Scientists Eye a Problem With Trendy Doodle Dogs
AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File
A new study from the United Kingdom suggests that popular “designer dog” mixes may not always have the advantages many people expect. These dogs—often given catchy hybrid names—are frequently bred in the hope of combining the best qualities of two different breeds. However, researchers say the results do not always match those expectations.
Scientists at the Royal Veterinary College examined data on more than 9,400 dogs, focusing on three well-known poodle mixes: labradoodles, cockapoos, and cavapoos. The research, published Thursday in the journal PLOS One, compared the behavior of these crossbreeds with that of the purebred dogs they come from. According to Popular Science, the findings suggest the mixes often display more behavioral challenges than at least one of their parent breeds.
Researchers used a standardized behavioral evaluation to measure traits such as aggression, anxiety, excitability, and ease of training. In about 46 percent of the comparisons, there was little or no difference between the mixed-breed dogs and the purebred dogs. But in roughly 44 percent of cases, the crossbreeds scored worse. These dogs were more likely to show traits such as very high energy levels or distress when separated from their owners. The crossbreeds performed better in fewer than 10 percent of the comparisons.
The study also found that when a behavioral issue was already common in one of the parent breeds, the mixed-breed dogs often showed an even stronger version of that same problem. According to the BBC, this happened in about 82 percent of those cases. Researchers concluded that poodle mixes—commonly called “doodles”—do not always behave the way buyers might expect.
Among the dogs studied, cockapoos had the most negative results. They performed worse than their parent breeds in about two-thirds of the 24 behavioral categories evaluated, including excitability and aggression toward their owners. Cavapoos also showed higher scores in nearly half the categories, particularly in excitability and separation-related stress. Labradoodles generally did better than the other mixes and even scored better than poodles in six areas, including aggression, according to the study’s summary.
The researchers said their goal was not to criticize any specific type of dog but to challenge the widespread belief that designer crossbreeds automatically have better temperaments than purebred dogs. They hope the findings will help potential dog owners make more informed decisions before choosing a pet.
Animal welfare group Dogs Trust also noted that breed alone is not a reliable way to predict how any individual dog will behave. The organization says factors such as health, early socialization, training, and life experiences can play major roles in shaping a dog’s personality.
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