What is a Hybrid Breed?

A hybrid is a crossbreed, also known as a designer dog. It takes two different breeds of parents to make a special dog that has the best characteristics of both breeds. They are known to have fewer health problems and cause fewer allergy problems for their owners. They have a mixed temperament and their size, color and sociability are unpredictable, unlike that of a purebred dog.

Popular Hybrid Dogs

You may have heard some of the cute names they are coming up with for the mixed breeds these days. They take a portion of each dog's breed to form a new, and often funny, name for the breed. Some examples include the Chi-Poo (Chihuahua and Poodle mix), Mal-Shi (Maltese and Shih Tzu mix), the Jack-a-Bee (Beagle and Jack Russell Terrier mix), and the Labradoodles (Labrador and Poodle mix.)

The Popularity of Hybrids

Even though they have unpredictable health, socialization and behavior patterns and there is no way of telling exactly what the adult dog will look like, these dogs are wildly popular. A surefire way to tell is to check around for pricing on them. These dogs can range anywhere from $300 to $1,200 or more. You can usually find them a little cheaper from a private breeder verses a chain pet store, but it will still set you back a lot more than your average mutt or purebred dog.