More hybrid dogs...

[remix22]

I've come across another "designer dog" (read as: an on-purpose mutt) on Friday. I swear, my forehead is going to hold a permanent bruise from hitting my head on my desk out of frustration by all these people trying to pass off their mutts as some kind of new purebred dog. But, I suppose if I paid $800 for an unpapered puppy, I might be in denial

Comments

[harnessphoto]

as you already know, this makes me sick

[ihrayne]

Ugh, i hate hybrid dogs. Mutts are readily available as it is!

My dog has received a lot of compliments from people wanting to know what breed she was. Funny when I reply she's a border collie/german shepherd/black lab mix. ;) And she only cost me $15 at a yard sale!

[remix22]

Haha a German Labracollie!
Do you have pictures of her? :)

[ihrayne]

Here's Jett:

[remix22]

Awwh! She's cute! :)

[shalimar_98]

Thingapoo's blech.

Most to me look like small, fuzzy and not to cute dogs.

Saw a Goldendoodle few weekends ago, he looked like an oversized benji. And you know they payed over $1000 for him. Blech. I never payed close to a grand for any of my dogs and several were bought as show prospects.

Then again there is the old saying about a fool and his money.

[remix22]

I like Golder/Labradoodles...they are good dogs. But they do shed like no tomorrow. And it's pretty much a crap-shoot when you breed them, you never know which breed is going to come out on top. And I definately wouldn't pay $1000 for a puppy. That dog better shit gold if I'm paying $1000.

[oracle7]

"Designer dog" sales are now outstripping those of purebreds. I think this is largely because all the scientific research show mutts live longer and healthier lives than purebreds.

Most people just want a happy, healthy family pet. Say "Boxer" and they think heart disease; say "Golden Retriever" and they think hip dysplasia. The incidence and severity of inherited diseases increases every year, and yet breeders continue as they've always done, with outdated practices that continuously limit genetic diversity.

If people are really interested in doing something about "designer dogs", they need to first take action to improve the health of their own chosen breeds.

[remix22]

The majority of people I meet who have a "designer dog" don't know anything about the health issues affecting the breeds. More than half the people I speak to don't even know what DHL PP stands for (or even means that the dog got a distemper shot) and don't even know what Bordatella is

[oracle7]

A lot of the people now breeding hybrids origially bred purebreds, but became disillusioned with the increasing number of hip problems, and the failure of breed associations and rehgulatory bodies to take action.

The Labradoodle Association, for example, places the highest emphasis on health and temperamanet, and states that, "these must not be compromised for any reason". They also require the following testing on all breeding dogs:

OFA Prelim or BVA at or after 4 months (not within 4 weeks of a heat cycle)
PennHIP at or after 9 months OR Final OFA at 24 months
Yearly CBC and Thyroid Panel including TgAA, Antech NY, SuperChem and Thyroid Profile 5 (ADDISONS)vWd DNA
Cardiac Exam
Yearly CERF Exam
PRA DNA
Patella Luxation Exam, Knees
Elbow reading of Normal

As far as I'm aware, the Poodle Club of America has no mandatory testing requirements at all.

[oracle7]

"Hip problems" should have read "health problems"