What Are The Advantages & Disadvantages of Cross-Breeding?

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Crossbred dogs are rising in popularity but there is still a lot of controversy surrounding them in the dog world. There are advantages and disadvantages to cross-breeding and it is important for potential dog owners to be aware of both sides.

If you are choosing a cross-breed dog it can be hard to predict what their appearance and temperament will be, however knowing the mix of breeds can tell you more about your dog and you’ll have a much better idea of what to expect.

The Truth About Cross-Breeding

Cross-breeding is when two different breeds are bred together, a good example is crossing a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle to create a Cockapoo. In theory, any two breeds can be bred together as dogs are one species no matter how different the selected breeds are.

Cross-breeding is a contentious topic because some people, often breeders of purebred dogs, think crossbreeding dogs produces impure mutts while others believe crossbreeding helps to add vigour and strength to breeds.

For more info on this, read our blog on the difference between cross-breeding and selective breeding.

What Are The Advantages Of Cross-Breeding?

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There are a number of positives to cross-breeding dogs and the advantages listed below are some of the key reasons mixed breed dogs are becoming increasingly popular.

Unique Puppies

cross-breeding can produce dogs that are unique. They don’t look like any other breed and even puppies from the same litter can look different from one another. This is because cross-breeding is combining two different breeds and there is no way to know how the genetics of the two individuals' parents are going to combine. This gives you a unique puppy.

Fewer Inherited Congenital Issues

Inherited genetic conditions are a big issue for many purebred dogs but cross-breeds are less likely to suffer from these. There is less risk of genetic issues being passed down, particularly if only one of the parents has the problem. Breeding dogs from two different breeds usually combines the best of their genetics.

Highly Adaptable

Crossbreeds make excellent pets, they are less likely to exhibit the extremes of the parent breeds and often inherit the best traits of the parents. Although not guaranteed, this means the majority of crossbreeds are adaptable and make excellent companions when they are socialised and trained from a young age.

The Best Of Two Different Breeds

There is a wide range of cross-breed dogs so, as long as the two parent dog breeds are compatible, finding the dog of your dreams is possible. Crossbreeding can give you the best of two breeds.

Could Be The Foundation For A Future Purebred

The purebred dogs we are all familiar with today started out by crossing different breeds in order to achieve particular behavioural and physical characteristics. This means the cross-breeds of today could become the base of purebred dogs in the future.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Cross-Breeding?

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Cross-breeding is a complicated issue and there are a number of potential disadvantages to be aware of too.

High Cost

Some cross-breed dogs can be very expensive, but it usually depends on which breeds are being crossed. In particular, the high price tag relates to designer breeds such as Goldendoodles.

With that said, there are some cross-breed dogs that are available at a lower cost and dog shelters often have crossbreed dogs available for adoption.

You also need to factor in the lifetime cost of dog ownership. Monthly expenses may include pet food, insurance and routine healthcare visits. To learn more, read our cost of dog ownership report.

Unknown Size

With cross-breeds, you cannot accurately calculate their growth rate and it can be difficult to predict the size of the puppies. This means there is a level of uncertainty regarding the dog’s fully-grown size.

If the two parent breeds are different sizes, you won’t be able to predict how big or small the puppy will end up being. This can be a problem if you have limited space and need the dog to be small in size.

Delivery Difficulties For The Mother

Not knowing the size of the puppies can cause birthing difficulties and complications. If the puppies are too large for the mother to give birth safely then she may require an emergency C-section.

Unpredictable Temperament

Although cross-breeding often produces wonderful dogs, their temperaments are unpredictable as you won’t know which characteristics the puppy will inherit.

This is quite different from getting a purebred puppy because they have been bred for generations for certain purposes and temperaments so they are much more predictable.

A good example of this in cross-breeding is if you were to cross a Shih Tzu and a Chihuahua, the Shih Tzu is known for being friendly while the Chihuahua is more aggressive and protective, there is no way of predicting what the crossbreed is going to be like.

Genetic Issues

There can also be genetic issues, particularly if the two parent breeds are prone to many health issues. In many cases, cross-breeding produces healthy dogs but in others, the mix of the two breeds may not work as well as hoped.

It is also difficult to trace the genetic history of cross-breed dogs which makes it harder to prevent potential issues.

Cross-Breed Or Purebred: Which One Should I Get?

There is no right or wrong answer, as long as you do your research and get your new dog from a responsible source that is only using healthy dogs with the best temperaments to breed it is completely up to you whether you choose a crossbred or purebred dog.

Overall, crossbreeds are unique and have a bigger gene pool so they can get the best traits from both parents. There is a huge selection of dog breeds so in a way you are able to “create” the dog of your dreams by carefully considering which breeds you would like your crossbreed dog to be a mix of.

Purebred dogs have a higher level of purity, they are often used in dog shows and can be registered with the kennel club or breed club so if this is important to you then purebred is the way to go.