Chug anyone?

[emc]

I'm not a breeder so I don't know anything about breeding but there seems to be this elitist attitude about only breeding pure breds. What's wrong with cross breeding (aka - designer dogs), they make as good as pets as any other dog. And just because someone decides to cross breed that doesn't automatically make them a puppy mill or irresponsible breeders. Anyway that's just my opinion.
---------------------
http://dogshop.50webs.com

[BC_MoM]

Yes, it does make them irresponsible. They are breeding crosses and asking hundreds, even thousands for them while there are tons of crosses in shelters and rescues around the world waiting for a home and only costing $50-$175.

[emc]

So, there's purebreds in shelters and rescues as well. I would say the irresponsibility for dogs ending up in pounds rests with the owners of the dogs.
--------------------
http://dogshop.50webs.com

[k9krazee]

Okay..kinda going with emc's logic on this one..if both parents are health tested, have good temperments, homes lined up, etc why does it matter if they're purebred or not? *shrugs*

[emc]

Okay..kinda going with emc's logic on this one..if both parents are health tested, have good temperments, homes lined up, etc why does it matter if they're purebred or not? *shrugs*

My point exactly.
---------------------
http://dogshop.50webs.com

[k9krazee]

Now don't get me wrong, I'm really not pro-breeding at all...in my perfect world NO dogs would be bred (whether to create pure breds or not) until all the homeless dogs out there found a home. And to make it even more perfect PEOPLE would need to undergo tests and get special permission to bring children into this world but I know that it will never happnen.

Anyway, I've been thinking about this a lot lately. What exactly is the point of having a purebred dog? And why is there so much hatred towards 'designer dogs'? I used to absolutely hate the idea of creating mixed breeds...but now my take on it is if a new breed is created to do a job better (like the BorderJack, for example, in flyball) and the dogs aren't from bybs or puppymills but from responsible people and healthy dogs, what exactly is the big deal? It's exactly the same thing that happened way back when...things evolve and things change and new breeds can/will be created. I understand that most designer dogs right now are being produced from bybs, and are being sold for waaay more than they should be and I believe that THAT is wrong. Same with BYBs of purebred dogs. But I honestly don't think that breeding two different breeds together is neccessarily irresponsible.

And that's just my viewpoint on the subject at the moment...

[lv4dogs]

Anyway, I've been thinking about this a lot lately. What exactly is the point of having a purebred dog? And why is there so much hatred towards 'designer dogs'? I used to absolutely hate the idea of creating mixed breeds...but now my take on it is if a new breed is created to do a job better (like the BorderJack, for example, in flyball) and the dogs aren't from bybs or puppymills but from responsible people and healthy dogs, what exactly is the big deal? It's exactly the same thing that happened way back when...things evolve and things change and new breeds can/will be created. I understand that most designer dogs right now are being produced from bybs, and are being sold for waaay more than they should be and I believe that THAT is wrong. Same with BYBs of purebred dogs. But I honestly don't think that breeding two different breeds together is neccessarily irresponsible.

And that's just my viewpoint on the subject at the moment...

You have a point & I do agree with you.
If you are breeding a healthy dog (as in doing all the tests, etc...), screen homes, etc... AND are breeding to create a breed that can actually peform a job well or better than I think it's great. It's just too bad that most don't.

I think the point in having a purebred dog is that it is easier to keep track of their genetic problems (granted it would be the same with mixed breeds too IF we had a place to start. Many mixed breeds were bred by accident or from a byb or pm at first & their health history is unkown) and also to have a dog that is "bred" for a certain job.

Yes, I understand what you're saying, Iv4dogs and I agree for the most part but the majority of dogs that are bought or adopted today only serve the purpose of keeping their owner company and both purebred and mutts can serve that purpose well. Puppy mills and bybs don't just breed cross breeds but purebreds too.

Shelters being full doesn't have anything to do about breeding too many dogs, but breeding dogs that are ill tempered and difficult to deal with as well as people not thinking carefully through what owning a dog means in terms of responsibility and geting the dog that's right for their lifestyle. Shelters themselves add to the problem by making it very difficult to adopt a dog. I run a Chihuahua forum and one member who had experience with Chihuahuas wanted to get one from a rescue and give a homeless dog a home, she was rejected because she had young kids so she ended up buying one from a breeder. I once read and article in the paper in which the reporter said that it's easier to adopt a kid than a dog. I think the shelters should lighten up, they are rejecting too many folks who come looking for a dog.
------------------------
http://dogshop.50webs.com

I also agree with you too, to a certain extent. There are still many people out there that get a purebred because of it's capability to perform a specific job. Granted yes, *most* are just companions now.
I am fully aware that BYB's & PM's also breed purebreds & I am still against them.
And yes it is mighty hard to adopt from shelters now-a-days.
Oops I am running out of time.

