What is the appeal of "designer dogs"? Does someone with a maltese/poodle cross actually think that dog is "better" if it's called a maltipoo as opposed to a mutt or a cross-breed? Do designer dogs have predictable characteristics (the advantage of getting a purebred, after all), or is it as much a chance of luck as going down to the pound and getting a random small dog?

I think it is all a matter of marketing hype. Give it a fancy name, and put a high price on it and those with more money than brains will cram their money into your pocket while raising the average IQ of their household. It is just like designer label clothing.

I think most of the regulars here will agree that is you want a Malti-poo or whatever, go to American Kennel Club - Breed Rescue (http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm) or www.petfingers.org

Sheba that I raised 3 years ago was a deliberate Lab/Golden cross. The truth is, Pepper, the year before and Nita, the year after her were full blooded Labs and weren't that much different. It is all a matter of averages and variations. The Goldens maybe a little softer and easier to manage. The stronger willed Labs with a firm hand, handle distractions better. The school needs a variety of dogs for each class in order to match people with the right dog. If none of their Goldens come in season one month, in a year and a half, they won't have any for the class. If they breed some of their more numerous Labs to a Golden, they will have some Lab like dogs, Golden like dogs, and some just right for some people mixtures. The personality are even less predictable.

What is the appeal of "designer dogs"? Does someone with a maltese/poodle cross actually think that dog is "better" if it's called a maltipoo as opposed to a mutt or a cross-breed? Do designer dogs have predictable characteristics (the advantage of getting a purebred, after all), or is it as much a chance of luck as going down to the pound and getting a random small dog?
Go down to the pound, you can find a treasure down there. I got my dog from there and she's gorgeous. I think the appeal of 'designer dogs' are the price tag - they see the dog as an expensive 'product' therefore the best product. The only purpose they serve is keeping puppy millers in business which is a terrible thing.

What is the appeal of "designer dogs"? Does someone with a maltese/poodle cross actually think that dog is "better" if it's called a maltipoo as opposed to a mutt or a cross-breed? Do designer dogs have predictable characteristics (the advantage of getting a purebred, after all), or is it as much a chance of luck as going down to the pound and getting a random small dog?
This strikes me as more of a marketing strategy than anything. Personally I find it silly. My dog is a mutt. As best we can figure she's a cross between a german shepherd (overall body shape) and bernese mountain dog (shortened head vs shepherd and her coloring screams bernese). But she's still a mutt, or perhaps a mixed breed if you prefer. :)

We saw one website trying to sell them as a Euro Mountain Sheparnese. My girlfriend and I laughed hysterically for a good 5 minutes over that one.

If pressed we jokingly tell people she's a Rotten Mountain Shepherd. The Rotten part coming from her being spoiled thusly. :D