Latest "Designer Dog" Breeds

[aivzdog]

Latest "Designer Dog" Breeds

By Kelly Jackson

(KSDK) - Pets are rapidly becoming a part of more American households. Some are called designer dogs, highly sought after pooches which are often nothing more than high priced mutts.

Dr. Mark Lux is a veterinarian who says he did not learn about many of these breeds in school.

They have names like "Saint Berdoodles" or "schnoodles". They are often referred to as crossbreeds, hybrids or mixed breeds but the newfangled term is designer dog.

Jamie Ferguson owns a designer dog. Her dog Sidney is a "Labradoodle", part labrador and part standard poodle.

"When she was smaller she filled out a bit and everyone thought she was a poodle," Ferguson said. "Now they just don't know what it is."

Dr. Lux said a greater number of these pets are appealing to owners. He said breeders are catching on to the popularity. Ferguson likes the temperament of the labs, without the shedding of a poodle.

Designer dogs can also be pricey. Sydney was $500. Experts say when it comes to designer dogs, $500 is a bargain.

Debbie Bruce is a licensed breeder. She said "puggles" are quickly catching on. Her clients come from everyone to Missouri. They are willing to pay up to $2,000.

"With a puggle, the temperament is usually good because the beagle and the pug are always nice," she said.

But one downside is that some breeds that have not been around for centuries have no real health or behavioral history. For instance beagles and pugs are prone to back problems.

Dr. Lux says in any kind of breeding you are going to get both good and bad characteristics.

At the Humane Society of Missouri you'll see all kinds of breeds.

Debbie Hill, the Humane Society's Vice President of Operations says to use some common sense.

"You don't typically say my next best friend will be 170 pounds and can only wear his hair one way. You need to find the one that's right for you. That's not necessarily the one with a designer label on the tag."

The experts say when looking for a pet you can bond with, be aware of it's temperament as well as any physical issues it might have.

They also say some designer dogs are as close as the pound.




Anna

[LabBreeder]

this is just sad. why advertise a mutt? why mix 2 breeds together and add to overpopulation? these dogs are not "breeds" by any way, shape or form. they are mutts that go for an arm and a leg. i have no problem with mutts, i've had quite a few in my time. but it's wrong to sell a dog as a breed when it's not. also wrong to claim it's registerable when it's not. wrong to say it's low shed/hypoallergenic when most pups born are NOT. wrong to claim better health when you are actually compounding the health problems that 2 purebred dogs have and giving it to pups.

get a mutt from a shelter, call it whatever "mix" name you want, spend a lot less money and don't contribute to the overpopulation of animals.

[Debi]

this is just sad. why advertise a mutt? why mix 2 breeds together and add to overpopulation? these dogs are not "breeds" by any way, shape or form. they are mutts that go for an arm and a leg. i have no problem with mutts, i've had quite a few in my time. but it's wrong to sell a dog as a breed when it's not. also wrong to claim it's registerable when it's not. wrong to say it's low shed/hypoallergenic when most pups born are NOT. wrong to claim better health when you are actually compounding the health problems that 2 purebred dogs have and giving it to pups.

get a mutt from a shelter, call it whatever "mix" name you want, spend a lot less money and don't contribute to the overpopulation of animals.

the eternal question of the century........why. it IS just sad. so I agree.

[Roxy's CD]

I agree with getting a dog from a shelter but in my area it's hard to get a younger dog with no bad habits or vices already. The younger dogs go quite fast.

I like the fact that these "designer dogs" are making mutts appealing though. The whole inbred in purebred thing is going to turn around and kick everyone in the ass soon so what better way than to advertise muts as "designer dogs" so people who aren't really interested in anything other than a pet will get a mut.

[bubbatd]

Roxy.. to me " designer dogs " are dogs bred only to appeal to those who are looking for a whatever poo and charging way to much $$$ . I don't consider a cross bred at the HS a " designer " dog... I consider it an mongrel . Cute and affordable and not supporting a BYB.

[MyIrishWolfie]

Geez... I hope they DO NOT re-design the Irish Wolfhound and sell it for the same price.

[bubbatd]

GRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!! Two CBS programs this morning about designer dogs !!!!

