I will always have crossbreeds, there are plenty of rescue puppies out there. I love crossbreeds but what I do object to is giving various crosses ridiculous names!

If it is a cocker x springer then call it that and not "sprocker". If it's a cross between a labrador and a poodle then call it that and not a "labradoodle". I know what my dogs are crossed with but if I'm asked I'll say "collie x" and only go into details if necessary.

Why are crossbreed owners so ashamed of what their dogs really are that they have to make up "cute" names. Puppy farmers wouldn't sell crossbreeds as easily if they didn't make up breeds.

>Why are crossbreed owners so ashamed of what their dogs really are that they have to make up "cute" names.

Totally agree with you about hating the practice, but I don't think they're ashamed, just that it sounds more cutsey to give them catchy names - and makes a mint for the puppy farmers and backyard breeders that breed them.

what would you call lurchers then?people can call their dogs whatever they want to!

Yes, I'd agree the effect would be much less if they were already related.  The greatest benefit would be to a highly inbred line in a breed with low diversity.  Even a cross to a closely related breed would then show some benefits of hybrid vigour.

Edit - reply to JG

Julie

Havoc, once again you have come up trumps with a great post! fascinating stuff, you don't write books do you?!

A spaniel cross doesn't seem so exciting, does it?

I know several of these crosses and the main problem I see is that you can't predict what you are getting.  One dog is small and stocky and the others are long and leggy.  Typical crossbreed stuff really. 

There are lots of crossbreeds who are delightful; being a non-pedigree doesn't make them any less enjoyable to own, the danger comes when we recommend that people start breeding these.

Perhaps I should add that I've got one of each type of spaniel, have had a litter of each and would never feel the need to cross them both together.

My first dog was a sprocker spaniel and I had serious problems. A number of my friends use champdogs and they know the story with my sprocker basil. Being a stupid novice dog owner some years back I acquired a sprocker spaniel as an unwanted pet. He was a result of a puppy farm breeding 'working cockers'(I didn't know at the time what a puppy farm was) but when I enrolled with a training school  the instuctors wife was a top gundog trainer and a member of the great Britain team. He said Basil was a sprocker spaniel adn it was such a shame that this dog had been bred. Being a Novice I got quite defensive but years on I realise what he mean't and he is still a good friend today. Basil had soo many problems I wouldn't know where to begin but I tried in vain to sort them out best I could. In the end I went to see a behavourist who did some brilliant work with us and Basil did greatly improve. But sadly things went from bad to worse and and I seriously had to rethink his future. It was putting such a strain on my retaionship with my partner that we resorted to having sleeping innseparate bedrooms. Basil was a real character and he had wonderful drive for balls so I contacted Cusoms and excise and I'm thrilled to say that years on Basil is a customs and excise dog and I know that I did everything I could to find him the best life. I am lucky enough to stay in contact with his handler who regulary sends pics. But anyone seriously thinking of breeding these dogs needs to really sit down and think why???? Basil taught me soo much and I just wish that I could have done more for him.  How do you know what their temperments will be like???? Talking to my friend the Gun dog trainer he says that most people in the gundog world wouldn't even consider a sprocker. Why would they??? Working Cockers and springers Have been bred for years so what makes you think that a sprocker would be accepted????