Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
PLoS One. 2024 Aug 28;19(8):e0306350. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306350. eCollection 2024.
Booming UK ownership of designer-crossbreed dogs resulting from intentional crossing of distinct purebred breeds is often motivated by perceived enhanced health, despite limited evidence supporting a strong 'hybrid vigour' effect in dogs. Improved evidence on the relative health of designer-crossbreed dogs could support prospective owners to make better acquisition decisions when choosing their new dog. This study used a cross-sectional survey of UK owners of three common designer-crossbreeds (Cavapoo, Cockapoo, and Labradoodle) and their progenitor breeds (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, and Poodle) to collect owner-reported health disorder information. The authors hypothesised that designer-crossbred breeds have lower odds of common disorders compared to their progenitor breeds. Multivariable analysis accounted for confounding between breeds: dog age, sex, neuter status, and owner age and gender. The odds for the 57 most common disorders were compared across the three designer-crossbreeds with each of their two progenitor breeds (342 comparisons). Valid responses were received for 9,402 dogs. The odds did not differ statistically significantly between the designer-crossbreeds and their relevant progenitor breeds in 86.6% (n = 296) of health comparisons. Designer-crossbreeds had higher odds for 7.0% (n = 24) of disorders studied, and lower odds for 6.4% (n = 22). These findings suggest limited differences in overall health status between the three designer-crossbreeds and their purebred progenitors, challenging widespread beliefs in positive hybrid vigour effects for health in this emerging designer-crossbreed demographic. Equally, the current study did not suggest that designer-crossbreeds have poorer health as has also been purported. Therefore, owners could more appropriately base acquisition decisions between designer-crossbreeds and their purebred progenitors on other factors important to canine welfare such as breeding conditions, temperament, conformation and health of parents.
英国对经过有意杂交的不同纯种犬进行杂交，以培育设计品种（designer-crossbreed），从而获得外观出众的犬只。这种趋势日益流行，其动机通常是认为设计品种的健康状况得到了改善，尽管目前仅有有限的证据支持杂种优势（hybrid vigour）在犬类中具有强大作用。如果能有更多关于设计品种犬相对健康状况的证据，可能有助于潜在的犬主在选择新犬时做出更好的购买决策。本研究采用横断面调查的方法，对英国三种常见设计品种犬（Cavapoo、Cockapoo 和 Labradoodle）及其亲代品种（Cavalier King Charles Spaniel、Cocker Spaniel、 Labrador Retriever 和 Poodle）的犬主进行调查，收集其健康障碍的报告信息。作者假设，与亲代品种相比，设计品种犬患常见疾病的几率较低。多变量分析考虑了品种之间的混杂因素：犬的年龄、性别、绝育状态以及犬主的年龄和性别。在将三种设计品种犬与各自的两个亲代品种进行比较后（342 次比较），比较了这 57 种最常见疾病的患病几率。共收到 9402 只犬的有效回复。在 86.6%（n = 296）的健康比较中，设计品种犬与相应亲代品种犬的患病几率没有统计学上的显著差异。在研究的 7.0%（n = 24）疾病中，设计品种犬的患病几率较高，而在 6.4%（n = 22）疾病中，设计品种犬的患病几率较低。这些发现表明，在这三种设计品种犬与其纯种亲代之间，整体健康状况差异有限，这对新兴的设计品种犬种中普遍存在的杂种优势对健康产生积极影响的观点提出了挑战。同样，本研究也没有表明设计品种犬的健康状况较差，这与之前的观点相反。因此，犬主在设计品种犬与其纯种亲代之间做出选择时，可以更多地基于其他对犬只福利重要的因素，如繁殖条件、气质、体型和父母的健康状况等。
