I like your take on this actually! They really are just mutts with designer names in the end!

I know, if/when we get a dog (we have five cats currently... they would NOT approve of a dog!) it will either be a pound puppy or a rescue dog! For certain!

Tammy February 15th, 2008 12:59:00 PM

Hi! I've been following your blog for a few weeks now and love your writing and perspective! Thanks for the time and effort you put into this. I want to join your conversation and thought this topic might be a good place to jump in!

I've been part of the veterinary medicine field for 25 years and often lecture on the human-animal bond and attachment. I know from the research in my own field (mental health/human services) that people form attachments to animals due, in part, to their neonatal characteristics---big eyes, small size, flattened features, etc. The designer dogs you mention have those characteristics in spades! In addition, people often make decisions based on their emotions rather than on logic. Much of the emotion that's generated comes from the story or the image that's created in a person's mind when he or she considers the outcome of a decision. A lot of people don't research their choice of pet, they just imagine how their lives will look different (read better) if they take this dog home to live with them. The consequences become clear later.

Even though I've been around vet med for two decades, I've never been too interested in knowing the specific breeds of dogs. For me, as a non-medical animal lover, if a dog has an official name, it sounds like an official breed to me. Thanks for helping me become more educated and cautious about the pets I choose!

Laurel February 15th, 2008 01:39:00 PM

I (unfortunately) suspect it's a combination of cute and trendy. And the 'must have it now'-ness causes a lack of any further research.
~sigh~

rheather February 15th, 2008 01:50:00 PM

The rationale behind many such mixed-breed purchases is, I think, driven by our need as consumers to be different and own the next new thing. It's not much of a leap to go from thinking of buying a souped up truck or bejewelled purse to buying a "one-of-a-kind" dog. Unfortunately, the purchase of any of these three carries with it a completely different set of responsibilities--let alone costs.

Dan Mandle February 15th, 2008 02:17:00 PM

I don't know if this is reason most people buy designer breeds, but I can think of a reasonable answer: they want a well bred mutt. If there's something to be said for a well bred purebred, then there must be something to be said for a well bred mutt, right? If the breeder really did have a line of designer dogs with good genetics, then this would be a way to get a mutt that was more predictable than a mutt from the pound. And some people like predictable.

Plus, all breeds do start out somewhere. If you cross "well bred" puggles with each other for decades, what would make these dogs any worse (medically/behaviorally) than a "well bred" purebred line? I think part of the problem is that there are probably very very few truly responsible designer dog breeders.

Janine February 15th, 2008 02:44:00 PM

This "designer breed / micro breed" thing is both sickening and saddening. I have a purebred Chihuahua (a 7.5# beast) that is well over the 2 to 6# breed standard. I hear at least once a week "that must not be a real Chihuahua" or my other favorite "I love Chihuahuas, I'm going to get a teacup Chihuahua" at which point, I close my eyes and take a deep breath before launching into my "there's NO SUCH THING AS A TEACUP Chihuahua" lecture. Usually people just walk away, but I try. Sometimes I even smile and play nice-nice.
The other thing I find sickening is running into these designer dog/teacup people at parks and Meet-ups with 1/2 ounce dogs.....crooked heads, bulging eyes, lord only knows what kind of invisible problems.....and they say something stupid like "I'm going to breed her next year". I've been known to snap "well, I hope you don't get too attached to her, it will likely kill her".
I just think that as a non-Vet-professional (but animal lover no less), I have no choice but to stand up, and speak up, when I run into these idiots. Sometimes my patience and language is better than other times, but I always say something. My dog was rescued by a responsible breeder (which is where I got her) and in the future, this is the only path I will take. I understand wanting a specific breed for personal reasons, but if you have access to breed-specific rescue, it is SO worth it. A lot of naturally small breeds at filling up the shelters because they "got bigger than they said they would" or "I'm so disappointed my dog is 5 pounds, she was supposed to be 2 pounds!" or "she looks more like a whosit than the whatsit I paid for"....it kills me.

