A recent study from the Royal Veterinary College in the UK has revealed that popular designer crossbreeds in Australia, such as cockapoos, cavoodles, and labradoodles, exhibit poorer behavior compared to their purebred progenitors.
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Cavoodles, which rank as the most popular dog breed in Australia, are a mix of poodles and King Charles spaniels, while cockapoos come from poodles and cocker spaniels, and labradoodles are a combination of poodles and Labrador retrievers. Many Australians choose these designer breeds under the belief that they possess more desirable traits than purebreds; however, the new study challenges this notion.
The research involved a survey of over 9,400 dog owners regarding their cavoodles, labradoodles, cockapoos, and the corresponding purebred breeds. The survey utilized the Canine Behavioural Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) to assess various behavioral traits. Results showed that nearly 45 percent of the designer crossbreeds had more undesirable behaviors than at least one of their progenitor breeds, while just over nine percent displayed fewer problematic behaviors.
Among the designer breeds, cockapoos ranked as the least well-behaved, scoring poorly in 16 out of 24 behavioral categories, including owner-directed aggression, stranger-directed aggression, and excitability. Cavoodles followed, with unfavorable scores in 11 out of 24 categories, and labradoodles scored worse in five areas but better in six.
The researchers emphasize the need for further studies and increased awareness regarding the behavioral issues associated with designer crossbreeds, particularly given their continued popularity.