Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Dogs by Design?

Also known as "crossbreeds" or "hybrid dogs",
designer dogs have gained quite a bit of
popularity over the past couple decades. Although
some people attribute the name "designer" to
other luxury items such as designer sunglasses
and designer handbags because of their
trendiness, the name actually comes from the fact
that these new dog breeds were designed for
specific purposes.

A designer dog is an orchestrated mix of two
purebred parents - but each parent is a different
breed. The goal is to create a dog that combines
the desirable traits of each breed while leaving
the lesser desirable traits and genetic problems
behind.

It's a Poodle World

Many hybrid dogs are a cross containing a poodle
to combat one of the most common undesirable
traits of dogs: shedding. Contrary to popular
belief, shedding causes most of the allergy
problems for people who are allergic to dogs -
not the fur itself. When a dog sheds its fur,
tiny pieces of skin shed along with it. A protein
in this skin (dander) causes the allergic
reactions. More shedding = more dander = more
allergies. Poodles are considered less allergenic
because they only shed their skin every 20 days
or so, lessening the symptoms of allergies for
their people. Poodles are also known for their
intelligence and agility, which make them very
good candidates to be one half of a designer dog
breed.

Not Always According to Plan

It sounds easy: just breed two different
purebreds and you'll get an extremely smart,
hypoallergenic dog that doesn't shed very much
and has a sweet temperament. This doesn't always
happen. A litter may only contain a few pups with
all of the desired traits; this type of
purposeful breeding does not guarantee that each
of the offspring will all be exactly the same.
It's imperative that the health and lineage of
each purebred parent is checked to ensure the
best results. Unfortunately, puppy mills and
unscrupulous breeders just trying to cash in on
this trend don't bother with health checks and
try to churn out as many designer dogs as they
can for a profit.

For those people who are critical of breeding
designer dogs, designer dog proponents are quick
to point out that today's purebred dogs were
often hybrids of other dogs at one time. Breeding
dogs for specific traits is not a new practice.

10 Popular Designer Dogs

There is a large list of designer dog breeds out
there, but here are 10 of some of the most common
types that you may recognize:

1. Labradoodle: Labrador Retriever and Poodle
cross

2. Goldendoodle: Golden Retriever and Poodle
cross

3. Maltipoo: Maltese and Poodle cross

4. Puggle: Pug and Beagle cross

5. Schnoodle: Schnauzer and Poodle cross

6. Bugg: Boston Terrier and Pug cross

7. Pomapoo: Pomeranian and Poodle cross

8. Poogle: Poodle and Beagle cross

9. Porkie: Pug and Yorkie cross

10. Cockapoo: Cocker Spaniel and Poodle cross

Designer dogs are not recognized by the American
Kennel Club, however the American Canine Hybrid
Club (ACHC) recognizes many of these hybrids.

A More Perfect Pooch?

Some people might think so, but most dog lovers
would agree with the fact that all dogs are
equally perfect, whether they're purebred, mixed
without intention, or hybrid. Dogs are wonderful
companions no matter where they come from and
deserve our love and a happy life. For those
people who want a dog in their lives but have
extreme allergies, designer dogs can definitely
fit the bill.

----------------------------------------------------
Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of
TRIPSwithPETS.com. She founded the pet travel
site in 2003 and is an expert in the field of pet
travel. Kim is a veteran of the travel industry -
formerly serving as Director of Internet
Marketing for Certified Vacations. Her mission is
to ensure that pets are welcome, happy,and safe
in their travels. Visit
http://www.tripswithpets.com

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