Interesting post Dr. K.

Creature of Habit February 15th, 2008 03:19:00 PM

For the last several years, I would joke amongst my Scottie & Sealy breeder friends that my next and final litter would be "homemade Czesky Terriers" , since my 2 youngest are a Scottie dog and Sealy bitch. A now accepted breed by AKC, and with the hope of blending the best of 2 breeds. I believe in reality, this is not the case, and Czeskys have the health issues known in "both" breeds.

Anyways, it was a "funny" and never seriously considered to come about, as my Sealy bitch is spayed, nary having been bred at all. I do marvel over second-hand information and updates from a groomer friend, that tells me of a litter of healthy "West-scots", bred intentionally, carefully placed in good homes, and happily cared for. I do recall that these pups were not marketed as "designer pups", but were sold for a fraction of a purebred, with the breeder keeping one for herself as a pet.

Barbara A. Albright February 15th, 2008 03:29:00 PM

Huh.

Well, I'll tell you why I LIKE Puggles- I like Pugs, but I don't like the extremity of their features nor the health issues that come with them. Now, from what I have seen in Puggles (and they run the gamut- the sad thing is, there is NO Puggle standard so really, it's luck of the draw)- they do seem to have an easier time breathing in our very hot climate and do seem sturdier then a typical Pug. Could I be wrong? You betcha. But perhaps that's what others see in some of these mixed breeds?

The main issue I have with the hybrids is that they don't breed true. So you could see a cute Puggle or Labradoodle and go out and buy one of your own, only to find out $1500 later that this puppy looks COMPLETELY different from the dog you saw. Well, that and the simple fact that while I think you COULD breed two breeds together responsibly, no one does- no health testing, no contracts, nothing at all.

Trish February 15th, 2008 03:47:00 PM

Also .....I think if people were getting a cross that had not been "marketed" to them (I remember hearing of Cockapoos when I was a kid in the Stone Age, which more or less defined a small shaggy mutt) they would be more humble about the resulting animal. But IMHO, it's the hype, opportunity and marketing that sort of creates the problem of people dumping dogs in these situations. I mean, people feel that if they drop upwards of $1500 to $3000 for a 'designer' dog, they "should get what they paid for". When the dog does not turn as expected, and people that are new to breeding or doing it to turn a buck, will not take the 'unexpected' dogs back (that's the BYB creed) well, to the pound they go.....it is really sad. Not always true, for sure, but it happens all too often.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a total sucker for marketing. Whenever I hear stories like this I can't help but think of those Pedigree commercials (the ones narrated by David Duchovny) where the dog says from inside a shelter "what did I do to end up here?". *sniff*

Creature of Habit February 15th, 2008 04:14:00 PM

Hehe. I must say that I'm not a big fan of pugs (the bulgy eye thing and the snorting bother me) but I"ve never seen a puggle that wasn't adorable. And I think a schnoodle named Snickerdoodle would be the best therapy dog ever--brightening the lives of countless people--just with the words "Hi! I'd like you to meet my schnoodle Snickerdoodle!"...makes me smile every time I say it. But maybe I'm just weird. :)

Sarah February 15th, 2008 04:29:00 PM

Another depressing aspect of the designer dogs is the number of these crosses that end up in shelters. Just check pet finder and you can usually fine 25-50 pug beagle mixes.

Regenia February 15th, 2008 04:48:00 PM

The only good thing about this trend is at least these folks are breeding hardier mutts rather than genetically limping purebreds. A puggle is likely to be hardier than the "purebred pugs" some backyard breeder might try to turn out. A Labradoodle is likely to be hardier that a "purebred poodle" or "purebred lab" that an inexperienced person tries to breed. I fostered a sweet bounding lab poodle cross a year ago, and every time someone came up and gasped "Is that a Labradoodle?" I said, "Huh. She's a mutt. But isn't she a nice mutt?" And she was. She came from a shelter in PA. Five years ago she would have been a lab/poodle cross, not a "labradoodle."

