Tell me about your Schnoodle puppy

[Dr Pepsi]

Are only breeders that breed purebreds responsible? Isn't it possible that someone breeding a mix has done research and kept records of their puppies? I find it hard to believe that it's only a one-way-street.

Anything's possible but some things are more likely than others.

There's more to responsible breeding than just making sure (as far as you are able) that your pups are healthy. Responsible breeding also includes breeding in such a manner as to not add to the pet overpopulation problem. Breeding mutts adds to that problem.

Reputable responsible breeders do it for love of the breed and to keep the breed going and improve it. You can't do this with mixes because the puppies are all so different. You'd have to very carefully breed several generations of schnoodles before you could even began to develop an actual seperate "breed" of dog. People breeding schnoodles aren't trying to do that. They are just trying to make a quick buck.

 

[daisax]

We are getting a cavachon puppy in a few weeks. It is a cavalier king spaniel bischon mix. The dogs are adorable and supposed to be no or low shedding. I did look at shelter sites but didn't see a dog I really wanted. Many of them seemed to have problems due to being mistreated or coming from a puppy mill.

There are strong odds that your puppy's pedigree is almost exclusively puppy mill in origin -- if not the parents, the grandparents/greatgrandparents, etc.

A pedigree only matters as much as the names on it -- names of actual living, breathing dogs that people knew personally. There are records of their health tests, their lifespan, the lifespan and health test results of their parents and grandparents and siblings and offspring. If you want to know if that particular "family" has been cursed or blessed in their hearts or hips or eyes, there will be a paper trail, or at least many people who remember the dog and can tell you personal information about him/her. Where there was a problem, you can find if it was addressed. Where there were temperament issues, you can find if they seemed to be genetic or a quirk of the individual dog. There are great stud dogs who were strange themselves but who were known for having exceptionally good tempered offspring, no matter who they were bred to. There are great stud dogs who were fantastic dogs and friendly but who produced an unusual number of quirky even bad tempered dogs, no matter the temperament of the girls they were bred to.

This stuff is important to know, and it's knowable... if people know the dog and its family, and make careful breeding decisions based on that knowledge to avoid bad temperaments and bad hips and short life spans.

The papers mean nothing... except insomuch as they identify the actual ancestors of the dogs you're breeding together, and which combinations worked and which didn't. Even with care, things can go wrong. But it's still a better bet than "any old" breed X bred to any other old breed X, then the next generation breeding the offspring to an equally thoughtlessly bred Breed Y.

Nothing wrong with a mix -- there are thousands out there needing homes.

 

[stevenpensacola]

Our schnoodle is just a mutt....cost us nothing....some friends of our were at the vet...the owner of the puppies was there getting them there shots....were looking for folks to take them.

The puppies were an "accident" if you will....they were not bred on purpose...mom and dad dog were not registered or anything like that.

Left on their own, I don't think a certain breed of dog is going to choose only to mate only with his/her breed. We're the ones who've "specialized" the dogs.

so...that being said....we wouldn't take anything for our little mutt....even though my wife tries to act indifferent to him, she really likes having him around....

 

[terri01p]

In my avatar is my Cockapoo, we got him 8 months ago for 100.00...we had filled out an application for a Corgi from Petfinders and the place never got back with us, we were so lonely for a doggie after having a beagle for 10 yrs once she died we were so sad, whenever we seen this pup we loved him, to be frank we didn't care what he was, funny thing though the lady told us he wouldn't get over 9 pounds...hehehe he already 15 pounds .

He is super smart, loves to play, doesn't shed, not a barker, but he loves to jump...jump...jump. Oh ya did I mention he loves to jump. We love him very much.

 

[marydmjj]

mixes available, including this one, which happens to be a Schnauzer/Poodle mix. And, they have 1032 Schnauzers available.

Which is in Maryland - I'm in Washington.

I'm not opposed to a shelter dog or a rescue but it has to be a puppy. I'm not in a position to deal with a dog that has the potential of behavior problems. A shelter or rescue dog has been given up for a reason. If anything, I would insist on a puppy and insist on meeting it in advance of adoption - no shipping a dog for me.

As far as breeders breeding for the good of the breed...I have first hand experience with that not being the case. My brother researched his purebred Golden Retriever before purchasing and they had to have her put down at 7 because she was unable to walk anymore. I think there are unscrupulous people wearing a "purebred breeder" cap all over the place. In addition, I see "price reduced" ad's all the time on craigslist and in Little Nickel for purebred dogs that haven't sold. So there is overbreeding going on there too.

But ultimately, why shouldn't a person choose the kind of dog they like regardless of whether it's a purebred or a mix?

 

[KDIPIAZZ]

Which is in Maryland - I'm in Washington.

I'm not opposed to a shelter dog or a rescue but it has to be a puppy. I'm not in a position to deal with a dog that has the potential of behavior problems. A shelter or rescue dog has been given up for a reason.

