| Designer dogs are really hybrid or | | | | wonders of artificial insemination, the |
| cross-breed dogs that have been developed to | | | | smaller Toy and Miniature Poodles can be bred |
| try and gain some positive characteristics or | | | | with larger breeds such as the Labrador or |
| lose some negative characteristics from the | | | | the Golden Retriever to produce smaller |
| founding pure-bred dog breeds. "Poo" hybrid | | | | designer dogs. While a Poodle could be either |
| dogs where the Poodle is crossed with a | | | | the dam or sire in most pairings, in this |
| number of breeds such as the Labrador | | | | situation the Labrador or Golden Retriever |
| Retriever (Labradoodle), Golden Retriever | | | | would be the dam. One of the most popular |
| (Goldendoodle), Maltese (Maltipoo) Cocker | | | | designer dogs today is the Cockapoo which can |
| Spaniel (Cockapoo), Bichon Frise (Bich-poo), | | | | take many forms. The Cockapoo Club of America |
| Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkipoo) and the | | | | recognizes two main types of Cockapoos - the |
| Schnauzer (Schnoodle) are very popular. This | | | | American Cockapoo (Poodle/American Cocker |
| is because the Poodle is a very intelligent | | | | Spaniel cross) and the English Cockapoo |
| breed with a non- or low-shedding odorless | | | | (Poodle/ English Cocker Spaniel cross). Four |
| coat which is said to be hypoallergenic. | | | | sizes of Cockapoo are designated. These are |
| While there is no guarantee as to what | | | | the: Teacup Toy (under 6 pounds grown |
| characteristics will be passed on to the | | | | weight); the Toy (7 - 12 pounds); Miniature |
| first generation puppies from the breeding | | | | (13 -18 pounds); and Maxi (over 19 pounds). |
| parents, the Poodles non-shedding coat seems | | | | Information on "poo" hybrids such as |
| to be a dominant characteristic which is | | | | Cockapoos, Goldendoodles and Labradoodles can |
| often passed on to the first generation of | | | | be found at . |
| puppies, accounting for the popularity of the | | | | |
| "poo" hybrids. I guess if you wanted to | | | | Many designer dog breeders insist that the |
| ensure a hypoallergenic and non-shedding | | | | first generation hybrid puppies will be |
| coat, then you should acquire a Maltipoo, | | | | healthier and have fewer genetic health |
| Schnoodle or a Bich-poo where both parents | | | | problems than the founding breeds. They say |
| have non-shedding coats. It should be noted | | | | that this is due to a phenomenon called |
| that there are really two types of | | | | hybrid vigor. Some breeders will even breed a |
| Labradoodles. The first is the unofficial | | | | first generation "-poo" hybrid back to |
| mixed Poodle/Labrador designer breed | | | | another Poodle to try and ensure a |
| described above and the second is the | | | | non-shedding coat. The resulting back-cross |
| Australian Labradoodle which has resulted | | | | will be ¾ Poodle and ¼ other |
| from an exhaustive Australian breeding | | | | founding breed. Other experienced hybrid |
| program involving 6 different parent breeds: | | | | breeders tend to focus on producing a |
| Poodle, Labrador Retriever; Irish Water | | | | multi-generational line of hybrid puppies |
| Spaniel; Curly Coat Retriever; American | | | | with standardized characteristics by breeding |
| Cocker Spaniel; and English Cocker Spaniel. | | | | non-related hybrids with the desired |
| | | | characteristics. It is really up to you as to |
| Most of the Poodle hybrids are quite | | | | which type of designer dog hybrid - first |
| attractive with beautiful coats. Colors range | | | | generation, back-cross or multi-generation - |
| from whites and creams to apricot, brown, | | | | that you purchase. However since the founding |
| chocolate, silver, gray, black and | | | | breeds are always pure-bred with potential |
| multi-colored. Their coats are low to | | | | genetic problems, purchasers should always |
| non-shedding and will need combing, brushing | | | | ask to see the Orthopedic Foundation for |
| and clipping on a regular basis. Poodles are | | | | Animals (OFA) and the Canine Eye Registration |
| very intelligent and most "poo" hybrids | | | | Foundation (CERF) certificates for both |
| should be fairly easy to train. Since there | | | | parents. This combination of genetic testing |
| are three sizes of pure-bred Poodles (Toy, | | | | and cross-breed vigor should help to ensure |
| Miniature and Standard), you can have many | | | | you acquire a healthy puppy. |
| different sizes of "poo" hybrids. Through the | | | | |