The Golden Doodle

I was reading the latest issue of Money magazine the other day and I came across an article about the merits of mixed breed dogs. Not mutts, mind you. No, these dogs are carefully bred from two purebreds to create one dog that embodies all the good things about its parents. I give you, for example, the Golden Doodle. I'm not making this up, I swear. A mix between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle, the Golden Doodle is an improvement over its progenitors, as it is more relaxed than a Poodle but has better hips than a Golden Retriever. Oh, and it's hypoallergenic. Not a fan of the Poodle? Don't want a dog with "doodle" in its name? No problem! There is a veritable slew of new mixed breeds on today's market from which the discerning owner-to-be can choose. The Puggle (Pug + Beagle), for example, both boasts a better respiratory system AND is more limber than your average Pug. A word to the wise, however: Don't expect to pick one of these up for free out of a box in your neighbor's yard; these "new mutts" will run you anywhere from $500 to $2500.