Pedigree v crossbreed: which type of dog should you choose?

Owning a pet has never been more on-trend, with cats and dogs taking the top two spots in the pet parade. Of the 49% of UK households with pets, dogs account for 24% of them.

Certain breeds have become fashionable, boosted by social media or TV shows – Game of Thrones, for instance, triggered a rise in people’s interest in huskies, while Instagram is full of dachshunds, basset hounds and flat-faced breeds such as pugs and French bulldogs.

For some on-trend dog breeds, being such a popular choice actually has a serious downside – especially for those with a very specific look. “Extreme looks such as flat-faced breeds will have major health implications for them,” says Dr Karlien Heyrman, head of pets at Pets at Home.

“These breeds often require airway surgery to help them breathe, which is why we worry about the welfare of ‘fashionable’ dogs. It’s not that these owners don’t love their dogs, they do – it’s about raising awareness about the issues such breeds can have.”

As a recent study by the Institute of Canine Biology suggests that pedigree dogs are more prone to genetic health problems than crossbreeds, perhaps it’s time for dog owners to choose a pooch based on personality, not looks.

“Some pedigree dogs do have recognised genetic health conditions, they have a smaller gene pool, and certain breeds are known to be prone to particular health issues,” explains Heyrman.

Related: Owning a kitten or puppy: myth v reality

Although there are hundreds of actual dog breeds, there are basically three categories of dog types:

Pedigree dogs tend to be a breed recognised by the Kennel Club, such as the labrador, dalmatian, jack russell, cocker spaniel.

“Designer” dog breeds aren’t currently recognised by the Kennel Club, but are dogs that have been bred using two, or sometimes three, recognised dog breeds, such as a labradoodle (a labrador crossed with a poodle), a jug (jack russell crossed with a pug), a boxador (labrador crossed with a boxer).

Crossbreeds are genetically jumbled dogs, ones that have no recognised breeding, but are a genetic mix of lots of different types of dogs.

So when considering whether to get a dog, your focus shouldn’t be what your pooch looks like, it should be whether a dog fits in with your lifestyle. “You really need to consider the time you can give your dog, if you can afford it, and then it’s about whether your life and your home can accommodate one that is small, medium or large.

“Crossbreeds tend not to have the inherited type of health problems that pedigrees can have, simply because they have such wide genetic makeup. However, they can still have health issues, of course – all dogs can,” says Heyrman.

She also advises that anyone looking for a dog should always consider giving an unwanted pet a home. “UK rescue and adoption centres have so many dogs that need rehoming – they often have puppies in need of new owners. These places do a fantastic job at finding loving homes for animals who desperately need that chance at a new life.”

‘We wanted to give an unwanted dog a chance of a happy life’

When Marina Gask-Ajani, an editor from London, decided to get a family dog, she knew she wanted a rescue pooch instead of a ‘designer’ puppy

We just weren’t interested in pedigree dogs, we wanted to rehome an unwanted puppy and, for us, it was all about finding a dog the whole family would love.

A couple of my friends have rescue dogs and gave me lots of information and advice. We found a rescue centre in East Sussex and arranged a visit.

Chilli is a collie, greyhound and dachshund cross – she’s brown and white, with freckles on her nose and a very endearing face. When we met her, she jumped into my 11-year-old son’s arms and licked his face all over. It was game over!

The first year or so wasn’t easy – she used to run off and take ages to come back and could be a little overprotective when certain dogs approached. She drove us mad at mealtimes, begging at the table, and kept wanting to herd our cats – natural behaviour for a collie, but not fun for the cats. We had a few sessions with a dog behaviourist eventually, which made a big difference.

She’s more obedient now and stays close to us when we’re out with her. Apart from when she spots a picnic, which can lead to a mad dash. She’s obsessed with cheese.

We live near woods and a tributary of the Thames, so she gets to run off-lead and go for an energetic paddle every day.

When I’m working from home she comes and curls herself around my office chair and snores gently while I work. Adopting a rescue is such a rewarding thing to do, you’re giving an unwanted dog the chance of a happy life. She’s unconditionally loving, forever delighted to see me. It sounds corny, but I get so much joy being around her.

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