[ferragame]

All dogs trace their ancestors back to wolves in one way or another.

As for cross breeding by people, it was usually done for a reason as dogs typically served a purpose. Yokies were originally 15 lbs or so and were used by miners to hunt rats/mice in the mines in Yorkshire England. There were cross bread with Maltese to give them their long hair BUT it was done for a reason not because someone wanted to buy a "morkie" (note that a Yorkie IS a Morkie as they all have Maltese in them).

As for today's "designer" breeds.......yes, one day they may be recognized as an actual breed by an organization such as the AKC but it won't be for many many years.

Many of today's designer breeds are because of bad breeders. They market a Yorkie and a Maltese as a "Morkie", and charge a bunch of money for what is essentially a mutt. People buying the dog don't want to call it a mutt but "Morkie" sounds much better (and more expensive). Or the case of the poodle mixes........they are marketed as a dog that will have hair an be better for people with allergies.....not necessarily true. When you mix two of anything, there is no guarantee what you will end of with. So you just take your chances.

Now after 100 generations and a large genetic population later, things could stabilize and you will start to end of with a "real" breed.....a la the Yorkie of today.

To us, a good breeder breeds to develop the best of the breed. They want to promote and produce healthy examples of the breed. Typical breeders only breed one or maybe two breeds because of the time and effort involved to producing excellent examples of the breed. Any breeder that purposely cross breeds and promotes and sells mutts as something special is IMHO not a true breeder but more like a backyard breeder. We work REALLY hard to produce excellent Yorkies and do everything possible to be sure they are healthy and great examples of the breed. Its disappointing to hear of breeders that breed mutts for sale and market them as something special.

Just my opinion.