What is your opinion on the "designer dog" breeds?

I am a dog trainer, and I have been very intrigued with the trend in buying designer dogs lately. What is your opinion on them? Do you think they are mutts, or do you think they should be AKC certified? If so, which is your favorite? How much is the most you would pay for one? I was just curious....

What is your opinion on the "designer dog" breeds?
I personally think that they are mutts, and it is pathetic that people are paying the same prices for mutts as they are for some registered purebreds. If people want a mutt they should go to the shelter. I think that it is sad that people are paying $500+ for a mutt when they could save a live at a shelter. But, the people that intentionally breed them are at fault too.
Reply:I think that they should be AKC certified. Despite all the naysayers there are legitimate breeders of Designer Dog breeds. I have a Bichonpoo from a legitimate breeder not a puppy mill or backyard breeder. Both parents were AKC registered. The pups were raised in a small home-like environment. My pup was in a crib with her littermates when I first saw her. She has an excellent temperament, is very healthy. I wouldn't change my decision for the world. I think paying $500 to $800 for a designer dog is not unreasonable if you are getting one from a reputable breeder with a health guarantee. Mine has a lifetime health guarantee first year shots, and first year vet exams. This is the best dog I have ever owned. I think it is a mistake not to AKC register these wonderful pups.
Reply:a mutt, is a mutt. you want a "designer dog" go to a local animal shelter and adopt one there. The most I would pay for a mutt is the amount my local animal shelter adoption fee is.
Reply:I don't really like the designer dog breeds because it's just a mix of two other breeds I don't really see anything special in that. I don't think they should be akc or ukc or any recognized. It's not that I don't think they are cute but I just think that anybody could breed a dog and call it something. Sonner or later we would have hundreds of new breeds enter dog show and I think it would be a mess. But if I did have to pick a favorite I would pick labradoodles. I kind of just think they are mutts and the most I would pay for one is 100 bucks. My friend got a pikapoo for 1,000 buck I think that is ridiculous for not even a pure bred.
Reply:They're not "breeds", they're mutts. "Breed" implies that you can predict, within a given degree, what the offspring will look like. It also means that if you mate two dogs of the same BREED, you get the same breed.





Crossing a pug with a beagle and claiming it's a new breed called a "puggle" is idiotic.





Paying someone hundreds of dollars for a pug/beagle cross that they've made, when you can go to a rescue group and find hundreds of mixed breeds who need homes is also idiotic.





But the bottom feeders who intentionally make more mixed breeds when millions of dogs are killed every year because there aren't enough homes from them already are the scum of the earth, IMHO.
Reply:I think that there are plenty of AKC breeds, and breeders should focus on breeding the wide variety of breeds that we already have...and do it well..You don't know what to expect from a designer breed..whether they are going to need the lifestyle of the dam or the sire. (thinking of Puggle here, where you blend a lap dog with a hunting dog)


When I was a teen, my mom's small standard poodle got pregnant by the neighbor's labrador, and Mom couldn't give the pups away..She finally gave the last 2 of them, each, with a free 50 pound bag of Purina!





We have an established breed to fit every household or farm..Most of the designer breeds are bred from the sub-standard of each breed..Most foundation dogs are bought with limited registration, or puppy mill registration, or none at all...Nobody is going to breed Champion X Labrador with Champion Y Standard poodle..A reputable breeder just plain won't do it..





I have yet to hear of the designer dog breeder who has done genetic testing, to help eliminate luxating patellas or hip dysplasia or juvenile cataracts...


I love my mixed breed just as much as my purebreds..But she was a rescue, and not bred intentionally or for profit..there are plenty of wonderful mutts to rescue!
Reply:Let us be realistic about this! You folks so adamant about 'cross-breeds' need to understand that every single 'pure bred' is nothing more than a 'cross-breed' that has been around long enough in a 'standardized form' to 'earn' recognition by some association (AKC or the like). In particular I mention the Doberman Pincer, specifically developed from cross breeding to create 'perfect' guard dogs for those carrying cash and other valuables. In another instance, the Cavilier King Charles Spaniel was cross bred from other breeds to create the 'perfect' companion/lap dog.





Both of these breeds thrive today, but were at one point in time, would have been considered 'mutts'.





I personally am a devotee of the Irish Setter. In particular, the solid red ones, which were bred from other hunting stock, most of which still remain today in their respective 'pure breed' status.





I agree with a lot of the comments, I know many breeders are just interested in turning a buck, as are many buyers of 'designer dogs' are only looking to satisfy an over blown ego of some type.





So, I think we need to put the emphasis on what creates and motivates this obsession with trying to introduce these new breeds. Mostly I feel that it is a lot concerned with our AMERICAN attitudes and motivations to be trendy or stylish. We pretty much here in America have developed new breeds without regard much to the purpose of the outcome. Other societies bred mixed breeds to enhance specific qualities of the new dog. Examples would be hunting, hauling. shepherding, guarding, and companionship. I can not find much fault in doing this. On the other side, I abhor crossing breeds just to see if they can 'catch on' and bring in money!





