"Designer" dogs or just plain old mutts?????

[Whispering Winds]

Now, my Chiro has a labadoodle, named Sammy and he is darling and golden. They don't shed, their curls are gorgeous, and while I hate seeing so many mixed designer breeds out there, there has been cock-a-poos for years, as well as yorkie-poos, a cuban mix with a maltese and another small breed, schnoodles, and the list goes on . . . so "designer breeds" as you all are calling them have been around for a very long time. I think the Labadoodle has brought it more out in the limelight. One of the biggest rages a year or so ago was a puggle, a cross between a beagle and a pug, and they are wonderful little dogs from everyone I know who has one or what I have read . . .its the ones that we let run loose and breed and have puppies that no one ever knows about that is the tragedy. Puppy Mills are rampant, had one for years not far from where my daughter lives, but people beat a path to their door for a puppy, because they thought that was the way to do it.
I love mutts, but I also have a shihstu or however he is spelled that i wouldn't give up for love or money, a mutt and a Boston Terrier/something mix that we love . . .so I have had about all types and mixes, but so far my fav is the our old Boxer Hendrix who has been gone for about 8 years, and we still miss him. Just my thoughts, nothing for anyone to get in a hoot about!

 

[luvmychicknkids]

Labs are wonderful dogs......you are right.

and she is adorable, too.

I think a lot of people are reading my original post and thinking I am bashing all cross breed dogs, criticizing people for paying for a dog, etc. My intent (and I have tried to make it clear) is that is has now become a trend to just randomly and haphazardly allow any two pure breed dogs to have some quality time together just to get a litter of mutts you can trick people into paying an arm and a leg for.

In my search for a Great Dane for my family, the first stop was the local animal shelter. I found one I fell in love with....half Great Dane half Lab. He stole my heart. Found out there was a biting issue with him and his former owner's child. I could NOT risk it so I extended my search. I am getting a pure Great Dane puppy only because I decided I HAD to get a baby just to feel safe......these guys get big. I would have gladly got a mixed pup if I found one, but I didn't.

I wish every single animal had a loving, devoted family. Mixed, pure, whatever. It just makes me sick watching people who honestly don't care about these dogs, don't have a clue what is going to come from the mix, but they KNOW they can add a funny sounding name and get people to buy them. However, you breed a nice big litter of ohhhhh......say 11 Rottipoo's and list them for $600 each. Maybe 3 sell (if that). What happens with the other 8? I am willing to guess a good portion of them are those very odd looking mixes you are seeing at the shelters these days.

 

[mtnhomechick]

This is really corny but I think kinda cute. Me and my doodle.......just goofing around.

 

[Chick_a_dee]

At our local shelter (about 2 towns over) they have 1 Standard Labradoodle that was trained as a guard dog... odd i know lol, and a bunch of purebreds that got too big, had health issues, christmas pups... etc

Actually, one of our puppies went to a family that was given a German Shepherd puppy, purebred with papers that the kids could just not handle, they found it a home after trying to deal with it for 2 months and went looking for a smaller puppy that didn't shed, they ended up with a beautiful little boy they named Tucker.

 

[PattiXmas]

Quote:
My favorite post, by the last line is the best! Very true! If people can't understand the point you are getting at, then at least they keep you in job (I only feel for you and the dogs that are impossible to train).

 

[PattiXmas]

I also wanted to add - REPUTABLE breeders will have it in their contracts that the dog be spayed or neutered (if it's a pet quality) which helps control the pet population and they have it in their contract that if the dog doesn't work out for whatever reason, that they will take the dog back. They are also very involved in rescue.

Look at the designer breeders, look at the pet stores and puppy millers. Do they offer a health guarantee past three days or a year? Nope. Do they do anything to help the pet population? Nope. Do they have it where they will take the dog back no questions asked? Nope. Are they involved in rescue? Nope.

Dogs should not be treated as livestock. Look at the shelters, look at the rescue groups, look at how many "loose" dogs are running around. All puppies are cute but if you don't know the whole history of their parents, grandparents, etc what are you really getting? You could be spending $$$$$ for a "designer" or a byb's dog or puppy miller's only to have been able to go to shelter and get the same dog with the same problems for less money. Supply and demand - if people keep supporting crap like this, the "breeders" will keep breeding. It's all about $$$$.

As far as breeders that breed for the betterment and show their dogs, this really is the only way to go if you are looking for a solid dog. These breeders not only have a fortune invested in their animals, but they also have a fortune invested in showing their dogs. They know the history of the dogs, they can go back generations. These breeders also know that certain breeds run a higher risk delivering their babies, they are prepared for that - they have prepared for many months if not years, for their breedings. Sure they have a waiting list for their puppies, but sometimes they offer their retired show dogs. Also, the wait is well worth it!

