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Poodle mixes are just as healthy as their origin breeds, new study finds
A new study found that poodle mixes are just as healthy as their original breeds, helping owners make more informed decisions when selecting their next furry friend.
Despite popular belief that poodle crossbreeds are unhealthy, recent research reveals that the physical health of designer-crossbreed dogs like Cockapoo, Labradoodle and Cavapoo dogs compared largely similar to their purebred progenitor breeds.
Crossbreeds are just as healthy as purebreds
There is a huge debate in the pet world that poodle cross-breeds are thought to be unhealthy dogs, so a recently published study based on ‘the doodle dilemma,’ dived into the topic. They compared the health of these popular breeds against purebreds.
Researchers from the United Kingdom’s Royal Veterinary College found there is no difference!
Hybrid dogs, also known as designer dogs, are a mix of more than one purebred dog – and have become increasingly popular. Many people favor hybrid dogs as the health problems associated with pedigree breeds become more widely known.
The theory believed that crossbreed designer dogs are more genetically diverse, so are less likely to suffer the health issues plaguing purebreds.
The study focused on three common crossbreeds – cockapoos, labradoodles and cavapoos – that share poodles as a common progenitor (the direct ancestor), and found they were no more or less healthy than their pure-breed counterparts.
The used a questionnaire, around 9,400 people, to capture and explore ownership experiences regarding designer crossbreeds and their progenitor breeds.
Some owned a cross-bred dog and others owned one of their purebred “progenitor” or founder breeds – either a cavalier King Charles spaniel, cocker spaniel, Labrador retriever, or poodle. All dogs were aged under five years.
Overall, the findings provide no evidence for a meaningful difference in overall health between them: “Instead, results suggest that the overall health of this emerging designer-crossbreed demographic is largely similar to their progenitor breeds.”
Authors tested the assumption that designer crossbreeds have less chance of suffering common disorders compared to their founder breeds, comparing odds for the most common health disorders across the three designer crossbreeds with each of their founding (progenitor) breeds. Common health issues assessed included eye and ear infections, diarrhea, and cruciate ligament rupture.
The outcome showed that the poodle-cross dogs and comparable founder-breed dogs shared health outcomes 87% of the time.
Researchers hope these findings will help hopeful dog owners make more informed, evidence-based decisions when choosing their next puppy purchase.