If we could convince all the poor breeders in the world to breed mutts with fancy names, it might at least be better for the resulting puppies. Not a great consolation, but far better than all those puppy mill "purebreds" with increasingly bad genetic issues. Then, maybe, we could concentrate on shutting down people from breeding dogs "en masse" at all. No matter whether they were designer mutts, or purebreds.

A puppy is a puppy is a puppy. They deserve more than what they are getting.

Susan February 15th, 2008 05:42:00 PM

A puppy is a puppy is a puppy, and crappy bred is crappy bred is crappy bred, whether it's a mixed breed dog or a purebreed. No health screening, no thought to temperament, no thought to anything but money is going to produce pretty much the same results.

I've yet to see a mixed breed dog come in with any kind of health testing behind it. And I've yet to see evidence that these spendy trendy mixes are any healthier than their petshop purebred counterparts. If you want to stack the odds in your favor, find a breeder who cares about more than money and making popular pets. Find a breeder who health tests, who breeds toward a goal, who breeds ethically. You'll probably pay a lot less for a much healthier purebred dog than you will for these petstore puppymill mutts.

katie February 15th, 2008 06:01:00 PM

@Susan: Hybrids are not necessarily hardier mutts. Outbreeding depression can cause cross-breeds to have lower "fitness" than the parents.

Alex February 15th, 2008 06:41:00 PM

I don't understand buying a mutt, when there are perfect ones sitting at the pound. There are purebreds there too! The other day I went to the local shelter to drop off some food and the most GORGEOUS husky ever. There was also a purebred great pyrenese, pomeranian, and beagles. Next purebred I decide to get, I think I'll just start there. So what if you don't know much about the history, the dogs from the pound seem much more grateful (such as my pound pup). He's even more well behaved than my bought and paid for purebred.

ashleigh February 15th, 2008 07:32:00 PM

@Ashleigh: We went to the Geauga Humane Society about a year ago to get a rescue and we wanted a smaller dog, we've got a young daughter. As it turns out, small dogs of any breed are very popular and you would need the patience of a saint to get the right one. My wife wanted to leave the GHS with a new family member so we took home a kitten (or Miss Tiddy as she is known around the house).

The other dogs that were there were larger and of unknown temperament - I would not trust these dogs around my daughter, period. I think some people, and I would include me in this camp, would get a purebreed puppy simply because you know how big it will grow and because you have a chance to influence at least the "nurture" part of the nature-vs-nurtue equation that governs their temperament. Others may disagree but this would be my choice, unless of course the local humane society is suddenly overrun with lots of small dogs.

Alex February 15th, 2008 08:20:00 PM

What's so wrong with needing to be patient?

Dr. K. Next time tell them to contact pug or beagle rescue. They may know where to send prospective adopters looking for those breeds. Just say you don't know where to find a reputable breeder of those cross breds that do health testing before breeding. Which should be a first concern of a puppy buyer using a breeder of any kind. Without good health you can end up with heartbreak.

Whoever said they liked pugs but didn't want the extreme face consider a resuce pug. Ours has a longer nose than most. She was probably poorly bred but aside from some food allergies she is very healthy. Also look info smooth coated Brussels Griffons. They look alot like pugs but have a longer nose.

There are HUNDREDS of established breeds already out there. Aside from AKC breeds there are also lesser known , not yet ruined by AKC, rare breeds. It seems to me if you are looking for a look it already exists. How can it not? Try also checking shelters and breed rescues. There are MANY cross bred dogs and pure breds there already needing homes.

As to getting a puppy so it can be raised right, I would agree that isn't a bad idea yet many of those puppies end up in shelters because they become to much work to train for many owners. So that idea is flawed. With adult dogs you have the advantage of knowing what you are getting. Find a shelter that does behavior testing and lets you do a slumber party with the dog.

