Is a Labradoodle a Mutt or a Designer Dog? Vet-Verified Differences

While you might not care much about definitions of designer dogs and mutts when you are looking for your ideal pup, the price tag is less impartial! Designer dogs come with premium price tags that can even exceed those of purebreds, but what makes a dog a designer dog?

The Labradoodle is the classic example of a designer dog, but the reason for this might surprise you!

What Is a Purebred Dog?

Before we can discuss designer dogs and mutts, it's helpful to understand what a purebred is! Breeders who raise purebred dogs should be able to produce their registration papers.

Each puppy’s parents must come from the same breed, and although breeder associations have various regulations, most require that the dog’s bloodline is at least 87.5% pure. Generally, purebred dogs should have ancestors of the same breed from at least five generations.

What Is a Designer Dog?

A designer dog is intentionally crossbred with different breeds to achieve a specific result. Unlike unintentional breeding, like when your dog mates with a neighbor’s dog of a different breed, designer dogs have two purebred parents in a breeding program.

Of course, this definition opens up the possibility for a wide range of designer dogs that many breeders would want to classify as "mutts," but as long as the intent is there, they're technically designer dogs!

What Is a Mutt?

A mutt can have a similar ancestry to a designer dog, but mutts are not usually produced by intentional breeding. However, if you have two intact purebred pups that mate, do they produce mutts or designer dogs? Technically, the offspring are mutts because they weren’t produced in a “controlled” breeding program.

Is a Labradoodle a Mutt or a Designer Dog?

When you look at the definition of designer dogs and mutts, it's clear that Labradoodles are designer dogs. Breeders now intentionally breed Labradoodles with other Labradoodles, and originally, they intentionally bred Labrador Retrievers with Poodles. The goal was a dog with the Poodle’s low-shedding, hypoallergenic qualities and the amazing service dog characteristics of the Labrador Retriever.

Since there was a clear intent to create a new breed with specific traits, the Labradoodle is a clear-cut example of a highly successful endeavor. However, the fur type and size of the Labradoodle are still not standardized, so you will see a great deal of variation among individuals, with some dogs having curly hair and others having shaggy or straight hair.

When Does a Designer Dog Become Purebred?

If every purebred dog started as a designer dog at some point, that raises the question, when do modern designer dogs become "purebred"? The truth is that it comes down to the seemingly arbitrary requirements set by each kennel club.

That said, the American Kennel Club (AKC) and United Kennel Club are two of the largest kennel clubs in the world, and they don't even agree on when a dog goes from designer breed to purebred!

The AKC states that a breed must have 300 dogs distributed across 20 states, they must have a National Breed Club demonstrating interest, and there must be a three-generation pedigree.

That means that Labradoodles must breed with other Labradoodles for at least three generations. Many modern Labradoodles meet all these requirements, but it can take several years before they can be recognized as purebred dogs. Therefore, officially recognizing the Labradoodle is still a work in progress.

Final Thoughts

Whether a designer dog, a purebred, or a mutt, a dog can make a great companion, so don't judge a pup by their label! Get to know each dog, and recognize they all come with their own personalities and quirks, and a label will only take them so far.

In the end, it doesn't matter if your Labradoodle is a designer dog or a mutt; they will bring joy into your life and will always be by your side.

Featured Image Credit: Lopolo, Shutterstock