30 Adorable Mixed-Breed Dogs: Mutts That Will Win Your Heart (With Pictures)
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Mixed-breed dogs combine two purebred breeds to create a hybrid. Typically, the aim is to combine the benefits of the two breeds to come up with what is essentially a “super-breed.” For example, you can combine the hypoallergenic fur of the Poodle with the attentiveness of the Labrador and create the Labradoodle.
Genetics doesn’t always work that cleanly, though, and it can take several generations as well as backcrossing and the introduction of third and subsequent breeds to really get the desired results.
But there are plenty of mixed-breed dogs, and below we have listed 30 great examples of mixed breeds to help you find the ideal pooch for your next pet.
The 30 Mixed-Breed Dogs
1. Aussiedoodle
A cross between the Australian Shepherd and Poodle, the Aussiedoodle is highly intelligent and has plenty of energy to burn. The hybrid, which is also known as the Aussiepoo or the Aussiepoodle, makes a good family dog and has also been used as a therapy dog because it forms a close bond with humans. You will need to provide a lot of exercise but you can expect a trainable dog that will pick up commands quickly.
Thanks to the Poodle parent breed, an Aussiedoodle may have a tightly curled coat that is good for allergy sufferers.
2. Border Collie-Sheltie
This cross between the Border Collie and the Shetland Sheepdog goes by the name of a Border Collie Sheltie or Border Sheepdog. You may also hear it referred to as a Border Sheltie or Sheltie Border. With Collie and Sheltie in their DNA, you can be sure the hybrid will have a lot of energy and be highly intelligent.
You can expect a dog that will like to hear the sound of its own voice, and this combined with the higher intensity energy of the hybrid means that it likely isn’t a suitable mix for living in an apartment.
3. Boxador
A cross between the Boxer and the Labrador, the Boxador combines two very popular pet dog breeds. The resulting hybrid can be quite large and it will be a devoted family member that sticks close to its human owners. Laboxers, Boxerlabs, and Boxedors are some of the other names commonly given to this hybrid, which will be friendly with all family members, especially those that are capable of picking up a ball and throwing it.
The Boxador is prone to suffering separation anxiety so may not be the ideal choice for working families with kids at school.
4. Cavachon
The Cavachon is a small mixed-breed dog that crosses the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with the Bichon Frise. It also goes by the names of Cavalier-Bichon and Bichon King Charles and it is a fun little pup that enjoys playing. The size of the dog makes it suitable for life in an apartment and it will likely enjoy meeting new people as well as bonding with its humans. They can be good for allergy sufferers, especially the ones with medium-length coats.
5. Chilier
Another small hybrid breed that is good for apartment life is the Chilier, which is a cross between the Chihuahua and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The breed is popular with active seniors because while it does need exercise, walks are ample and there’s no need to embark on anything too strenuous. The Chilier is eager to please its owner and smart enough that it will do well learning new commands and knowing how to behave.
The Chilier is another breed that can be prone to separation anxiety, however, so it may be best for owners that don’t leave the house all day.
6. Chiweenie
Also referred to as the Choxie, Weenihuahua, German Taco, and Mexican Hot Dog, the Chiweenie is a cross between the Chihuahua and the Dachshund. The aim of breeding the Chiweenie was to create a dog that had many of the temperaments and qualities of the Dachshund but without the health problems caused by its long back. The breeding has proven largely successful in this regard, although the Chiweenie is still prone to some spinal problems.
7. Chorkie
Chorkie – the cross between a Chihuahua and Yorkshire Terrier has a lot of aliases and may be referred to as a Chiyorkie, Chiorkie, Yorkiechi, Yorkchi, or York Chi. Whatever its title, it is a small dog that is fun and outgoing. It will usually get along with all family members and will be happy to welcome strangers. They also do quite well when kept with other dogs, which is especially important if you will be out for long periods.
They don’t require too much exercise but they may suffer separation anxiety if left alone all day.
8. Chug
The Chug combines the Chihuahua and Pug, which are two very popular small breeds. You may hear them referred to as Pughuahua or Pugwawa. Like their Chihuahua descendants especially, the Chug has little dog syndrome, which means that it thinks it’s much bigger than it actually is. This is likely caused by the fact that Pugs were once much bigger than they are today and genetically speaking, they haven’t forgotten.
