Designer Dogs - 9/3/08

Growing up, our family pet was our dog, Laika. Named after the unfortunate Soviet dog that was sent into space, our Laika was a mix of German Shepherd and Siberian Husky. Whenever someone asked about her breed, I would say, “She’s a mix of German Shepherd and Siberian Husky”. Imagine the looks I would have received had I said, “She’s a Shuskie”.

Suddenly we have an enormous number of new dog breeds that seem to be created for the sole purpose of sporting goofy names. It’s only recently that I have started to notice all the Cockapoos, Labradoodles and Schnoodles in my town. Whenever I drive up Rt. 53, I pass a sign that says “Golden Doodle Pups”. A friend commented that a Golden Doodle sounds like something you might order in a Chinese restaurant.

Researching this column, I found several sites that referred to these animals as “designer dogs”. Do these dogs have the Tommy Hilfiger logo bred into their hindquarters? The Ralph Lauren Polo pony tattooed on their ears?

Actually “designer dog” is the term used for a cross between two purebred dogs. This is different than a mutt, which has an uncertain ancestry. Breeders cross two different purebred animals to try and combine the best properties of each breed, while at the same time lowering the percentage of genetic problems. Now you can have the easy temperament of a golden retriever with the hypoallergenic properties of a poodle. As the mother of an asthmatic child, I can appreciate this idea. But a small part of me still wonders if these breeds are being crossed primarily for their silly names.

If you cross a Spaniel with a Yorkie, would you get a Sporkie? I didn’t find that listed under hybrids on www.dogbreedinfo.com, but I did see a Torkie, a Chorkie, a Corkie and a Snorkie. A Chihuahua/Dachshund mix is, interestingly enough, a Chiweenie.
A Bolognese cross-bred with a Poodle becomes a Bolonoodle (and that is something you can get in a Chinese restaurant.)

The poodle seems to be a popular dog to throw into the mix, if only for the fact that it adds an “oodle” or a “poo” to the final name. In addition to the Cockapoo, there are Bossi-Poos, Doxiepoos and Jack-a-1oos. There are Foodles, Scoodles and Saint Berdoodles. My son asked if you crossed a Cocker Spaniel with a Golden Doodle, would you get a Cocker Doodle? If so, their poop would of course be: Cocker Doodle doo.

As Shakespeare once wrote, “What’s in a name?” The most important thing is the love that is shared between a dog and its owner. So here’s to all the purebreds, hybrids and plain old mutts that bring us joy each day.