Is hybrid vigor considered to be fact of fiction?  Well, heterosis is considered to be a scientific term for hybrid vigor and it is considered to be a calculable trait in offspring from two completely different genetic dog breeds.  Hybrid vigor normally happens when the offspring of a cross surpasses his or her parents.

From the very beginning, when purebred dogs were first created, inbreeding was one of the main ways to achieve a purebred animal.  Due to health and genetic problems that may occur in offspring of inbreed dogs, inbreeding is no longer allowed or used in any kennel or breeding program.  Dogs that experience inbreeding of their very own bloodlines tend to have several genetic conditions that show up continually in purebred dogs.  This type of illness is considered to be recessive.

In other words, this means that any dog can actually carry the genetic factor for a particular illness but not show the signs. When they are bred to another dog with the same recessive genetic factor, the puppies have a one in four chance of developing that recessive condition. There is also a two in four chance that the puppy will have the recessive genetic condition themselves to continue on in the breeding line. Testing of a dog’s parent’s genetics usually takes place well in advance before breeding.

Did you know that Hybrid breeders use heterosis? Yes, they use it as a way to defend their new breed of dog and prove that hybrid dogs are a way of preventing the genetic problems.  If breeders give the proper genetic tests and find the right parents that do not have the same recessive gene, they can actually lower or stop the chance that the offspring will develop a genetic problem. 

Like everything in life, there is no significant guarantee that a hybrid offspring will never have a serious genetic problem.  However, if a particular dog is created and they are allowed to cross breed second and third generations some recessive genetic problems could be bred out from the hybrid blood lines.  If the designer dog is irresponsible and does not perform the correct genetic testing the genetic problem could be worsened in the offspring.
  
Some pets actually suffer from congenital health issues like hip dysplasia and some dogs even suffer from heart disease - sound familiar?  These new hybrid dogs can help create new offspring who will not exhibit these disorders.  Hybrid dogs genetically safeguard genes and traits of both breeds and correct any health problems that may arise.

Dogs that experience hybrid breeding are often referred to as F1 crosses. They are also considered to be first generation crosses. F1 crosses can either be crossed with a parent breed or can be crossed with another F1. This type of cross breeding is considered to be an F2 cross. It is also know as a second generation cross. The goal of this cross breeding is to create a separate breed that breeds true.  Once a dog breeds true they completely prevents hybrid vigor over a period of time.