As you may not know, part of a breeder’s job is to improve the characteristics of the dog it raises. He does this through careful parental selection, special diet, and careful record keeping. A breeder may seek to improve a dog’s temperament for example, and take care to breed only the most obedient of dogs. Or a breeder may try to improve a dog’s show quality and breed dogs with a history of specific talents. The poodle hybrid is the mark of such breeding, and it aims to produce a “new and improved” canine through poodle hybrid puppies.

The Designer Dog

Mixing breeds is nothing new. Designer dogs however, are new. In a nutshell, designer dogs are animals that “fit” with our lifestyle. They might not bark as much or they might not trigger as many allergic reactions as their pure-bred counterparts do for example. To match society’s obsession with brand names, they’re given catchy names as well. A poodle-cocker spaniel mix for instance is called a cock-a-poo. A poodle-Pekinese mix is called a peke-poo. Can you guess what a poodle-labrador mix would sound like? Try Labradoodle! Yes, we could have fun guessing new combinations all day long, but there really are more serious issues to address.

Problems With Poodle Mixed Pups

Under no circumstances will a poodle hybrid make it into the AKC’s registry. The sole purpose of the AKC is to maintain records of what’s a pure-bred and what isn’t. Aside from that, people are misguided by hybrid “designer labels” and led to believe that they’re just as valuable or perhaps even more valuable than purebreds. That’s why many of these hybrids are so costly. The truth nevertheless, discloses a simple reality.

Only in the eyes and hearts of mutt lovers are hybrids valuable – especially the hearts of the sight impaired or allergy afflicted. Labradoodles (that is, golden retriever – poodle mixes) for example don’t shed and their strength makes them excellent guide dogs for the blind. For the professional dog breeder or show demonstrator however, hybrids don’t have much value at all. They’re simply mixed breeds.

Health Concerns

Some theories suggest that hybrids don't suffer from the health problems that pure breds encounter. But a conflicting theory suggests that mixing breeds strengthens the health of dogs in general. We’re not quite sure where to stand on the issue, but one thing is for sure – all poodle mixed puppies deserve top quality health care. So if you’re not sure what illness could affect your hybrid, research the ones that affect the breeds in your poodle mixed pup, and keep a look out for tale-telling signs. Inform your vet that your dog is indeed a purebred, and then ask what the best approach would be. Moreover, be sure to keep your regular vet appointments!