my vent on designer dogs

[bckrazy]

"The intention is to breed a perfect family dog!"

I hate to break it to those highly respectable Dakota Sheepdog breeders... but, such a dog has already been discovered. His name is Fozzie, and he's a Corglesky. : D Oh, and he didn't quite cost $1200! (WTMFFF)... Since when is a "perfect family dog" the same dog, for all families? Since when was every family completely uniform? The reason we have created different breeds is to fit different needs... there are hundreds of pure breeds for a family to pick from... why would everyone want the same dog, when just as dog's personalities differ, individuals also differ?

It disgusts me that "designer dogs" have become widely accepted, cherished, and desired over our plain old "mutts". Alongside the breed calendars, I see Schnoodle, Cockapoo, Labradoodle, Doodlespork, Crapadoodle, etc, etc, calendars. It's as if people feel that their designer dogs are more important than our mutts... simply because they come with a silly name and they paid $1000's more for them! If anything, I would horribly embarassed to have paid an anstronomical price for a DD, when a "plain old mutt" is free or for a small adoption fee... AND I would be horribly embarassed to call my dog one of those ridiculous "breed" names. It all just makes them look stupid, to be honest.

[Alysser]

I went on petfinder and found a "schnoodle" in my local shelter who is pregnant. It just proves you can go to your local shelter and get a MUTT for an actually DECENT price. They really are taking away from other breeds

[loveallfurryfriends]

There are absolutely no designer dogs in my house! My husband and I are getting ready to go to the pound to find our newest family member. That is where the best dogs in world are!!! My husband wanted to buy a purebred, and I adamantly refused. He knew how passionate I was about rescuing, and has now seen the light!!! his thinking has changed so much, that when a co-worker asked what kind of dog we were buying, he said---- We are not buying, we're going to save one from the pound!! The funniest thing is that everyone thinks that Smokey is some sort of maltipoo, but we always tell people, he's just a lovable mutt!! I wouldn't have it any other way

[racegirl1]

Pay attention all you dummies who think you must have a labradoodle or puggle or whatever...

1. anyone can make up a fancy name for a cross breed dog, but it will remain a cross breed
2. no cross breed can be guaranteed to be allergy free
3. breeding a cross breed to a crossbreed does not produce a better dog
4. just because a dog is a cross bred animal, does not mean it is a healthier animal
5. there is no such thing as "hybrid vigour"
6. within the next 20 years, there will be no cross breds recognized by any of the major canine organizations in any country.
7. F2, F3, F4 generations tend to have considerably more variation than F1
8. the people show their dogs to prove several desirable characteristics. Cross bred dogs can not be shown.
9. all health problems will be found in all cross breeds - just like they will be found in all pure breds
10. temperament is not the only characteristic that should be bred for. Just like every dog should be bred to have a head and four legs, they should also be bred to have a good temperament. This is a fundamental requirement. It is a complete myth that cross breds have better temperament
11. most groomers, vets, dog trainers, and behaviourists have very few good things to say about cross breds

[Sighthounds4me]

I just want to add, for those "breeders" of the "perfect family dog," there is no such thing as "the perfect family dog." No one breed (or mix) can possibly be perfect for everyone! That's all there is to it...

[Tora Oni]

I completly agree, all these designer breeds are just mutts, when you look at it. My cousin her parents didn't like our dog to be in their house, I think it might have been their cats intial reaction. My dog was scared stiff from the cat. Now they have three dogs running through the house all barking mad when ever anybody visit except little Kiki, the toy yorkie. Now the owner of the yorkie is another cousin as well but I think she trains it and socializes it, she does a pretty good job. As for Thor, the puggle and Hershey, the chocolate lab they are both obnoxious and difficult. Hersheys over weight and spoiled to death. I think both of the bigger dogs need some training, it ridiculous I had my dog, Clifford trained (he was Chespeake bay/lab mix) we adopted him from a free to a good home since the lady was moving to and apartment that didn't allow pets. My dog never jumped, barked and did what you told him rather bark and jump at you. Thor is as big as a beagle even though they said he wouldn't get that big, I just rolled my eyes at that, can't make perdictions on mutts.

