There are more than 200 breeds of dog recognised by the New Zealand Kennel Club and, chances are, most people could not name half of them.
But in today's fast-moving world, which so readily embraces the new and the unusual, it is probably inevitable that pet owners are looking for something different and are prepared to pay.
Even in Otago, pups, which unlike their purebred parents will never see a show ring or command a stud fee, are being sold for $1000 and more.
All over the world, breeders are deliberately mixing two distinct bloodlines together, sometimesto produce a particular trait, but often because the results are cute and attractive and highly marketable.
Among the first recognised "designer dogs" was the labradoodle, a Labrador retriever-standard poodle mix bred in Australia in 1989 by breeder Wally Conron.
He was trying to combine the low-shed coat of the poodle with the gentleness and trainability of the labrador to produce a guide dog for blind people allergic to fur.
The labradoodle took off and is now bred in many countries.
Many of the most popular designer dogs are small breeds sought-after as companions in urban environments.
They include the pompapoo(Pomeranian-toy poodle), yorkipoo (Yorkshire terrier-poodle), buggs (Boston terrier-pug), pugalier (cavalier King Charles spaniel-pug)and almost anything mixed with a bichon frise or a Maltese.
Dunedin's Animal Attraction pet shop, owned by Judi Johnson, specialises in small designer dogs which she calls "pick-up dogs".
Among her current stock are bichon frise-shih tzu crosses, bichon frise-Japanese chin crosses and, perhaps the strangest of all, a pup whose mother was a bichon frise-maltese cross and whose father was a Pomeranian-fox terrier cross. (In case readers are wondering, the end result is a wiry and intelligent-looking, coarse-coated dog about the size of a Pomeranian with the white and tan colouring of a Jack Russell terrier).
Ms Johnson has no trouble selling her "pick-up dogs", most of which retail for between $800 and $1100.
Many purchasers are elderly people living in small homes or flats who want a smaller, inside dog, while others are bought by families.
"Most people buy them for companionship. They are cuddly and a bit different.
"Most of the breeds don't shed hair, which their owners like, although they still have to be groomed and trimmed."
Dunedin nurse Liz Young is one of Mrs Johnson's satisfied customers.
"I'm in love!" she says, gazing adoringly at the puppy which has won her heart.
It's not hard to see why. Bella, a 10-week-old Lhasa apso-shih tzu cross, is a soft, cuddly bundle of personality.
She struts around on tiny little legs, bright eyes alert and tail wagging furiously.
She loves to snuggle down in a pair of human arms, bestows "kisses" without reserve and enjoys having her tummy tickled.
Ms Young paid $1000 for her and says she is worth every penny.
"I would have paid more. When it is the right dog, price doesn't matter," she effuses.
Ms Young spent 18 months looking for a new pet after her last dog, a poodle, died.
She says it was Bella's endearing face, her small size and her colour - a soft honey-beige with a cream "racing stripe" down her spine - that appealed.
"I wanted a companion. As soon as I saw her I knew she was the one."
Ms Young remains besotted, describing Bella's personality as "brilliant".
"She's quite social. She enjoys being around people."
Bella might soon become a celebrity in her own right.
Ms Young, who works at Dunedin Hospital, plans to take her on regular visits to the Otago Community Hospice to spread love and cheer among the patients.
So are designer dogs masterpieces or mutts? That depends on your point of view.
As far as their health goes, crossbreds can often be stronger than purebreds, Gardens Vet Clinic veterinarian Steven Stevenson says.
The phenomenon is known as hybrid vigour.
"Medically speaking, crossbreds tend to be a bit hardier because new bloodlines have been introduced. Often you can get more genetic problems in purebred dogs. Some can be quite inbred."
Nicky Rutherford, who has been breeding and training dogs for more than 30 years, says many breed club members frown on diluting the characteristics of a purebred variety.
But providing the motives are right and breeding is selective, she sees no problem with the trend.
"All dogs are crossbreds after all. They all came from wolves way back [an estimated 100,000 years ago].So selective breeding is nothing new.
"As long as you've got good bloodlines on both sides and it is not just a random cross you should be OK. But you have to be a little bit careful and think about what you are getting."
Mrs Rutherford breeds sibords at her East Taieri property - half Siberian husky and half border collie.
She bred border collies for obedience competition work for years but decided to add the husky genes to produce a tougher dog.
"Border collies can be a bit too soft-natured. Siberian huskies are more arrogant, more solid. They don't fall to pieces under pressure."
Her sibords have proved themselves to be obedience champions, although she says they require a more experienced handler.
Now she is experimenting with a three-quarter collie, one-quarter Siberian husky mix, which she says is more manageable for the everyday owner.
Mrs Rutherford has earned a reputation for being able to retrain difficult adult dogs.
She says crossbreds are no more prone to behavioural problems than purebreds.
