? about a dog breed

[beachbunny]

Oh, and SIL swears her dog's a pure breed.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

Zipping up my flamesuit. Look to my tag to see why. Yep I have a schnoodle. Part schnauzer part poodle. The only time I refer to my dog as a schnoodle is on these threads. I agree shes a mutt. We didn't go out seeking a "designer" breed. We went out seeking a good dog for our family. That search led us to a reputable breeder of schnauzers and poodles who happened to have a litter of "schnoodles" (selling under the price of the purebreds btw) born at the time we were looking. I grew up with a peke-a-poo (half pekinese half poodle) that my dad got my mom as a wedding gift in 1975 (not sure where), and a cockapoo (cockerspaniel poodle) that we got from a friend in the 80's. And both of these were wonderful dogs so i was more then open to a mix. We fell in love with a schnoodle at the breeder and the dog met our needs (non shedding, good with kids, protective (we wanted basically a warning dog and shes exactly that... I never worry at night noises anymore unless she does), highly trainable (she came to us as a tiny puppy already knowing how to play fetch), "durable" (for lack of a better word... we needed a small-medium sized dog for our family and some smaller dogs are incredibly fragile as we found when our neighbors little girl tripped on their small dog and broke some of its bones), very social, and we had already known that both schnauzers and poodles met our longterm health concerns). We did discuss why pay breeder money for a mutt, but my dh was very against going to a shelter because of our past experience adopting a cat who ended up having severe and costly health issues. This way he reasoned we at least could meet the parents and get their health records and get an idea (but no guarantee) of temperment, size and looks, etc. I wouldn't recommend our choice for everyone , but I will say our dog (now with us a year and a half) has been a fabulous addition to our family. She sleeps next to me every night, plays with my kids throughout the day, follows me around the house when they are at school (which I love), LOVES fetch. Shes exactly what we imagined and dreamed when we talked about wanting a good family dog. I know nothing about poobees, or why you might want one over a purebred poodle or beagle but if you found a dog that "fits" your family thats most important. Its a shame how many dogs get put into shelters or abandoned because people get sucked into things like cute or right breed (whether pure or designer because it happens with both) and not about finding the right addition to their family.

 

[ilovepcot]

No flames here. Many breeds that are crossed produce beautiful dogs that are healthy and have good temperments. I think the Poodle and Schnauzer are excellent examples of that. When you take 2 breeds that are so diverse in size, build, coat and temperment...that can sometimes turn into disappointment for the owners and a lifetime of sadness for the poor dog. He often ends up in the pound because he doesn't turn out to be as cute as predicted, not to mention health problems he may have to endure as a result of "impulse breeding".

 

[FreshTressa]

Its a poobee!

 

[crz4mm2]

Just saw a puggle on sat. I thought it was one of the uggliest (no offense to anyone that has one) puppies I have ever seen.
I don't get the current cross breeding craze either.

I have had mutts too, that have been great dogs. And I have had not so great mutts.

Have had good purebreds and not so great purebreds.

THe store we were in also had poodle/beagle crosses too( which I thought were bizzare- but they looked like beagles).

Whatever people pay for is what the market will do.

 

[FreshTressa]

Well, I can see the craze.

With the crackdown on irresponisible breeding, it is actually hard to find a small breed puppy that is mixed if you don't want a purebred that looks just like everyone else's dog.

 

[Tinijocaro]

I really don't get why some people are so opposed to mixed breeds. I agree that maybe they shouldn't cost as much as a purebred, but really, what's the problem? Mixing breeds often produce wonderful dogs and family pets. We looked into the bichi-poo, but the mother (poodle) was so ugly we went with a straight bichon. This "purebred is better" mentality makes me wonder what these people think of people of mixed races having children. I just think it's all good, as long as you have healthy parents, you have a great chance at getting a good dog.

Jackie

 

[wdwmom2]

I really don't get why some people are so opposed to mixed breeds. I agree that maybe they shouldn't cost as much as a purebred, but really, what's the problem? Mixing breeds often produce wonderful dogs and family pets. We looked into the bichi-poo, but the mother (poodle) was so ugly we went with a straight bichon. This "purebred is better" mentality makes me wonder what these people think of people of mixed races having children. I just think it's all good, as long as you have healthy parents, you have a great chance at getting a good dog.

Jackie

Speaking for myself, I am not opposed to mixed breed dogs at all. I just think that there are plenty enough with the accidental "oops, my dog got out and now she is pregnant" puppies around (just visit a shelter, rescue, or even the local newspaper), that there is no reason to breed them on purpose. Health starts with genetics. Yes the parents can look healthy, but genetically they can carry recessive genes that are not. Pair two of these dogs up and you can easily get some pretty unhealthy pups. I used to breed, train, and show German Shepherd Dogs and you can't believe how much goes into planning a healthy litter.

Please don't compare mutts to mixed race children. That is two totally different things. One of my best friends has a racially mixed child, I love her to death and never do I look at her and think any less of her or that she shouldn't have been born because her parents were not of the same race. And I certainly would not compare her to a mixed breed dog!!! Sorry, that is not my mentality.

 

[ilovepcot]

Nor am I opposed to mixed breed dogs. Some can be the sweetest and best loved dogs in all the world. What I am opposed to is people going *way* out on a limb to be *so different* that the pups turn out to be less appealing than expected and nobody wanting them.

 

[AMcaptured]

I absouletely DETEST the mixed bred market. It is nothing more than a bunch of irresponsible people ( I won't call them breeders) trying to make a buck off of a poor INNOCENT dog. There are so many victims in this scam it isn't even funny. From the breeder trying to sell a mutt for much more $$$ than a dog warrants to familes being screwed out of cash, to the dogs being victimized by breeders who turn their "pets" into baby machines which leads to the mothers health being put in jeopardy, under weight puppies being born, etc....The whole practice disgusts me and I would hope that people who want a dog either find a real breeder with morals, who respects a breeds traits or just go to the pound and save a dog from extinction.