[lv4dogs]

So, there's purebreds in shelters and rescues as well. I would say the irresponsibility for dogs ending up in pounds rests with the owners of the dogs.
--------------------
http://dogshop.50webs.com

Yes, some of it rests with the owners but some of it also rests with the breeders if they are not doing their best to ensure that the dog is going to a good home (which is what most puppy mills, byb's & designer breed breeders do).

Most purebred dogs were bred for a purpose. Since there are already enough dogs without homes, and enough of a variety of breeds that can do all types of work, why breed more? Many designer breeds are just that, designer breeds, most are not bred for a particular job or reason other than cosmetic purposes. The more dogs brought into the world the higher the chance that more dogs will be admitted to the shelters, tied up 24/7 without proper care, abused, etc...

If we stopped breeding designer breeds and stopped supporting BYB's, puppy mills and poorly bred dogs there is a great chance that not only will more dogs have homes but we will also have healthier dogs.

[emc]

Yes, I understand what you're saying, Iv4dogs and I agree for the most part but the majority of dogs that are bought or adopted today only serve the purpose of keeping their owner company and both purebred and mutts can serve that purpose well. Puppy mills and bybs don't just breed cross breeds but purebreds too.

Shelters being full doesn't have anything to do about breeding too many dogs, but breeding dogs that are ill tempered and difficult to deal with as well as people not thinking carefully through what owning a dog means in terms of responsibility and geting the dog that's right for their lifestyle. Shelters themselves add to the problem by making it very difficult to adopt a dog. I run a Chihuahua forum and one member who had experience with Chihuahuas wanted to get one from a rescue and give a homeless dog a home, she was rejected because she had young kids so she ended up buying one from a breeder. I once read and article in the paper in which the reporter said that it's easier to adopt a kid than a dog. I think the shelters should lighten up, they are rejecting too many folks who come looking for a dog.
------------------------
http://dogshop.50webs.com

[cyber-sibes]

The whole idea of "designer breeds" just seems like a marketing ploy to me, but there are breeds that are cross-bred to improve their working ability. I'm thinking of one very old example - the Alaskan Husky! There is no such breed, an Alaskan Husky is simply a cross-bred dog bred for stamina & speed, and used for pulling sleds. While they often breed with a husky, some Alaskans don't have any husky in them at all.
I guess I didn't realize that a pug-chi was a "designer breed" - I just thought our little friend Lucy was 1/2 pug and 1/2 chi. I'm a little behind the times.

[coco-bean]

I'm not a breeder so I don't know anything about breeding but there seems to be this elitist attitude about only breeding pure breds. What's wrong with cross breeding (aka - designer dogs), they make as good as pets as any other dog. And just because someone decides to cross breed that doesn't automatically make them a puppy mill or irresponsible breeders. Anyway that's just my opinion.
---------------------
http://dogshop.50webs.com

Im with you 110% on this one! How i look at it, if you purchase an animal from a breeder, or a shelter....either way, your saving a life! if you buy a dog from a breeder, you in turn are saving a dog from the possibility of getting sold to an irresponsible owner, then going to the pound! I aggree that people should adopt animals from the shelter, but then again if you adopt a dog from some place other than a shelter, your saving that dogs life from possibly going to the shelter in the long run! I hope that makes sense! if people want to cross breed, im sure there's people who will buy their cross-bred dog/animal! I dont aggree with the outrageous prices that these "designer breeds" go for, but at least there's people like us that will adopt one from a shelter or who will pay that amount for there animal to just go to a good home! Sorry if i offend anyone, but either way, we all love our dogs here, and im sure we all do our part to make sure there are loved and cared for just like the rest of us! buying a designer dog doesnt make them any less of a dog lover!

[BC_MoM]

How i look at it, if you purchase an animal from a breeder, or a shelter....either way, your saving a life! if you buy a dog from a breeder, you in turn are saving a dog from the possibility of getting sold to an irresponsible owner, then going to the pound!

I don't agree with that at all. You are supporting that breeder who will continue to breed irresponsibly and give the puppies to irresponsible owners.