What is a Designer Dog?  The term "Designer Dog"  came about from the practice of crossing two separate breeds of purebred dogs.

Unfortunately, breeders are currently popping up everywhere claiming that Labradoodles (Lab crossed with a Poodle), Goldendoodles (Golden Retriever crossed with a Poodle), Pomapoo (Pomeranian crossed with a Poodle), etc., are purebred dogs.  They claim that because the parents were purebreds, in fact AKC registered, in their respective breeds that the offspring from such matings are purebreds as well.  Some even call them hybrids. 

Purebred or hybrid this simply is not true.  The correct terms for designer dogs is mongrel, mutt, cross breed, or mixed breed.  A purebred dog has to have both parents that are of the same breed.  A hybrid is a cross between two similar species, such as a dog to a wolf.  The progeny of two purebred dogs that are of different breeds are not purebreds or hybrids.  Do you want to pay a ridiculous sum of money to own a mixed breed dog?  Instead, why not adopt a wonderful mixed breed dog from a shelter or rescue at a fraction of that price?  

Claims that these dogs don't shed and are hypo-allergenic are equally false.  These people are simply making money off dogs and misleading an ignorant public into paying the price.  Unfortunately, the dogs themselves pay the ultimate price because most of these breeders refuse to take the dogs back and refund the purchase price once it is determined that they are not hypo-allergenic as claimed.  And, I've yet to see a Labradoodle Rescue Group, which means these breeders won't even take responsibility for the animals they produced. 

So what happens to all the designer dogs when folks find out that they are allergic to their dog?  If the breeder (the person responsible for the fact that that dog was born) refuses to take the dog back, then the dog is at risk of being abandoned at a shelter. 

Why won't a breed rescue take these dogs?  Individual breed rescues already have too many of their own breed of dogs to rehabilitate and re-home so most cannot take on the mixed breeds.  Some will try if they have room.

If the breeders of designer dogs insist on making money off selling dogs, then they should step up to the plate and form rescue groups to re-home these unwanted dogs that would not be on this earth if they had not deliberately bred two dogs in order to make money.

With so many mixed breed dogs, and purebreds too, being euthanized (a nice, politically-correct word for killed) every day by the thousands in shelters across the nation, we take particular offense against anyone who indiscriminately breeds dogs.

Pet stores and backyard breeders are the worst sources for obtaining a pet.  Many pet stores obtain their dogs from questionable sources among them puppy-mills and backyard breeders.  Pet stores that sell dogs and cats are simply in it for the money.  The small cages and window displays of pet stores are highly inadequate for proper growth and development of puppies. 

Backyard breeders are irresponsible because they have not taken steps to insure that the puppies they produce will be free of hereditary conditions that adversely affect dogs such as blindness, deafness, hip dysplasia, epilepsy, heart problems, allergic conditions, etc.

Please don't encourage them.  Only purchase from reputable breeders who dedicate their lives studying and improving the breeds they love. 

If your heart is set on owning a purebred dog, we urge you to contact a qualified breeder, a breed specific rescue, or your local animal shelter.  There are many purebred dogs in shelters nationwide.  And, don't forget that the best dog you may ever welcome into your family just might be that adorable mixed breed waiting to be adopted at your local shelter.