What is the deal with the expensive mutts?

[paigevz]

I just don't get it. I went to a site another poster mentioned that had puppies, and while it had some purebreeds, it also had mixes that were priced above 1,000.00 each!

I mean, am I just behind the times in dog fads or something? I always thought you pay to make sure the dog is full breed. Then you get the papers to prove it.

Am I the only one who thinks it's weird? If so, I'll shut up and go sit quietly by myself.................................

 

[kimmikayb]

wow, I've never heard of that!

 

[andromedaslove]

I have, they're called "Designer Dogs". Some are just for pure looks, and others like the labradoodle, and other poodle mixed breeds are often desired by people who have severe allergies. Poodles don't shed, so they are easier on people's allergies. I myself, have a Foxie-Doxie. I have to be honest he was purely for looks and is (in my opinion) the cutest dog ever. I however, wouldn't spend $1000.00 on a designer breed. I prefer to stick with my labs.

Here is my Foxie-Doxie "Goliath"

Dana

 

[paigevz]

Okay, I get it for the allergies. I never thought about that, as I figured if you're allergic to dogs, it's all dogs. Didn't know poodles were different. So, if poodle mixes with any dog, it's offspring doesn't shed? Or are they just hoping? I guess they could tell when they saw it, but these ones I was looking at ship their dogs.........so you'd only know a picture before you got the dog.

I really have nothing against mixes, they make some of the best dogs, imo, but I just wouldn't think anyone would pay that much for one, except in the case of an allergy. Many of these, though are just small breeds mixed together...............it seems rather random...........there are chihuahuas and maltese, chihuahuas and pug, chihuahuas and dachshunds................seems every combo you can think of, and some look like hundreds of dogs down at the city pound.........which I believe you can get for 40 bucks.

 

[JerseyJanice]

OMG! Goliath is so precious!

I saw a "puggle" puppy at the baseball field today, and I wanted to take him with me! What an adorable dog! Too cute!

Frankly, I'd get one tomorrow if I thought I could handle another dog on top of the 110 pound lab mix we have. He's a fireball and quite a handful on his own.

 

[andromedaslove]

Well, let me see if I can explain this the right way. Most of the purebred dogs we have now, were once considered mutts. It is because they became so popular, and have hung around for so long that the AKC and other clubs have started recognizing them. I think alot of these people are trying to capitalize on these new Designer breeds, instead of worrying about the effects of what they are doing. My problem (and the only reason I bought my little guy) is that I am a sucker for a helpless puppy. As bad as I know it is to buy from a petshop, this poor little puppy (no bigger than a coke can) was sick and unhappy, and I just couldn't leave him that way. On top of that he was just so darned cute with that one little ear that flops down.

Unfortunately, some breeders don't really care about their animals. All they care about is the money they make selling them. The "only" litter I ever had we made sure to do background checks, have the buyers sign contracts, etc.... to make sure that our puppies would be well taken care of. If everyone cared that much we wouldn't have all these poor pups in the pound.

Ok, done ranting now!!

 

[Aimeedyan]

Because people are gullible and believe those puppy mills and backyard breeders when they sell them on these designer mutts.

They are not bred for those with allergies - did you know that when the Goldendoodle fad a few years ago died down, and these puppies grew up, TONS were turned into shelters? Why you might ask? Because they were NOT good for allergies! See, there is no guarantee that the coat will be like a poodle and not a golden. So many were put down =( Same with Labradoodles - these dogs can be mostly lab and therefore chew for 2+ years AND shed. Some might not shed, but many will. Until they have "perfected" the new "breed" those qualities are not guaranteed.

It's one thing if you are actually trying to create a new breed - but these puppy mills are not doing that. THey're just trying to make a quick buck by breeding more mutts and charging people out the rear for them. All the while, causing countless other mutts to be put down and lying to potential buyers about their qualities. Promising things that can't be promised. And further condeming dogs to a life of tragedy in a puppy mill.

The whole designer mutt trend just sickens me, honestly. It really really really infuriates me that people support these places.

 

[Mad4Mickey]

I know I will need a flame suit for this post I am about to make . I cant see paying money for mixed dogs when you can go to the shelter and save a life. You can get pure bred dogs there and from rescue .
I have a weenier dog that is cute and he was free the lady who gave him to me with his papers grew bored with him after spending 800.00 on a toy doxie .

I work at a emergency vet clinic and I cant tell you the number of people who come in with thier $1,800.00 special Puggle or Labradoodle. I agree that all animals deserve a good home but I know for a fact that there are "Puggles" at the shelter here in town . They will take donations if you just feel like you need to spend $1,800.00 on a puppy : )

I will now crawl away and get my suit on . I do LOVE dogs though or I wouldnt do what I do .

 

[paigevz]

But why do the people who buy the little ones that aren't mixed with poodles buy them? If the others were duped, what are these promised? Do they really believe that the only way to get a small, cute, mixed breed is to pay 1000 bucks for it?

There's a whole room of cages at our dog pound: The Small Dog Room. It's stacked floor to ceiling.........there must be 40 cages in there. A lot of the dogs look like the schnauzer, shih tzu and dachshund mixes I saw on the website. Maybe people don't ever go to the pound at all?

 

[Nana Annie]

Here is a fun website.

It has pictures side by side of dogs - 1 came from the pound, 1 is an expensive "designer" dog.

Can you correctly spot the expensive "designer" breeds?

http://www.grumpybumpers.com/dogs/

 

[Mad4Mickey]

I only missed on the Cockapoo got me

 

[andromedaslove]

There really is no difference, and that's the saddest part. The people who sell "designer breed" dogs are basically duping the people who are buying from them. There are plenty of purebred dogs that don't shed, poodles, silky terriers, etc. There really isn't a reason to start mixing breeds this way. If it hadn't been for the fact that my "Goliath" was in such miserable conditions I probably wouldn't have bought him. I was pregnant though, and couldn't stand to see this little guy stay there. Since that day I have not stepped one foot in a pet store, because I know what all of these dogs have had to go through.