So lastly, perspective is the key here, please be patient with others, and NEVER buy a doggie from a puppy mill... better to save a life at the shelter!





Oh, I do volunteer work in a breed rescue group, but will assist any dog that needs help.
Reply:I don't like these designer breeds. Some of them are just down right ugly! If you've never owned of the regular breeds of these designer breeds..you don't know how the temperment will be. I personally think that if you want a mixed breed..go to a shelter, if you want a pure bred, go to a rescue group or buy a puppy.
Reply:I show Golden Retrievers professionally with the AKC and I am appaled at any and all designer mutts. I especially despise goldendoodles.


Anyone who breeds or buys one of these designer mutts ought to never be allowed to have a dog ever again!


We ought to be breeding only to enhance the breeds we have. We also should all be striving to see that fewer and fewer dogs enter the shelters and even then that fewer and fewer dogs die while in the shelters.





Any dog bred to another is a dog owned by an irresponsible owner and the puppies can then ONLY be called MUTTS!!





In my professional opinion, labradoodles and goldendoodles are some of the ugliest mutts on earth.





On the other hand, in the shelters and rescue groups, if we all began calling the mutts we have by their other "designer" dog names, such as a toy poodle mixed with a maltese, and called it a maltipoo, maybe it would be adopted out faster.


Of course, the adoption fee would be more like $100 instead of like, what, $2000????








So my opinion on designer mutts is that is is a terrible trend that is devastating our shelters, and anyone involved in breeding or buying one of them ought to be fined and punished severely.
Reply:Suppose i had a designer breed one time.....was a pitt bull/chow mix my neighbor's dog had...guess he didnt know he could have sold them instead of just gaving them away....
Reply:i have a jack chi and he is the cutest thing i have ever seen but he was free and not breed intntionally
Reply:NO FING *MUTT/MONGREL*,made by irresponsible CROOKS is worth" the powder to blow em to HEL*!!"





ONLY CROOKS make MUTT/MONGRELS just to peddle to the IMBECILES!....of which there are MILLIONS!





Subtle enough for you?
Reply:I don't think they should be AKC certified.. BUT....SMART people that know dog breeds and their individual traits CHOOSE to buy "designer dogs" for this reason. I have a Pug-Tzu and she is the smartest little girl ever! I'd pay out the butt for another one!


I'd much rather pay good money a smart, loving dog than a full blooded stupid one because it comes with a worthless piece of paper! THATS IGNORANT! GESH!
Reply:I have always found that the question of designer dogs brings out the best in purebred breeders. It's quite remarkable how they all tend to forget that the breed they are breeding was once a mixed breed itself (albeit, a long time ago)





All purebred dog were bred for a purpose, mostly as working dogs and than more recently (like in the 1600 to 1700's) to be companion dogs. For example dogs like the Bichon Frise or the Miniature Poodle.





The designer dogs that we see today are just an extension of this idea of breeding companion dogs and creating breeds with the best traits of the breed parents.





Obviously, anyone who breeds irresponsibly shoud be shut down. However that can be said equally of purebreed as well as mixed breed breederss...a puppy mill is a puppy mill.





The arguement of keeping breeds pure stikes me a elitist and racist...imagine saying that about people! If we followed along with what the purists want, we'd still be running with the wolves.





If you are looking for a dog for you family though, whether it be purebred, mixed breed, designer breed or MUTT, go to your local shelter first, then a dog rescue group, then a breeder.
Reply:I think these designer dogs are just high priced mutts! What is wrong with a good old pound puppy?
Reply:They are mutts and people shouldn't be supporting their breeding by buying these ridicuously priced mutts. Especially when hundreds of dogs of the same mixes are killed in shelters everyday.





They are mutts and should be intentionally bred.
Reply:They are cross breeds AKA mutts. These are not AKC recognized dog breeds, and the people breeding them are making unfounded and confusing claims (like Labradoodles don't shed or get allergies-if you believe that, I've got some ocean front property in Kansas I'd like to sell you). There's NO standard on how these dogs turn out size-wise or haircoat wise. If you want a cross-breed dog, you can get one at the humane society for about $450 less than one from a "designer" breeder, for the exact same cross. It's ridiculous. It takes advantage of people who have no idea what it means for a dog to be "pure bred'.
Reply:There is not a single responsible breeding "designer dogs" as pets. They are all either backyard breeders or puppy millers who are just stoking people's ego for something trendy. Go save a life and adopt a shelter dog instead. Those are the REAL all American mixes.
Reply:I think you need to research whatever dog you are going to buy. The new designer breeds, like puggles have the drawback that people do not know what the breeds will truly be like over the years. I see so many people hear post on things that are common sense, how to I make my Vizla less hyper, well, you should not have gotten a vizla.





I’ve had mutts and AKCs, each dog has their own personalities and needs. Any mixed breed dog (planned or unplanned) can have the best or worst of the parents.