Getting a puppy is also no guarantee you will get a dog with a good temperment either. Temperment can be inherited from the parents so getting any puppy with unknown parentage or from an internet source that may be lying to you (to sell you a product) can mean you get a puppy that grows up to bite that child it was raised with. (heck good dogs sometimes bite if the child is inappropriate with the dog too let's not forget)

Good breeders sometimes have older dogs they will place in homes too. Ones that didn't pan out in the show ring or as a working dog. Ones retireing from showing or breeding. Our frenchie was one of those and we got her at age 4. She is one of the best dogs we've ever had. Minimal training needed and great with other animals and kids. Not to mention the more affordable cost. (this breed can be pricey)

Hybrid vigor can't work if both sides of the purebred pedigree is flawed. Which most are in some way, hence the need for testing before breeding.

Marie February 15th, 2008 09:04:00 PM

Excellent & comprehensive post Marie! Pure-bred rescue (often funded by regional and/or national clubs) are an excellent resource for finding a particular "type" of dog.

I recommend visiting shelters and adopting "mutts". I've had a few much loved ( healthy and not so healthy) mixed breeds in my lifetime. Does anyone remember the survey published in Dog Fancy a decade or more ago, regarding health of pet-shop dogs? If I remember correctly, there was no discernible difference in genetic based illnesses. The reason not to go that route, is because it perpetuates the horrible "conditions" related to producing that pup.

There are unfortunately still too many genetic diseases without screening tests, and it is thought that every breeding animal carries at least 4 "hidden" bad genes. And many diseases aren't apparent until long after the animal is bred (ie. lens luxation, IVDD, etc. etc.) My earlier comment on the Czesky, and also the Lucas Terrier (both recognized hybrids of the Sealyham), are not free of disease known to all 3 of the pure-bred breeds (Scottie, Norfolk) involved.

The highlight of my past two weeks, was to aid with an adoption of the most personable, confident, healthy and adorable young Scottie of unknown parentage in a loving and experienced (decades) Scottie home! A match, I relish and cherish, as if it were my own family member!

Barbara A. Albright February 15th, 2008 10:13:00 PM

I volunteer at a shelter weekly and have seen a recent increase in the amount of Puggles. If you look hard enough, you can get just about any kind of dog you want from your local shelters/rescue groups. What I don't get is all these people that think it's fashionable to have a Puggle or Labradoodle. What is so fashionable about having the same dog as everyone on your street?

Kelly February 16th, 2008 03:46:00 AM

I think you answered your question in the header Dr. Patty! So a puggle is a pug+beagle? You notice they weren't named beagugs. I think people get these dogs because they like the mouth feel and sound of the names. They're all diminutive names with ooooooos or words that sound cuddly.......oh, except for shorkies.....what the flock is that? I doubt that many people even are cognizant of the fact that a Yorkie is actually a terrier breed - who says Yorkshire terrier any more? Goldenoodles, labradoodles, puggle, cockapooss......on how sweet and tasty on the tongue!

So when someone asks you to recommend a puggle breeder, tell them the truth. Tell them that unless they do health tests on the dam and sire and breed for health, not cuteness, then theyre no kind of breeder at all. Oh, but find the most lingualicious way of telling them!

CathyA February 16th, 2008 07:23:00 AM

This post makes me laugh as I look upon my sister's Havanese. Since not mentioned, I'm not sure if this "bread" is one of the designer cocktails. Lola is adorable, yet her bottom jaw protrudes, hence her lower teeth are always exposed, she requires tranquilizers when traveling (in cars, planes, trains OH MY) and she is a pistol - weighing not 8lbs as oridinally promised but 18.

