Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Health comparison of Cockapoo Labradoodle Cavapoo and purebred dogs
By Bryson, Gina T et al.·Published in PloS one·2024·Department of Clinical Science and Services, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The doodle dilemma: How the physical health of 'Designer-crossbreed' Cockapoo, Labradoodle and Cavapoo dogs' compares to their purebred progenitor breeds.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A survey of over 9,000 dogs found that designer-crossbreed dogs like Cockapoos, Labradoodles, and Cavapoos do not have significantly better or worse health compared to their purebred parents, such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Labradors. While some owners believe that these mixed breeds are healthier due to "hybrid vigor," the study showed that most health issues were similar across both groups. In fact, designer-crossbreeds had slightly higher odds for some disorders and lower odds for others, but the differences were not significant. This suggests that when choosing a dog, potential owners should consider factors like breeding conditions and temperament rather than just health claims.
People also search for: Cockapoo health issues · Labradoodle vs Labrador health · Cavapoo common disorders
Abstract
Booming UK ownership of designer-crossbreed dogs resulting from intentional crossing of distinct purebred breeds is often motivated by perceived enhanced health, despite limited evidence supporting a strong 'hybrid vigour' effect in dogs. Improved evidence on the relative health of designer-crossbreed dogs could support prospective owners to make better acquisition decisions when choosing their new dog. This study used a cross-sectional survey of UK owners of three common designer-crossbreeds (Cavapoo, Cockapoo, and Labradoodle) and their progenitor breeds (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, and Poodle) to collect owner-reported health disorder information. The authors hypothesised that designer-crossbred breeds have lower odds of common disorders compared to their progenitor breeds. Multivariable analysis accounted for confounding between breeds: dog age, sex, neuter status, and owner age and gender. The odds for the 57 most common disorders were compared across the three designer-crossbreeds with each of their two progenitor breeds (342 comparisons). Valid responses were received for 9,402 dogs. The odds did not differ statistically significantly between the designer-crossbreeds and their relevant progenitor breeds in 86.6% (n = 296) of health comparisons. Designer-crossbreeds had higher odds for 7.0% (n = 24) of disorders studied, and lower odds for 6.4% (n = 22). These findings suggest limited differences in overall health status between the three designer-crossbreeds and their purebred progenitors, challenging widespread beliefs in positive hybrid vigour effects for health in this emerging designer-crossbreed demographic. Equally, the current study did not suggest that designer-crossbreeds have poorer health as has also been purported. Therefore, owners could more appropriately base acquisition decisions between designer-crossbreeds and their purebred progenitors on other factors important to canine welfare such as breeding conditions, temperament, conformation and health of parents.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39196904/