Designer Dogs

[TiaView]

Just wanted to add my two cents about showing. It's not a vanity sport to those that exhibit BREEDING STOCK to improve their line. Are there those silly folks that walk around the dog shows just to stroke their vanity and get a ribbon? Sure. But for serious, responsible breeders trying to PRESERVE and improve the structure and movement (and temperment, can't really tell too much about health in a show ring) of their future get...dog shows provide a "sounding board" to the evaluation of your breeding stock. Are there politics and ego? Sure. In everything. But for those that want an honest opinion on their dogs (overall, don't go by one judge's opinion) competition is a good way to see how you measure up. The AKC is the leading sponsor of health research and testing in dogs. These donations come from dog show entries. You don't see puppy mills, pet shops, backyard breeders or even shelters funding this research to improve our dogs for future generations.
And I LOVE capitalism. BUT...bringing any dog into this world that you don't have a home for and don't intend to be responsible for if that home backs out is why the shelters are full of mixed breeds. The reason the purebred dog is not found in great number at shelters is because there are a lot of purebred rescues and responsible breeders willing to clean up the mess that pet shops and puppy mills create. Oh, yeah, and irresponsible breeders.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

There are LOTS and lots of purebred dogs at shelters. Labs, pitties, pugs, beagles, poodles, goldens, GSD, ect ect. Those are some of the most common breeds that I have seen in shelters. I have been in shelters a lot because I do purebred rescue for a couple rare breeds (Karelian Bear dogs and Russo-European Laika's and the East and West Siberian Laika). I walk in and see lots of labs, beagles, pugs, small breeds that are expecially hard to housebreak. Mostly Pit Bulls.

I have issues with AKC as an organization because they do not look at temperament as the number one priority of a dog. Conformation is. If the dog doesn't have a sound mind then what good is a near perfect body? The priorities need to change big time!

 

[TiaView]

According to shelter statistics less than 25 percent of shelter dogs are purebred and most rescue organizations come in for the purebreds (most folks, too, by the way). Many shelters charge more for purebreds. And those purebreds that are there are mostly thanks to pet shops, puppy mills and backyard breeders that don't show their dogs or do any testing.
I take issue with AKC too, but not for your reason. What good is a great temperment on a dog that is dying or crippled because of poor bone structure? Far too many dogs purchased from the above mentioned shady breeders have major bone structure problems. Hips, patella, elbow, etc. You cannot tell too much about health or temperment (although a dog with a bad temperment is very hard to show in competition) in a few minutes at a dog show. But at least the AKC is evaluating something before handing out a ribbon.

 

[Dar]

Quote:
Yep, and there's no lack of them in shelters, waiting for homes.

some of us CANT adopt from shelters...

I cant adopt from the local shelter because I dont have a fenced yard.

sorry but I am not going to fence 2 acres. I have had many dogs in the past and not one was ever brought home by animal control. I am a responsible pet owner who spays/neuters, annual vaccines, dont take my dogs in the car in hot weather, lots of food and water, puppy training, and refreshers as needed, long walks in the moon light

and on the beach. BUT I am not good enough to adopt a pet from the shelter.

I have no choice but to go to the breeder for my pets or the free ads on craigslist. (3 cats, 4 dogs, 30+ chickens, reptiles)

 

[Wolfwoman]

dar, I don't get it? If you can get one from craigslist or a breeder without a fenced yard, why not from a shelter?

Wait a sec, I get it - it's a SHELTER requirement... right? Makes sense that way...lol
Not all states have that requirement.

 

[Dar]

Quote:
shelters want me to have a fenced yard, and they were very afraid of the fact that my daughter is under 10 years old.. she has grown up with dogs all her life she knows how to behave with a dog...

the shelters will charge you up to $300 for a shelter dog and the hoops you need to jump through are unreal.

My vet even wrote a letter of recommendation to the shelter saying that I am a responsible pet owner and due the the loss of our family dog at the age of 15 we were interested in adopting a dog from the shelter...

the shelter manager said basically she didnt care what our vet said, we dont have a fenced yard we dont qualify!

 

[Wolfwoman]

Yeah I think we were posting at the same time, I edited once my brain kicked in and I thought it through...lol

 

[redhen]

Quote:
shelters want me to have a fenced yard, and they were very afraid of the fact that my daughter is under 10 years old.. she has grown up with dogs all her life she knows how to behave with a dog...

the shelters will charge you up to $300 for a shelter dog and the hoops you need to jump through are unreal.

