The most popular hybrid dog types 2017

Hybrid dog types, also known by other names including crossbreeds are comprised of a deliberate and set crossing between two pedigree breeds, and are becoming hugely popular all over the UK, often commanding similar prices to that of registered pedigree breeds, even though they are not actual pedigrees themselves.

The reasons for this popularity are numerous and of course, different for everyone that owns a hybrid dog type, but there is no doubt that there are many more uniform-looking crosses out there today than there were as recently as ten or twenty years ago!

If you are wondering whether a hybrid dog is right for you, what the appeal is and which ones are the most popular, we’ve analysed our advertisement data over the last year to bring you the Pets4Homes definitive list of the most popular hybrid dog types of 2017. Read on to learn more!

A note about hybrid dog types

It is important to understand the fact that while hybrid dogs are often described by specific names (such as a Labradoodle or Cockapoo) that are sometimes referred to as breeds, such dogs are not technically breeds in the correct sense of the word.

A breed refers to a uniform dog type that has recognisable and predictable traits and breed standards-so some dogs can still belong to a breed, without actually being a pedigree-such as a Labrador that has full Labrador ancestry but that is not registered as a pedigree. However, a hybrid dog type does not have a governing body, formal breed standard or umbrella organisation, and so they are correctly referred to as a “type” but not a breed.

For a dog to be classed as a pedigree breed in the UK, they not only need to be from a set recognised breed, but also registered with the UK Kennel Club, and have the appropriate paperwork to back this up.

While today’s hybrid breeds are therefore types, not breeds, it is entirely possible that they may be accepted and registered as such in the future-but for now, buying a hybrid dog means that they will not benefit from the various things that come with recognition and pedigree status.

Health Testing

We would always advise breeders of hybrid dogs, that they make sure tohave their dogs health tested before breeding. Specifically testing both dam and sire for any know health issues for their respective breeds. If you visit the Pets4Homes Dog Breed Selectorpage, you can find links to profiles for all dog breeds which include any recommended health tests.

So, onto the list! Ranging from fifth to first, we have:

Fifth place: The Sprocker

The Sprocker is a hybrid dog that is produced from the crossing of a springer spaniel and a cocker spaniel, and because both of these breeds come from the spaniel grouping and are reasonably similar to each other, it can be hard to tell a Sprocker from either of their two founding breeds!

Sprockers are on the small to medium size, and tend to be highly energetic, loving and very personable dogs, that live happily with a family but are also totally at home on the farm! Out of a total of 238 breeds advertised on Pets4Homes, the Sprocker comes in 44th place.

Fourth place: The Cavachon

The Cavachon is comprised from the crossing of a Bichon Frise and a Cavalier King Charles spaniel. This produces a small, lively and very inquisitive dog breed that often benefits from the coat type that comes with the Bichon Frise, which is curly and very low-shedding, which often makes them popular with people who are often otherwise allergic to dogs.

The Cavachon is also in 43rd place in total out of all of the 238 breeds advertised on the site!

Third place: The Labradoodle

The Labradoodle is what many of us think of as the ubiquitous hybrid dog type, and this was really the first hybrid dog that first caught the public attention in a big way. A Labradoodle is a dog produced from the crossing of a Labrador retriever and a poodle, which provides a significant range of variance in terms of size, due to the three different sizes that the poodle can be found in.

Again, the coat of the Labradoodle shares the poodle traits of not shedding too heavily, which may mean that they are a good pick for those with allergies. The Labradoodle comes in 29th in total out of all of the breeds advertised on Pets4Homes.

Second place: The Cavapoo

The Cavapoo is a sweet little hybrid dog type that is produced from the crossing of a poodle and a King Charles spaniel, once again producing a small, personable and often lively little dog that will ideally inherit the poodle coat.

The Cavapoo is also 21st in popularity out of all of the breeds and types on our site.

First place: The Cockapoo

Finally, the hybrid dog type in the first place position is the Cockapoo, which not only tops the list of the hybrid dog types, but is also notable for coming in seventh place out of all of the 238 different dog breeds we currently have advertised on the site! A cockapoo is a poodle cross cocker spaniel, which again has the low-shedding coat, lovely temperament and other desirable traits.

When Pets4Homes asked hundreds of Cockapoo owners, why they chose the breed, the majority of reasons where due to their looks, their size, their intelligence and because they are low shedding.