9. Cockapoo
The Cockapoo, which is a combination of Cocker Spaniel and Poodle, is one of the best-known hybrid dogs and was one of the first designer breeds to have been created. It was bred for its hypoallergenic coat combined with the liveliness of the Cocker. This is a companion dog that craves your time and attention, and your Cockapoo will follow you everywhere. The cross gets on with everybody but will be especially fond of people that are willing to stroke and cuddle it.
10. Corgidor
This cross between the Corgi and the Labrador Retriever looks like a short-legged Labrador. The Corgidor will have plenty of energy and will need regular exercise. While the Corgidor will especially thrive in a home with a big garden, it can also settle in an apartment. You do need to ensure that your Corgidor gets ample exercise, otherwise, it will be susceptible to putting on a lot of weight, and weight issues can be very bad for dogs.
11. Docker
The Docker is also called the Doxie Spaniel or the Spaniel Doxie and is a hybrid of the Dachshund and Cocker Spaniel breeds. They prefer mild climates: nothing too hot or too cold. And because they do tend to bark a lot, at just about any potential disturbance, they can make good watchdogs.
Separation anxiety can lead to destructive behavior and other antisocial and unwanted activities so, if you work all day, ensure you have the number of a good dog walker.
12. Frenchton
The Frenchton is a cross between the French Bulldog and the Boston Terrier, which are two similar-looking breeds, to begin with. Good in an apartment or a house, the Frenchton enjoys spending as much time as possible with people and it doesn’t require too much coat care and maintenance. It will need a couple of walks a day, however, but the general demeanor of this pup is that of being laid back.
13. Gerberian Shepsky
There are lots of reasons to combine dog breeds when making a mixed-breed hybrid. Sometimes, it can result in a hypoallergenic but lively dog. Other times it can help combat a barking or yapping problem a particular breed might have. In the case of the cross between a German Shepherd and a Siberian Husky, it may have been done for the resulting name: Gerberian Shepsky.
The resulting cross is very lively and will require a lot of time exercising.
14. Goldendoodle
The Goldendoodle is another very well-known hybrid cross. It combines the Poodle with the Golden Retriever and was first bred to create a hypoallergenic service dog. A typical Goldendoodle will be friendly and lively, smart, and does very well when given space to burn off energy. The intelligence of the Poodle and the eagerness of the Golden Retriever means that the resulting cross should be very easy to train.
15. Labradinger
The Labradinger is a mixed breed that crosses the Labrador Retriever with a Springer Spaniel. The hybrid tends to be a cheerful dog that is happy being given a job to do and can be used as a working dog. Like a lot of the breeds on this list, though, the Labradinger can suffer separation anxiety if left alone for too long. The breed can also be a little challenging to train so may not be the best option for a first-time owner.
16. Maltipom
The Maltipom is a very small dog. It has such a small stature because it combines the Maltese and the Pomeranian, both of which are very small breeds themselves. The Maltipom is a loving dog that will form a close bond with its human owners but will also be alert to strangers and certainly not afraid to bark a warning if it does sense a new face.
The breed can be difficult to train, and even potty training can prove a challenge.
17. Morkie
Cross a Maltese and a Yorkshire Terrier and you get a Morkie or Morkshire Terrier. The Morkie is small, and it doesn’t tend to shed much thanks to the low-shedding nature of both parent breeds. The hybrid can be quite high energy and demanding of your attention. Their size means that Morkies are not ideally suited to living with very young children but they can do well with adults of all ages and with older children that are respectful of small dogs.
18. Pomsky
Pomsky – the cross between the Pomeranian and the Siberian Husky is typically bred through artificial insemination because of the size difference between the two parent breeds. This means that the resulting hybrid dog attracts a high price. The size of the breed means that it can adapt to life in an apartment but the Husky parent breed especially means that it will still need a good amount of daily exercise to stay fit and healthy.
The Pomeranian in the mix means that you could end up with a dog that likes to yap.
19. Poochon
This cross between the Toy Poodle and the Bichon Frise is a toy-sized pup that may also be known as a Bichpoo, Bichon Poo, or Bichon Poodle. The coat does require quite a lot of work but the Poochon is considered a hypoallergenic breed, so it should be good for allergy sufferers. The size means that the Poochon can live in an apartment or a larger property, and the breed will benefit from being given a good amount of exercise.
20. Porkie
The Porkie is a hybrid that combines the Yorkshire Terrier and the Pomeranian. The breed can be quite stubborn, like both of the parent breeds, which means that you will benefit from keeping training sessions short and trying to make them as interesting and fun as possible. The Porkie also needs a lot of stimulation to keep it entertained and to prevent it from getting bored and potentially destructive.
