Unpredictable science

As the popularity of cross-breeds continues to grow, David Tomlinson asks why the humble labrador seems to dominate in the gene stakes

- David Tomlinson

HERE’S A QUESTION I can’t answer: why, when a labrador is crossed with almost any other breed, do the resulting puppies invariably show the greatest similarity to their labrador parent in both looks and temperament? Over the years I’ve met lots of labrador cross-breeds, some the result of accidental matings, others deliberate, but almost always the cross-breed dog looks much more like a labrador than anything else.

Take springadors for example, the classic cross between Britain’s two most popular gundog breeds. Assuming that the cross is between a black labrador and a springer, the chances are high that the offspring will be solid black, though often with a splash of white on the chest. The texture of the coat is most likely to resemble a labrador, even the shape of the head will be more like a labrador, though the ears will probably be slightly longer.

It’s the same (at least in my experience) with cocker/labrador crosses. A friend has a cockador that looks like a small, short-legged labrador. It’s a delightful little dog, and my pal considers it the best dog he has ever owned, having had pure labradors before. It has all the hunting enthusiasm of a cocker but with something of the biddability that makes labradors such a popular breed. Unlike spingadors and sprockers, cockadors are quite rare, but I reckon it is a cross with real potential, especially for the shooting man who wants a smaller dog than a full-sized lab.

Unusual