So for me, at this time, when I know that my 6 year old pure bread mutt will die of cancer within a year and when my sister and brother-in-law lay asleep, as guests in the other room of my house with their beloved Havanese, I thank you.

janet February 16th, 2008 08:58:00 AM

A few years ago I met a lady with her 1 year old Labradoodle. I petted him and found his coat completely pelted (matted) to the skin. I mentioned to his owner (a first time dog owner) that his coat needed to be tended to. She said he cost 1800 and she chose the Labradoodle because she was told that they combined the no grooming requirements of the lab and the no shedding of the poodle. I was so surprised at his condition that I was rather blunt: there's no free lunch in terms of shedding verses grooming: low shedding means high grooming requirements, low grooming requirements means high shedding. She said she tried to brush him out but he didn't like it and she wasn't about to pay money on getting him professional groomed when he cost so much already (not only his purchase price but he had a lot of vet visits for allergies)

People toss around the term "hybrid vigor" without understanding it. The most common example given is the mule (female horse x male donkey). Mules are bigger and stronger than one would expect from this cross. To get the vigorous results doesn't come willy-nilly - if you cross a female donkey x male horse you'll get a hinny - which is right in between the donkey & horse in size & strength - no hybrid vigor going on there. Certain crosses between two species or tightly bred strains have shown superior results but the improvements tend to be in one single trait, not in every aspect. Say in chickens - a cross showing hybrid vigor might give meat production but necessarily any improvement in health, orthopedic soundness, better temperament or resistance to disease.

I know that some service dog organizations have tried breeding goldens & labs in the hope to get a superior service dog. A friend raised one of these Golden x Labs and just learned from x-rays that he has serious elbow & hip dysphasia :-( . He can't be a service dog and thankfully for him my friend is going to keep him.

Anyway, I wish puppy buyers weren't so darn gullible and I wish all breeding was done intelligently but I'm not holding my breath.

Chris February 16th, 2008 09:10:00 AM

Oops I left out some words:

Say in chickens - a cross showing hybrid vigor might give *increased (in terms of rate or quality)* meat production but necessarily any improvement in health, orthopedic soundness, better temperament or resistance to disease.

Chris February 16th, 2008 09:13:00 AM

Let me reiterate- I don't own a hybrid dog, but I can definitely see what the general public sees in them. Yes, a person could go through breed rescue and perhaps get a Pug with a longer snout- but those dogs aren't as easily found as animal people like to think! A lot of people don't even THINK to research breeds/breeders/etc ONLINE- letalone pop online and look up a breed specific rescue!

But what IS out there? These cute little hybrids are. The Puggles, the Schnoodles, the Whatsadoodle, etc.

And to say, "Well, get a Brussels instead"- um, the ability for an average Joe to find a well-bred, healthy Brussels is almost equal to the ability of finding a well-bred Puggle. They aren't an easy breed to find and definitely NOT an easy breed to find reputable breeders with!

So once again- the hybrids are out there, people see healthier traits in them (which isn't necessarily true and since there usually is NO HEALTH testing- you won't know until your own dog has whatever problem presented), they see a cute 'breed' (which isn't a breed- but is marketted as a breed) oftentimes with PAPERS (because to an average person- if the puppy has PAPERS, it IS a breed!), and it's easy to obtain.

It seems pretty simple to me why people fall for these dogs- and I don't expect these hybrids to disappear altogether. What I WOULD like to see is the major backyard breeders start to die off on this craze- obviously their market isn't as crazed as it was 1-2 years ago (but they'll find another one- you wait and see!) and that the few breeders who remain actually take the time to health test their dogs and figure out a way to keep their lines breeding true physically AND mentally (Puggles- once again- I've met Pug-minded Puggles and ever moreso- hyper Beagle-minded Puggles!).

I just don't see- at least Puggles and Labradoodles- going away COMPLETELY anytime soon.

Trish February 16th, 2008 11:09:00 AM

Some good points raised.

I think the reason people spend more on these mutts than they would on a healthy, stable purebred (not to mention an adoptee from the shelter) is simple salesmanship.

Take a group who knows nothing much about dogs - most people.
Hyperbolize the (unproven) advantages of a mix, healthwise (it depends on the ancestors)
Give them sickeningly sweet names
Call them 'hybrids', which they aren't but the audience won't know that
Advertise them as 'new' and 'improved' and 'rare' (rare colours are another miller giveaway)
Do absolutely no screening or reference checking, not like those nasty breeders and shelter/rescue folk do

Voila - a market for something that you couldn't give away a few years ago.

