What Are Designer Breed Dogs?

Doodle, Mauxie, Muggin, Chug, Malkie, Pinny-Poo. These all seem like names out of a cartoon, but they aren't. These are names of new dog breeds, often referred to as designer breeds. A designer breed dog is a hybrid. Some people confuse or compare designer breed dogs to "mutts". However, there is a difference. The type of dog that is often referred to as a mutt generally comes from an unknown ancestry. A designer dog is planned and comes from purebred parents.

There are several different designer breed dogs with quite a few different combinations of purebred dogs. There are also different levels of designer breeds:

An F1 designer, or hybrid, puppy comes from a purebred mother and a purebred father. This type of puppy will be 50% one breed and 50% of the other breed. So, a Doodle, which is a dachshund and poodle mix, will have half dachshund characteristics and half poodle characteristics. In order to know what a Doodle will look like or what kind of temperament it will have, the two breeds should be studied because the doodle can demonstrate any of the characteristics of the two breeds. It is also important to realize that one litter of doodles may look different from another litter of doodles, with different characteristics taken from each breed.

An F1b puppy is a mix of one purebred parent and an F1 (hybrid) parent.

An F2 puppy is a second-generation puppy. It is a cross between two F1 parents.

An F2b puppy is a cross between an F1 and an F1b.

An F3 puppy is a puppy with two F2 parents.

So, what are some of the more popular designer breeds? Mixes with poodles have become very popular because poodles are said to be extremely smart and do not shed. One of my favorite poodle mixes is the yorkie-poo, which is a cross between a poodle and a yorkshire terrier. Another poodle mix is the cadoodle, which is a collie and poodle mix. A doodle is a poodle and dachshund mix. Here are some more designer breeds:

Bagle Hound - Basset and Beagle mix

Cav-A-Mo - American Eskimo and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel mix

Chug - Chihuahua and Pug mix

Dorkie - Dachshund and Yorkshire Terrier mix

Goldmation - Dalmatian and Golden Retriever mix

Malkie - Maltese and Yorkshire Terrier mix

Mauxie - Dachshund and Maltese mix

Minnie Jack - Jack Russell Terrier and Miniature Pinscher mix

Muggin - Miniature Pinscher and Pug mix

Pinny-Poo - Miniature Pinscher and Poodle mix

Puggle - Pug and Beagle mix, also known as a Bug

Rat-A-Pin - Miniature Pinscher and Rat Terrier mix

The American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC) recognizes hybrid breeds. Like a purebred dog, hybrid/ designer dogs can also be registered and have papers.

Some people look at designer dogs as over priced shelter dogs or mutts. Every breed has certain characteristics, even mutts. Some people are very specific in what they want in a dog. They are willing to pay the price to get exactly what they want. This does not make the dog any better or worse than a shelter dog or any other dog. The bottom line is, a dog is a dog. It does not matter what kind of dog it is. They all deserve to be loved and spoiled. Any dog that brings joy to a person's life is a wonderful dog, regardless of the type of dog.