"A lot of a dog's behaviour comes down to the owner. Whether you have a crossbred or a purebred, it is best to start working with pups early . . . and expose them to positive social experiences.
"Most dog problems are caused by a lack of socialisation."
THE COSTS
Whether yours is a handbag-sized "pick-up pet" or a gigantic great Dane, a designer dog or an SPCA special, owning a pooch means ongoing expenses.
Anticipate spending about $1800 a year on the basics, Otago SPCA executive officer Phil Soper says.
And with most dogs having a life span of 12-15 years, that could mean forking out a cool $20,000 or more.
Consider the besotted Auckland dog owners who recently paid a veterinary specialists' clinic $13,000 to have their dog's pelvis rebuilt after the animal was hit by a car.
That is the most extreme case that Dunedin's Garden Vet Clinic veterinarian Steven Stevenson has heard of, but he says people should be aware that owning an animal could bring major health bills.
For most humans, a blood test is free; a similar test for a dog can cost $300.
Setting a dog's broken limb might set an owner back $1000 while ongoing medicine for "old-age ailments" such as heart problems, arthritis, kidney failure and cancer can run into thousands.
Mr Stevenson says most vets do not offer credit, although most will negotiate in unexpected circumstances such as when a dog has been run over and needs immediate surgery.
His own vet clinic refers people to a finance company if they are worried about their bills.
Pet insurance is another option.
An estimated one in four British animals is insured and the concept is gradually gaining ground in New Zealand.
There are several providers in the market, charging between $80 and $430 a year for cats and $160 to $520 a year for dogs.
The SPCA offers an insurance scheme, too.
Perhaps the biggest essential expense for a dog is food.
Mr Stevenson says owners should budget on spending between $3 and $4 per day per dog on good quality food, probably more for a very large dog.
Trying to buy cheaper food might turn out to be a false economy, he said.
"Many people buy cheaper food such as dog roll from the supermarket.
They might think they are getting a bargain, but much of the contents are water and you need to give the dog more to fill it up."
Mr Soper says the SPCA deliberately increased the sale price of its dogs for adoption from $150 to $200 last year.
"We wanted to make sure new owners have the means to look after an animal. Pups especially can look cute and nice and people will say 'we'll save that'.
"They don't realise it will grow up, that they will need to keep working with it, and that there will continue to be expenses."
The SPCA does not make money from adopting out unwanted pets, he says.
A report written to justify last year's price rise showed it cost the organisation $527 for each bitch assessed as adoptable, and $467 for each dog.
The costs included a vet inspection, worming and flea treatments, vaccinations, neutering, shelter costs, and the cost of an inspector assessing the new owner's home.
Among the many one-off costs are microchipping, which since July 2006, has been mandatory for all pups registered for the first time, and for older dogs impounded more than once or classified as menacing or dangerous.
Annual registration fees will set owners back anywhere between $35 and $110, depending on the fees charged by local authorities.
Dog owners can go overboard on optional extras. It's not necessarily enough these days for a dog to have a coat.
She might need a raincoat, sunglasses, beachwear and a bathrobe as well. Consider a glow-in-the-dark collar and lead for night-time or early-morning walks, and pannniers or a rucksack so your pet can carry his own belongings.
Dog car safety harnesses are now on almost every dog owner's shopping list, while dog car booster seats allow small dogs to see out the window while travelling.
For healthy dog teeth, try beef-flavoured toothpaste and a special toothbrush.
Some dogs may also require jumbo ear wipes or tear-stain remover.
To contain those "oopsies" owners can buy dog nappies (in various sizes) and even purchase the ultimate - a backyard dog loo with a bioactivator, which breaks the poo down into a liquid ready to be flushed into the ground.
How much does it cost?
One-off costs:
Microchipping (for pups being registered for the first time): $50-$60.
Kennel: $0-$300-plus.
The essentials:
Registration: $30-$110.
Food: $1095-$1460 ($3-$4 a day).
Routine medical attention (worming, vaccinations etc): $120-$200.
Possible additional costs:
Car safety harness: $16-$50.
Boarding kennel (10 nights @ $13-$17 per night): $130-$170.
Grooming (four sessions): $120-$320.
Puppy training (four sessions): $30-$40.
Animal behavourist: $60-$90 per hour.
Dental treatment (per visit): $200-$500.
Ongoing medical treatment: $70-$1000.
Treatment for cuts or infections: $70-$300.
Basic surgery (broken bones etc): $600-$1000.
Major surgery: $1000-$13,000.
Neutering (females): $180-$200.
Neutering (males): $105-$150.
Caesarean section: $1000.
Euthanasia: $70-$90.
Optional extras:
Clothing (four items): $120-$200.
Toys: $0-$100-plus.
Pet insurance (annual): $160-$530.
Pet cremation: $100-$500.