Caveat February 16th, 2008 12:18:00 PM

My guess is that most people have no forward thinking with regard to health and are mainly getting these because they are chic and cute...and they are super cute. If someone was trying for a more healthy cross they wouldn't be ordering these overpriced mutts off the internet.

There are tons of smaller dogs available on petfinder.com and imo if you need a dog NOW and can't wait to find the right one to adopt I'd rethink things.

Jules February 16th, 2008 12:19:00 PM

There was a good article on this in the NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/04/magazine/04dogs....
"Designer Dog Fights"

His conclusion is that purebred owners get one because they believe the standard means they know what they're getting into, and they will get roughly what they expect. (Incidentally, this overlaps with something Patricia McConnell wrote: that owners of purebreds at once see all members of a breed as sharing all the best traits while also attributing the best of their dog's traits to their dog's unique personality.)

Designer mix owners tend to be convinced they will get traits like stability, trainability, cuteness, healthy, what have you, but because there is no standard, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The owners see what they want to see in the mix. ("Oh, he's so ____, that's so Maltese!" etc)

In the end, the choice of where to get a dog reflects on what an owner thinks the source will get him/her, not necessarily what is true or what is right for any particular owner.

Agnes February 16th, 2008 05:22:00 PM

@Caveat: Spot on, plus hybrids get better mileage. :)

Alex February 16th, 2008 09:48:00 PM

I've noticed that a lot of designer dog breeders make dog breeding sound like ordering from an a la carte menu: "By breeding breed A with breed B the puppies will get the smarts and silky coat of breed A and the loyality and calmness of breed B."

Genes don't take orders from anyone and it's just as likely for the AxB puppies to inherit the hyperactivity craziness of breed A and the shedding coat and lack of smarts of breed B.

BTW, in our local paper I've seen one ad for "Bernaborders, Bernapoos and Bernadors" I think someone has access to a Bernese Mt Dog stud, breeding it to anything that stands still and giving each litter an equally dumb name.

On our collie list, there was a ruckus over a woman who wanted to breed "Golden Collies" (Golden Retrievers x Sable Rough Collie). Unfortunately for the breeder, she didn't understand that the genetics behind the Golden Retriever's gold coat and the Collie's sable coat are totally different and if you cross these two breeds you will always get black pups with white toes. Black dogs do not fit the name "Golden Collie" very well and are hard to sell. It was a short lived designer breed trend.

Chris February 17th, 2008 06:40:00 PM

Good God, I'd hope it would be a bunch of Berner bitches and a few tiny studs- I can't imagine a small dog surviving the size of a Berner litter! (Actually- I'd hope people weren't such idiots, but I know better then to hold my breath!)

Trish February 17th, 2008 07:03:00 PM

Trish wrote:
"Good God, I'd hope it would be a bunch of Berner bitches and a few tiny studs- I can't imagine a small dog surviving the size of a Berner litter! (Actually- I'd hope people weren't such idiots, but I know better then to hold my breath!)"

I'm sorry I should have been more clear: Bernaborders (BMD x Border Collie - not Border Terrier), Bernapoo (BMD x Standard Poodle) and Bernador (BMD x Labrador). The size difference between a BMD and those breeds isn't so bad.

I forgot to mention this person was also selling purebred BMD - ACA registered! If I recall correctly, ACA stands for American Canine Association. It's one of the faux registries - the kind that would issue papers proving my toaster as a purebred Chinese Crested just as long as I sent in the money.

All in all, I'm sure this person is a stellar breeder.

Chris February 18th, 2008 07:21:00 AM

Does anyone know if designer dogs are just as popular in other countries? It just seems to me that Americans, who love to trump their melting-pot Heinz-57 status, but who also all claim to be Irish (at least during St. Patty's Day) would find something especially appealing about a good ol' mutt who has a "respectable" heritage.

And a Havanese is a purebred, not a designer mix.

