21 best crossbreed dogs for working in the field and at home. Your taste may run to the Downton Abbey gundog, or a labrador when breeding or choosing a puppy. But for those keen to think outside the box choose one of these 21 best crossbreed dogs. The best crossbreed dogs can offer something different.

21 BEST CROSSBREED DOGS

1. Lurcher – the earliest and most sensible of working crossbreeds using a greyhound, whippet or, occasionally, deerhound to add speed to an intelligent working dog, often a collie or terrier.
2. Sprocker – a springer crossed with a cocker spaniel, in the hope of creating a dog with the trainability and temperament of a springer and the drive of a cocker.
3. Springador (also Spanador) – springer spaniel/labrador cross, often created by accident and can bring out both the best and worst of both breeds.
4. Labradoodle – a cross between a labrador and poodle, very trendy, looks stunning (like an Italian Spinone), with good temperament and reduced shedding of coat (helpful to allergy sufferers).
5. Weimardoodle (Weimaraner x poodle) – along the same thinking as the Labradoodle, but this hasn’t made an impact as a working dog.
6. Cockerdoodle/cockerpoo – cocker spaniel/poodle cross, very popular as an assistance dog because of its small size, trainability, affectionate temperament and reduced coat-shedding, but of doubtful use in the field.
7. Toodles (various) – a poodle crossed with any of the terrier breeds.
8. Jackadoodle (Jack Russell x poodle).
9. Westdoodle or Westiepoo (West Highland terrier x poodle).
10. Whoodle (Wheaten terrier x poodle). Very popular in the horse world, notable toodles include Basil, owned by three-day event doyenne Lucinda Green.
11. Oodles (various) – a poodle crossed with show/utility breeds.
12. Schnoodle (Schnauzer x poodle).
13. Spoodle (show springer spaniel x poodle).
14. Shipoo (shih-tzu x poodle).
15. Cavapoo (Cavalier King Charles spaniel x poodle).
16. Chipoo (Chihuahua x poodle). Poodles are by far the most popular breed for crossing because of the non-shedding coat – and the fun of thinking up “oodle” names for the resultant cross.
17. Pyrakita – a Pyrenean mountain dog crossed with a Japanese akita. Why?
18. Puggle – a pug crossed with a beagle (possibly in an attempt to reduce ugliness).
19. Speagle (spaniel x beagle). Beagle crosses are popular in the States, where Sylvester Stallone is a puggle fancier.
20. Dorgi – a dachshund crossed with a corgi, by Royal approval, of course.
21. Bichon Frisé x West Highland terrier – no name yet, perhaps Frizzie? Suggestions on a postcard, please.