Central Virginia's Pets: Ins and outs of designer dog craze
My husband and I said “goodbye” to our 14-year-old dog, Spokes, last October. our beloved girl was gorgeous: ice-blue eyes, long, soft fur in a kaleidoscope of colors, pricked ears and a flowing tail. Spokes was likely from Australian shepherd stock, but beyond that, her heritage was a mystery. whatever she was, it was the perfect combination.
“The perfect combination” is also the idea behind the recent “designer dog” craze. a designer, or hybrid, dog is a first-generation cross between two breeds of purebred dogs. Goldendoodles (golden retriever + poodle), schneagles (schnauzer + beagle) and bullmations (bulldog + Dalmatian) are examples of designer dogs. while the names are fun, crossbreeding is serious business and is done for a variety of reasons.
Crossbreeding can be an attempt to reduce the incidence of genetic diseases found in so many purebred dogs. Regrettably, it can also result in a dog with problems common to both breeds. a responsible breeder ensures that purebred dogs used for mating are tested for, and free from, genetic diseases. if a hybrid puppy’s lineage is unknown or questionable, as is often the case at pet stores, that dog is more likely to have significant health problems.
Some designer dogs are touted as “hypoallergenic” pets (usually poodle + another desired breed). But keep in mind that allergies originate from dander, not fur. such dogs may shed less, but there is no guarantee they will be tolerated by allergy sufferers.
Designer dogs are also often viewed as fashionable status symbols, or novelty products. often these dogs cost significantly more than their purebred counterparts. like most fads, as the popularity of designer dogs rises, they will inevitably become commonplace.
Breeders will find they can no longer charge exorbitant prices and the hybrids will fall out of favor with trend-seekers.
If you have your heart set on buying a designer dog, the Humane Society of the United States encourages you to consider the following:
Do not purchase a hybrid — or any dog — from a pet store where the majority of dogs are from puppy mills and are therefore more likely to become ill.
Find a reputable breeder who insists on meeting you and encourages you to see first-hand where the dog and its mother come from.
A good breeder will provide paperwork detailing the genetic testing done to screen for health problems to which the breeds are predisposed.
Research the needs of both breeds. this dog will be in your life for 15 years; you want to be sure he or she fits your lifestyle.
Before buying a dog, visit your local animal shelter. one in four shelter dogs is purebred, and the rest are hybrids in their own right — mixes of two or more breeds. there you will save hundreds to thousands of dollars and the life of a homeless pet.
I know I’ll never have another dog like Spokes, but that makes her all the more special. To me, she was the most beautiful designer dog in the world.
Holland serves on the Lynchburg Humane Society’s Board of Directors and is a volunteer for various animal welfare causes.
Central Virginia's Pets: Ins and outs of designer dog craze
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