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The Top 20 Designer Dog Breeds in 2024 (With Pictures)

Nicole Cosgrove Profile Picture

By Nicole Cosgrove

labradoodle puppy looking up

The designer breed dog has been a popular type of pooch since the days of open-air carriages rides (think Lady and the Tramp). In recent history, the breeders of these prestigious pups have come under fire, as they have made a booming industry of “designing” new breeds. On the other hand, there are many great canines available in the designer realm.

This group of pups can be big or small, playful or sedate, snobby or friendly, but all of them have that “it factor” you cannot ignore. While many of these four-legged friends are considered trendy, they are still a tail-wagging dog in their own right with a whole lot of personality to get to know.

With that being said, let’s take a look at 20 of the most popular designer dog breeds, and learn a little something about them…plus, look at some adorable pics, too!

divider 10The Top 20 Designer Dog Breeds

1. The Mini Hippo

mini hippo dog
Photo Credit: Vasiliy Khimenko, Shutterstock

The Mini Hippo is an intelligent, friendly, playful pup that is a great family pet. This small designer dog is great with kids and affectionate, although they can be stubborn. Needing a moderate amount of exercise, this adorable pooch gets its name from their snout which resembles a hippopotamus. Bred from two polar opposite parents, the Cocker Spaniel and Shar-Pei mix inherited both of their parents’ best traits.


2. The Cockapoo

Cockapoo in field
Photo Credit By: Muffin, pxhere

The Cockapoo is the original designer dog. This pup was originally bred in the 1960s between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle. This cute four-legged friend is affectionate and friendly; plus, they make a great family dog. On top of that, this is a canine that is well-socialized and will do well with other dogs in the home. Easier to be trained, they can be destructive if left to their own devices for long periods.


3. The Labradoodle

Labradoodle sitting on grass
Photo Credit: Josh Borup, Pixabay

The Labradoodle originated in the 1980s as an attempt to breed a dog for a blind user with allergies. This adorable pooch is a mix between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle. They are high-energy and very playful but can be a bit too enthusiastic for small children. This is a highly active pup that loves to take walks in the park, and they are not a fan of being cooped up. Super-friendly, this is the last pup you would want as a guard dog, as they are more likely to play fetch with the burglar than they would be to set off an alarm.


4. The Borkie

borkie outside
Credit: ARENA Creative, Shutterstock

The Borkie is a cross between a Beagle and a Yorkshire Terrier. A small to medium-sized pup, they are between 12 and 15 inches tall and can weigh up to 25 pounds. As very outgoing and inquisitive dogs, they enjoy making new friends, whether human or otherwise. The Borkie is also a very high-energy furball that loves to play but can be a bit too high-strung for young children. This breed is open to training, but they can be easily distracted, especially if something small crosses their past that they wish to chase.


5. The Dalmadoodle

dalmadoodle in snow
Credit: E. Kotsinova, Shutterstock

This next pooch is an offspring of the Dalmatian and the Poodle. A medium-to-large-sized dog, the Dalmadoodle is a gentle giant that is not aggressive in the least. This is a pup that loves to play with children, adults, and other dogs. They are very loyal, eager to please, and have an even temperament, which makes them easy to train. One thing to note about this breed is they do require frequent grooming because of their poodle-like fur.


6. The Gollie

Golden Border Retriever
Credit: Erik Lam, Shutterstock

The Gollie is the ultimate family dog. They are super affectionate, friendly, and outgoing. This dog’s parents are a Golden Retriever and a Collie. Also known as a Golden Collie, they can actually be black, brown, gold, or white. They are very energetic pups that will make a great running companion; however, they require a larger space to stretch their legs. This is a medium-sized dog that can weigh between 50 and 75 pounds. They crave interaction and will get lonely and destructive if left on their own for too long.


7. The Bully Basset

bully basset running
Image Credit: Jon Osumi, Shutterstock

Our next designer breed is the Bully Basset. This is a mix of a Basset Hound and a Bulldog. This is an adorable pooch that can be stubborn but is a generally happy and affectionate pup. They can also be high maintenance as their skin folds can attract a lot of moisture and dirt, and needs to be cleaned often This is also a small designer dog that requires moderate exercise and outdoor play. The Bully Basset also tends to chew, and they need to be trained with chew toys at an early age.


8. The Chorkie

Chorkie
Image credit: Ian McGlasham, Shutterstock

The Chorkie breed is one of the smallest and most adorable pups. It is a mix between a Chihuahua and a Yorkshire Terrier. An intelligent and energetic small designer dog that can be headstrong and stubborn at times, they are a very high-energy pup. Plus, they are playful and feisty, but can also be noisy without proper training or socialization. This breed is not the best choice for small children because they can be a bit nippy.


9. The Sharp Eagle

sharp eagle shar pei beagle mix
Credit: Annie 888, Shutterstock

The Sharp Eagle is another breed that is mixed with a Chinese Shar-Pei, except, in this case, they are also half Beagle. This particular breed makes a good companion for someone in an apartment, as they can be left alone for extended periods of time without separation anxiety or destructive behavior. They are a low-maintenance pup that does not require extensive exercise or grooming. Sharp eagles are small and sturdy pups that reach about 18 inches tall and can be slightly wider than most dogs. They are also stubborn to train and need an owner that is going to be very engaged with them as they become quite attached.