[Brattina88]

I have seen three "Puggles" this weekend - one at the Pound, and two at the local no-kill shelter. They may be cute as pups, but have you ever seen an adult? All three were owner surrenders, because they bought without researching (how can you accuratly research a mix breed anyway??), raised without training, and lets face it - not even cute anymore. All three were labeled as "runners" "barkers" and "diggers". How often do you hear that on the cute news segments ??

[Roo92]

I am tired of defending my choice in dog mixed breed or designer or whatever you want to call it. Hi I am new to this forum and I have an adult female puggle, her name is Lola. Before you judge me, I also am a proud owner of a 4yr old beagle mix that I rescued from the shelter, his name is Ronny. Yes, both of my dogs are fixed and I have no intention what so ever to breed. I adopted Ronny first and was told by the shelter that he had been temperament tested and everything. Later on I found out that couldn't have been true because he is extremely dog aggressive (to the point that he will turn on me). He was found as a stray so my guess is that he was attacked by several other dogs while living on the streets. I take him to a trainer and I work with him everyday to manage his aggression but he can still be unpredictable, however I refuse to put him down. I did learn that if he gets to know the dog over a period of time he no longer will be aggressive toward the dog. Feeling bad that he can't socialize normally with other dogs I decided to get another small dog that he could get to know and socialize with. I did some research on small dogs; I was looking for something half his size with a laid back temperament. I knew that getting him to accept it at first would be hard, that it had to be a puppy. I made the hard decision not to adopt from a shelter because I wanted to know exactly what I was getting. I didn't want to take the chance of ending up with two dogs with issues, plus they didn't have any puppies let alone small breed pug puppies. So I went to a pug breeder who also happen to have puggles, I picked a puggle because it was cheaper than the pug but would still have the right body type and temperament I was looking for. She is now an adult and is one of the best dogs I have ever owned. Yes she is trained, no she is not ugly or weird looking, and yes I knew what I was getting myself into because I know about beagles and I researched the pug. Every time I see my dogs play together I do not regret my decision for a moment, regardless of what you may think of me. Many like to put this mix down or single it out because it's what some people like to call a "designer dog" without even knowing what it's like to personally own one. I personally own one and will tell they are just like any other mixed breed or purebred-they are great dogs if they fit what you’re looking for in a dog. They are extremely affectionate, very trainable, some are vocal but mine is only vocal in play, they are very active (mine is great at agility). It's true they like to dig but that’s not an uncommon activity for dogs. I support and advocate shelter adoptions but in my personal case I felt that buying from a breeder was the best option due to Ronny's issues. I would like to be a part of a dog forum that isn't quick to judge me, call me irresponsible, ignorant etc. just because I own a mix that some like to call a "designer dog". I hope this could be that forum and I also hope I haven't fueled the fire on this huge feud because that was not my intention.

[Roxy's CD]

Roxy.. to me " designer dogs " are dogs bred only to appeal to those who are looking for a whatever poo and charging way to much $$$ . I don't consider a cross bred at the HS a " designer " dog... I consider it an mongrel . Cute and affordable and not supporting a BYB.

I don't know. I still think it's a good way to get people who aren't interseted in showing confirmation to get a mutt. I've watched a few shows on how horribly inbred 90% of "purebred" dogs are now. By making mutts a loveable, desirable breed it's helping to get more diverse gene pools, opposed to continuing to breed within the same gene pool that hasn't changed in hundreds of years. Yes, their expensive, but if people are willing to pay.... what can you say really? Some people will spend thousands on purebreds, so mutts aren't as good as purebreds??

I dont' agree with them calling designer dogs, it's a little bit too trendy. And it's definitely not right to label them as purebreds but I think generally what it's doing for the dog community isn't a negative thing but positive.

[LabBreeder]

BY ROXY --->

I like the fact that these "designer dogs" are making mutts appealing though. The whole inbred in purebred thing is going to turn around and kick everyone in the ass soon so what better way than to advertise muts as "designer dogs" so people who aren't really interested in anything other than a pet will get a mut.