Also, a mixed breed dog is not even close to a mixed race child. I find it insulting that someone would equate the two. Every single child regardless of its race is precious.

Also, pugs are the most perfect breed of dog in the world, there is nothing about a pug that needs to be tampered with....jmo.... ug:

Please don't buy a mixed breed dog and please don't buy a dog from a pet store, they are equally evil IMO.

 

[goofy!]

.....

 

[Cindyluwho]

Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the whole labradoodle thing start inAustralia because they needed "helper dogs" for the disabled that were hypoallergenic? (The dogs, not the disabled ). The mixes are the right size, temperment, don't shed, etc and were carefully thought out and bred to be the best type of dogs for service work. What's happened since is a definate craze but I can understand wanting a medium sized dog who doesn't shed and has the personality of a lab. If they're bred correctly it should be a good thing. I guess that's the point with any breed, "if they're bred correctly". You can have lousy pure breds and lousy mixes if you have a lousy breeder.

 

[goofy!]

.....

 

[wdwmom2]

People the next street over paid over $1,500 for their mutt "labradoodle." (I am not picking on labradoodles - that is just the designer mutt in fashion right now). This is twice what I paid for my champion b**** Komondor, who was sired by a multi time best-in-show, multi time National breed winner and out of a ROM multiple group placing b****, both with obedience titles. The breeder has 35 years of experience under her belt and can tell me each and every dog, what they looked like, what their health issues were and why they were bred together for over seven generations. I have the assurance of over seven generations of good or excellent hips, elbows, eyes, thyroid and heart clearances. Why would I give somebody 2x the money for a dog without all those assurances. And I can guarantee you that my dogs don't look like anybody elses!

Amen!!!!! Responsible breeders put alot of time and money into their dogs to get all the test and clearances for their dogs. This is why I don't mind paying hard earned money for a purebred. Healthier dog = less vet bills. This is not saying that the same dog may not have any problems, but if it is a breed particular problem and you are dealing with a responsible breeder, they will usually stand behind the dog. Now I have had healthy mutts, but I would rather deal with someone that knows what genetic background the dog has. And usually those people are breeders of purebred dogs.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I really don't get why some people are so opposed to mixed breeds. I agree that maybe they shouldn't cost as much as a purebred, but really, what's the problem? Mixing breeds often produce wonderful dogs and family pets. We looked into the bichi-poo, but the mother (poodle) was so ugly we went with a straight bichon. This "purebred is better" mentality makes me wonder what these people think of people of mixed races having children. I just think it's all good, as long as you have healthy parents, you have a great chance at getting a good dog.

Jackie

Well, pardon my bluntness, but your post just showed your sheer ignorance on breeds and breeding. And your comment on mixed race children is so completely offensive that I can't post what my feelings are on it.

I encourage you to educate yourself on what breeding DOGS is all about and why so many are horrified at the designer mutt craze because you obviously don't get it.

Stepping away from this thread...

 

[disykat]

Just pointing out that the OP could very well be looking for info on an "oops" mutt. She gave no indication of looking for a fancy mixed breed. I know when I was looking at getting a mutt for my family I looked at what breeds they might have in their background so I could at least guess at what their size, coat, temperment, etc. might be.

 

[robinb]

I believe that story is slowly being debunked. Yes, a couple of the dogs were originally bred to see if it would work. As with any mix, nobody could guarantee what the outcome would be. A curly-coated, but shedding puppy? Which ones had the poodle and which ones had the lab temperament? There was no consistency. It usually takes numerous generations (years) of careful selection and breeding to achieve any kind of consistency of breed type. From what I have heard, more and more, it is now being revealed that the service dog story was just an excuse to "create" a new breed.

That is exactly what is keeping me from buying a poodle cross of any kind. I need a non-shedding dog for my allergies (BTW, my DH is still leaning toward a Komondor ) and I want a pure-bred pure and simple. With a pure bred ... a Standard Poodle, or a Komondor, or a Portuguese Water Dog or a Giant Schnauzer ... I know what I am getting in disposition and coat. As long as I do my homework first. With a cross like a labradoodle ... I could end up a too-smart lab {{shudder}}.

 

[goofy!]

.....

 

[Papa Deuce]

And if you still want a "laberdoodle" just go to your local shelter where so many have been dumped since the craze has subsided.

We keep checking.... still haven't seen one. We hope to, yet.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

O.K., I'm back. Sorry about not responding before now, but I am on the computer much more at work than at home and we were off yesterday.

Thanks for all the responses (especially the "poo bee" pic! Loved it!) And thanks for dismissing the mixed breed dogs vs. children idea.

We having been talking about getting a dog for a little while. We had a cocker spaniel until about 8 years ago. DH would love to have a Cavilier King Charles, but the cost is really too much for us.

We started looking at dogs this weekend due to the fact that a friend of a friend, etc. had taken a puppy to the pound. We went to look at it and it had been adopted. They only had 1 puppy left and it wasn't anything we were interested in. After that we ended up looking at pet stores around town.

I think what we have decided is to wait until summer to get the dog. It will just be easier w/ the kids being out of school and the warmer weather. We are pretty open as to what we are going get. A pound puppy would be just fine w/ us. DH seems a bit more interested in a pure bred, but I can't see spending the money they are asking for them. (Which DH is also having an issue w/)

Anyway, we will be keeping our eyes opened and looking around right now a little. When we do get one, I will post and let everyone know.