Purebred or mutt? That's how dogs tend to be categorized these days. You are either the esteemed owner of an expensive, pedigree holding dog or you picked up a free puppy from an accidental litter. You either searched and searched for the perfect breeder or you made a stop at the local shelter. Well as it turns out, that is no longer quite the case.

Hybrids, also known as designer dogs, are dogs that have two purebred parents of different breeds, and their rise in popularity is filling the gap between mutts and purebred dogs. They are recognized by and can be registered with the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC). Once a hybrid litter has been born, they may be bred with purebreds or fellow hybrids in the future to encourage certain traits, so litters may not always be fifty/fifty crosses.

Just as there are specific benefits to owning a purebred and specific benefits to owning a mutt, there are a number of reasons why one might want to own a hybrid. As with a purebred, you often have to search for a breeder to find hybrid litters, so you know where your dog is coming from. Unlike with purebreds, however, it is less likely that you will be able to predict what your puppy will grow up to be or look like. There is still a higher chance of genetic problems than with mutts, but the chances can be greatly decreased depending on what breeds have been crossed.

One major benefit believed to be involved with hybrid breeding is the heterosis effect, which is basically yielding a litter with superior genetics to their purebred and/or inbred parents. These benefits are the goal of the effect and produce what is called hybrid vigor, which is basically a measure of mental and physical health.

It is important to keep in mind that purebreds, hybrids, and mutts are still separate groups of dogs. While purebreds and hybrids come from known ancestry, the ancestry of mutts is uncertain. Not all hybrids are recognized by the ACHC, but new hybrids can be submitted. Hybrids crossed with purebreds are accepted for recognition. The most popular hybrid is the Puggle (a cross between a Beagle and a Pug), followed by the Goldendoodle (a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle), and the Labradoodle (a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle).

I own two unrecognized Chow Chow-Collie hybrids and a black Golden Labrador (a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Labrador Retriever), who are all healthy, energetic dogs. Hopefully, as the popularity of designer dogs continues to rise, so will the number of happy pets and owners.