I still think it's a good way to get people who aren't interseted in showing confirmation to get a mutt. I've watched a few shows on how horribly inbred 90% of "purebred" dogs are now. By making mutts a loveable, desirable breed it's helping to get more diverse gene pools, opposed to continuing to breed within the same gene pool that hasn't changed in hundreds of years. Yes, their expensive, but if people are willing to pay.... what can you say really? Some people will spend thousands on purebreds, so mutts aren't as good as purebreds?? <-----ROXY


Designer dogs are not making mutts more appealing...they are making "designer dogs" more appealing. some people can not grasp the concept that a designer dog IS a mutt. these people think they are geting a new "breed" or, as I like to call them, a glorified mutt. if you want a mutt, go to a HS, shelter, etc and get one for much less than these so-called designer dogs. again, designer dogs are not helping the mutt/mix breed population at all, they are just adding to it. if they were helping, don't you think people would be going to HS, shelters, etc to get a mutt and not going to "breeders" to buy a designer dog???
What do you mean by "making mutts a loveable, desirable breed"? mutts are not a breed, they are a combination of breeds. this is why they are mutts...the same thing as a "designer dog".

[LabBreeder]

also, how is it a positive thing that's being done???
by adding to the overpopulation of mixed breed (and purebreed) dogs that don't have a home...and now have less of a chance of getting one because people think a designer dog is something different than a mutt? designer dogs (aka mutts) are only creating a negative effect on the mutts that need a home and aren't getting one cause someone would rather go to a "breeder" and spend upwards of $500 to get a mixed breed instead of going to a HS or shelter and getting the same thing for less (and giving a homeless dog a good happy home)

[Roxy's CD]

First off I know what a mutt is, my mistake at calling them a breed, but what I meant was just making mutts more appealing. As apposed to SOME PEOPLE, who are all about PUREBRED animals. "Oh, my dogs a purebred so and so and yours is just a mut..." We've all heard it and I'm sure some of you only have purebred animals for showing. This only makes the "mongrels are impure" thing worse.

All of you need to take a step back. The majority of people WILL NOT get a dog from the pound. Why? As I mentioned in many more rural areas, smaller towns and cities, the only dogs available there are older and already have vices and habits that conflict with possible adopters. EX) bad with other animals, children etc.

So my point on this whole issue, is that rather than someone who just wants a pet going to a breeder and purchasing a purebred animal now "mutts", mix breed animals are "acceptable as well". Yes, I understand AND I ALREADY MENTIONED, that it's not right to label them as purebreds and charge outrageous prices, purebred breeders charge "outrageous prices" too! If people pay it than that's not really your issue is it?!?!

Anyways to break it down(HOW I AM SAYING THAT I LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF "DESIGNER DOGS":
1. Purebred animals are inbred. It's a fact. The more we keep breeding same breeds to get one specific characteristic from them or even their appearance they are becoming more and more inbred, causing breed specific diseases and such. Ex)jack russells are known to go blind, larger dogs are known for hip dysplasia etc.
2. Designer Dogs are mix breed animals. This is introducing new genes and therefore the animal is less prone to specific downfalls of a particular breed.

So, knowing that many people do not want a dog from a HS, for whatever reasons, buying a mutt is a positive because it's reducing the amount of INBRED animals. The show I was speaking about mentioned that we should STOP breeding "purebreds" for looks and start breeding just good pets. Not based on looks or breed specific characteristics.

So... People buying these "designer dogs" obviously do not plan on confirmation showing, so what better way to get off the inbred train than to stop the inbreeding for animals that are just pets??? So instead of a family looking for a FAMILY PET going out and buying a purebred animal they have the option of getting a puppy so there are no bad vices AND their stopping the inbreeding by getting a mut.

[Roxy's CD]

I am in no way deterring people from going to the HS to get a dog, but sometimes it's just not feasible. I have two dogs, I went to the HS in my town 2 months ago because I am looking to get another dog. They had 10 dogs there. 3 were to large for my home and yard, 5 were dog aggressive and the rest were not good with kids.

So for the people who already have specific circumstances surrounding getting a new dog, buying one from a breeder is their only option.

I'd also just like to add that both of my dogs I rescued, and they are both mutts.

[LabBreeder]

obviously you aren't understanding what I AM SAYING!!! but, i don't feel like going round and round over something that i can't make you understand...so i won't. you have your opinion and i have mine...let's just leave it at that before an argument breaks out. and YOU DON'T HAVE TO YELL!!!! TO MAKE A POINT!!!

