Dog Breeds - Designer Dogs I'd Like to See!

Dog Breeds

How many dog breeds are there? Well, it depends on who you ask. Different registries recognize different breeds. For example, the American Kennel Club recognizes 161 breeds, with more waiting to be registered. There are lots of other dog breeds, however. Some aren’t well known, and some are extinct. Also, new breeds are being developed all the time. Some of these are considered as designer dog breeds. They’re created when two purebred dogs of different breeds are bred. Sometimes there’s a third breed thrown in. For example, two purebred dogs might be bred, and the crossbred puppies might be bred to a third purebred representing yet another breed. It can certainly get confusing! Why have these designer dogs become so popular? Is the public that hungry for some type of exotic canine pet? I think this is sometimes the case, but some owners and potential owners might see such crossbred animals as hardier, with fewer health problems. I’m not at all sure about this practice. I actually remember when such dogs were referred to as “mutts.” But now they’re designer dog breeds! And as you can see from the dog pictures I’ve included, some are really adorable. Go figure. Join me in my journey of new dog breeds I’d like to see!

Dog Breeders

We have too many dog breeders in the United States. There, I said it! I’m not referring here to selective breeders who breed only the best to the best and are careful to actually improve the specific breed. I’m talking about puppy mills and folks who’ll breed practically anything to anything in order to make a buck. Such breeders don’t care much about the quality or the health of the puppies they’re producing, and most of them don’t care about the puppy’s fate with the new owners, either.

I really don’t get the whole designer dog thing. Mankind spent thousands of years developing and improving the dog breeds we have now. Do we really need more? On the other hand, I suppose if dog breeders had never experimented with crossbreeding, we wouldn’t have all the older established breeds we enjoy today. Obviously, I’m still sort of “on the fence” with this topic. Designer dog breeds aren’t doing anything to improve specific recognized breeds, but I suppose if they’re producing healthy puppies, taking good care of them, and making sure there’s a market for them and not adding to the pet overpopulation problem, it’s probably pretty harmless.

Actually, I guess I’m guilty of this practice, myself. Long before designer dog breeds became fashionable, we bred our male Golden Retriever to our female yellow Lab four times – 40 puppies in all, from four litters. We sold all of them quickly, and people asked to be put on a waiting list for future litters. Turned out duck hunters loved the mix. Keep in mind, however, that these two breeds are closely related, in purpose, size, appearance, and history. They share some common ancestors, including the St. John’s water dog. Crossing a Goldie and a Lab isn’t exactly like crossing a pit bull and a poodle.

I’ve also been a dog breeder of purebreds, including Great Danes, English pointers, and Brittany Spaniels. Like other responsible dog breeders, I took excellent care of the parents and the puppies, and I made sure they were sound and healthy before offering them for sale. Our Great Danes were sold as pets, and our pointers and Brittanies were from great hunting dogs, so they were sold to hunters.

Designer Dog Breeds

If you’re a canine aficionado, you’re probably familiar with the designer dog breeds craze. Designer dogs are everywhere! We have Peekapoos (Pekingese and Poodle), Maltipoos (Maltese and Poodle), Puggles (Pug and Beagle), Maltipoms (Maltese and Pomeranian), Goldendoodles (Golden retriever and standard poodle), Buggs (Boston terrier and pug), Pomapoos (Pomeranian and toy poodle), Yorkipoos (Yorkie and poodle), Amstiffs (American Staffordshire terrier and Mastiff), and lots more. The list is endless, and there are all sorts of possibilities.

I’m sure you’ve heard the old joke: What do you get when you cross a pit bull and a Collie? A dog that’ll bite your face off and then run for help. No, I’m not “dissing” on pit bulls. My daughter had one that was super sweet and gentle, and I’ve included a couple of dog photos of him, above. But sometimes it seems as if dog fanciers can’t leave well enough alone.

What I really want to know is who decides which breeds should be crossed with what? Do these dog breeders just drop names in a hat, shake them up a little, and draw the names of two breeds? And why are some designer dog breeds so much more popular than others? Okay, admittedly, some are cuter than others, so maybe that’s the reason. But are the crossbred pooches really more endearing than both their purebred parents? Evidently, there are many people who think so. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be shelling out their money for designer dogs – they’re not cheap.

Designer Dogs – my ideas

I’m not sure why, but I’ve been thinking about designer dog breeds a lot since my best friend purchased two Shorkies – Shih Tzu and Yorkie crosses. They’re cute little rascals, I must admit. That’s them in the dog pictures above. Even though I’m not too crazy about most small breeds, Samantha and Sophie are great. I mean, I love dogs, in general, but there aren’t too many small dog breeds I’d care to own now. I usually like large and giant dog breeds better. I have two Great Danes, and my husband decided to adopt a dog from our local animal shelter – a Basset hound.

