Crossbred Dog - Registration and Recognition

Registration and Recognition

Crossbreed dogs are not recognized by traditional breed registries, even if both parents are registered purebreds. Legitimate breed associations such as the AKC, the UKC, and the CKC, do not recognize designer crosses as dog breeds.

If dog hybrids are bred together for some period of time, and their breeding is well documented, they may eventually be considered a new breed of dog by major kennel clubs (an example of a recent hybrid becoming a breed recognised by all major kennel clubs is the Cesky Terrier) New breeds of dogs must have a breed club that will document the ancestry of any individual member of that breed from the original founding dogs of the breed; when the kennel club that the breed club wishes to join is satisfied that the dogs are pedigreed, they will accept and register the dogs of that breed. Each kennel club has individual rules about how to document a new breed. Some minor registries and internet registry businesses will register dogs as any breed the owner chooses with minimal or no documentation; some even allow the breeder or owner to make up a designer "breed name" for their pet.

Some hybrid dogs, created by breeding two purebred dogs of different breeds, may have the advantage of heterosis, or hybrid vigor. This advantage can be progressively diluted when two hybrids are bred in the attempt to create a breed, narrowing the gene pool. The best way to continue taking advantage of hybrid vigor is from the breeding of dogs with genetic diversity.