[Vesta]

Yeah, I tend to roll my eyes when people call their dogs by designer names. A mutt's a mutt, no matter what breed it is. To each their own, I guess. I just smile when people call my dog a Schnoodle or whatever. I have a schnauzer/poodle mix and she is the sweetest little thing in the world. She and my cat, Clancy, are the best of buddies.

Why anyone would put these two in the shelter, I don't know.

Gracie


Clancy


Clancy & Gracie

[lute]

I just have to add that we have a ton of puggles come into the clinic where I work. All the girls I work with, plus me can't stand these dogs. I have yet to see one well behaved, non-yappy, non mess making puggle. I don't know if these owners just don't train their dogs or if this mix in general is a hyper messy gross mix.

[Jessika]

I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy working at a clinic just to do that... hehe.. write down "poodle / cocker spaniel MIX" instead of "cockapoo". Because that is "technically correct" in "medical terms"... hehe.

[catfancier]

Bulldog / Shih-Tzu cross?

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Lol... if that ever happened, who would be proud to answer the question of 'What breed of dog is that?'

Doing a little further reading on the original website quoted, they make a relatively good point that 'Designer Dogs' differ from mutts in that their pedigrees can be traced. But that's about the only good reason I can see for a 'designer dog'.
My partner's parents bought a "spoodle" from (basically - though I will give her the benefit of the doubt) a BYB for an amount of money up to $1,500 (can't remember exactly what). She is now two years old, and goes absolutely mad over torch beams, laser lights and shadows, to a point where it becomes an obsession. She is as daft as a half-brained cockatiel (no offense cockie owners), has been through 2 rounds of puppy training yet is still as stubborn and disobedient as an untrained dog, and has even once bitten my partner's dad on the hand.
They absolutely adore her, and luckily they treat her with a firm hand. She has not bitten either of them since that one incident, but I don't fully trust her.
Her parents are a cavalier king charles spaniel/poodle cross and a purebred poodle.
Yeah, not the best example of a good family dog. Good on you for the vent!

[lute]

I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy working at a clinic just to do that... hehe.. write down "poodle / cocker spaniel MIX" instead of "cockapoo". Because that is "technically correct" in "medical terms"... hehe.

It's really kinda fun. When you get a new dog in the clinic and ask them their breed. Right in the middle of their rambling just say "Oh, it's a mix". They shut right up and automatically know you aren't interested in their high priced mutt.

When you get those PROUD designer dog owners they sit in the waiting area and go on and on...and on about just how great this dog is not they have "crossed" these breeds together. If we're not real busy I always put in my two sence. If someone has a Labradoodle and talks about how they don't shed I always mention the time the petstore I worked for got a litter of Labradoodles in. Those puppies shed worse than any puppy there. They had that nasty nappy hair everywhere. Or I just talk about what PUREBRED dogs have these same characteristics. They never have a response for this.

[catfancier]

When you get a new dog in the clinic and ask them their breed. Right in the middle of their rambling just say "Oh, it's a mix". They shut right up and automatically know you aren't interested in their high priced mutt.

You do need to be careful when you talk about the pet owner getting the impression you aren't interested in their high priced mutt - especially if you work in a clinic. Their high priced mutt and its health is exactly what you should be interested in!
Not trying to flame or berate you for your comment, just wanted to raise a concern. If I was a "joe public" pet owner and the nurse/tech/receptionist at the clinic made a disparaging comment to me about my choice of pet, I would probably take my business elsewhere.

[lute]

You do need to be careful when you talk about the pet owner getting the impression you aren't interested in their high priced mutt - especially if you work in a clinic. Their high priced mutt and its health is exactly what you should be interested in!
Not trying to flame or berate you for your comment, just wanted to raise a concern. If I was a "joe public" pet owner and the nurse/tech/receptionist at the clinic made a disparaging comment to me about my choice of pet, I would probably take my business elsewhere.

I don't say it rudely. I am interested in the health and well being of any dog breed or mix. I just hint that It's only a mutt. Nothing special.