Mixed-breed dogs are generally considered to be healthier than purebred dogs. However, this is not the case for designer dogs such as Labradoodles and Cockapoos, which have been very popular for some time, as a research team reports in the journal PLoS ONE.
Z+ (subscription required content); “Germany for free” by Michael Holzach: Happiness on the road
Trendy dogs with a friendly nature
Tennis star Roger Federer chose one, as did actor Chris Hemsworth and his colleague Brie Larson: a doodle hybrid dog, a deliberate cross between a poodle and various other dog breeds.
These include Labradoodle (Labrador Retriever plus Standard Poodle), Cockapoo (English Cocker Spaniel plus Poodle) and Cavapoo (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel plus Miniature or Toy Poodle). These mixes are often said to have a friendly nature and sometimes an allergy-friendly coat.
It is not known how many such dogs there are in Germany. In the relevant statistics, they are listed as “mixed breed dogs” like the usual mongrel dogs. These regularly take first place on the list of the most popular dog breeds in this country. Classifieds portals have many offers for Labradoodle, Cockapoo and Cavapoo puppies.
Health benefits for mixed breeds?
When deciding on such a mix, some future dog owners may think that their four-legged friend has a lower risk of disease as a mixed breed. This is because mixed breed dogs are considered to be more robust than purebred dogs due to the larger gene pool.
In fact, a study published ten years ago in the journal PLoS ONE found that purebred dogs suffer from certain diseases more often than mixed breeds. Purebred dogs were often bred for very specific characteristics – their health was sometimes ignored, and harmful genetic variants accumulated.
A research group led by the British Royal Veterinary College has now investigated how healthy Doodle hybrid dogs are. The owners of over 9,400 dogs were questioned about 57 common dog diseases. The data from the mixes was compared with that of purebred dogs such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, Labrador Retrievers and Poodles.
The analysis took into account the age, sex and neutering status of the dogs as well as the age and sex of the owners. The results showed that in almost 87 percent of the health comparisons there were no significant differences between the hybrid dogs and their original breeds.
Don’t just pay attention to health
The team concluded that there is no reason to believe that Doodle mixes are healthier than dogs of the breeds they came from. But at least they are not sicker either.
Other factors are therefore more important when making a purchase decision: for example, whether the temperament and needs of the breed or breed mix fit into your everyday life and whether the puppy comes from a reputable breeder.
Mixed-breed dogs are generally considered to be healthier than purebred dogs. However, this is not the case for designer dogs such as Labradoodles and Cockapoos, which have been very popular for some time, as a research team reports in the journal PLoS ONE.
Tennis star Roger Federer chose one, as did actor Chris Hemsworth and his colleague Brie Larson: a doodle hybrid dog, a deliberate cross between a poodle and various other dog breeds.
These include Labradoodle (Labrador Retriever plus Standard Poodle), Cockapoo (English Cocker Spaniel plus Poodle) and Cavapoo (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel plus Miniature or Toy Poodle). These mixes are often said to have a friendly nature and sometimes an allergy-friendly coat.
