If you are considering the addition of a pet to your family how about choosing a Havanese mix? The Havanese breed has been crossed with numerous other breeds for the purpose of producing dogs that are less expensive than a purebred and incorporate the positive characteristics of two different breeds. If bred properly, Havanese mix breeds may also be healthier than the purebred Havanese, since inherited health issues may be successfully bred out through the cross breeding process.
There are many choices in Havanese mixes today, and the American Canine Hybrid Club recognizes some. There are also many breeders that will specialize in specific crosses of Havanese and another breed, so that you can rest assured that you are getting a dog from two good lineages that can be traced. However, if you have your heart set on a Havanese mix, there are some basic guidelines that you should be prepared to follow in selecting your puppy.
When you begin researching the Havanese mixes that are available through breeders, you may be surprised to find the number of crossbreeds that are recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club. Registration through this organization will give dog owners peace of mind in knowing where their dog came from in terms of the lineages of both parents. Without that knowledge, your "designer dog" becomes a plain old mutt that can be a mix of many different breeds.
In the case of a mutt, there is no way to know for sure which breeds, or how many breeds, comprise the genetic makeup of the dog. These designer dogs have become popular because they can bring the best of two different breeds into a single family pet.
Some of the most popular Havanese mixes include the Havanese/Shih Tzu combination, which is also known as a Havashu, the Havanese/Maltese mix that is called the Havamalt and the Havanese mixed with a Lhasa Apso, known as the Hava-Apso. If you are considering one of these Havanese mix breeds, keep in mind that it is impossible to predict which characteristics your dog might exhibit. For example, you might end up with a feisty, Lhasa-like pup or a mild-mannered Havanese temperament. There is no way to know for sure.
A Havanese mix breed can bring years of enjoyment and companionship to everyone in your family. There are many advantages to these designer dogs today, including the lower risk of genetic problems that will typically follow a line of purebred dogs. However, there are factors to watch out for with your Havanese mix as well.
First, you cannot predict precisely which breed will be the dominant one in your dog's health and temperament. For this reason, it is a good idea to research both breeds quite thoroughly so that you are prepared for the type of dog that you end up with.
This will help you to know exactly what you can expect from your Havanese mix breed.
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.
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Both Fiona Kelly & Charles Kassotis are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Fiona Kelly has sinced written about articles on various topics from Quit Smoking, Pets Puppies for Sale and Puppies Dogs. Fiona Kelly is a passionate lover of the Havanese and owns a popular website where you'll discover how to have a happy, healthy and well behaved