ArticlePloS one2024
The doodle dilemma: How the physical health of 'Designer-crossbreed' Cockapoo, Labradoodle and Cavapoo dogs' compares to their purebred progenitor breeds.
Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed.
- Dog Breeds for the Future: Theoretical Assessment of Strategies for Enhancing the Behavioural Reliability of Existing Dog Breeds, or Developing New Ideal Urban Companion Dogs.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026Review
- A solution right under our nose? Crossbreeding extreme brachycephalic dogs results in better health outcomes while preserving behavioural profiles and dog-owner relationship quality.Animal welfare (South Mimms, England) · 2026Article
- Retrospective evaluation of the prevalence of known and presumed hereditary eye diseases in a population of Labradoodles referred for ophthalmic screening examinations in the Netherlands.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2026Article
- Article
- Comparing undesirable behaviours between 'designer' Poodle-cross dogs and their purebred progenitor breeds.PloS one · 2026Article
- The Road to Cancer Care: Understanding How Far Owners Travel for Their Pets' Oncology Treatment.Veterinary sciences · 2025Article
- Spatial Problem-Solving in Working Dogs: The Combined Effect of Body-Size Awareness, Social Learning and Functional Breed Selection.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025Article
- Reply to Venturino et al. Comment on "Hladky-Krage, B.; Hoffman, C.L. Expectations versus Reality of Designer Dog Ownership in the United States.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025Article
- Measures of Homozygosity and Relationship to Genetic Diversity in the Bearded Collie Breed.Genes · 2025Article
- Body Awareness Does Not Need a Pedigree: Mixed-Breed Dogs Rely More on Self-Representation Than Social Learning in a Spatial Task.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025Article
- Epidemiology and clinical management of acute diarrhoea in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK.PloS one · 2025Article
- A new future for dog breeding.Animal welfare (South Mimms, England) · 2025Review
- Conformational eyelid disorders in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK - Epidemiology and clinical management.PloS one · 2025Article
- Phenotypic characterization and quality of life of Labradoodles with idiopathic epilepsy and epilepsy of unknown cause.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
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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