Lately there has been a huge increase in the amount of breeders who are breeding mixed breeds. These "designer dogs" tend to carry a very high price tag, which makes no sense since the majority of these breeders are not testing their dogs for health problems prior to breeding them.

There are some breeders of crossbreeds that are testing prior to breeding. This helps to assure that you are not purchasing a dog that will be crippled by joint disorders or blind due to eye problems.

Some of the health problems that can be passed on to the puppies can be horrible. Hip Dysplasia is very common in large breeds such as the Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever. If the parents are not screened for joint problems, their puppies can all carry this problem. Though it is possible to ease the pain of hip dysplasia with medication, surgery is the only real "fix" and it generally costs around $2,500 per hip. Most owners tend to euthanize rather than have the surgery.

More Information on Hip Dysplasia

Progressive Retinal Atrophy is an eye concern that runs in most breeds now. This can go undetected for as long as seven years before it shows up in a dog, and then the vision is completely lost. There is no treatment for this. This means, a breeder can breed their dog for as long as seven years, and each of the puppies produced can carry PRA. Keep in mind that PRA can show up when a dog is less than a year old- and the dog will become blind. Though dogs do tend to adapt well to blindness, you should not make changes in the surroundings that the dog has become familiar with.

More Information on Progressive Retinal Atrophy

If you are determined to get a mixed breed puppy, please be sure that the breeder tests for problems prior to breeding. You should always ask for OFA and CERF results. This goes for breeders of crossbreeds as well as purebred dogs.

We will not list breeders of crossbreeds on our website, but we will list rescue groups.