Short of cloning the perfect canine, pet lovers have done everything to make their pet dogs unique. Dressing them up, giving them extraordinary hair styles, providing them their own accessories, and giving them “personalities” -- these are just some of the measures pet lovers take to make their dogs stand out from the canine crowd.

Today's canine consumers are becoming more and more demanding though and have fixed their sights on the latest pet trend – custom canine crosses. Researchers have said that mix-breeds are the smarter lot as opposed to pure-breeds; now fashionistas are claiming that they are also the prettier ones. Initiated in 1989 by Australian dog breeder Wally Conron, dogs are now bred to produce so-called “designer dogs”.

The first of these deliberately bred canines is a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle – the “Labradoodle”. Conron's aim in breeding these two breeds was to create a hypoallergenic guide dog for the blind. The Poodles' low-shed coat and the gentle nature and trainability of the Labrador is an ideal mix for those with an allergy to dog hair and fur.

Currently, a trend is slowly but steadily rising; Poogles, Puggles, Schnoodles, Cockapoos, Pekapoos, and Jackapoos now populate the ranks of the designer dog crowd. These first-generation crosses between two pure-breeds are recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Association. The opportunity of naming the breed is usually given to the one who first registers a particular cross – a combination of the parental breeds' names is usually the name used.

It is still a matter of debate whether these designer dogs will catch on or is simply a fad like so many fashion trends. The irony of the matter is if everyone decides to get a designer dog, how is each one unique?