[LabBreeder]

btw, by introducing new "genes" (another breed) into a purebred line...makes it a mutt in the first place. with over 150 different breeds, i'm sure there are at least a few single breeds that aren't related and aren't inbreeding. some people are trying to breed OUT health problems. some people are trying to better different breeds...not all are bad. and yes, i know that all current breeds were at some point a mixture of 2 or more types of dogs that were bred together for various qualities. but they are one breed now. now, if you can mix a LITTLE of a previous breed that was used in the original making of a current breed that is one thing...you may be bringing the breed back to the standards that it once was or improving certain aspects and not changing the look of the breed.
either way, my point is this: 2 or more breeds together = mutt (unless,after many years of reproducing the same kind of dogs they become a breed unto themselves) call it a designer, mutt, mongrel, mix, heinz 57, etc. it's all the same thing.

[Roxy's CD]

^^ Agreed a mutt is a mutt. I understand what your saying about overpopulation and such. But to breed for a quality pet and not just about breed specific characteristics can only be a good thing, at least for family pets, which is a large population of the dog world. Just pet dogs. Not show dogs. Regular old family pets.

[LabBreeder]

i agree. i think that if someone breeds it should be for an all around healthy, good temperment (and if purebred conformation/abilities). i think health and temper should always come first if it's ONLY a pet. if it's a show/field/trial dog then of course in addition to health and temperment you need the breed specific characteristics as well.
i still wish that people would adopt the pets in the shelters/HS first and at least try to retrain them and help them have happy homes. i think after all those dogs (and cats) have been through they deserve a second or third or fourth :) chance to have a good home for the rest of their lives.

[pup-man]

i agree. i think that if someone breeds it should be for an all around healthy, good temperment (and if purebred conformation/abilities). i think health and temper should always come first if it's ONLY a pet. if it's a show/field/trial dog then of course in addition to health and temperment you need the breed specific characteristics as well.
i still wish that people would adopt the pets in the shelters/HS first and at least try to retrain them and help them have happy homes. i think after all those dogs (and cats) have been through they deserve a second or third or fourth :) chance to have a good home for the rest of their lives.

I continue to read and see your post promoting adoption at shelters and HS and how the world is over populated with mutts & full breeds ..... I agree with promoting it 100%........BUT - I also think the breeding in general needs to stop or slow down a bit. I'v seen your original post wanting to breed your LABS because you "want to keep their lines going" ...... it's those BYB and Responsible Breeders that reduce the chances of people saving a dogs life at the shelter.

Just my .02

[LabBreeder]

and if you'd looked at posts after that you'd see the rest of the conversation and how (almost) everyone got the wrong idea because of the way i worded the thread when i started it. and i don't appreciate you insinuating that i'm a byb... if you can't be civil then don't say anything at all.
i'll say it again................you have your opinion, and i have mine. i suggest this conversation stops before a moderator has to step in because you are about to step over the line.
you do what your going to do...and i'll do what i'm going to do.

[Roxy's CD]

^I think that the majority of dogs that go to shelters were supposed to be family pets. Rarely do people buy a dog for showing and it ends up at a pound(er). It's families that wanted a dog, got the wrong breed and couldn't handle them.

Breeding in general needs to stop or slow down a bitAgreed. But something I was thinking about last night. There are plenty of children in adoption agencies, but people are still having their own children. There are the few that adopt for whatever reasons and the rest do not because they want their own biological child or they can't afford adoption fees. So it's kind of the same thing. The people who are in the right situation to adopt a dog from the humane society do, and the others get their own, new pup.

[LabBreeder]

and you also just proved my point about people overbreeding (especially mutts/"designer dogs")
[QUOTE]BYB and Responsible Breeders
that reduce the chances of people saving a dogs life at the shelter.[QUOTE]

first you say breeding mutts is ok and you'd buy one cause you know temperment, etc. (unlike at a shelter) then you turn around and say that you don't agree with overbreeding, etc. and there are to many dogs that won't get saved from a shelter. you either agree or you don't. make up your mind.
are there to many dogs and not enough homes because of overbreeding...or do you just forget what you've said before? i'll buy mine from a breeder (but you think people are overbreeding) before going to a shelter cause of temperment, etc. (but shelters are to full and to much breeding, etc)

quit contradicting yourself.

[Roxy's CD]

^?? me? :|
Breeding purebred animals is great fine and dandy with me. There are people as you said that show these animals. Great. Thats fine. I just think that breeding mutts as well is good, for pet's. This way you can cut back on purebred breeding (because people who just want pets can get mutts), but the people who show animals still get their purebreds. Everyone's happy, and the whole inbred thing get's cut down to a minumim.

