While there may be good intentions behind cross-breed dogs, it’s important not to lose sight of their history, writes Ellena Swift
It is no secret that cross-breed dogs have absolutely rocketed in popularity since the very first labrador was crossed with a poodle in 1989. The litter was bred because a blind woman required a guide dog, but her husband was allergic to long-haired dogs. Since that first mating, cross-breed dogs have become more lucrative than ever, with breeders crossing everything, often in the name of money and fashion.
For a dog to be considered purebred, the parents, grandparents and great-grandparents should be the same breed and their ancestry traced easily. Not only this, but the breed associations usually require them to be at least 87.5% of the given breed to be considered purebred. In order for that dog to then be classed as ‘pedigree’, it must not only tick the purebred box but also be registered with a breed-appropriate society. In the UK, this is nearly always the Kennel Club.
Improving lines
Many breeders spend years building particular lines of a certain breed of…
