The well-known Designer Dogs emerged in the 1990s, mainly in the United States, with the aim of restoring the hybrid vigor of some dog breeds that had suffered from excessive inbreeding in the pursuit of breed purity. The idea behind Designer Dogs was initially to harness the power of heterosis in dog genetics, basically by crossing purebred dogs, also known as mixed breeds or crossbreeds. Above all, this segment no longer follows the rules of the traditional dog fancy; these breeders were looking for new crosses and new characteristics in each project.
What sets a Designer Dog apart from a “mutt”?
So-called mutts have uncertain or unknown ancestry, whereas with Designer Dogs there is a selection of purebred dogs to produce a particular mix. Although to this day these crosses still face a good deal of prejudice from the traditional dog fancy, something unexpected has been happening in recent decades: Designer Dogs have been growing every day, led by the success and visibility of dogs such as the Puggle, Labradoodle, Goldendoodle, Pomsky, Fluffy Bulldogs, etc.
How are “Designer Dogs” recognized around the world?
Today, The ACHC (American Canine Hybrid Club) is the main registry for these crosses, guiding everyone who wants to get into Designer Dogs on the importance of the work needed to obtain better, well-selected dogs for the crosses.
The growth of Designer Dogs has been so significant worldwide that even The Kennel Club (the oldest registry in the world, founded in 1873 and responsible for recognizing more than 200 existing dog breeds) has opened the possibility for these dogs to be registered in a controlled way, guiding their breeders and personal projects.
Designer Dogs and IBC
In yet another pioneering move in Brazil, IBC makes official Designer Dogs, advising everyone who joins this cause to carry out well-studied projects with rigorous selection of the dogs to be used.
IBC understands that making Designer Dogs official is extremely important for preserving the traditional dog fancy, maintaining the continuity of existing breeds and their fixed characteristics, while also creating opportunities for new breeders seeking new characteristics and phenotypes in their specific projects.
A dog resulting from Designer work is in fact a mixed dog; however, this mixing must be controlled, selected and well planned by its creators, through health tests and the choice of the best dogs to be used.
IBC understands that Designer Dogs are not yet fully known to the general public in Brazil, but recognizes that the growth of this segment worldwide in recent years is undeniable and irreversible.