I’m recovering from knee surgery, and I have too much time on my hands. Walking is painful, so my shopping and going out for other activities is limited. Obviously, I can’t hit the gym, either. When I find myself in a situation like this, my mind begins to wander, and I often come up with some funny ideas. That’s how I came up with my version of designer dogs I’d like to see. Below are a few of my tongue-in-cheek designer dogs. Hey, who knows? Somewhere in the list might just be the next hot designer dog! And, by the way, the breeds I used in my dog breeding program are real dog breeds.

Afghan Army Dog – Afghan Hound x German Shepherd

Bearded King – Bearded Collie x Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Bed Wetter – Bedlington Terrier x Wetterhoun

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Black and Blue – Black and Tan Coonhound x Kerry Blue Terrier

Black Mud – Black Russian Terrier x Mudi

Bloody Bones – Bloodhound x Redbone Coonhound

Blue Skye – Kerry Blue Terrier x Skye Terrier

Bologna Samwich – Bolognese x Samoyed x Norwich Terrier

Bolo-Xolo – Bolognese x Xoloitzcuintli

Bull Shihtz – Bulldog x Shih Tzu

Cat Shet – Catahoula Leopard Hound x Shetland Sheepdog

Charles Manson – Cavalier King Charles Spaniel x Manchester Terrier x Beauceron

Chili con Carne – Chilean Fox Terrier x Cane Corso

Chocolate Bar – Chocolate Lab x Barbet

Chocolate Malt – Chocolate Lab x Maltese

Chow Hound – Chow Chow x Basset Hound

Cocky Englishman – Cocker Spaniel x English Setter x Manchester Terrier

Coon Shet – Coonhound x Shetland Sheepdog

Dandie Duck – Dandie Dinmont Terrier x Nova Scotia Duck-Trolling Retriever

Dutch Chocolate – Dutch Smoushond x Chocolate Lab

Elk Retriever – Norwegian Elkhound x Golden Retriever

English Ale – English Setter x Airedale Terrier

Foxy Gal - Fox Terrier x Kangal Dog

Giant Staff – Giant Schnauzer x American Staffordshire Terrier

Great Bed – Great Dane x Bedlington Terrier

Grey Water – Greyhound x Portuguese Water Dog

Hair Comb – Harrier x Combai

Hairless Parson – American Hairless Terrier x Parson Russell Terrier

Hairy Wart – Harrier x Hovawart

Hava Care – Havanese x Cairn Terrier

High Water – West Highland White Terrier x Portuguese Water Dog

Hungry Munchies – Hungarian Hound x Mucuchies

Jack in the Box – Jack Russell x Boxer

King Kang - Cavalier King Charles Spaniel x Kangal Dog

Lacy Paisley – Blue Lacy x Paisley Terrier

Land and Sea – Shetland Sheepdog x Sealyham Terrier

Lap Dog – Finnish Lapphund x Dogo Argentino

Low Water – Lowchen x Portuguese Water Dog

Manwich – Manchester Terrier x Norwich Terrier

Mexican Chili – Mexican Hairless x Chilean Fox Terrier

Miracle Mutt – Great Dane x Chihuahua

Mop Dog – Komondor x Puli

Mountain Ridge – Bernese Mountain Dog x Rhodesian Ridgeback

New Man - Newfoundland x Manchester Terrier

Old Folk – Old English Sheepdog x Norfolk Terrier

Old Man – Old English Sheep Dog x Manchester Terrier

Otter Plotter – Otterhound x Plott Hound

Peek-n-See – Pekingese x Sealyham Terrier

Perky Staff – Schipperke x American Staffordshire Terrier

Pitter Patter – Pit Bull x Patterdale Terrier

Porkie – Pug x Yorkshire Terrier

Rat Berger – Rat Terrier x Leonberger

Rat Fink – Rat Terrier x Finnish Lapphund

Rotten Heel – Rottweiler x Australian Blue Heeler

Russian Border – Russian Terrier x Border Collie

Samwich – Samoyed x Norwich Terrier

Scotch and Water – Scotch Collie x Portuguese Water Dog

Scottish Saint – Scottish Deerhound x Saint Bernard

Sea Gull – Sealyham Terrier x Gull Terr

Sea Kelp – Sealyham Terrier x Australian Kelpie

Seal Spit – Sealyham Terrier x Finnish Spitz

Sharp Chin – Shar Pei x Japanese Chin

Smooth Chin – Smooth Collie x Japanese Chin

Spin Silk – Spinone Italiano x Silky Terrier

Stiff Staff - Mastiff x American Staffordshire Terrier

Teddy Bear – Teddy Roosevelt Terrier x Karelian Bear Dog

Toy Box – Toy Fox Terrier x Boxer

Wheat Husk – Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier x Siberian Husky

Whipping Cane – Whippet x Cane Corso

White Cotton – West Highland White Terrier x Coton de Tulear

Witchy-Poo – Norwich Terrier x Poodle