Top 15 Mixed Dog Breeds and What to Know About Them

Mutt, designer, crossbreed… there are all sorts of nicknames for dogs comprising multiple breeds. But these terms do have different meanings. For example, a mixed dog breed is a dog with known but varied lineages while a designer dog is a dog intentionally bred from two different breeds.

Without a test, Dr. Maria Baker, DVM, a vet at Pet How, says, “The difference lies in whether the mix of breeds is known or intentional. ‘Mutt’ typically refers to dogs with unknown or varied lineage, ‘mixed-breed’ refers to dogs with known but varied parent breeds, and ‘designer dog’ refers to dogs bred intentionally from two specific purebred dogs.”

Since none of these dogs belong to a specific breed group, it can be tricky to predict their personalities, what they will look like and how big they’ll get in adulthood. When mixed-breed dogs stop growing can vary as well. “My advice to potential dog owners looking at mixed breeds is to be prepared for the unexpected,” adds Dr. Baker.

However there are some mixed dog breeds who are more popular than others. Here is a list of dogs, from mixed to designer, you should get to know.

Chug

One of the smallest mixed breed dogs, the Chug is an adorable combination of a Chihuahua and a Pug. Both breeds tend to be affectionate and closely bonded to owners, so you can expect a loyal pet. Chugs are relatively low maintenance on the exercise front but will need plenty of play and attention at home to keep them happy and healthy.

Adult size: 4.5 to 9 kilograms
Personality: Affectionate, loyal and confident
Grooming needs: Weekly
Activity Needs: Up to an hour’s exercise needed per day
Trainability: Average
Barking: Medium tendency
Potential health issues: Pugs are brachycephalic (flat-faced) dogs, so Chugs can inherit this trait, leading to breathing difficulties. They can also be prone to dental issues due to their small mouths.

Cockapoo

Perhaps the most popular crossbreed and a good medium-sized mixed breed, the Cockapoo is a heart-melting combination of the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle. They’re loving dogs that thrive off attention and company, which can leave them highly prone to separation anxiety without the right training. They’re widely considered to be a breed good for allergy sufferers due to their low-shedding coats.

Adult size: 2.5 to 11.5 kilograms
Personality: Affectionate, fun and outgoing
Grooming needs: Daily
Activity Needs: At least an hour of exercise needed per day
Trainability: Easy
Barking: Medium tendency
Potential health issues: May inherit eye disorders and hip dysplasia from their parent breeds and are susceptible to ear infections

Labradoodle

Combining the family-orientated traits of the Labrador Retriever and the intelligent and affectionate nature of the Poodle make this an all-around wonderful mixed breed dog. Labradoodles are one of the best-known and established crossbreeds, originating in Australia in the 1970s at the request of a blind woman with allergies to dogs. The Labrador Retriever is normally bred with a Standard Poodle, but mixes have been known with the smaller Miniature Poodle.

Adult size: 13.5 to 29.5 kilograms (depending on size of the poodle parent)
Personality: Active, friendly and loving
Grooming needs: Daily
Activity Needs: At least two hours of exercise needed per day
Trainability: Easy
Barking: Medium tendency
Potential health issues: Can be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, along with eye conditions such as progressive retinal atrophy

Puggle

A mix of the Pug and Beagle, the Puggle makes a loving and active companion. With two such diverse breeds—personality as well as looks-wise—it can be tricky to predict which traits they’ll inherit. Puggles can take on the snuggle bug demeanour of a Pug or the busy, scent-driven instinct of the Beagle. As Puggles can easily overheat, they need extra care and do best in cooler climes.

Adult size: 6 to 8 kilograms
Personality: Friendly, energetic and fun
Grooming needs: Weekly
Activity Needs: 30 minutes to an hour of exercise needed per day
Trainability: Average
Barking: High tendency
Potential health issues: May inherit the Pug’s brachycephalic syndrome, leading to breathing difficulties, and they can be prone to obesity

Cavachon

Combining the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Bichon Frise, brings together two breeds renowned for their sunny dispositions. So with the Cavachon you can expect a devoted snuggle bug, whose fun-loving nature will provide you with plenty of entertainment. Looks-wise, the cotton-ball coat of the Bichon is loosened by the silky, wavy mane of the Cavalier and it tends to be hypoallergenic.