[LabBreeder]

HOW DARE YOU COMPARE KIDS THAT NEED TO BE ADOPTED TO DOGS IN A POUND!!!! don't you think that's a bit callous and mean. almost every person in the world would like to have their own child. however, some can't and they choose to adopt. there are grants and agencies that help with adoption fees and such, so money is no longer a big issue.
the children up for adoption were either handicapped in some way or abused/neglected so badly that they had to be taken from their family. my husband was adopted because his birth mother was a deaf/mute that was raped and couldn't take care of him. his new family thought they couldn't have kids and adopted him, then had a little girl 3 yrs later on the same day he was born.
i agree that if someone gets a dog it should be for life. a child is for life also...but some children need to be taken just as some dogs need to be taken.
i don't want to speak with you any more! you have proven yourself to be callous and contradictory towards dogs AND children.

[LabBreeder]

but why do you agree to designer dogs that cost more than purebreds being used for pets when there are regular mixed breeds that need homes (that are not in shelters/HS yet)

[Roxy's CD]

It's called an ANALOGY. Another way of looking at something.
Children in adoption agencies are unfortunate right? So are the animals in a pound right? Ok. People should adopt children from an orphanage if they cannot have their own children OR are in a situation that would suit both the child and the family, right? ok. People should adopt a dog from a HS if they are in a situation that suits them right? ok

SO, of course they are on different levels , but the reasons for people adopting either child or dog are virtually similar.
Child- Can't have their own want to adopt to help community
Dog- Want a dog, want to help an unfortunate animal

[pup-man]

and i don't appreciate you insinuating that i'm a byb... if you can't be civil then don't say anything at all.

I don't recall saying you were a BYB. Please re-read my post.

but why do you agree to designer dogs that cost more than purebreds being used for pets when there are regular mixed breeds that need homes (that are not in shelters/HS yet)

I thought you said they were one in the same?

[Roxy's CD]

As for the price. If you don't want to pay it don't pay it! The people who buy "these dogs" obviously have the money, so who's to argue how much they should pay for something they want?!?!?!
I"ve got 2 mutts, and I would pay the same amount for them as any "purebred" animal out there! Why? Because their great pets and hardworking animals.

Oh, and just so you know my mother and cousin were adopted because they were abandoned. And as for adoption costs, maybe where you live it's different but a member of my church adopted a baby girl from China last summer and it costed THEM, out of their pocket over 15,000.

[LabBreeder]

yeah, from CHINA! i'm talking about children in the u.s. that need homes.
and i know what an analogy is but you sure picked a poor one. it shouldn't be the price that makes the people want the dog. still seems like you care more for the price of an animal, or child, than actually having one because you want it in your life.
as for saying "they are one in the same"...that's my point. which obviously you'll never get because you would rather go to a "designer breeder" and spend enough money on what is still a mutt than go to a shelter/HS and get one that has needed a home for who only knows how long. you go ahead and buy from your byb designer dog mutt makers...for every dog you buy you contribute to a homeless pup not getting a home. yes, your pup will have one, but technically your pup shouldn't have been born if people were actually caring about their dogs enough to not mix breeds for profit.

[Roxy's CD]

yeah, from CHINA! i'm talking about children in the u.s. that need homes. So, the children in china don't need homes?. Sorry that's obviously not what you meant but at the same time, they had enough money to go through the process, and their still saving a child. Does it really matter what country they save the child from?

I really care about the price of animals, seeing as I rescued both of my dogs and got them for free. Your right though, that is really all I care about, clearly and the amount I paid for my dogs shows it.

[LabBreeder]

no, but in my original post i was talking about local (u.s.) adoption fees being smaller than international. obviously homeless children worldwide need homes. it doesn't matter about the country...although i kind of wish we'd try to take care of our own first. BUT, i also understand that some people for whatever reasons, can't adopt in the u.s. or want to adopt abroad.

then quit saying you would pay for a designer mutt before going to a HS/shelter and i won't say you only care about price. :)

[pup-man]

but technically your pup shouldn't have been born if people were actually caring about their dogs enough to not mix breeds for profit.

So are you saying we should over look "designer dogs" because they "technically" shouldn't have been born? You're not making any sense!

