Dog crossbreed

This article is about cross-breeding between two or more recognized dog breeds. For hybrids of dogs with other species, see Canid hybrid. For unbred dogs, dogs of unknown origin, or unintentional mixed-breed origin, see Mixed breed dog. For a list of common dog crossbreeds, see List of dog crossbreeds.
Huskamute (Husky-Malamute cross) puppy facial expression
German Shepherd–Collie mix
A pointer–dalmatian cross
A group of Labradoodle Assistance Dogs.
The Cockalier is a mix between a Cocker spaniel and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Crossbreed dogs or designer dogs are mixed-breed dogs which have been intentionally bred from two or more recognized dog breeds and not from dogs with no purebred ancestors, but have not been artificially bred to each other enough to breed true and be recognized as a breed in their own right.

Designer dogs

Patterland Terrier, a Lakeland Terrier and a Patterdale Terrier crossbreed.
A Chihuahua and a Dachshund crossbreed, described with the portmanteau words "Chihuachshund", "Chiweenie", "Dachsihuahua", or "Doxiwawa"
A Cavapoo, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Poodle crossbreed.
An Australian Shepherd/Shiba Inu mix on right. A Shiba Inu on the left.

The Encyclopædia Britannica traces the term "designer dog" to the late 20th century, when breeders began to cross purebred poodles with other purebred breeds in order to obtain a dog with the poodles' hypoallergenic coat, along with various desirable characteristics from other breeds.[1]

The primary identifying mark of a crossbred "designer dog' is that the resulting puppies are called by a portmanteau word made up of syllables (or sounds) from the breed names of the two purebred parents, such as Schnoodle (Schnauzer and poodle cross).[1] Other purebred breeds are being crossed to provide designer dogs described with an endless range of created labels, such as the Puggle (Pug and Beagle cross). There are even complex crosses (with multiple breeds in recent ancestry) being labeled in this manner, such as German Chusky (German Shepherd Dog, Husky, Chow Chow).[2]

Like children in a family, a percentage of designer dogs with the same breed ancestry will look similar to each other, even though crossbreeding does not result in as uniform a phenotype as the breeding of purebreds. Often even pups in the same litter will look quite different.

Another defining characteristic of designer dogs is that they are usually bred as companions and pets. Working and hunting dogs deliberately crossbred for a particular working purpose are not generally given portmanteau names; they are most often referred to by a type (not breed) name, such as Eurohounds (racing sled dogs) or Lurchers (hunting dogs). These dogs could be considered only as cross breeds, not as designer animals, since appearance is not the main reason for them to be bred. An exception to this is the Labradoodle, which although having a Portmanteau name, is often used as a Guide or Assistance dog[3][4] as well as being popular family dogs.

Although designer dogs are often selected by owners for their novelty, reputable breeders sometimes use crossbreeding in an attempt to reduce the incidence of certain hereditary problems found in the purebred breeds, while retaining their more appealing traits. Jon Mooallem in The New York Times writes, "Given the roughly 350 inherited disorders littering the dog genome, crossing two purebreds and expanding their gene pools can be 'a phenomenally good idea,' according to one canine geneticist—if it is done conscientiously."[5] crossbreeding has not been well studied in dogs, although it has been for livestock. The heritability of the desired trait being bred for (such as a hypoallergenic coat) needs to be known; "Heritability is the proportion of the measurable difference observed between animals for a given trait that is due to genetics (and can be passed to the next generation)."[6] In addition, the goals of dog crossbreeding may be harder to define than the goals of livestock crossbreeding; good temperament may be harder to define and measure than high calf weight.

Designer dog breeders are often criticised for being more interested in profitable puppy production than in dog health and welfare. Wally Conron comments on the popularity of crosses after his introduction of the Labradoodle: "Were breeders bothering to check their sires and bitches for heredity faults, or were they simply caught up in delivering to hungry customers the next status symbol?"[7] Designer dog puppies sometimes bring higher prices than the purebreds from which they are bred.[8]

The fanciers of designer dogs respond that all modern dog breeds were created from earlier breeds and types of dogs through the same kind of selective breeding that is used to create designer dogs. The Toy Poodle was bred down in size from larger poodles, most likely by crossing with various very small Bichon types, such as the Maltese and Havanese.[9] Most of the modern breeds have ancestries that include various older dog types and breeds; see individual breed articles for details of the origin of each breed.

Health of crossbred dog depends on their being descended from healthy parents. Breeders who select their breeding stock for cost-effectiveness and who skip health testing for the same reason will not produce puppies that are as reliably healthy as those bred by more conscientious breeders. However, studies of longevity in dogs have found some advantage for crossbreeds compared to purebred dogs. "There was a significant correlation between body weight and longevity. crossbreeds lived longer than average but several pure breeds lived longer than cross breeds, notably Jack Russell, miniature poodles and whippets" (thus only small and toy breeds, as to be expected).[10] In general it is believed that crossbred dogs "have a far lower chance of exhibiting the disorders that are common with the parental breeds. Their genetic health will be substantially higher."[11]

Many breeders of designer dogs take advantage of the fact that people are impressed by a pet that they believe offers them an elevated social status, such as other "designer" goods do. "It's human nature to aspire to own something a little different, a little fancy or in short supply."[12]

Genetics

A Jack Russell Cattle Dog, an Australian Cattle Dog and Jack Russell Terrier cross

Crossbreeding to take advantage of the increased chance that a recessive detrimental allele will only be inherited from one parent, and therefore not expressed in the phenotype of the offspring,[13][14] is only one strategy breeders can use to decrease the incidences of genetic defects. Knowing the disease incidence in the breed, and the genetic history of the individual, is ultimately important in dog breeding. Having the parental dogs genetically tested for defects known to be troublesome to their breed (or breeds, in the case of mixed parentage) may do as much, or more, than simply choosing dissimilar individuals with functional reproductive tracts. Genetic health must be approached from many angles.

