New dog breeds: Labradoodle, Cockapoo, Sprocker, Jug, etc... Real breeds? The problem of hybrids.

Before I start talking about dog hybrids and this new trend, we need to sit back a minute and talk briefly about history and past and present of animal breeds and genetics, in a very brief way:

We have come a long way in the past few decades and the knowledge and development of animal genetics and breeding has massively increased and improved in most aspects of animal production (farming) and small animals or pets. There is a great understanding by many renowned and serious dog breeders (unfortunately not as many as we would like) about their chosen or preferred dog breed genetics and all of the aspect of breeding those dogs, in trying to create good, healthy and functional specimens that also meet all the “Breed Standards” criteria. This last point is, although controversial in many aspects, mainly regarding some breeds, with obvious functional deformities (i.e. Bulldog) is probably also one of the most important for dog breeding as the only determining factor to say if a dog is part of a breed or not and the closest to the Standard (as the actual word means), the supposedly “better dog” within that breed he or she will be (this is without talking about purposely created deformities, etc…), and this is undeniable.

Yes, this doesn’t mean that some Breed Standards should not be modified to try to create healthier animals, as I agree with the argument that some breeds, in a attempt to achieve more extreme or pronounce features of that Standard, has led them to become unhealthy animals, with serious problems (skin, respiratory, skeletal, etc…).

But I also have to say that this is not always the fault of the Standard set by that Kennel Club or the F.C.I. (Fédération Cynologique Internationale, or World Canine Association) but of the actual interpretation of that Standard by the individual breeder and by the judge in “beauty competitions”. But this is a whole different topic and cause of most of the debate these days.

And lets not forget that to create all the breeds that we know these days, it took a lot of years, dedication, money and failures until a breed was considered created and established, so all the new specimens born would be identified as part of that breed because they all had the same features.

Now that we have discussed the current situation of dog breeding and Breed Standards and what this means, we can start talking about dog hybrids and their implications.

Cross or mixed breeds have always existed and they will always exist, fortunately, as they are most of them lovely dogs, can make lovely pets and although some of them might not be as pretty as others, they still have their charm and they constitute a massive pool of mixed genes in the canine population around the globe.

On the other hand, we have the pure breeds, as discussed above, that they have to meet certain criteria of conformation and ideally behaviour (unfortunately, not set in many Standards, but it is in some) and can and should be lovely dogs and pets, as long as people understand, in most instances, that some dog breeds have to be handled and treated (in a more assertive manner, which doesn’t mean violence, of course, but being firmer and stricter, and making sure they have been properly socialized,…). We have the small group of what it is considered “Dangerous Dogs”, but that is a total different topic altogether.

Now, we have this odd and weird new group of dogs, called breeds, although they are really cross breeds, and their best name is probably Hybrid Dogs as they are a mix between two pure breeds and they are normally not bred between them anymore.

They have been around for only a few years. The initial thought by some people, without too much knowledge about genetics, is that if “I cross this dog of this breed with another one of another breed, I should be able to get the benefits or good bits of each in one dog”; and that is how the first and most common hybrid was created, the Labradoodle or mix between Labrador Retriever and Standard Poodle (or Caniche in France), with the main aim was to have a Labrador Retriever that didn’t malt or loose hair… (Well, if that bothers you so much, probably you should ask yourself if you really want a dog, with everything that involves).

Then, due to this new “breed” (note that I put it between inverted comas), a new gap in the market was created, and then lots more other new hybrid mixes were created, like the Sprocker (Cocker and Springer Spaniels), Cavipoo (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Miniature Poodle), Jug (Jack Russell Terrier and Pug), etc…

Some of these hybrids seem fairly healthy, most of the times, not more or less than the specimens of the pure breeds were they came from, but I find mainly three problems with these crosses and even more with the Labradoodle. And not only from the point of view of a vet, but also what I see from people that have got one of these dogs, with the wrong information or knowledge about them, wrong expectations, misinformation, etc… These problems are:

1. Huge amount of variations between dogs, even within the same litter. The coat can be completely different between dogs (and Labradoodles still loose hair), their shape, build and size can vary so much between specimens of the same hybrid breed or litter, which can cause a lot of confusion between potential or actual new owners. If there is some variation in size, colour of coat, texture of coat, etc… between the same established for decades pure breed of dogs, how can we not expect the same, but a multiplied by two, three, four,… in a non-established hybrid?

2. Not only the “good” things of a breed are passed, but also the “bad” ones, not necessarily evident “faults” or defects, but genetic defects, like eye problems in Cocker Spaniels, elbow or hip problems on Springer Spaniels, Hip and Elbow Dysplasia in Labradors, Neurological problems in Cavaliers, etc…, potentially making them more pronounced on the hybrid than on the actual pure breed or individual, even if he/she didn’t show any problems and was just a carrier. I have seen lots of cases of hip dysplasia in Labradoodles, for example, a lot more severe cases that what you find in most Labradors and even more significant when Standard Poodles are normally free of this condition, or it is very rare.

3. Many “breeders” (again, inverted comas) of hybrids, charge more for one of these puppies than for any of the two used pure breeds, which I can’t seem to understand, as they are cross breeds after all, not standardized, without any idea what you are going to get at the end, and many times from amateur breeders, etc… This only proofs to me - which it is the saddest thing - that they are fashion items, because it is more “cool” to have a Jug or a Labradoodle, than a happy normal cross breed or a pure breed.

In summary, I am not saying don’t get one if that is what you really want to do (although as far as I can see it, there are a lot better options, cross breeds from kennels or charities, or pure breeds), but make sure that you get all the facts right and that you know what you are getting (well, you really won’t until the puppy is fully grown), to avoid confusion and disappointments.