21. Puggle
Cross a Beagle and a Pug and you get a Puggle: a hybrid breed that has the cute looks of the Beagle and the playfulness of the Pug. The big benefit of this cross is that it helps to alleviate the respiratory problems that can be caused by the Pug’s brachycephalic facial features. You can expect a very energetic little dog, which is primarily thanks to the Beagle but also because of the Pug’s fun-loving nature.
The Puggle can be a bit of a challenge to train, as both parent breeds are somewhat stubborn.
22. Rotterman
While it seems like a lot of hybrid breeds are small and toy dogs, some result in larger, muscular dogs. The Rotterman is a cross between a Rottweiler and a Doberman, both of which are strong German breeds. The Rotterman does train well and because both parent breeds are used as guard dogs, you can expect the same from a Rotterman. They aren’t aggressive dogs but they are fiercely loyal, so ensure that your Rotterman gets plenty of socialization from a young age.
23. Schnoodle
The Schnoodle is a cross between a Poodle and a Schnauzer. The breed is happy and lively, has the Poodle’s intelligence, and can do very well in agility classes and also as a therapy dog. The Schnoodle can make a good watchdog, too, but this dog is especially at home in a home where it can play and run around.
24. Shepweiler
The Shepweiler is a large hybrid breed that crosses a German Shepherd with a Rottweiler. You will need to train the Shepweiler, but this tends to be quite easy thanks to the intelligence of the parent breeds. The breed will need plenty of exercise and tends to do better in a home with an active family, but it can do well in agility and other classes, as well as as a working dog.
25. Shih-Poo
The Shih-Poo is sometimes known as a Shoodle or Pooshi and is a hybrid that crosses the Shih Tzu and Toy Poodle. The use of the Poodle parent breed means that the Shih-Poo may be hypoallergenic but that really does depend on the coat type of the dog. They can do well in apartments but will require exercise, and the Poodle parent means that the Shih-Poo is easily trainable.
26. Shorkie
Cross a Shih Tzu and a Yorkshire Terrier and you get a Shorkie: a small dog that is good for allergy sufferers. However, while the coat is considered hypoallergenic, it is also considered high maintenance and it will take a lot of brushing and general care to keep it looking its best.
Shorkies are small dogs but they won’t be afraid of larger dogs, so you will need to keep an eye out to make sure your little dog doesn’t bite off more than it can chew.
27. Siberian Retriever
The Siberian Retriever is a cross between a Siberian Husky and a Golden Retriever. The breed needs a lot of attention and plenty of exercise. The Siberian Retriever will usually get along with people of all ages but will need socialization and consistent training to make sure that it is as amenable to other dogs and animals.
28. Spreagle
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A cross between a Springer Spaniel and a Beagle, the Spreagle is a lively dog that likes to have fun and that is a good choice of hybrid breed for families with children. The Spreagle is likely to be quite independent but is also intelligent and trainable. The biggest challenge will usually be to meet the energy requirements of this breed, but doing so is important, otherwise, you will have a bored dog looking to make its own entertainment.
29. Weimador
The Weimador is a cross between the Weimaraner and the Labrador Retriever. Labradors make great family pets that will befriend all family members of all ages, as well as just about any stranger. The Weimaraner is a little more challenging and is prone to separation anxiety but, generally, you can expect the hybrid to be a cuddly and loving dog that requires a lot of exercise to keep it healthy and entertained.
30. Yorkipoo
The Yorkipoo crosses two well-known breeds in the Yorkshire Terrier and the Poodle. This hybrid aimed to create a companion dog that was as independent as a Yorkie but had the hypoallergenic coat of the Poodle. In most cases, this is what the hybrid is. The Yorkipoo is another small dog that will routinely try and take on bigger dogs, so you will need to have your wits about you on your daily walks, to ensure that your little dog doesn’t try and take on too much.
Conclusion
Hybrid breeds aim to combine the best of two breeds to yield a highly appealing dog. In most cases, you can enjoy the benefit of both parent breeds while smoothing off some of the sharper edges of the two parents, although this is not guaranteed, and it is quite possible that crossing two breeds in this way could result in a dog that has the negative points of both parents with none of the benefits.
Above are 30 mixed-breed dogs that are all beautiful in their own way, and hopefully we have gone some way to help you choose a cross that is ideally suited to your circumstances and needs.
Featured Image Credit: mountaintreks, Shutterstock
