Country of Origin

A designer breed dog is any dog influenced by multiple breeds, whether its origins are known or unknown. Popular designer breeds include the Puggle (Pug and Beagle), Ori Pei (Pug and Chinese Shar Pei), and Poodle mixes such as the Labradoodle (includes Labrador Retriever), Goldendoodle (includes Golden Retriever), and Yorki Poo (includes Yorkshire Terrier). Famous designer breeds include Benji (played by a dog named ‘Higgins’), who appeared in the ‘Benji’ series of films, winning over viewers with his muttish good looks and charming mischievousness, and ‘Tiger’ from the Brady Bunch.

Size

For the medium designer breed dog, weight can run between 20-50 pounds.

Coat

Designer breed coats come in many shapes, colors, textures, and thicknesses. From the corded Komondor, to the cottony Coton de Tulear, Mexican Hairless, poofy Poodle, and silky Yorkshire Terrier, you ought to be able to find a pure or mixed breed according to any specifications you have in mind!

Character

Designer breed dogs vary in character from relaxed to hyper, clever to gullible, obedient to stubborn, and loyal to independent. Some designer breed dogs are friendly with strangers and some are suspicious (they should never be overly aggressive if properly trained). Designer breed dogs which are suspicious of strangers but don’t bark excessively make the best watchdogs.

Temperament

Designer breed dogs may or may not get along well with dogs and other pets. Designer breed dogs should be socialized when young with people, other dogs, and any pets with whom they will be expected to live.

Care

Designer breed dogs have an average lifespan ranging from 7 years for dogs with many congenital health defects, up to 16 or 18 years for healthier breeds (making the ‘dog years’ calculation a bit of a departure from rock solid science). The world’s oldest dog was an Australian Cattle Dog named Bluey, who was put to sleep at 29 years, 5 months. Larger designer breed dogs have a shorter average lifespan than small designer breed dogs. Due to their varied genetic makeup, mixed breed dogs are free from many of the health issues affecting purebreds—this is known as ‘hybrid vigor’. The most common health problem for large designer breed dogs is hip and elbow dysplasia (malformed joints which can cause lameness or arthritis). Generally, a designer breed will be most susceptible to health problems affecting its parent breeds.

Training

Designer breed dogs require the same general training techniques as their purebred cousins. Most training should be conducted as early as possible (there is a grain of truth in the old maxim ‘an old dog can’t learn new tricks’). Most important is obedience training—the process of teaching your dog to reliably respond to basic commands such as ‘sit’ and ‘stay’. Any situations your dog will face in later life, such as grooming and bathing, should be introduced as early as possible. It is important to employ a system of consistent rewards and punishment, as well as a wide variety of training methods to hold the dog’s interest. Positive reinforcement is generally encouraged over harsh techniques, which backfire in many cases. Some designer breed dogs will recognize the trainer’s authority immediately, while others require a fair amount of effort. Housebreaking techniques will vary by breed.

Activity

A designer breed dog can require any amount of activity. Some tiny toy dogs can have all their exercise needs met simply by running around inside the house. There are large designer breed dogs who will grow destructive if they don’t have at least one or two hours of solid, strenuous exercise every day, or access to run freely in the outdoors. Most designer breed dogs fall somewhere in between, requiring a moderate daily walk and access to a large fenced-in yard. Generally, larger designer breed dogs require more exercise, but there are definite and clear exceptions to this rule. It is best to acquire a designer breed dog whose exercise requirements match your personal habits. Very large or extremely energetic designer breed dogs may not be suitable for life in an apartment or condominium with no yard access. Most dogs enjoy sports such as flyball and dog agility, or obedience competitions.