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