Cross Breeds - Is it possible for a breeder to intentionally cross two different breeds, and be a "responsible" breeder?

Is it possible for a breeder to intentionally cross two different breeds, and be a "responsible" breeder?

After talking with "Wolfeh! ~ Blue Eyes Studios", I came to this question. What do you think? Can you breed, for instance, a Pomeranian, and a Chihuahua, and still be reputable and/or responsible?

Public Comments

IF and BIG IF they were trying to create a new breed for a specific purpose, yes. But that is NOT what is happening with these "goldendoodles" and "porkies". It takes a lot of know how to responsible create a new breed.
Yeah I think you can, it happens with working dogs where I live, usually ACD/Kelpie type mixes, it depends what they do with the puppies though, some will just dump them in the pound, after they keep the ones they think will be the best, some reputably sell them etc. I really don't think you can be if you're crossing pets.. Chi/Poms have no purpose at all, even if they've been shown, they have no purpose than being a pet. I think it just depends on what they do with the puppies & what they are being bred for.
I don't think all these "designer" breeders are intentionally bad, and some even take strides to put their puppies in good stable homes. Some actually are breeding for a cause, like the labradoodle started as a hope to make a more friendly, hypoallergenic dog through mixing the two. Most are simply money hungry people, i can't really say i've ever seen reputable/responsible breeders that breed mixes. Then again, most dog breeders aren't reputable/responsible in the first place.
Absolutely not! The only time it is okay is for working purposes.
Personally I think not. Responsible breeders don't breed mutts or "designer" dogs and overcharge for them.
If the parents were titled, genetic testing done( since mutts are not necessary healthier then purebreds) and a specific purpose..other then being "Cute" and good for nothing little dogs, then possibly.I mean all recognized breeds today at one time before kennel clubs were formed were just dogs bred for a specific purpose. In fact there are still breeds that are unrecognized by kennel clubs that have been around for centuries. I would imagine that a breeder that wanted to create a new breed, would have to have lots of money, space and time. It takes decades to get the dogs to conform to a standard..selective breeding,etc. You know it. Then form a breed parent club and strive to get AKC FSS then AKC full recognition. If they done all of that..sure I would call them reputable. If not, they would be a step between good and bad breeding. At least if they did genetic testing the pups should be healthier then most mutts and purebreds bred without genetic testing.
In my opinion.. No.. I do not think it is right. Because we have survived hundreds of years with the breeds we have today. MANY working breeds. MANY companion breeds. MANY scent/sight hounds. I think dogs right now.. are a wonderful thing. And since we have came all this way to produce these dogs so our world would be basically perfect.. I do not feel we need responsible breeders to do that.
in a word - NO! Not ethical, not responsible, not reputable
Yes, but ONLY for working purposes, anything else is just irresponsible and pointless.
Yes I think so. As long as they don't spread bullshi* like mixes are healthy and they are really trying to create a breed. I don't care about the purpose cause all dogs can make a good companion. Like the carlin Pinscher which is not a min pin pug mix or a mini rottie. http://www.carlinpinscher.org/index.htm http://www.junipercreekfarms.com/ They are all very honest with people who are interested in them. Which is more than I see for poodle mixes.
Yes. ALL dogs are mixes, so at one point in history some breeder was mixing dogs and I think they probably would have considered themselves responsible.
the only way it would be reputable is if you are creating a line of working dogs.. for example crossing border collies and australian shepherds for a herding dog. What would be the purpose behind crossing a pom and a chihuahua? to make more lap pets? I dont see anything responsible about that, there's more than enough lap pets out there.
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