The Complete Idiot's Guide to Designer Dogs

I gave it 5 stars,because this info as these crossbreeds become popular is very much needed thanks to the AKC and money-hungry breeders destroying our purebreds! The AKC by allowing any breeder to register any litter from 2 purebreds of the same breed,regardless of congenital and/or temperamental defects,plus allowing breeders to modernize the breed standards according to what they think is stylish! I doubt if there is a single purebreed that doesn't have congenital problems and few that are used or even can perform the jobs(working/ sporting breeds) that they were originally bred for! Take todays American Cocker Spaniel,no way would it be possible to take this dog into the field,with that absurdly heavy coat it now has,unless it was clipped! Look at any of the old photos in the breed books and see what breeders and the AKC have done to these dogs! The AKC does not even require breeders to have their breeding stock tested for known congenital defects for those breeds,and graded,let alone refuse to allow litters of defective parents be registered! So uninformed buyers go out and pay high prices for purebred registered pups from kennels or pet stores, not knowing the vet bills and possible heartache they most likely will face in the near future. That's why breeders of border collies did NOT WANT AKC recognition of the border collie, for fear of the damage it would do to the breed! Yes,no doubt there are puppy mills breeding these crossbreeds for money alone,but the purebred breeders were the ones who first became known as "backyard breeders". So anyone who is considering getting a dog. A crossbreed is a good choice,but educating yourself first is the most important step,and then maybe you will even decide to get one from a rescue or shelter. But do yourself,your family, and any potential pet, a favor and get the info first,to save yourself a chunk of future money,and possibly heartbreak,if you make the mistake of getting a dog bred from defective,untested parents. One complaint I have about info on these crossbreeds,is the claim by some breeders/books, that they have *hybrid-vigor*. Crossbreeds are NOT hybrids,as a dog/coyote or dog/wolf cross are. So do not be fooled by this false claim! Remember that these pups will only be as healthy and congenital-defect-FREE as the purebred parents are! So just as in buying a purebred pup,you should never even consider getting a pup from untested/ungraded parents! Do your research,and find out what problems each breed has,and then RUN,don't walk away from any breeder who has not had the parents tested and graded. And NEVER,NEVER,NEVER buy any pup from any of those pet shops you find in the malls,who are supplied by the puppy mills! I did read this book shortly after posting my review and it is an informative book and I do recommend it for potential dog owners,just please remember to do your research on the congenital problems of any breeds you are interested in,and how the parents should be tes

I love this book. It is soooo useful. It talks about all the basics. And how to look for a Breeder and what you need to look for. It also has some info on different hybrids. If you wanna get one then get this book.

I found this book informative and easy to use. The section on finding a breeder is especially well-thought out. There is a section on finding a hybrid dog in rescues or in shelters as well. This book is comprehensive and can help point you towards a "designer dog" that will fit your family and lifestyle.

I really enjoyed the book . I have Maltipoos and was interested to find a book that taught me a few things I did not know .I had read the book The Complete Guide to Mutts also and found it well written also . The Complete Idiots Guide to Designer Dogs will help people to more understand what a crossbreed is and what they can expect . I recomend it to all .

Hi! This is Margaret Bonham and I want to address some things about this book. Writing about Designer Dogs is a pretty controversial topic, no doubt about it. There's a lot of people who don't believe these dogs should exist at all. The reality is, these dogs do exist and people want to know about them. When the publisher approached me, I knew I had the chance at researching these dogs and providing a very informative and unbiased book looking at all aspects of the designer dog and its popularity. You won't get hype here -- you'll get some pretty straightforward answers when it comes to what a designer dog is and more importantly, what it ISN'T. In other words, you get a look at all angles of these dogs and also (if you decide to buy one) how to find a reputable breeder who screens for hereditary diseases. A lot of people aren't aware that they can find their designer dog at shelters and in rescues as various Poodle mixes. My book (which incidently is the first book out there on Designers) promotes rescuing and adoption. Before you judge the book by the topic, I suggest you check it out. Read it and let me know what you think. Chances are you'll find it a fair and unbiased book that looks to educate people on these dogs. Thanks!!!!