Poodle hybrid
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Poodle hybrid is a cross (hybrid) between a Poodle and some other breed of dog. Poodle hybrids have become very popular as pets. They play a big role in the current designer dog trend. The Poodle's non-shedding coat and penetrating intelligence are the usual motivations behind such experimentation, where potential pet owners are looking for a highly intelligent, nonshedding version of a breed for health, aesthetic, or hygenic reasons. While some of the crosses have been accidental, most of the very successful crosses are deliberate and industries unto themselves.
A breed cross is not a recognized breed, although some breeders promote them as such; this is because some of the crosses have a fairly consistent appearance, personality, and size, and are easily identifiable (as for example the schnoodle). Other crosses are less predictable, resulting in wildly variant appearances and personalities (as for example occurs in the so-called Yorkie-poo, the yorkshire terrier cross).
Often touted are the alleged non-shedding properties of certain crosses. While often true, this is not always the case, and any cross involving a shedding breed may result in offspring that shed.
What is almost always true is that the offspring of two entirely different breed dogs is very unlikely to have genetically-linked diseases perpetuated by the inbreeding of pure breeds. Assuming the parents are properly matched for size and build, first generation hybrid dogs are likely to be very healthy and vigorous throughout their lives having a much lower chance of developing genetic diseases or disorders based upon skeletal geometries.
In fact, any crossbreed with a poodle is usually given a "...poo" or "...oodle" based name, although most of these are fanciful concoctions by individual owners, such as pooter or perrier for a poodle-terrier mix, and are not part of the mainstream.
"We're making a new breed. The AKC is going to recognize the Cocker-Poo real soon now."
The process of creating a new breed and achieving AKC recognition is long and involved, requiring many years and many generations. A "breed" is a genetically similar strain of dogs that resemble each other in appearance and temperament. Bred together, two dogs of the same breed will produce puppies that are also similar in appearance to the parents and will develop in a predictable fashion.
The first step in creating a new breed involves a definite vision of what the breed will look like and the writing of a breed standard to describe it. For example, what characteristics must a Yorkie-Poo have in order for it to be considered a Yorkie-Poo? What is a Cocker-Chon or a Peke-A-Pom supposed to look and act like? To date, no breeders of these "new" breeds have even taken that first step.(see note) There has been no agreement among breeders even as to what a Yorkie-Poo is supposed to be other than a cross between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Poodle. After years of mixing these breeds, no two Yorkie-Poos look anything alike; neither are any Peke-A-Poms or Cocker-Chons similar to one another. There has not been any serious effort at all to create a distinct breed that the AKC would recognize.
"We're combining the best of both breeds into one! Shelties shed but Poodles don't. A Shelti-Poo will look like a Sheltie but not shed."
Not exactly. Genetics doesn't work that way. Some Shelti-Poos might fit this description but many won't. A breeder can't pick and choose what features will be passed on from each breed it's strictly a matter of luck because the genetic combinations involved in the crossing of breeds is random and unpredictable. There is just as much of a chance that the puppy will grow up to have the worst characteristics of both breeds! The selection of certain traits is achieved only by generations of careful breeding, discarding dogs that don't have the desired qualities and narrowing the gene pool until the right combinations occur with regularity.
IF YOU WANT A NON-SHEDDING PUPPY/ADULT THEY HAVE TO HAVE BOTH PARENTS THAT ARE PUREBRED NON-SHEDDING BREEDS IN THE FIRST PLACE. IF YOU MIX A SHELTI WITH A POODLE OR A LAB WITH A POODLE OR ANY SHEDDING BREED WITH A POODLE (POODLES ARE A NON-SHEDDING BREED)....SOME OF THE OFFSPRING WILL SHED, SOME WILL BE MINIMAL, SOME WON'T AT ALL BUT DO CARRY THAT RECESSIVE GENE SO IF YOU THEN BREED THAT LABRADOODLE OR SHELTIE-POO (EXAMPLES) THAT HAPPEN TO NOT SHED...THEY CAN STILL PASS THE RECESSIVE SHEDDING GENE ONTO THEIR OFFSPRING.
"These Beag-A-Poos are registered with the 'Dogs International Kennel Club'."
The word "registered" has a magical effect on people. They seem to think something that's "registered" must be legitimate and valuable. Not so! "Registered" is no more an indication that a dog's breed is legitimate any more than it implies the dog has quality or value. "Registered" simply means "recorded." Someone has a paid a fee to an agency to record his dog's name in a book and the agency has sent him a certificate saying they did so. There are many canine registries in business today that will register any kind of dog whether it's purebred, mixed breed or even of unknown origin.
The two most long-standing and reputable canine registries are the American Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club. Neither registers mixed breed dogs or dogs of unknown parentage. AMBOR, the American Mixed Breed Obedience Registry, is a reputable organization that registers mixed breeds but only for the purpose of competing in the obedience trials it sponsors.