Adult size: 7 to 16 kilograms
Personality: Affectionate and fun-loving
Grooming needs: Daily
Activity Needs: At least 30 minutes exercise needed per day
Trainability: Easy
Barking: Medium tendency
Potential health issues: Heart issues, such as mitral valve disease, can be a concern due to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parentage. Eye problems can also occur.

Cavapoo

The Cavapoo is another adorable mix of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel—this time with a Poodle. They’re one of the smaller designer crossbreeds and are considered relatively hypoallergenic. These big-hearted dogs love to give and receive attention, so do best when they’re in your company or, even better, curled up on your lap. They can make great family pets and have even been known to be therapy dogs due to their calming and loving nature.

Adult size: 3.5 to 11 kilograms (depending on size of Poodle crossed with)
Personality: Loving, adaptable and laid-back
Grooming needs: Daily
Activity Needs: Around an hour of exercise needed per day
Trainability: Easy
Barking: Medium tendency
Potential health issues: Inherited diseases can include syringomyelia (a serious neurological disease) and mitral valve disease from the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel side.

Lurcher

Often mistaken as a breed of its own, Lurchers are in fact a mixed-breed. They’re a combination of a sighthound such as a Greyhound or Irish Wolfhound with another working breed, from the terrier or herding groups. Common mixes with sighthounds include the Staffordshire Bull Terrier or the Collie. Often, they’re a mix of several breeds. And there can be health concerns for the mother if she is the much smaller breed. As they can come from such a variety of parentages, it’s tricky to say exactly what temperament, looks and size will be. But one thing is for sure—they’re more than likely to have a strong prey drive due to their sighthound, and potentially terrier, roots. So, rock-solid recall is a must.

Adult size: 11 to 30 kilograms
Personality: Intelligent, chilled and tactile
Grooming needs: Weekly
Activity Needs: One to two hours of exercise needed per day (depending on breed mix)
Trainability: Average
Barking: Low tendency
Potential health issues: Generally healthy, but prone to certain conditions such as gastric torsion, torn toenails, foot or muscle injuries, heatstroke, or heat exhaustion. They may also be at risk for osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer.

Maltipoo

A result of crossing the Maltese Terrier with the Poodle, the Maltipoo is another popular mixed-breed small dog. They make loyal lapdogs with oodles of love to give and are a great choice for first-time or elderly pet parents. With a low-shedding coat, they’re also a favoured choice among allergy sufferers.

Adult size: 2.5 to 9 kilograms
Personality: Smart, affectionate and loyal
Grooming needs: Daily
Activity Needs: At least 30 minutes of exercise needed per day, plus play
Trainability: Easy
Barking: High tendency
Potential health issues: Can be prone to dental issues due to their small mouths. Also, they can inherit the Maltese’s propensity for luxating patella, a knee problem.

Pomksy (or Pomski)

This mix of the Siberian Husky and the Pomeranian is adorable, but not without its ethical considerations. Due to the vast difference in size in both parent dogs, artificial insemination is usually needed to produce a litter of Pomksy puppies. And, it goes without saying, that the mother must be the Husky, as a Pomeranian carrying a litter of unnaturally large puppies can have devastating health consequences. Often, C-sections will be necessary. As such a new mix, it can also be hard to predict personality or looks. They tend to be loyal, protective dogs who are more affectionate and less demanding than the Husky.

Adult size: 9 to 14 kilograms
Personality: Active, sociable and alert
Grooming needs: Several times a week
Activity Needs: One to two hours of exercise needed per day
Trainability: Average to hard
Barking: High tendency
Potential health issues: Prone to conditions common in parent breeds including hip dysplasia, eye diseases, and dental problems

Schnoodle

Combining the smarts of a Poodle with the devotion and fun of a Schnauzer, the Schnoodle makes for an energetic and endearing companion. They love nothing more than attention and a warm lap in between outdoor adventures. Both the Poodle and the Schnauzer are largely hypoallergenic, so it’s another breed popular among those with dog allergies. Coat consistencies can vary between loose and wavy, tight and curly or wiry.

