Hybrid Dogs – Man’s Best Blend

Hybrid dogs combine the best traits of two breeds, with the resulting animal making a very attractive animal companion. Call them Man’s Best Blends.

Farmers Insurance and Pets Best Insurance Services teamed up last year to offer pet insurance policies. The companies recently combed their vast databases of policyholders to find the most popular hybrid dog breeds in America today.

Here are the top 5:

Australian Shepherd and Border Collie (Border-Aussie)
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and French Bulldog (Royal Frenchel)
Border Collie and Whippet (Border Whippets)
Labrador Retriever and Bernese Mountain Dog (Labernese)
German Shepherd and Poodle (Shepadoodle)

These dogs may be called by strange breed names, but they have bred-in characteristics that make them excellent choices for families – or for lives as working dogs.

For instance, the Australian Shepherd and Border Collie (Border-Aussie) is typically highly intelligent, and agile. Both “sides” of these dogs are bred for herding livestock. They are attentive, smart and calm – but they need plenty of exercise to avoid boredom.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and French Bulldog (Royal Frenchel) are combined from two breeds that have known health issues: Cavaliers have high rates of heart disease, while French Bulldogs are often obese, and have breathing difficulties.

But when the breeds are combined, these health issues tend to be minimized. What you get are the great qualities of both breeds, including their friendly, laid-back natures.

With the Border Collie and Whippet mix (Border Whippets) you get athleticism in spades. These dogs like to run and play. By mixing them, owners can avoid the troublesome, shedding fur of the Border Collie.

Combine a Labrador Retriever and Bernese Mountain Dog (Labernese) and you get a good-natured friend who is calm and friendly around kids and strangers. Just watch out for hip and joint disease, and give these dogs plenty of space to run and play.

The German Shepherd and Poodle (Shepadoodle) hybrid makes for a terrific guard dog. They are smart and attentive. Mixing the breeds tends to somewhat minimize the German Shepherds’ tendency toward back and hip problems.

So, how are these dogs different from mutts? Unlike muts, the hybrids aren’t the result of random mating. Rather, they are bred to combine certain characteristics, and minimize others. The result are dogs with fairly predictable strengths and weaknesses.

Maybe one of them is right for you.