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Have you been thinking of adopting a designer dog breed such as a Labradoodle or Cockapoo? These dogs are so cute, it’s no wonder their popularity keeps growing. However, the ugly truth about designer dogs may surprise you.
In this article, we’ll give you all the information you need to know before adopting a designer dog breed.
What is a Designer Dog Breed?
A designer dog breed is a mixed-breed dog sold at a high price tag. They’re bred purposefully, often for profit, and have just two or three parent breeds. The most popular designer dog breeds are Poodle mixes or “doodles.”
Some popular designer dog breeds include:
- Labradoodle (Labrador Retriever/Poodle)
- Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever/Poodle)
- Cockapoo (Cocker Spaniel/Poodle)
- Pomsky (Pomeranian/Husky)
- Puggle (Beagle/Pug)
Benefits of Designer Dog Breeds
So, why do so many people adopt designer dog breeds? Here are a couple of reasons:
They’re Adorable
The number one reason that people adopt a designer dog breed is that they see one online or in public, and they think they’re cute! They may even be bred in rare colors that you haven’t seen before, adding to the appeal.
With Poodle mixes in particular, you may not realize that it’s the Poodle fur you’re attracted to. We often associate Poodles with their show cut: shaved with puffs of fur at various parts of the body. But they can also have that cute teddy bear cut that doodles are known for.
Before buying a mixed breed, we recommend taking a look at the parent breeds to see if they’ll suit your preferences better. Or, give shelter dogs a chance–we promise they’re just as cute and loving!
Some Predictable Traits
The other benefit of a mixed breed dog over a shelter dog with unknown heritage is that their traits may be slightly more predictable. They still may show traits from either parent breed, though, so how predictable their traits are will depend on the crossbreed.
Let’s discuss a Labradoodle (Labrador/Poodle mix) as an example. When two high-drive breeds like a Labrador and Poodle are crossbred, we can predict that the dog will be energetic, intelligent, and love to swim. When it comes to exercise and mental enrichment, Labradors and Poodles are similar.
However, their coat will be a lot less predictable. You may end up with a Labrador coat that sheds plentifully but requires little grooming upkeep, a Poodle coat that requires daily grooming but scarcely sheds, or a combination coat that sheds a lot, mats more easily than a purebred Poodle, and requires constant upkeep. Adult shelter dogs will have more predictable grooming needs than a Labradoodle puppy.
While each dog has their own personality, regardless of breed or breed mix, it can be difficult to predict how to care for a mixed-breed dog. This can lead to people getting in over their heads when a dog has higher grooming or exercise needs than they can handle.
Downsides of Designer Dog Breeds
You may wonder what the problems are with designer dog breeds, and why people who advocate for reputable breeding practices are against them. Here are the major concerns:
Poor Health
Though some say designer dog breeds are less at risk of inbreeding and health problems, this isn’t true. Many designer dogs come from backyard breeders and puppy mills. The chances of finding a reputable mixed-breed dog breeder is one in a million–it’s not something that’s currently happening wide-scale.
Reputable breeders complete recommended genetic health testing on both parent dogs, publish the results under the CHIC program, and never breed dogs with genetic conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) lists recommended health testing for each breed.
While you may find a backyard designer dog breeder with good intentions, who cares deeply about their dogs, they’re likely not putting in the effort and cost required to learn both breeds and breed them well. Health testing is just one, often-overlooked component.
Lack of Knowledge
A reputable designer dog breeder would have to have general breeding knowledge as well as in-depth knowledge on both parent breeds. When this doesn’t happen, it can hurt the dogs.
The puppies may end up with health issues due to poor breeding. They may have abnormally unruly coats due to their breed mix. The breeder may even pass down poor care information to the puppies’ new owners.
This is common with doodle coats–so common that many groomers won’t even take on doodle clients. They cite them as being neglected, causing matting, and untrained, causing poor behavior during the groom.
Misleading Marketing
Irresponsible breeders will often lie to sell puppies. Or, they might provide poor care instructions, either purposefully or out of ignorance. This is very common with designer dog breeds.
Some common lies you may see include:
- The puppies are hypoallergenic or don’t shed when they have a shedding parent breed. The truth is, the puppies can inherit their fur from either parent breed, and designer dogs often shed a lot!
- Doodle coats are easy to care for. Most often, they require daily upkeep and monthly trips to the groomer. They will get matted otherwise, which is painful and unhealthy.
- The dog needs less exercise than actually required. This can also be unpredictable when mixing breeds with different energy levels.
- The puppy will stay small. The size of designer dogs is often unpredictable, as they can take after either parent breed.
- The dog will have a specific set of traits that cannot actually be predicted due to their mixed breed. This may include physical attributes, exercise needs, or temperament.
- Lies about the parent breeds are also fairly common. You may not get the breed mix you were promised.
Poor Care
The biggest problem with these lies is that it can affect a dog’s care going forward. Someone may not groom their Poodle mix because they don’t think they need it, and then the dog ends up with a matted coat and a skin infection. Or, the dog may need upwards of an hour of vigorous activity, while the breeder said they just needed a short daily walk.
See also
I once spoke to a woman who was told her Bernedoodle would never weigh more than 40 pounds. This is the size of the smallest of Standard Poodles–while Bernese Mountain Dogs can weigh up to 115 pounds! When the dog grew to 90 pounds, she had a very difficult time controlling him on leash.
Cost
Designer dog breeds often cost several thousands of dollars. This is for a mixed-breed puppy with unpredictable traits and unpredictable health. Let’s compare this to other options:
Reputably bred, purebred dogs often cost less. Their traits are more predictable, meaning you’re less likely to have surprises that affect their care. Reputable breeders also screen their breeding stock for genetic conditions, making the puppies’ health far more predictable.
The other side of the coin is that shelter dogs often cost under $500, and also make terrific pets! While their health and behavior is less predictable than a purebred, they can sometimes be more predictable than mixed breeds–especially if you adopt an adult dog from a foster situation and have a conversation about their personality and care.
That said, please don’t make your decision based on price! Keep in mind that the purchase cost of a dog is almost always low compared to the lifelong costs. Be sure that you can afford daily costs as well as routine vet visits and the cost of emergency care.
Adding to the Shelter Population
Something I didn’t know until a few years ago is that reputable breeders don’t contribute to the shelter population. Their contracts stipulate that the puppy must be returned to the breeder if the owner cannot care for them at any time throughout their lives. To ensure this is upheld, they keep their own contact information on the puppies’ microchip. Shelters and rescues will then call the breeder if the dog ends up with them.
You won’t see this nearly as often in designer dog breeders, so these dogs end up at the shelter more often.
It’s also important to realize how many mixed breeds exist in shelters already, who will never be adopted–irresponsible breeders are hurting these dogs, too.
Final Thoughts
Due to all of the problems associated with designer dog breeds, we highly recommend seeking an alternative. Consider adopting a purebred dog that fits your lifestyle, or adopting from a shelter or rescue!
When shopping with a breeder, always remember to do your research, request genetic health testing results, and ask to speak to the breeder’s vet and former adopters. This can go a long way when it comes to weeding out irresponsible breeders.