Because some traits are dominant, crossbreed dogs tend to manifest some physical characteristics more frequently than others. Border Collies and some Spaniels, for example, often produce crossbreed offspring with similar coats and ears. The crossbreed offspring of German Shepherds often have characteristic Shepherd faces. But all crossbred dogs will vary in which characteristics of their purebred parents that they inherit, and may look very different from one another, even within the same litter of puppies.

Registration and recognition

A Goldendoodle, a Poodle-Golden retriever cross.

Crossbreed dogs are not recognized by traditional breed registries, even if both parents are registered purebreds. Breed associations such as the AKC, the UKC, and the CKC, do not recognize designer crosses as dog breeds.

If crossbred dogs are bred together for some period of time, and their breeding is well documented, they may eventually be considered a new breed of dog by major kennel clubs (an example of a recent crossbreed becoming a breed recognised by all major kennel clubs is the Cesky Terrier) New breeds of dogs must have a breed club that will document the ancestry of any individual member of that breed from the original founding dogs of the breed; when the kennel club that the breed club wishes to join is satisfied that the dogs are pedigreed, they will accept and register the dogs of that breed. Each kennel club has individual rules about how to document a new breed. Some minor registries and internet registry businesses will register dogs as any breed the owner chooses with minimal or no documentation; some even allow the breeder or owner to make up a designer "breed name" for their pet.

Some crossbred dogs, created by breeding two purebred dogs of different breeds, may have the advantage of heterosis, or crossbreed vigor. This advantage can be progressively diluted when two crossbreeds are bred in the attempt to create a breed, narrowing the gene pool. The best way to continue taking advantage of crossbreed vigor is from the breeding of dogs with genetic diversity.[15]

Portmanteau names

Main article: List of dog hybrids

With the long-time popularity of the label cockapoo, used since at least 1960 and constructed by combining elements of its two contributing breeds (Cocker Spaniel/Poodle), it has become extremely common to find crossbred dogs given labels likewise invented by portmanteau. The tendency for using such labels in a jocular way dates back at least to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom's dorgis (Dachshund/Corgi). None of these have become recognised by any major registry as purebred breeds. However, as of 2006, the portmanteau words cockapoo and Labradoodle are found in some dictionaries. Fanciful label names such as these are often found in for-sale ads, or on the websites that allow sellers to make up their own names for litters of crossbred puppies. The terms are only loosely descriptive and are seldom consistent.

Among the trendier crossbreed dog are Labradoodles and Cockapoos, which each have their own fancier associations and affinity groups. Poodle crossbreeds are also popular. It is important to note that these mixes are not breeds of dogs, but mixes.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Encyclopædia Britannica (online), designer dog
  2. ↑ "hybrid" names, on Celebrity Pets Archived August 3, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ Colchester: More than puppy love! (From Gazette). Gazette-news.co.uk (2008-06-17). Retrieved on 2013-05-31.
  4. ↑ Altonn, Helen. (2004-06-28) Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawaii News. Starbulletin.com. Retrieved on 2013-05-31.
  5. ↑ The Modern Kennel Conundrum by Jon Mooallem, The New York Times 02/04/2007
  6. ↑ Why Crossbreed? from Virginia Tech agricultural extension (cattle breeding)
  7. ↑ My Story: I Designed a Dog, by Wally Conron, in Reader's Digest Magazine pps 28-30, 8/9/2010
  8. ↑
  9. ↑ Diminutive dogs on PoodleHistory.com, referring to "The Complete Dog Book, new and revised edition" (NY: Halcyon House, 1938; first published, 1935) pp. 663-5.
  10. ↑ A. R. Michell, Longevity of British breeds of dog and its relationship with sex, size, cardiovascular variables and disease, Vet. Rec., 27 Nov. 1999, S. 625-629 "There was a significant correlation between body weight and longevity. crossbreeds lived longer than average but several pure breeds lived longer than cross breeds, notably Jack Russell, miniature poodles and whippets" (S. 627) thus only small and toy breeds, as to be expected
  11. ↑ P.D. McGreevy & W.F. Nicholas, Some Practical Solutions to Welfare Problems in Pedigree Dog Breeding, Animal Welfare, 1999, Vol 8, 329-331
  12. ↑ K9 Magazine (UK), "Designer Dogs Uncovered" issue 16 k9magazine.com
  13. ↑ "Unraveling the genetic basis of hybrid vigor". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 103 (35): 12957–8. August 2006. doi:10.1073/pnas.0605627103. PMC 1559732. PMID 16938847.
  14. ↑ http://www.pnas.org/content/103/35/12957.full.pdf
  15. ↑ Csányi, Vilmos (2005), If Dogs Could Talk (First American Edition, translated by Richard E. Quandt ed.), New York: North Point Press, pp. 285–286, ISBN 978-0-86547-686-8

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