Research published in the journal PLOS One on March 19, 2026, reveals that popular designer dog crossbreeds, namely Cockapoos, Cavapoos, and Labradoodles, frequently display more undesirable behaviors compared to their purebred ancestors. The study, led by Gina Bryson and her colleagues at the Royal Veterinary College, analyzed data from a survey of 9,402 dogs using the Canine Behavioural Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ).
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The findings indicate that Cockapoos scored lower than their purebred parents, Cocker Spaniels and Poodles, in 16 out of 24 behavioral categories, including levels of aggression and excitability. Meanwhile, Labradoodles presented more balanced behavioral traits, showing less aggression than purebred Poodles in some areas. In contrast, Cavapoos fared poorly in 11 behavioral categories, demonstrating issues such as excitability and separation anxiety.
Overall, the study found that designer crossbreeds exhibited more problematic behaviors than purebreds in 44.4% of the comparisons evaluated, while only 9.7% showed fewer concerning behaviors. The implications of these results challenge the widespread belief that designer dogs are inherently more stable or easier to train than established purebreds.
The research urges potential dog owners to be aware of the behavioral challenges associated with these designer breeds to ensure responsible pet ownership and dog welfare. More investigation is recommended to better understand the behavioral profiles of crossbreed dogs.