As far as breeders breeding for the good of the breed...I have first hand experience with that not being the case. My brother researched his purebred Golden Retriever before purchasing and they had to have her put down at 7 because she was unable to walk anymore. I think there are unscrupulous people wearing a "purebred breeder" cap all over the place. In addition, I see "price reduced" ad's all the time on craigslist and in Little Nickel for purebred dogs that haven't sold. QUOTE]

First......
All dogs have the potential of behavior problems! Many if not most behavior problems are a result of not training a dog, not genetics. Health problems on the other hand, are genetic. A GOOD shelter or rescue is an excellent way to obtain a mutt (or a purebred for that matter) as the dog is screened for health and temperament. Shelter dogs are given up for a wide variety of reasons.....the dog jumps on me(training issue)....the dog pulls me when we walk (training issue)....the dog barks(Pyr...that's what they do)...the dog digs (PRT...that's what they do) .....chews (yep, puppies do that).... pees in the house (housebreaking does take time) the dog sheds (most do) the dog drools (mastiff...that's what they do), they're moving (I dunno - I take my animals into consideration when planning a move)...they're getting married (and moving , I guess), having a baby ( I've never understood this one in particular) 95% of dogs wouldn't be shelters is people realize they have an OBLIGATION and RESPONSIBILITY to feed, groom and take care of the dog mentally and physically for 5-15 years. It's the 5% of owners who have a genuine problem - elderly owners with cancer and great dogs depress me horribly.

Second .....
you are confusing a "purebred breeder" with a "good breeder". GOOD, RESPONSIBLE breeders do NOT breed until they have buyers for the puppies IN ADVANCE. Good breeders have waiting lists. They don't advertise on Craigslist or the New York Times. They don't highlight colors or sizes outside the breed standard...in fact, they make sure that these pups are spayed/neutered. They don't breed a 2yr old when OFA recommends hip radiographs at age 2 AND age 4. They don't breed more than one litter every2 years so that they DO know when a problem has occurred.

Designer breeders do not have access to quality dogs because a good, responsible breeder will not sell them a dog.

Dog ownership is not a matter of "you get what you pay for" It's a matter of patience and research, demanding that breeders adhere to a code of ethics and refusing to purchase dogs from irresponsible people.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

Ok. Our breeder came highly recommended by our vet for her care of her dogs (and not the vet the breeder gave us as a reference, but one we had known for years). I was given an extensive list of references. I was able to see where the dogs lived, slept, ate, played, etc. I was able to meet all the dogs including my puppies parents. Our puppy came from the only litter from those parents in almost 2 years. Both parents were AKC certified with all appropriate paperwork and good lineage. The breeder had a very long waitlist. The breeder followed up with the puppies extensively for one year and still (almost 5 yeaars later) makes contact annually. We did have a spay and neuter contract.

I don't understand how any of that = irreponsible breeder. But I know people will still think that because they bred mixed dogs. The breeder met every single criteria the AKC has laid out for selecting a reputable breeder EXCEPT registering the litter through AKC (which they of course could not do since schnoodles aren't recognized by the AKC). I don't fully understand the whole purebred/designer breed debate. I think its terrible when ANY dog is exploited and everyone on this thread seems to agree this occurs with purebreds too. So I just don't know what the fuss is about. What I do know is that our dog is perfect for our family. She is extremely healthy, smart and adorable.

When we got our dog we wanted a puppy. Now we would like another dog and are open to a rescue. I have registered with all the local shelters and every single poodle rescue within an 8 hour driving distance. All have told me they almost never call anyone for schnoodles or other mixed poodle breeds because they get placed as soon as they come in.

 

[hiwaygal]

So I just don't know what the fuss is about.

It sounds like you had a breeder that DID pay attention. There are some breeders of the mixed breeds who are following strict guidelines to have these dogs someday accepted by recognized certification/registrations (i.e. AKC).

But, the reality is these folks are very few and far between. IMO even so-called "reputable" breeders are very hard to find.

The vast majority are only breeding schnoodles (or any other "oodle" or mix or even purebreds) BECAUSE they know they can make $1000 and up per puppy. If they breed their female twice a year and she has 6 pups per litter, that's a nice little TAX FREE income. It's also extremely unhealthy for the mother.

The problem is the conditions of the dogs in the vast majority of these situations. Puppy mills are horrid places. And an unsuspecting buyer is supporting the mistreatment of the dogs and pups because as long as someone will buy them, they'll breed 'em.

 

[disykat]

I think the people who say get a poodle mix from a rescue organization are unaware how hard that is to do. I tried for over a year, everywhere in a 500 mile radius, to get a small to medium, non-shedding dog and was unsuccessful. We found one possibility during that time, but she was a dog that needed rehoming due to behavior issues and would not have been a match for a home with any children. Many of the rescue groups wouldn't even consider a family with children under 8 (our youngest was 6 when we got our dog.)

We love our Schnauzer, even if she was (gasp) found from an ad in the paper.