[LabBreeder]

no, i'm saying it's ridiculous to call them "designer dogs" when their mutts. and it's ridiculous to pay an outrageous price for a mutt (regardless of what you want to call it) from a "breeder" when you can get one from a shelter/hs/etc. i don't think any animal should be overlooked. it would be nice if there were a couple hundred acres to get as many dogs as possible out of the shelters and let the run around and know the joys of play and love. providing temperments and health permitted of course.

[Roxy's CD]

LOL. What I mean is that mutts to me are just as VALUABLE as any purebred. I guess what I'm stuck on is that I understand why breeders charge high amounts for well, purebred animals but I dont think it should be a sin to charge high amounts for mutts either because they have good qualities too. Does that make any sense?

Of course if you just want a family pet a HS is a good first option, but if none of the available animals are suited for your lifestyle, than going to a breeder is the next option.

[LabBreeder]

fyi - about adoption: as i said, tony was adopted. we're both perfectly capable of having our own biological children but we've decided that we'd like to adopt a child (regardless of cost) within the next few years. we've been contacting various agencies and getting information on how they do things for a few months now. so, it's not just people that Can't have children that adopt. plenty of people may (or may not) have a biological child first and then adopt 1 or more children...or the other way around.

[Roxy's CD]

no, i'm saying it's ridiculous to call them "designer dogs" when their mutts. and it's ridiculous to pay an outrageous price for a mutt (regardless of what you want to call it) from a "breeder" when you can get one from a shelter/hs/etc. i don't think any animal should be overlooked. it would be nice if there were a couple hundred acres to get as many dogs as possible out of the shelters and let the run around and know the joys of play and love. providing temperments and health permitted of course.

OK, I finally understand you! I agree!!!, BUT as I just said, sometimes a HS isn't an option. Ex) dog aggressive, not good with kids, too large etc.

[LabBreeder]

ok roxy....i get what your saying. i misconstrued your meaning of "valuable"...but that's life. lol. i think, in a round about way we're agreeing...but saying it in different ways.
i don't think it's a sin to charge high amounts for mutts...but i don't agree with the one's charging high amounts claiming the dogs are registerable and "better" than their purebred parents when tests haven't been done to prove it. THAT's what gripes my butt.

[Roxy's CD]

Adoption: Yes my mothers adopted parents adopted her for a playmate for their biological child....

I'm glad for whatever child you adopt that you've made that decision. At the same time, do you plan on having your own biological children ever? It just seems to be something innate in humans to have biological children...

[Roxy's CD]

Yes, I think in the end we mean the same things but the what's most important in the story is different. You, would rather someone go to a shelter to get a mut. I, just want to make it clear that mutts can be awesome dogs too.

[LabBreeder]

it is an innate human characteristic...just like with animals...to want to keep your "lines" (LOL) going. I mean, even though tony was adopted he still feels it's his responsibility to carry on his adoptive families last name so that it doesn't die out with him. that doesn't mean that we would have to have our own child because an adopted child has your name as well. it makes it harder on him because his father passed away not to long ago and his mother is asking when he'll "give her a grandchild" or "if she'll have a grandchild before she dies". she doesn't mean to hurt him, but it makes him feel bad for not already having one. (we've been together for 3 yrs. but you don't just JUMP into having a child, especially if you can't afford one or don't have the room in your home IMO) i think....i'd be happy either way. i'd like my own biological child...yes....but i've always wanted to adopt. i see so many children in bad homes, or without homes and it hurts. i guess it's harder to explain than i thought it would be.

as for other people that only have biological children...that's fine, i don't fault them for it. i understand what makes them want to have their own children first. but, if there is ever a chance to adopt i hope more people will take that chance to help a child.

[LabBreeder]

i know mutts can be awesome dogs. i've had some...just currently have purebreds. georgia was the cutest little dog ever (jrt/chi). she danced for treats and thought she was top dog and loved to snuggle and sleep with you. bridger (mutt from childhood) was almost run over by my dads riding lawmower cause someone threw him on the side of the road in a bed of ants. he didn't do anything special, but he was my mutt and i loved him for it. well, he could climb out of his pen by putting his head against a tree for leverage...lol.
i'll get a mutt from wherever i find him. side of the road, shelter, friend that doesn't want him/her anymore. i do what my dad does. he takes in all kinds of dogs and cats. currently they have 15 cats, 1 bird and 3 dogs (2 he found and one that was given as a birthday present). my dad has a soft heart for animals and so do i. i just don't think people should intentionally mix dogs for profit and to mislead the public about what these dogs really are (or what they can and can't do)............register, health, temperment, etc.