 

[mtnhomechick]

I don't think it's fair to say they ALL don't offer a good gaurantee. Our dog was gauranteed for two years. This all or nothing thinking isn't the right way to look at it.

For those of us on this forum who either breed or own these dogs, me being the latter....we are perfectly satisfied. Please don't speak for our animals or for us.

There will always be bad breeders of whatever kind of dog is popular.....mix or pedigree. It's gone on for years and probably always will.

Please don't say that designer breeders don't offer full gaurantees, it's just not always true.

 

[Chick_a_dee]

PattiXmas..I know purebred supposedly reputable breeders who WILL NOT take the puppy back, as far as they are concerned it is not their business. We will rehome puppies for those who cannot take care of them, and we do require our puppies be spayed/neutered. We also take in rescues, mostly adults...Ginny our Shihpoo was a rescue from a breeder out west who neglected her dogs. Ginny didn't even know what a treat was when we got her, she was starved, etc.

We have a fortune invested in our dogs, we will be starting agility at our local dog club, and I'm sorry but we offer a FULL guarantee. What about the purebred, high showing, breeders who run their kennels like a factory outlet? There are MORE THAN PLENTY of them that turn out hundreds of puppies a year and are fully registered "reputable" showing breeders who do have a lot invested in their dogs but for what? To run a puppy mill in disguise? Back yard breeder or factory outlet kennel? TBH, a backyard breeder is someone whose just doesn't care that their dog gets knocked up, we are a reputable small family breeder and we're not a backyard breeder, and we refuse to run a large kennel operation at the expense of our dogs like many of the purebred and yes some cross breeders do this.

Have you seen all the purebred registered puppies at the pet store lately? I have. Sick, dying, overbred. I'm not saying there aren't cross breeders like this, but the fact is it is prevelant in both communities and all the purebred activists need to get off their high horses and wake up to the startling reality.

On top of this many pedigreed dogs are LINE BRED to achieve or keep traits in the line, this is UNHEALTHY and can cause massive defects, death, disease in the puppies, THIS IS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE DOG. Its hard to line breed a cross, and though I am sure there are some who do it, we DO NOT condone it. We would rather actively search out a dog with the traits we deem desirable and remove from the breeding regimen dogs who do not have these traits.

 

[onthespot]

trotting a dog around a ring and picking up points, or a ribbon is not an indication of health, soundess or quality. Every breed is just a particular collection of faults if you think of it from other breed perspectives... A bulldog's bite would get you laughed out of most breed rings. A bassett hound's sagging flews would kill any breed of pointing dog in the ring. The rolling gait of a pomeranian would just roll eyeballs in the bichon ring.

In purebred dogs you pick your poison so to speak, and love it and live with it. Same goes for "designer dogs" and everything that implies. I have had purebred dogs from top top top show lines and some have had horrendous temperament problems, terrible skin allergies, sensitive digestion, and died early from cancer. None of those show up in the ring if you "manage them" well and get your dog out and shown before it keels over or shows the chronic effect of enteritis or autoimmune disorders... I'm not making this up and I am speaking of personal experience of dogs bought from top winning breeders in the country of multiple breeds of dogs...

I know the heartache of paying a lot of money for a puppy with hidden health problems and do not breed them into my dogs. By many I would be considered a BYB because I don't show my dogs. I breed parti poodles, which is a DQ fault in AKC. I have tried to show in UKC shows around here but was discouraged by the staff because they said no one shows the small ones and I would be the only one in the ring and it would be a waste of money. I breed for flashy, healthy, happy, pet quality dogs. I don't keep my dogs in cages (except the boys, at night) and raise the puppies in a happy home environment, with all their vaccines, wormings and professional vet care when it is needed and I think it will do any good. Any dog that shows some quality that I would not want to live with long term, adios. It is placed in a screened home, with full disclosure and a guarantee I will take it back at any time during its life if the person can't keep it. I have worked in rescue and personally placed over 400 dogs that are not from my breeding program. I groom my dogs regularly, including picky glands, toenails, frontline, ears cared for, teeth cleaned, whatever they need. In fact, today is wash day. I should be out there washing my pals instead of in here explaining myself to people of other opinions.

 

[Chick_a_dee]

onthespot, we have a red and white parti poodle! ..She's gorgeous and we wouldn't trade her for the world. Shes all washed out right now and sun bleached from spending lots of time outdoors frolicking in the sun but she is usually red with a white bib.