10. The Bowzer

The Bowser is another well-known designer breed. This is a pet that loves to go on walks, is energetic but is still a good pet to have in an apartment. Bred from a Basset Hound and a Miniature Schnauzer, they require frequent grooming to avoid mats in their hair and eyes. Also, due to their size and temperament, they are good playmates for children. Neither small nor large, they reach about 15 inches tall and can weigh up to 50 pounds depending on the individual pooch.


11. The Malchi

Malchi
Credit: Abby Blumhardt, Shutterstock

The Malchi is a cross between a Maltese and Chihuahua and can be either long or short-haired. This furball has either a white, cream, or tan coat that needs grooming to maintain its appearance. This pup makes a great lap dog, and its need for exercise is low. This small designer dog can be a stubborn and dominant creature that is a bit surly and can bully other smaller animals. They are better suited to adults and older children.


12. The Morkie

morkie
Credit: Anne Richard, Shutterstock

The Morkie is a cross between a Yorkshire Terrier and Maltese. Typically, they are very small and weigh a maximum of 15 pounds. They have very fine and often wiry fur that needs to be brushed and groomed often. This is an incredibly loyal and devoted pooch that can have separation anxiety if left on its own. Otherwise, this is a happy, playful pup.


13. The Bullmatian

bullmatian outside on leaves
Image credit: Mandy Coy, Shutterstock

The Bullmatian, as you can probably guess from the name, is a cross between a Dalmatian and a Bulldog. This is a curious, inquisitive, and intelligent dog that is very friendly and outgoing. It is a good choice for families with young children; plus, they are very active dogs that loves the park and outings. Be aware, though, they can be tough to train but are very motivated with positive reinforcement.


14. The Confetti Schnauzer

Confetti Australian Shepherd Miniature Schnauzer Mix
Image credit: Monica Martinez Do-Allo, Shutterstock

This next canine is smart, social, and makes a great playmate for older children. They are highly energetic and require a yard for them to run and play. The Confetti Schnauzer is a cross between an Australian Shepherd and a Miniature Schnauzer and is sometimes called the Confetti Australian Shepherd. This is a medium-sized dog that will need moderate brushing to maintain their fluffy coat. As both of their parents are highly trainable, this is a great pooch to teach tricks.


15. The Saint Berdoodle

Saint Berdoodle
Image Credit: Kaylee1229, Shutterstock

The Saint Berdoodle is a cross between a Saint Bernard and a Poodle. They are typically smaller than the Saint Bernard but have the short curly fur of their poodle side. Although there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog, this pup is considered to have less dander than most, and they do not shed or drool. This is a quiet, calm dog that is very intelligent and good with children. They are also affectionate and consider themselves a lap dog despite their large size. This is a very loyal and non-aggressive pup, but they are very on guard for intruders or danger.


16. The Pomsky

white pomsky
Image Credit: PAN Michal, Shutterstock

This next little cutie looks like a tiny Husky crossed with a Pomeranian, which is exactly what it is. The Pomsky is a very spirited pup that is high-energy and needs to stay busy. They can be destructive out of boredom if they are not given enough exercise, though. They can also be difficult to train due to their independent nature; however, they are very lovable small designer dogs.


17.  The Cavachon

The Cavachon is our next pooch whose parents are a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Bichon Frize. This is a pet with a friendly demeanor and is very playful. They are great with kids and other animals; plus, they are considered very intelligent and loyal. This is a dog that is eager to please and easy to train. They require moderate grooming and exercise to remain happy and healthy.


18. The Dorgi

dorgi
Credit: Christel Cooper, Shutterstock

This next sweet pooch is very intelligent and playful but can be stubborn at times. The Dorgi is a mix between a Dachshund and a Corgi, and they have inherited both parents’ high prey drive and willingness to chase small animals. This is an active small designer dog that needs toys and engagement in order to be happy and healthy. They do tend to get lonely and need an owner that can spend a lot of time with them.


19. The Mastidoodle

mastidoodle outside
Image Credit: Page Light Studios, Shutterstock

The Mastidoodle is a mix of Mastiff and Poodle. This is a very calm and gentle breed despite their large size. They are also known as a Mastipoo, Mastiffdoodle, and Mastiffpoo, and they are great with kids of all ages and other animals. These pups typically have a thick coat like their Poodle parents that requires frequent grooming. They also need moderate daily activity and are not the greatest pets for apartments.


20. The Sammypoo

Our last designer breed on the list is the Sammypoo. This is a breed that comes from the Samoyed and Poodle. This is a very high-energy pet that needs a lot of physical and mental engagement. They love runs in the dog park and games of fetch. This is also a great candidate for a doggy daycare as they tend to make friends easily. This fuzzy furball will require a lot of grooming due to their thick double coat, and they also need a large yard to frolic.

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Conclusion: Designer Dog Breeds

We hope you have enjoyed our favorite designer dog breeds. Each one has a different personality, different temperaments, and certainly different backgrounds. What they all have in common, however, is that each and every one of them is a four-legged friend deserving of a good home.

See also:


Featured Image Credit: litthouse, Pixabay

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