Becky February 18th, 2008 08:42:00 AM

Right now, the popular mix around here is a Pug/Jack Russel mix. They seem to be a perfect family dog -- they are small, have short, easily cared for coats, are active, but not too active and most importantly, they have noses that allow them to breed. They must not be too expensive, because lots of folks around here are buying two -- that way, the dog has a playmate while the famly is at work/school.

There seems to be a need for a easy-care, healthy family dog -- and that need just isn't being met with many of the dogs out there. Here in PA, pugs were promoted as the ultimate family dog, but i'm noticing that many of the folks that are getting the Pug/Jack mixes are families whose pugs have passed on. I'm wondering if families are making the change because you can hear the pugs wheezing as they walk down the street -- I've never had one, but the wheeze just scares the heck out of me. Why should a breed standard not allow a dog to breathe naturally?

Now, all bets appear to be off around here with the Labradoodles -- while I've met a few folks that absolutely adore the breed and are excited to be creating something new that can be of benefit to those with allergeries, the vast majority of Labradoodle owners around here brag about how much they spent for their dog ($3,000!) and how trendy they are.

When Nature did their 2-parter on dogs, they interviewed a researcher at the Penn Vet School who said that there was a need for a "family companion dog" which really hadn't been a need in the past, so there wasn't a breed of dog right now that didn't shed, wasn't too big, had a laid-back temperment, was healthy, didn't have too high an activity level and was friendly to all. I think she was right and a resonable effort should be made to create that type of dog.

I'm not sure the pug/jack russel mix is it, but I think there needs to be reasonable support for putting such a "family companion breed" together.

Dorene February 18th, 2008 09:38:00 AM

"so there wasn't a breed of dog right now that didn't shed, wasn't too big, had a laid-back temperment, was healthy, didn't have too high an activity level and was friendly to all."

Um...I think that dog would be called a Miniature Poodle.

eastofeden February 18th, 2008 01:49:00 PM

Back in '79 my dad answered an ad for a "free to good home" puppy at a local ranch. She was a ten week old border collie/aussie cross. (How trendy were we? If only we'd known to call her a "hybrid" instead.) My father believed it to be bad luck to take a dog for free so he gave the rancher $15.00 for her. She was a healthy, well adjusted, loyal family dog. Lived for 13 1/2 years. I'm sure that rancher had bred his dog with a friend's dog to come up with some good working dogs. She was a great dog.

Recently, a friend of mine paid 350.00 for a "hybrid." Maltese and poodle. At the well puppy check she had mites, lice, and a UTI. I asked my friend if she had been able to see the parents before purchasing her puppy. She said, "She's not an AKC breed so why does that matter?" Oy! $350.00 for a mutt! And a basket case to boot!

C.L.H. February 18th, 2008 06:30:00 PM

Chris wrote, "I'm sorry I should have been more clear: Bernaborders (BMD x Border Collie - not Border Terrier), Bernapoo (BMD x Standard Poodle) and Bernador (BMD x Labrador). The size difference between a BMD and those breeds isn't so bad."

LOL- I guess I should have thought that one out more, eh? But that goes to show you- I hear a cutsie hybrid name and for the most part, I think smaller dog! Of course, the Labradoodles aren't small- but I can't think of any other of the popular hybrids that aren't smaller dogs?

In regard to the need for a good family dog- I can name a million good family dog breeds out there. Okay, not a million- but a lot. It all depends upon the dynamics of your family. NOT ONE breed is going to fit what everyone wants.

And let's look at a Pug/Jack mix- what do they call them, btw? I could get one thinking it will have the good nature of the Pug and be more laid back then a Jack, with the good breathing of the Jack- a dog I could go hiking with, if you will. Next thing I know, 8 months down the line, I have a super excitable, high intensity little dog with breathing problems who can't even go HIKING, but can't even race around the yard to expell his energy. Seems like a torturous combo to me!

But I wanted a hiking dog- so you know what I got? A Bernese Mountain Dog bitch. She loves to go hiking in the moutains, she doesn't shed too much for me, she doesn't drool, she doesn't eat me out of house and home. I'm happy, my family is happy.

