Have you ever had, or heard of, a Spaniwhip?

Clue: it's NOT an Iberian frothy ice cream/helado. NOR a Go-faster stick, for that matter!

Stuck?

Well, it's a pup that's a cross between a Spaniel and a Whippet. And it can be bought for a 3-figure sum on Gumtree.

When I was about 12 - a mere lassagie - Mam bought me & my sis a Corgi crossed with a Parson Jack Russell Terrier. It wasn't called a Corussell, or a Jackgi Terrier, or a Parson Rusgi, or whatever. It was just a mongrel, and therefore quite cheap, and we just called him Kim!

True to his Corgi nature, he wasn't afraid of cattle - despite his diminutive size. And he certainly bit our ankles, if we didn't run fast enough!

True to his Jack Russell nature, he could dig holes like an excavator, flush out rodents, chase hens and even thought he could catch flying pheasants - if he leapt high enough!

BUT he often forgot the Parson bit. He wasn't that angelic! He stole raw meat from the kitchen table and generally ignored all commands. This made him a very interesting, if unpredictable, companion. In short, he was a small dog with quite a cunning personality!

But, back to today's cross breeds.

I can understand the reasoning behind a Labradoodle - a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle - as this would make a friendly, intelligent dog, and a perfect companion for visually-impaired people with allergies.

But I wonder what traits a Spaniwhip has? The Spaniel part would make him a scent hound, while the Whippet part would make him a sight hound. That scent & sight combo could make him super-sensitive, verging on the hyperactive! It could turn him into a more lethal hunter, by day AND night. But a less calm hound maybe equals less pet-like?

And what shape would he be? Long soft floppy ears on an almost hairless athletic body? Or a pointed face with erect ears on a curly chunky frame?

The mind boggles.

Here is an incomplete list of some current cross breeds. Can you guess the parentages? And can you guess the one I've made up for fun?

Goldendoodle, Cockapoo, Schnoodle, Cavapoo, Chiweenie, Chug, Borador, Cavachon, Chorkie, Doxiepoo, Jug, Yorkiepoo, Shihtpoo, Siborgi, Chusky, Pomski, Gerberian Shepsky.

I don't totally understand why these cross breeds have been made. But, saying that, not many people understand me either.

But, there again, I'm a cross breed.

I'm only half Scottish!

: p