Crossed Breeds and Designer Dogs

Labradoodle

Crossed breed dogs are crosses between 2 pure breed dogs. Historically, some crosses are deliberate, with formalised breeding programmes run by recognised Kennel Clubs or controlling bodies. Some of those not run by Kennel Clubs result in having a name derived from the two breeds which have been deliberately mixed, for example Labradoodle (Labrador Retriever and Standard Poodle cross). When there is no participation in inherited disease screening programmes, these combinations can produce disastrous results. It must be understood that the mixing of two different pure breeds produces not only the virtues but also the problems that are transmitted from both parents!

Mixed Breed Dogs

Mixed Breed Dog

Responsible breeders with pure breed dogs do not usually or knowingly allow a misalliance. It is only when and if they do, these dogs can correctly be called 'crossed breeds'. Otherwise, they are 'mixed breed' dogs as described below.

Mixed Breed Dog

The ancestry of a "mixed-breed" dog is not known at all. A mixed-breed dog may also be called a mutt, mongrel, cur, slut, bitzer (from "bit o' this, bits o' that") or random-bred dog. The problem with mixed-breed dogs is that their temperament and instinctive traits are generally unpredictable. The result of not knowing the parentage of a dog is that they might behave in unexpected ways, such as digging or chasing.

Mixed Breed Dogs

However, mixed breed dogs have been recognised from the earliest classifications. For example in 1570, an early classification simply called them 'watch dogs', a term applicable today.

Mixed Breed Dogs 1570

Mixed Breed Dog

In 1570, Dr. Johannes Caius wrote about mixed breed dogs within a document that classifies the functions of many of the pure breed dogs we know today. This classification that was written in Latin and translated into English by A Fleming in 1576^[1]. The original translation of this important work is in my opinion too difficult to read to be printed in its original form. So it appears here as my interpretation in modern English:

Description by Caius 1570

"Containing curs of the mongrel and rascal sort and watch dogs

Such dogs are not of any specific breed. They are made up of sundry sorts of dogs that do not look like any particular breed. Because they do not have a recognisable shape or serve any worthy purpose; it is not necessary to write any more about them. But they are not beyond this classification as being of no use except to bark to warn their owners that some stranger is approaching. Whereupon we call them warning dogs or watch dogs because they perform this use".

References and Further Reading

^[1] Dr John Caius, "Of Englishe Dogges: The Diuersities, the Names, the Natures, and the Properties", London, 1576, translated into English by Abraham Fleming, Page 36. The work was originally published in Latin in 1570 as "Johannes Caius, De Canibus Britannicis".