My vet even wrote a letter of recommendation to the shelter saying that I am a responsible pet owner and due the the loss of our family dog at the age of 15 we were interested in adopting a dog from the shelter...

the shelter manager said basically she didnt care what our vet said, we dont have a fenced yard we dont qualify!

Thats why i wont adopt from a shelter...

 

[Haviris]

For sure one thing I'll never understand.

Mutts are great! You can get some awsome dogs that are mutts! But paying some outrageous amount for one is crazy, and I do wonder about the people that do! If I'm looking to get another dog and not to particular, maybe a rough idea of what I want (short haired, med sized, etc.) I'll go to the pound and search through free puppy ads til I find just the one. But if I'm looking for specific traits I'm looking for a purebred! A cross breed mutt is not going to do it, you have no idea what traits the pup will get from each parent, and so far I haven't heard of anything these 'designer dogs' have that I couldn't get in a purebred (also haven't yet heard of a mix I think I'd be interested in, but most are small dogs and I'm more of a med to large dog person). Of course if you're going to be paying alot for a dog you want to be sure you are buying from a resposible breeder.

And for the person that said danes are lazy, clearly you've never met my Iris AKA the white tornado! Not so bad now that she's pushing 8, but quite the wild child in her younger days, she still gets an occational case of the zoomies, but nothing like she use to!

 

[verity]

Going far enough back into the history of any established breed will turn up some interesting 'additions' to the gene pool -- a bit of Chihuahua with Japanese Chin -- breeders working to get the 'look' they are after -- just as the Breed Standard often changes over the years, breeders 'tweak' their breeding program -- before the required DNA testing, this was very obvious -- it's harder now.

We have had Cavaliers for more than 25 years -- they have many health issues but lovely temperaments -- they are the 'flavor of the month' and being produced by so many backyard breeders who don't do 'health checks' or temperament testing -- and this means '....... temperament issues are showing up and those of us who are active in 'rescue' are overwhelmed --

- the internet makes it easy to be 'ripped off' -- anyone can come up with an impressive website and then advertise that their lines are 'non-shedding!' 'easy to house train!' 'no health issues!' (hahahahaha to that for Cavaliers!) and all of them come from 'Champions' (!)-- some even advertise 'Irish imports' (and the puppies we've gotten into rescue from Ireland are the most pitiful --)

When I see the 'Cavachon,' 'Cavapoo' etc. advertised, they are precious puppies but I always hope they are not getting the health issues of both breeds --

We have three rescued dogs -- two are mixed breeds (of what breeds we haven't a clue!) with wonderful temperaments --


and one is a Cavalier turned in to Rescue and cannot be re-homed because of her many, many health problems (expensive meds every day, 'dry eye,' and a skin condition that requires weekly medicated baths -- she had to have an eye removed when the 'dry eye' went untreated -- very few teeth left after her dental work so she is on a soft diet of raw-food -- but sweet 'Violet' will live the rest of her life with us -- being loved, pampered, and carted back and forth to the vet -- a product of poor breeding and she's the one who has suffered most -- the people who bought her as a puppy were not thrilled when she had so many 'issues' so they turned her over to Rescue -- one of many.

A good vet can often point you to a dog who needs a home -- purebred or not -- divorce in the family, owner died or unable to care for dog, etc. ---

In addition to the shelters, ask the vets in your area if you are thinking of adopting a dog -- often these are wonderfully trained, well-socialized and up-to-date on all health care --
we are on the 'call list' for our vets -- so that we can help place the dogs needing homes -- it works!

I have a Cavalier I am showing now -- she is small, has good 'bone,' healthy and 'typey' ---- and very beautiful --but there are so many Cavaliers in rescue needing homes that she will not be bred --

Our Cavaliers and Chin are ''multi-purpose' dogs -- obedience (they train us well, thank you very much!) and they are wonderful therapy dogs -- we take ours to the Brenner Children's Hospital --

there will always be people who are willing to pay the big bucks for a 'status symbol' and my advice for them has always been -- but a fancy car or some jewelry -- don't make a 'status symbol' out of a living creature --
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Wow --- the heat must be making me crankier than usual! That was my 'sermon' for the day!