Adult size: 11.5 to 34 kilograms (giant), 5.5 to 6.8 kilograms (standard), 2.5 to 4.5 kilograms (miniature)
Personality: Loving, fun and active
Grooming needs: Daily
Activity Needs: One to two hours of exercise needed per day
Trainability: Easy
Barking: High tendency
Potential health issues: Depending on the size of the Schnauzer parent, they can be prone to hip dysplasia. Eye problems and skin conditions can also be a concern.

Chiweenie

Nicknamed the German Taco or Mexican Hotdog, the Chiweenie is an adorable mix of Chihuahua and Dachshund. These pint-sized pooches are thought to have been bred originally to alleviate the back problems commonly seen in Dachshunds. The result? A dog with a big heart and personality. Coat length can vary depending on whether the fur type of the Dachshund parent is smooth or long-haired.

Adult size: 2.5 to 5 kilograms
Personality: Loyal, energetic and sociable
Grooming needs: Weekly
Activity Needs: At least 30 minutes of exercise per day
Trainability: Average
Barking: High tendency
Potential health issues: Dental issues due to small mouth size, along with back problems inherited from the Dachshund parent, can be common.

Morkie

One of the popular Yorkie mixed breeds, the tiny Morkie steals hearts with its teddy bear face and long, silky locks.  This mix of Yorkshire and Maltese terriers is highly affectionate with a big personality and lively streak. They dislike time alone and are happiest at the heel or on the lap of their owners.

Adult size: 1.8 to 3.6 kilograms
Personality: Playful, energetic and cuddly
Grooming needs: Daily
Activity Needs: Around 30 minutes of exercise needed per day
Trainability: Average
Barking: High tendency
Potential health issues: Can be prone to dental problems, as well as patellar luxation and tracheal collapse, which are common in small breeds.

Bernedoodle

A heart-melting mix of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Poodle, the Bernedoodle is renowned for being gentle and loving. They’re smart dogs, and have a reputation for being the more stubborn of the Poodle mixes, so good training and early socialisation are key. Coats are normally tri-coloured, wavy and low-shedding, but there are other colour variations.

Adult size: 4.5 kilograms (small variant) to 41 kilograms (standard variant)
Personality: Enthusiastic, adventurous and affectionate
Grooming needs: Daily to weekly (depending on fur type)
Activity Needs: One to two hours of exercise needed per day
Trainability: Average
Barking: Low tendency
Potential health issues: Can be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, as well as certain types of cancer inherited from the Bernese Mountain Dog parent.

Aussiedoodle

What’s not to love about this breed? The Aussiedoodle combines the loyal, playful Australian Shepherd and the smarts of the Poodle. As affectionate companions, they make as therapy dogs due to the easy bonds they form with humans. They’re happiest on an adventure with their favourite people and are energetic dogs that relish long walks and plenty of mental stimulation.

Adult size: 22 to 32 kilograms (standard), 7 to 14 kilograms (miniature)
Personality: Loving, athletic and loyal
Grooming needs: Daily to every other day
Activity Needs: Up to two hours of exercise needed per day
Trainability: Easy
Barking: Average tendency
Potential health issues: Can be prone to hip dysplasia, epilepsy, and certain eye disorders inherited from the Australian Shepherd parent.

Labmaraner

The crossing of a Weimaraner and a Labrador Retriever is known as a Labmaraner or Weimador. Brimming with hunting instincts, this big, high-energy dog will need a lot of exercise to be a happy member of your family. It’s a dog in need of a job, like hunting, hiking, jogging, agility, or flyball. With short coats, they’re normally brown, yellow, black, or grey.

Adult size: 27 to 45 kilograms
Personality: Active, loving and social
Grooming needs: Daily
Activity Needs: One to two hours of exercise needed per day
Trainability: Easy
Barking: Average tendency
Potential health issues: Hip dysplasia

Is Breeding Mixed Breed Dogs Ethical?

