.  I think the thing that bothers me the most with purposely breeding a Designer Dog is that there are so many wonderfully adoptable dogs in shelters.  Today, especially, with all of the natural disasters throughout our country, not to mention the economy, absolutely wonderful dogs are being given up causing our local shelters to be bursting at the seams.  Add to the mix the many purebred dogs regularly being seized by the Humane Society, SPCA and other organizations when they are able to shut down puppy mills.  With the help of your computer, and a little time and effort, you will find dogs of every age, size, shape, color and breed imaginable looking for good homes.

Designer Dogs Have Fewer Health Problems

It is a known fact that each dog breed has genetic health problems peculiar to that particular breed.  The chance for these diseases is lessened when the gene pool is widened, and that is why you generally don’t see as many of these common problems in a mixed breed dog.  So when you mix two Pure Breeds together, you are widening the gene pool, and the puppies hopefully will be less prone to genetic defects.  Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case with first or 2nd generation breeding because it is so close to the original, and the puppies end up with double trouble by inheriting the genetic defects from both breeds.  There is also the very real chance that because these Designer Breeds are so new, that many “wanna be -looking for the Almighty Dollar” backyard dog breeders are doing what is known in the dog world as “In-Line” breeding – better known in the human world as in-breeding.

Check Out Local Shelters for Designer Dogs

So many purebred and "designer" dogs in Shelters

With so many dogs waiting for that perfect “forever” home, it is likely that you can find the ideal Designer pup for your family at local shelter or rescue organization for only a small adoption fee.  Granted rarely, if ever, do you get breed registration papers from a shelter, and all dogs from shelters are or are expected to be spayed or neutered, but for the average person or family who just wants the “pet of a lifetime,” who cares!   Don’t think because you have a certain breed or breed mix in mind that you need to go out and purchase one.  If you can’t find exactly what you are looking for at a local shelter, thanks to the internet, the world is at your fingertips.  There are endless sites to check. One popular site is  Pet Finder.com.  Just key in the breed and age range you are looking for, and your choice will be infinite from puppies to adults, with all kinds of mixes with that breed thrown in for luck.  If you have a particular breed combination in mind, Google one or both of the breeds.  You will be amazed at your choices.  Even if you find the perfect dog out of your area, don’t give up.  The goal of most rescue organizations is to find every one of their dogs the perfect forever home, so will do everything in their power to get that dog to you.  Adoptable dogs are being transported by volunteers to new homes all over the country.  There are organizations such as the Freedom Train Animal Rescue Transports which is a mode of free, volunteer-based transportation designed to rescue animals from high kill shelters and abusive/neglectful situations, and transport them to screened and approved rescues and forever homes. So please, if you are looking for a new puppy or dog, even if you have a particular breed in mind, please do your homework, and check out the array of dogs longing for that perfect family they can call their own.

image: dogejesue.hi5.com

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