 

[Mad4Mickey]

I forgot to say how CUTE I thought Goliath was ! He is really cute and his eyes : ) oh those are the soft Weenie Dog eyes : ) oh I love those eyes

 

[Aimeedyan]

But why do the people who buy the little ones that aren't mixed with poodles buy them? If the others were duped, what are these promised? Do they really believe that the only way to get a small, cute, mixed breed is to pay 1000 bucks for it?

There's a whole room of cages at our dog pound: The Small Dog Room. It's stacked floor to ceiling.........there must be 40 cages in there. A lot of the dogs look like the schnauzer, shih tzu and dachshund mixes I saw on the website. Maybe people don't ever go to the pound at all?

They think they're cute. Like the shih-poo, cockapoo, and anything else poo. A Shih Tzu and a Poodle both are very very low shed - you are not gaining anything by mixing the two, except getting a poorly bred dog and paying a fortune for it. You can get a poorly bred dog through a rescue or shelter for a small donation!

Puggle = poorly bred mutt. Period. There is nothing gained except you now have the bad health genetics of both dogs mixed into one. And you bet your bottom that "breeder" is doing no genetic testing on either dog to ensure they aren't passing down painful medical disorders or bad temperment issues. They don't care about the dog's well being and people will continue to fork out money for them because they're "cute"

 

[andromedaslove]

I am not sure I agree with that. There have been studies that show that mutts or mixed breed dogs are much less likely to have those genetic disorders. They are much more common in the pure breeds because the genetic lines are so close. At least that's my understanding of it.

To find a dog that isn’t as likely to have these genetic problems, you should look toward the "breed" of dog created by nature, not a human being: the mixed breed. While some individual mixed breed dogs may still have some sort of genetic problem, most disappear when two dogs with totally different genes are crossed. Many veterinarians agree that the mixed breed dogs they have as patients generally have less health problems than their purebred counterparts

What it comes right down to is the fact that human beings are the cause of most, if not all, of the diseases that frequently show up in purebred dogs. Dr. Alfred J. Plechner, a prominent researcher of genetic problems in dogs says:

Our dogs were created for certain functions. When man restructured the genes for his own purposes, the gene pool became too close for the dogs to maintain a normal lifestyle. Now we are seeing the medical effects which are often painful and tragic.

These quotes were found here. link


Dana

 

[Aimeedyan]

I am not sure I agree with that. There have been studies that show that mutts or mixed breed dogs are much less likely to have those genetic disorders. They are much more common in the pure breeds because the genetic lines are so close. At least that's my understanding of it.


Dana

A true mixed breed, yes, but two poorly bred purebreds can create huge genetic health issues with their offspring.

Well bred purebreds don't have near the genetic disorders as a puppy mill purebred. There are extensive testing that a good breeder does to ensure they are not passing down certain things - plus they keep an extensive pedigree on the parents lineage.

Good breeding is an art - and should be kept to professionals dedicated to it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Some people do not know what a purebred dog is. They buy these mixes thinking they are purebred. A friend of mine did. Had no clue. We don't even want to talk about the condition of this dog right now, because not only did this friend not educate herself about breeds, she did not educate herself about dog behavior, training and socialization either. Poor dog. Last time I saw him he had climbed up on my sofa, and when I went to pull him off he bit me because his neck was sore from the shock collar he was wearing (bought because he barked too much). Very sad.

As long as people are willing to buy these dogs there will be a market for them.

 

[andromedaslove]

A true mixed breed, yes, but two poorly bred purebreds can create huge genetic health issues with their offspring.

Well bred purebreds don't have near the genetic disorders as a puppy mill purebred. There are extensive testing that a good breeder does to ensure they are not passing down certain things - plus they keep an extensive pedigree on the parents lineage.

Good breeding is an art - and should be kept to professionals dedicated to it.

I understand what you're saying now, and I completely agree. I also agree that people who don't have their heart and souls into breeding should not be doing it, breeding dogs isn't a quick way to make money.

 

[mamacatnv]

Now I am a cat person and with rare exceptions I do not like dogs, so I am not overly understanding about this new "fad" of armpit dogs. Don't flame I love animals but I have been badly bitten 3 times by friends' dogs and frankly they scare me to death.

My neighbor has a Puggle, they paid $1000 for this dog, then spent another $4000 in vet bills within the first month. The dog came from a puppy mill and was sick with some sort of parasite that preyed on its immune system and then the dog got pnuemonia.

This dog although cute is the most obnoxious stubborn animal I have seen in awhile. The trainer they hired to help tame the beast mentioned that the pug and the beagle were both very stubborn breeds of dogs and "mixing" them was not going to get rid of it.

My neighbors DH calls the beast a "hybrid" I say mutt and I agree, go to the pound, pay a small adoption fee and get a good mutt who needs a loving home.

MamaCatNV

 

[jfulcer]

I paid $600 for my Siberian kitty, who is touted around the nation as a non-allergenic cat. Most breeders welcome you to come to their house and play with them to see if you are sensitive to them. I was worried about getting one as I am allergic enough to cats that I can't go into a room with one without taking meds first. DW is cat people though, so I thought I'd give it a try. Two years later, Snowball is now a fixture in our family. He actually sleeps right next to my head on my pillow most nights so if I was going to have a reaction, that would be when. No problems whatsoever.

I'm not sure if this would be called a 'designer' breed, because it IS a long haired cat that does not set off my allergies. DW is happy.