Trish February 19th, 2008 12:25:00 PM

My husband and I have 2 puggle puppies. We bought them from a rescue shelter. They are definitely more beagle than pug. We absolutely love them to death. We didn't get them because of the "designer dog" label but because my sister had found a puggle loose in her backyard one night 2 years ago. She never could find the owner so she kept the dog and she is such a loving and good dog. So when my husband and I were looking at Petfinder I found a brother and sister puggle. We had them for 3 months and they are very good dogs. They are one of the best dogs I have seen with children. We love our puggles and recently had them neutered and spayed.

Juanita March 2nd, 2008 09:46:00 PM

I have read post after post from breeder "purists" ranting about the horrible new creation the "puggle". First of all, there is such an incredible number of dogs being put to sleep in our country rigt now it is just horrifying. When you breed a dog, it doesn matter what you call it or where it comes from, you are NOT going to know for sure where he ends up.
And this goes for breeders of the ones who've been around forever, and the new designer breeders too. I work for a rescue group, and I see purebreds in the pound ALL THE TIME: beautiful golden retreivers, poodles, pekingeses, you name it. They're homeless, and they 're being destroyed.
Let's stop trying to be elitist about what dogs we bring into the world to end up dead, starving, or on a three foot leash somewhere. How about we all act responsibly and stop bringing ANY dogs into the world, until the excess are taken care of. Let's stop this silly elitist attitude about dogs. They all suffer the same way if they were bred eight hundred year ago, or eight years ago. Let's care about the animal, not the breed. Pugs and pekingeses and dogs like them have tons of health problems. Breeders are caling the new designer dogs, Frankenstein dogs. If you really cared about the ANIMAL, and not the BREED TYPE, you would realize they were doing some pretty far out things when they bred these animals. When a pug dies of emphyszema what difference does it make that this poor little breed was bred so long ago? Stop screaming about the newly developed designer dogs; the puggles, the schoodles, the labradoodles, and the cockapoos, and accept your moral obligation to stop ALL breeding until the suffering ends for all of them. There are over 400 dogs put to sleep in Hardin County per month. And this includes the "purebreds" as well as the "designer breeds" along with the "mutts". And my opinion is the latter makes the best pet anyway, and there are plenty of those right now at any dog pound you visit. Get one.

Karen Simmons April 24th, 2008 11:55:00 AM

wow did you ever think people fall in love with the puppies they see?? So what if they happen to be puggles? Do you feel the need to tell people what to spend their money on? You may need to get a life if that is the case. I have seen many more pure breds with problems than I have seen mutts. I guess when you get done with the vet bills it would make the internet price of a designer mutt seem pretty reasonable.

julie August 5th, 2008 12:08:00 AM

For starter, all dogs are hybrids of anywhere from 2 to several dog breeds. The Doberman for instance is a mix of Pinscher, the Beauceron, the Rottweiler, the Thuringian Shepherd Dog, the black Greyhound, the Great Dane, the Weimaraner, the German Shorthaired Pointer, the Manchester Terrier and the old German Shepherd Dog. There isn't a breed on the planet that wasn't originally a mixed breed.

Secondly, the contention that there are no responsible hybrid breeder is complete nonsense. So do perform health checks, have health contracts etc. To grossly generalize, and group all breeders of hybrids into the catagory of "puppy mill" is completely unfounded, and irresponsible.

Doug Edmiston August 22nd, 2008 12:37:00 PM

Some also believe that the plight of the discarded animal is the responsibility of the irresponsible animal buyer, and not the responsibility of the rest of us. Some people want a puppy that will grow with their family, and not to take on someone elses mistake. Has it occurred to anyone that someone purchasing a higher priced animal may be less likely to discard it.

I just can't believe the garbage that I'm reading here. No one is happy about the quantity of animals in shelters, but new pet buyers are not the problem.

PUGGLESVILLE August 22nd, 2008 01:12:00 PM

Thanks for the information

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