Things to Consider Before Getting a Cross-Breed Dog

A crossbreed dog is a dog whose parents are of two separate breeds, or a mixture of several breeds. So, for example, a goldendoodle is a combination of a golden retriever and a poodle. The dog will in turn, theoretically, inherit the hypoallergenic properties of a poodle, and the playful and gentle personality of a golden retriever.

When it comes to choosing the right breed of dog for you or your family, there are a lot of important factors to consider; these factors can range from the dog’s temperament, your living conditions, your lifestyle or how much owning the dog will cost. In this blog, we will take a look at the different aspects to consider before bringing home a cross-breed, the advantages and disadvantages, and what to expect from your cross-breed.

Pure-Bred vs Cross-Breed: What’s the Difference?

A purebred dog is a single breed whose lineage can be traced to find parents and grandparents of the same breed. With pure-bred dogs, it can be very easy to know what to expect. You will know what they look like, how big they’ll grow, their personality, what exercise they’ll need, how much they’ll shed and the likelihood of health issues.

Cross-breeds have a much more diverse ancestry, which makes them somewhat unique. As they can only be traced back to one generation, it can make it hard to know what sort of personality or health problems they might have.

There a range of popular cross-breeds such as cockapoos and cavapoos which have seen a surge of popularity throughout the years. Although these breeds have seen a meteoric rise in numbers, it’s worth noting that they are in fact cross-breeds, and will come with all the risks/associations that a cross-breed will have.

What to Remember

The most important information is to go and do your research on the breed or the breeds that make up your cross breed.  You are more likely to get a healthy pup from a registered breeder who cares for their dogs and only wants the best home for their pups.

The environment and the care that the pup receives from the breeder is absolutely essential. A healthy mum who is loved and well fed and cared for will produce healthy and emotionally stable pups who are capable of being a family companion.

Benefits of Cross-Breeds

1.Good Genetics

Cross breed dogs are not as likely to develop pre-existing genetic diseases as their pure-bred alternatives. Owning a mixed breed dog doesn’t mean they will never develop health issues, but the odds of your mixed breed dog having a genetic condition are much lower than a pure-bred.

2. Perfect Pets

Crossbred dogs tend to learn to be disciplined as easily as purebred dogs. They also adopt the personality of their parents, and tend not to be timid when socialized around others. For example, you may like the personality of a Labrador yet with the intelligence and minimal shedding coat of a poodle. These two breeds may create a dog that is perfectly suited for you and your family.

3. Lovely Looks

With so many possible combinations, each crossbred dog is as unique as the next. Your cross-breed dog is a one-of-a-kind, giving a look that no other dog has. They can come in all shapes and sizes, but will almost certainly be guaranteed to be a loyal and loving member of the family.

Things To Consider When Getting a Cross-Breed

1. Sizing

Predicting the size of a mixed-breed can be much trickier than if they were pure-bred. If two breeds of differing sizes are combined, it will be anyone’s guess as to how big or small the dog will turn out to be. Choosing two wildly different breeds can make it hard to know how big the puppies will be, both when they’re born and when they grow up.

2. Shedding

Depending on the breeds used for mating, the texture and colour of a puppy’s coat can be difficult to predict. A mixture of two very different coats, such as a Standard Poodle’s coat and a Labrador Retriever’s coat, may not give you puppies with one of the other but may produce a coat that’s a hybrid of the two and that will require extensive grooming. This can result in lots of shedding, which is something to consider if you decided to bring home a mixed-breed for a family member with allergies.

3. Socialising

Your mixed breed pooch may have the stubbornness of a Huskey, the clinginess of a Golden Retriever or even the territorial barking of a Yorkie, but you may never know unless they show those behaviours. Once you bring home your mixed-breed puppy, it’s important to socialise, train with positive reinforcement, and provide plenty of activities (both physical and mental) to prevent boredom, anxiety and excessive barking. Spending lots of quality time with your dog will help them feel more secure.

4. Staying Active

Staying active reduces the risk of obesity, maintains healthy joints and muscles, and is just plain fun! It is essential that all dogs have regular exercise. However, with a mix-breed, it can be tough to know how much activity they need. For mixed breeds, you may be judging by their size. Dogs with terriers, sporting breeds, or herders in their DNA may need more activity to discourage destructive behaviours. Smaller dogs such as toy breeds will benefit from short, daily walks. Sight or scent hound dogs will enjoy shorter but high-intensity workouts such as frisbee, or hunting games such as hide and seek. Due to their strength and independent spirit, Working Dogs will need proper handling and training to ensure their natural instincts are supported and controlled. It’s important to consider the different types of breeds in your dog to find the perfect exercise to suit them.