May 5, 2010
Lots of Dogs to Choose From: Purebred, and Hybrid, and Designer! Oh, my!
Nowadays people think about a lot more than “How much is that doggy in the window.” There are many considerations.
JustDogBreeds.Com has created a list of 155 dog breeds, A-Z, and how to find the one which is your perfect match. They take eight points into consideration:
- Temperament
- Dog Size
- Time for Exercise
- Children
- Grooming
- Allergies
- How Easy to Train
- Protection
Hybrid Dogs
A list of the most popular hybrid dogs can be found on Dog Breed Info Center. They suggest that the best way to determine the traits of a mixed breed is to look up all breeds in the cross and know you can get any combination of any of the characteristics found in either breed. They state, “If you do not feel the temperament of one of the purebreds in the mix is suited for your lifestyle, then that hybrid dog is not for you.”
Designer Dogs
A “designer” dog (as the media has labeled them) is a cross between two purebred dogs. A purebred dog is one that has been bred over many generations to breed true, which means each puppy that is born looks and has the same temperament and characteristics as one another. In most cases a standard is written and breeders must follow this written standard. Only dogs which make the written standard are to be bred.
You may wonder, what’s the difference between a designer dog and a mutt? Generally, a mutt is of uncertain ancestry. A designer dog has documented purebred ancestry, and one knows for sure what it is. The American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC) is the leading registry for designer dogs.
Two other sources for lists of hybrid dogs can be found on:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americancaninehybridclub.htm
http://www.tinytracks.net/ACHC-Mixed-breed.htm
What do you consider most important in selecting a dog? Do you care whether the dog is a purebred, hybrid, designer, or mutt?
