Puggles, Chugs, and Buggs Oh My!

In this day and age everyone has to have the hot ticket item. These days, the hot ticket item comes with the "hybrid" label. When you think of hybrid, what comes to mind? Maybe a car, or a vegetable? How about a dog? Yep, I said a dog. Today's world is full of all kind of fads but none quite as interesting (some may say disturbing) as hybrid dogs, also known as designer dogs.

A hybrid dog is the result of two different dog breeds being bred to produce a new breed of dog, all of which are not recognized by the AKC and often frowned upon. Along with the new breed of dog comes a peculiar list of names to match them. You may have heard of a puggle (the result of a pug and beagle breeding), but what about a Pug-a-Pom, Chug, or a Bugg? The list goes on and on and not just with the pug breed. In recent years the labradoodle has become one of the biggest trends in hybrid dogs.

You'll find this can be a hot topic among dog enthusiasts, which is completely understandable. When purchasing a purebred dog from a reputable breeder you are doing so knowing exactly what kind of dog you are getting, how it will fit into your lifestyle and more importantly how it will behave. This is where the problem comes in. When two dog breeds are mixed the result is a dog that can have characteristics of both breeds, the good and the bad.

Regardless of how you feel about the issue, it's important to research the breed of dog you are bringing into your home. If you must have a designer dog, make sure that you are ready for the traits of both breeds. Most importantly, no matter what dog you bring home whether it be pure, hybrid, or a mutt, they deserve all the love in the world.