18/07/2024
๐๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฌ ๐ ๐, ๐๐ข๐ ๐ & ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ก ๐๐๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ ๐
They're cute right! Oodles became a fad over a decade ago, it started with the Lab x Poodle that was called a Labradoodle, a dog bred to be a Guide Dog for those allergic to dogs back in the early 80's, as you could probably fathom by the lack of Labradoodle Guide Dogs, the project was not successful for various reasons relating to the dogs suitability.
What happens when a type of dog becomes a fad is they become a money-making opportunity, inexperienced individuals, some with hearts of gold and others only with $$$ in their eyes jump on board and start breeding for demand - right now we're seeing that with French Bulldogs who for now seem to have overtaken the Oodle craze.
Inexperienced or simply unethical breeders went ahead and started breeding programs without understanding structure, coat genetics, disease genetics, genetics in general and temperament so what we started to see was dogs with poor structure that meant many would end up with expensive surgeries to fix conditions such as slipping patella's - this is where the kneecap of the dog dislocates, they were also being affected by conditions such as Hip Dysplasia and that's just the start of it.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ณ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ '๐๐๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ด๐ผ๐ฟ' - consumers were led to believe that by crossing 2 breeds you would get rid of the genetic conditions associated with those 2 breeds but what they were effectively doing was potentially doubling up on problems because they had very little understanding of those issues and the mode of inheritance so they would breed for an example, a Poodle to a Cavalier that were either affected by the same condition or came from a bloodline where that problem occurred.
Take-home point, if you breed a dog with a structural fault to another dog with the same structural fault then you're not creating hybrid vigour, you're creating a problem.
Let us have a look at one of the most common Oddles, the Cavalier x Poodle commercially named the 'Cavoodle' (there is no such breed) and what conditions they are more prone to:
๐ฃ๐ข๐ข๐๐๐ (๐ ๐๐ก๐)
Diabetes Mellitus
Cushings Disease
Allergies
Atopic dermatitis
Otitis Externa
Pododermatitis
Sebaceous adenitis
Sebaceous gland tumour
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ฎ ๐น๐๐
๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
Periodontal disease
๐ฃ๐ข๐ข๐๐๐ (๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐)
Allergies
Atopic dermatitis
Sebaceous adenitis
๐๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ฑ๐๐๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฎ
๐ฃ๐ข๐ข๐๐๐ (๐ง๐ข๐ฌ)
Diabetes Mellitus
Cushings Disease
Allergies
Atopic dermatitis
Sebaceous gland tumour
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ฎ ๐๐๐
๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
Epilepsy
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) (X-linked)
Periodontal disease
๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐ก๐๐๐
Chronic Valvular Disease (CVD)
Keratitis sicca
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ฎ ๐น๐๐
๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
Atopic dermatitis
A**l sac impaction
Otitis externa
Syringomyelia
You may notice that '๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ฎ ๐๐๐
๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป' occurs in both breeds so breeding 2 breeds together with the same issues does not make it Hybrid Vigor, it just increases the risk of that condition occurring, no different to breeding 2 purebred dogs of the same breed together who are affected or come from lines with dogs affected by that same condition.
This condition is often seen in dogs with straight stifles, the dogs rear legs don't bend at the knee in a standing position as much as they should, this also means that they are at an increased risk of knee injuries. Cruciate ligament injuries are always one we worry about in such dogs whether it be from a strained cruciate to a fully torn one that needs surgery.
If a Poodle x is a dog you really really want to buy this would be my advice:
- Don't buy from an individual who doesn't do health testing for the conditions the breeds they are using are affected by - these are not tests carried out by the local vet, they are often DNA tests, Imaging and so forth - I strongly suggest you do a lot more research into this before looking at any Poodle x.
- Ask what the grades are of the Patella's of both Dam and Sire - Patella's are graded 1-4, anything 2.5 and above is generally considered a surgical case. If they can't answer this question, I would suggest you look for a different breeder, I would also encourage you to consider a registered ANKC purebred breeder who does all the relevant tests for their breeds and does not breed on with dogs with structural issues.
- A crossbreed should not cost you more than what a purebred does, so please don't pay thousands of dollars, especially for one whose Dam & Sire have had no genetic & health screening.
- Please never buy one from someone you can't meet in person and see the conditions the dogs live in - Oodles are often overbred in large-scale breeding facilities and sold online and through pet shops.
- If you're looking for a low/no shedding dog then a Poodle x is not necessary for you as it cannot be guaranteed what their coat will be like - they may shed a lot and need a lot of grooming.
- Get Pet insurance before you go to your first Vet visit so nothing can be called an existing condition by your insurance company.
- If your dog is diagnosed with slipping patella's or another ortho conditions, please ask your Vet for a referral to an Animal Physio, here in Sydney we recommend Whole Family Health at St Mary's - they may be able to help you avoid surgery or if surgery is required, they can help prepare your dog for this and help them recover as well.
No matter how lovely the breeder of your current or future Oodle is, if they're not genetic testing, health screening then they're not doing the right thing for the dog and they don't deserve your money.
Whilst Mother Natures gives no guarantee's, selecting a breeder who is trying their hardest to breed healthy puppies by doing all the relevant tests is the right place to start.
There's plenty of very adorable and unique purebred dogs you may like to consider and talk to breeders about the screening they do and if they are a suitable match for you, such as:
Affenpinscher
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/affenpinscher.asp
Bedlington Terrier
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/bedlington-terrier.asp
Bichon Frise
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/bichon-frise.asp
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/cavalier-king-charles-spaniel.asp
Chihuahua (Long Coat)
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/chihuahua-long-coat.asp
American Cocker Spaniel
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/american-cocker-spaniel.asp
Finnish Lapphund
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/finnish-lapphund.asp
Griffon Bruxellois
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/griffon-bruxellois.asp
Havanese
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/havanese.asp
Japanese Chin
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/japanese-chin.asp
Japanese Spitz
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/japanese-spitz.asp
Keeshond
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/keeshond.asp
King Charles Spaniel
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/king-charles-spaniel.asp
Lhasa Apso
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/lhasa-apso.asp
Lagotto - Check this one out
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/lagotto-romagnolo.asp
Lowchen
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/lowchen.asp
Maltese
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/maltese.asp
Papillon
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/papillon.asp
Pekingese
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/pekingese.asp
Pomeranian
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/pomeranian.asp
Miniature Poodle
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/poodle-miniature.asp
Toy Poodle
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/poodle-toy.asp
Schipperke
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/schipperke.asp
Yorkshire Terrier
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/community/yorkshire-terrier.asp
Important note about this post: This post is not a beat up on the Oodle, it is simply putting a myth to bed about Hybrid Vigor and outlining how you can make safer choices. We still have a long way to go to understand the mode of inheritance in a lot of diseases but we can first start by not supporting breeders who breed 2 dogs together who have the same defect/fault.
