Poodle crossbreed

Female Shih-poo, a crossbreed between a Poodle and a Shih Tzu.

Poodle crossbreeds or poodle hybrids are the offspring of purebred poodles that have been crossbred with another purebred dog breed. They may be described as a mixed breed dog, designer dog or, sometimes, as a hybrid dog.

Description and breed history

Normally, poodles are strongly line bred, for a combination of traits such as size and coat colour.^[1]

In biological terms, poodle crossbreeds are an intraspecies hybrid, rather than a hybrid between two different species, since all dogs belong to the same species and subspecies: Canis lupus familiaris.

While some crosses are accidental, many crosses are intentionally bred. Among reputable breeders, crossbreeding is an attempt to breed dogs with positive characteristics of two recognized breeds. For example, the Labradoodle was originally bred in an attempt to create a dog with a Labrador temperament and a hypoallergenic poodle coat. The intent was to create guide dogs for people with allergies. However − as with all crosses − only some puppies from crossbreeding of two purebreds will inherit both desired traits, some will inherit one trait, and some neither. Even when crossbred dogs manifest dominant traits, these dogs may not pass on the desired traits to offspring. One of these desired traits are the fleece coat of the Standard Poodle.^[2] If a puppy has this trait, they are a less likely to shed.

While crossbreeding does not guarantee better health, hybrids bred from parents with disparate gene pools may have far lower chances of expressing disorders associated with the parent pure breeds. Many good, reputable breeders perform genetic health testing to prove their dogs are not carriers of such diseases and this helps to produce healthier, disease free puppies. Breeders who health test and title their dogs usually have the highest quality for a decent price.^[3]

Portmanteau names

Many names for puppies of specific crosses with poodles have been invented, combining syllables or sounds from each breed name to create a portmanteau word. Usually the first syllable of poodle is appended to the breed name of the second breed in the cross. Other names are created by adding the sound -oodle (from poodle) or -doodle (by analogy with Labradoodle) to the other breed name. Many crosses can be described by more than one portmanteau word; since they are not breeds, any portmanteau word the owner or breeder wishes may be used. Some of the portmanteau word names that describe poodle crosses have moved into popular usage; the words Labradoodle (poodle−Labrador retriever cross), Poochon (Bichon Frise-Poodle cross) and cockapoo (poodle−cocker spaniel cross) are now listed in the Oxford English Dictionary.

Registration

Legitimate breed associations, such as the AKC, the UKC, and the CKC, do not recognize this crossbreed, or any other designer cross, as a breed in its own right. However, some major kennel clubs do accept registration of crossbreed and mixed-breed dogs for performance events such as agility and obedience. There is another registry, the CKC Continental Kennel Club, that does register hybrids if they have registered parents, but they are registered as non-purebred dogs, not as a breed.

Gallery

• 
  Three-month-old Cockapoo puppy.
• 
  A Wheaten Terrier–Poodle hybrid, commonly known as a Whoodle.
• 
  A 4-year-old Labradoodle.
• 
  A male West Highland Terrier-Poodle mix, commonly known as a Westiepoo, age 7.

See also

• Dog breeding
• List of dog crossbreeds

References