"Designer" Dogs

While the sun is shining, here in sunny Florida, and spring is in the air, I have noticed a trend in the air that is not pollen.More and more of my customers online and at dog training classes have the mixed breed "designer" dogs.

Some are great, but I have many concerns of breeding dogs for money, and the pet shop atmosphere of puppy mills and backyard breeders making dollars off of these mixed breed dogs! There are benefits to mixed breed dogs, especially less genetic defects. But other problems are still there. Poodle-mixes are touted as hypoallergenic, but breeders and scientists warn that only some puppies from each litter are indeed hypoallergenic! In that case, do families dump the poor puppy at a shelter, after discovering that their child is allergic to the dog?

In some cases, a mixed breed dog can inherit the worst physical and temperament traits of both parents. There are bad breeders on BOTH sides. Which is why education of the dog buying population is key. Whether or not you choose a purebred dog or a "designer" hybrid mix, do your homework and research this subject thoroughly. Please remember that adopting a dog should be a life long commitment and not something that should be taken lightly.