Designer Dogs

[georgialee]

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)

It's the same way for us, except it's because we give our animals their vaccines instead of paying an arm and a leg at the vet. Most of the shelters here get your vets number and call to check that all of your animals are vaccinated.

 

[domino7]

Anyone who has had many dogs knows that mutts are just as likely to be great dogs as any purebred.

As to the socalled designer breeds, P. T. Barnum said it a long time ago lol.

 

[babyblue]

For my family there is no choice but to go to the best and most responsible breeder we can find. For one our family has small children so about 50% of all shelters and rescues wont adopt to us. Then our yard is 90% fenced in, not good enough for the other 50% of shelters. Never mind that fact that we quite literally live in the middle of hundreds of acres and the worse the dog is going to come into contact with is the cars in our driveway. Then there’s the fact that the local shelters charge 300-400 for smaller dogs and 500 or more for a large breed. So if your already spending that much why not get a quality dog to improve the breed and support those who are improving the breed.

I was nearly killed by a friends pound puppy. Dog saw me daily, I stayed over their house, everything was great. Until one day I showed up in uniform to give someone a ride and the dog tried to kill me. Come to find out the dog was abused badly by someone in uniform and could never again handle anyone even a loving family friend in one. I cant in good conscience as a parent bring any unknown animal into my house that has that kind of possible past.


Last of all I greatly disagree with the way that many rescues and shelters are run. Healthy animals get put down and money is spent getting sick ones healthy. Vicious, problem dogs and serious issue dogs are attempted to find homes, happy loving ones get put down due to over crowding. In my opinion if the animal is sick, nasty, bad tempered or in any way not safe they should be put down and all that time and money spent on healthy animals that can safely go to most homes.

 

[shadowpaints]

we tried to rescue a severly matted sheltie from the pound here locally. according to them we had 'toomany' dogs!!! oh i was MAD yeah so what, i have 3 shelties in the house, and a lab, SO WHO CARES. i can afford to feed them, what does it matter?? the beautiful girl was euthed by the next day when i sent a friend in to pick her up. i was devestated!!!

i buy my dogs from a breeder, who has all the tests done, and will let me on their property to see how the dogs are cared for. i have submitted a aplication to a rescue in montana for a dog i had a dream about last nite, she is on their website, and im keeping my fingers crossed.

i have one mutt also, he was free, he is a rott/shephard/st bernard mix. we love him!! i wont pay much if anything for a 'designer dog' if i get this dog from the rescue, ill pay her adoption fee tho!

 

[Wolfwoman]

shadowpaints, fortunately that would never fly here in Alaska. There are some musher that have 100s of dogs...all well taken care of

 

[hollyclyff]

Mixed breed or purebred, they can all be good dogs. One of my favorite dogs ever was a mix. I have no idea what he was a mix of, he wasn't even my dog. But if I could have one just like him I would. That's the problem with mutts though. I can't find another just like "Red". As it is I have purebred Dachshunds because I know they fit my personality and lifestyle. Years ago I had a rough Collie. Lovely, sweet, extremely intelligent dog, but I'll never have another. The breed just isn't a good fit for me. I found I can't stand the shedding and I know it sounds crazy, but she was *too* obedient for me!

I have no problem with responsible breeding of anything, purebred or crossbred. If you're breeding for a purpose (other than cashflow and cutesy names) and following responsible breeding practices, it's all good with me.

That's where I have a problem with *most* "designer dog" breeders though. Most of them are breeding purely for money and crossing just about anything, sometimes it seems just so they can call them something cute. It blows my mind that people actually seek them out and pay big bucks for them.

 

[cafe]

Quote:
I understand what you are saying here but disagree that its simple vanity to get a purebred dog unless its for something other than a pet. Dogs became breeds because of specific needs of people and specifically bred for those special traits that fit out needs. Some people might want a pet dog but specific temperament or physical characteristcs of one breed might be the only dog suitable. Think of the Yorkie terrier, someone might want a tiny dog because they live in an apartment but also might need the dog to have the fiesty temperament of the small terrier. Would a mix fit that bill? Sure, it might. But stack the odds in your favor by getting breed that is suppose to have that specific trait or traits that fit your need.

I agree that if that is the best way to get the needed characteristics in a pet and you have very specific needs that a purebred is not a bad option. I don't think most people really put that much thought into it, though, to be honest. Generally they just like the idea of a purebred and like how it looks.

Also, dog breeds are . . . well, they are products of unnatural selection. They are a human construct and since they are a human construct, humans can go on constructing them -- one is not innately more valid than another. I would imagine most of the breeds we have today are a product of some selective crossbreeding for particular traits -- just like chicken breeds.

Puppy mills and unscrupulous breeders are just plain bad, regardless of what they are breeding, but it seems to me that reputable, dedicated, conscientious breeders would produce good animals -- even if they are designer dogs. The real difference between a designer dog and a pure breed is simply time. Once a designer breed has been in existence for several decades to a century it's almost inevitably going to become a recognized breed. That is why it seems silly to me to get hung up on whether or not it's an overpriced mutt.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

The only dog I consider a breed are the dogs that have a very very specific purpose. A lab/poodle mix in my mind will never be a breed. I don't care if AKC eventually recognizes it or not. They have no real purpose as far as utility of a dog goes. They are good pets (sometimes) and thats about it.

 

[TiaView]

I disagree. The cockerxpoodle folks have been trying to gain AKC acceptance since the 70's. They have not. The reason designer dog "breeders" cannot and should not breed for acceptance is because they do not adhere to a "standard" and stud books that keep track of whether or not they are consistant in their breeding type. They only want to make a fast buck. Even the "good" designer dog breeders that SAY they have a standard do not follow through for the years to get quality and consistancy.

 

[verity]

A dog's purpose is all in the eye of the beholder -- a tiny poodle may not be able to herd cows but can serve an important role in the life of a lonely old lady or an autistic child --

How many purebred dogs are actually doing the things they are bred to do?

Do all the Newfies live on the water -- ready to save someone from drowning?

Does every Beagle get to track rabbits?

I have a rescued dachshund who has never seen a badger in spite of the hopeful digging she continues in the yard --

My Japanese Chin were bred to be 'lap dogs' and 'companions' and that's a role they fill beautifully --

Thank goodness there are enough different kinds of dogs (and cats and horses and caged birds and chickens and fish and snakes) so that everyone can have the ones that they like and 'need' --- purebred or not, dogs have so many different talents and temperaments that there is truly 'something for everyone.'