How did the "designer dog" fad start?
 

Just curious. I've seen several posts lately regarding some of the designer dogs. I'm just curious as to how it all got started. I mean did someone just say I bet a yorkie/poodle mix would look cute, let's try it? And how did it become so popular that there's so much money involved? What's the appeal of purchasing a mix breed? (I'm not talking about rescuing a mix...I'm speaking strictly of seeking out a breeder who breeds these designer dogs).

I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that the Labradoodle started it all. The original breeder of Labradoodles was doing it for a great purpose though.... he wanted a good blind/guide dog and therapy dog (Lab personality) but non-shedding for people with allergies (Poodle). He came out recently and said he felt guilty that he "started" the whole designer dog fad because that was NOT what he was trying to do. But I think the Labradoodle is, or is almost, considered a breed in Australia. Then everyone else jumped on the bandwagon of breeding everything and their mother to poodles hoping to get the non-shedding fur but it takes years to develop that. Look how long it's taken for the Labradoodle to get where it is. I think cockapoo's are also another that have somewhat more of a breed standard, and a good club behind it. You CAN find reputable Cockapoo and Labradoodle breeders, IMO, they are out there. But most others are just for the hell of it. It's so sad.

I think they became so popular because many people with allergies don't react to Poodles. So the idea of a "Golden Doodle" or whatever became very appealing. People who wanted a Golden Retriever could essentially get one minus the shedding. The problem arises when they get this Golden doodle puppy... keep it for a few months and realize they have more of the Golden retriever hair and they are allergic to it, then bring the dog to the shelter. There is so many poodle mixes in shelters because of this. :( In one sense, I can see the appeal in those. But then all the other pointless ones came out... like oh let's breed a Pomeranian and a Boston terrier! Wtf, right. lol

I don't know how it started, but I'll be glad when the 'fad' ends.

I can remember back in the early eighties cockapoos became somewhat popular but weren't hyped as "designer dogs" necessarily. The term became more widely used in recent years. I think as society became enamored with "designer" anything the term started being used as a marketing ploy for many items, including mix breed dogs.

It's kind of like old furniture not quite old enough or good enough to be called antiques, used to be called junk, now it's shabby chic, retro or vintage.....give something a fancy name and people buy it!

I read the same article that Brit did. The labradoodle started it all and for a good reason. But the man who started it states that he now wishes he had not.

Cockapoos were popular in the early 70s when my family adopted one that had been returned to the breeder. I agree that they were not marketed as "designer" dogs back then, but breeders did promote cross breeds as having the best of two breeds. In other words, cockapoos weren't a status symbol, but supposedly a "better dog."

Thanks for the replies everyone! I've learned some interesting things. I have heard that mix breeds are healthier than pure breed dogs. I guess that helps to feed into the appeal of mixing the popular breeds of dogs whether its true or not.

I don't think there's really any true facts on that... BUT my belief... I DO feel like "real" mutts are probably healthier. Real mutt meaning a dog that you truly have NO idea what they are mixed with and probably have 3, 4, 5, 6 or more breeds in them. Whereas a cockapoo for example, you KNOW is a cocker spaniel and a poodle mixed and could get bad genetics carried on from either purebred. But a mutt with absolutely no known ancestry seems like it has a higher chance of living longer, but I don't even know if that's true.

Cockapoos were very popular back in the 70;s and 80's but not "marketed" as the "designer" dogs are today and were not expensive. More people wanted AkC registered dogs back then.
Today it is all about the $$$$$. These prices and marketing are mostly due to
AKC mandatory unannounced inspections and their mandatory DNA requirements. Many "breeders" lost their AKC privledges and started breeding mutts, ie, designer dogs, to make up for lost revenue when they could no longer register their dogs with AKC. All of a sudden you got your alphabet soup dog "registries"(apri, aca, ckc(not Canadian), etc.) There are too many of these bogus registries to list. Puppy mills and back yard breeders jumped on the band wagon as they did not want to comply with AKC's strict rules and started using these bogus registries. Cutesie little names were given to these mutts like morkie, chorkie, bugs, shi shi, chaweenie, puggles, yorkiepoo, labradoodle, goldendoodle, maltipoo, among many other, to appeal to the buying public. Claims of non-shedding and hybred vigor were also part of the exploitation of these dogs.
Now breeders had a way to not have to deal with AKC and make a huge profit of their "new" designer mutts.
The labradoodle craze I believe started when a breeder was trying to create a non-shedding guide/service dog. Unfortunately, his experiment didnt work as planned. Still got shedding dogs and unstable temperments. Now the labradoodle is a big business.

I didn't look specifically for a "designer dog" but I do LOVE my MORKIE!!!!

:D


By the way, I always refer to her as a Yorkie/Maltese mix. The only time I ever use the word Morkie is when I am too darn lazy to type it out on here.

Noone has a problem with mixed dogs. Its the PEOPLE who want to make money off mixing dogs.

I have a yorkie-poo mix. I can't remember now how much I paid, 150$ I believe for her, UTD and her belongings. She was rehomed 3 other times because she wasn't what everyone was "expecting".