A few decades ago, the words ?mixed breeds? brought to mind dogs that had indistinct (and often undetermined) ancestry. Today, mixed breed evokes a whole new set of images. Many breeders have hit upon the idea to mix two distinct breeds with the hope of producing dogs, usually to fit specific needs.

One of the more common mixed breeds being produced today involves the Poodle. The Poodle is unique among dogs because the coat is almost dander free. Many people who have allergies to dogs can tolerate Poodles because of this distinction. So it stands to reason that breeding Poodles with some other breeds will give the allergy sufferers a better selection.

That train of thought has led to some very interesting mixed breeds. The Labradoodle is one example. This combines the Labrador Retriever and the Poodle. The Poogle is another, bringing the Poodle and Beagle together. Poodles have been crossed with several other breeds, creating some very unusual dogs.

One popular mixed breed is the Pomchi, a cross between the Pomeranian and Chihuahua. Both dogs are naturally small and the Pomchi will typically weigh something less than six or seven pounds. The advantage is that the Pomeranian influence makes this a more tolerant and less nervous dog than the full-blood Chihuahua. The Chihuahua has toned down the coat somewhat, making it easier to groom. The Pomanese is a cross between the Pomeranian and the Maltese and the Pomapoo is a combination of the Pomeranian and Poodle. The Ba-Shar is a mix between the Basset Hound and Shar Pei.

Remember that you may get any of the characteristics of a particular breed when you participate in these crosses. For example, some of the Poogles look very much like a Poodle only the hair is somewhat more wavy than curly. However, when crossed with a Chocolate Labrador, the pups may have the distinctive light eyes of the Lab rather than the dark eyes of the Poodle.

The Akita Shepherd is a mixed breed that brings together the Akita and the German Shepherd. The Bug (also called Buggs) is a mixed breed between the Pug and the Boston Terrier.

One of the negative points of mixed breeds is that you don't have the option of registering the dog with the American Kennel Club or any other canine organization. There is, however, a new club that's emerged to recognize these mixed breeds called the American Canine Hybrid Club. In addition, there are some clubs forming for the specific mixed breeds. The Pomchi Club is an example of this trend.

While there are many mixed breeds that are formally recognized, there are also many that simply aren't. They're the result of accidental or inconsistent breeding. But that doesn't mean that these dogs are not good canines. Temperament, tendencies, features, character and many other qualities are largely determined by bloodlines. Many of the world's best pets, most loved companions and smartest dogs are mixed breeds ? some so much so that they're called ?Mutt.? But if you stop to think about it, all of today's most popular breeds were ? at one time or another ? unrecognized. Today's mixed breeds may very well be the Best in Show of tomorrow's dog shows.