Check how the breeder advertises their dogs

Purchasing a dog that’s been specifically bred for mixed traits can be a murky area. For example, some mixed-breed dogs also have appeal for being ‘hypoallergenic‘. But Dr. Baker stresses that this is never guaranteed.

“Hypoallergenic means that the dog is less likely to cause an allergic reaction, not that it won’t cause one at all,” she said. “Similarly, ‘non-shedding’ doesn’t mean the dog won’t shed at all, but rather that they shed less or their hair falls out less frequently.”

A breeder who promises a dog is 100% hypoallergenic or non-shedding may be an unethical breeder.

Check for generational health records

Another popular reason for purchasing a mixed-breed dog is health and longevity. “Mixed-breed dogs tend to be healthier than purebred dogs,” Dr. Baker agrees. This is because they have a wider genetic diversity which can reduce the probability of inheriting certain breed-specific diseases.

Obviously individual health still varies, depending on various factors like diet, exercise, and preventative care, but if you are interested in a specific mixed breed, you will have to do your homework.

“[Mixed breeds] can still be susceptible to various health issues that impact all dogs, irrespective of their breed. Also, if both parent breeds are prone to a particular condition, the mixed-breed offspring may still be at risk,” says Dr. Baker.

If you are purchasing a dog from a breeder, you should always ask for health testing. This includes test results from:

• normal wellness checks
• hip scoring
• elbow grading
• eye health
• hearing
• thyroid
• heart

If your breeder says your pup’s parents have been checked, you should be able to find their records within the Kennel Club’s Health Test Results Finder database. But bear in mind this only holds records for purebred dogs registered with the Kennel Club. Ask your vet for advice on interpreting and checking any results you’ve been given, if you’re unsure. 

A DNA test does not qualify as a health test, so be wary of results that haven’t been officially registered.

Lastly, the size difference between the two parent dogs matters. There can also be serious health implications for the mother if she is the smaller of the two breeds. Ethics can come into play here, too, as artificial insemination is often needed for certain breed mixes.

What Happens If You Bred a Mixed Breed?

Breeding a mixed breed is common in ‘designer dog’ breeding. Dogs born to two different pure breeds are known as F1 mixes, and are often the healthiest of the generation. If two parents of the same designer mix breed are mated, this is referred to as an F2 mix. Mixed-breed dogs are also commonly bred back to one of the original pure breeds.

“In other words, if you have two different types of plants (let’s say one with red flowers and one with white flowers) and you cross them, the offspring would be the F1 generation,” says Dr. Baker. “Now, if you take two individuals from this F1 generation (let’s say two plants with pink flowers) and cross them, the resulting offspring would be the F2 generation.

“The F2 generation is interesting because it often shows more genetic variation than the F1 generation. This is because the F1 generation plants are genetically identical, but when they reproduce, their genes can combine in many different ways, leading to a wide range of characteristics in the F2 generation.”

However the F2 crosses can be “more unpredictable” in terms of potential health conditions due to a more varied combination of genes.

Should You Get a Mixed Breed?

Sometimes overlooked, mixed-breed dogs can have an array of advantages but also a lot of personality mysteries, compared to their purebred counterparts. As a whole, first-generation mixed breeds often live longer with fewer health problems; however you can also encounter mixed breeds that are harder to train.

If you adopted a mixed breed dog from a rescue or shelter, you likely have to do a dog DNA test to discover their lineage. You may also find that your dog is more of a super mutt with unknown lineage.

As with any decision to take on a pet, bringing a dog into your family needs plenty of research. Specifically choosing a mix breed may require even more thought too, especially if you have working with a breeder. Don’t fall for generalised statements like “mix breeds are healthier than pedigrees” as health and behavioural risks are individual to the dog.

Keep in mind too that the breed you choose needs to be appropriate for your home, finances, and lifestyle — and may not be the dog you initially thought you were getting. “Mixed breeds can have a variety of personality traits, appearance, and health concerns,” says Dr. Baker.

“Ask about their background and what kind of care is needed for that breed. Talk to other people who own similar mixes, or reach out to local rescues or shelters for more information. It’s also important to determine if your lifestyle and home environment are suitable for the specific needs of that breed—if not, then another type of breed may be better suited for you.”

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