[Roxy's CD]

From your grandmothers point of view I'm sure she's just worried that she'll never get to meet her grandchildren, I don't think she really means to pressure the both of you. Whether adopted or biological it's always important to be financially ready. It ensures your childs life is everything that you want it to be and your not as stressed! I'm sure when ever you choose to start your family it'll be the right time for you and your hubby.

[LabBreeder]

i just figure she's thinking like me and tony are....his dad just died in january and tony didn't get to see him to say goodbye, he had to take a greyhound and ended up missing the wake but made the funeral. it's made everyone realize how short life is and no one wants his mom to miss out on grandkids...or her kids being happily married. his sister's getting married in june and he had one bad marriage and 2 engagements before i came along. at least the kids will be married before anything happens. it made tony feel even worse when his dad died because while we were in s.c. he only visited maybe 3 times in a year. he felt bad cause his dad was in a nursing home, legs amputated, tubes all over and not the same dad he grew up with...all of which i understand. but he still feels like he let him down by not saying goodbye....:(
i guess unless you've been in the same situation, it's hard to understand.

[MomOf7]

What are these people thinking?
Do they know what kind of genetic mess they may be producing?
It would take years, and years, and years to perfect a certain breed..And why stop at just using 2 different breeds? Why not mix in several more and make a whole new breed? Why not research the breeds what they offer and experiment untill you perfect it?
Isnt that how we got the breeds we now love and enjoy today?
I dont believe in asking for a phenominal amount for a "new" breed that didnt take much doing.

[Roxy's CD]

i guess unless you've been in the same situation, it's hard to understand.
I was really young when my grandma died and we visited her when she was sick (stomach cancer) but she was bed ridden and I just never went into the bedroom to see her, I guess I was scared. But I know my grandma would understand that I was young, and it's scary to a kid.

I'm sure you guys tried your hardest to visit with him. If you guys had to travel far, and anyways i'm sure your hubby doesn't want to remember his dad like that! You want your memories to be good ones not, that the last time you saw your dad he was bed ridden and didn't look well. Death is something that we all have to face at one time or another, family friends...

[LabBreeder]

i know...:(
it just sucks that once we moved here he thought he'd get "another chance" to see him before he died. then we got a call that he was sick with pneumonia and a little over a week later his mom called him and told him his dad had passed away. i never got to meet him, tony didn't get to say good bye...it just sucks. he had to go to the funeral by himself cause his mom could only afford one bus ticket (at the time we had no money). i felt terrible that he had to deal with everything without me by his side. it also didn't help that his ex showed up at the funeral (which was to be expected). i felt bad that i wasn't there for him and he felt bad that he wasn't there for his dad. while he was gone i bought him a silver cross on a silver chain and gave it to him when he got back. i told him it was a reminder that no matter what happens, or where he goes, God and I are always with him (I love tony very much). his mom let him have one of his dads rings...it was made out of the diamonds from his moms first wedding ring that broke. his dad had the ring made so there would always be a part of the original ring around...it was the only one that didn't have to be cut off his fingers (his wedding ring had to be cut off due to swelling). :( :sad:
life goes on...i know he thinks about his dad every day and wishes he'd seen him more...but you can't change the past and i'm sure his dad would understand.

[lovemytacodog]

What's the difference between a designer dog and a mutt? Generally, a mutt is of uncertain ancestry. A designer dog has documented purebred ancestry, and one knows for sure what it is. The ACHC is the leading registry for designer dogs. (courtesy of dogbreedinfo.com)


For those of you that insist on calling a "designer" dog a mutt...you really should research FACTS before posting opinions on the subject. And your so-called "purebred" dogs are nothing more than inbred anymore. Breeding sisters and brothers, moms and sons....now THAT makes a really appealing dog. Thats why most of them are as dumb as a box of rocks and completely untrainable. It's no different than inbreeding humans. There are going to be serious reprocussions in the long run. Hmmm - give me a so called "mutt" anyday. Oh and yes - I have a Chion - for those of you that are uneducated about your breeds - that is a Chihuahua/Papillon mix.

[bubbatd]

Welcome to an old thread .... and yes , you have a designer dog if a planned breeding ....a great mutt either way .

[MomOf7]

What's the difference between a designer dog and a mutt? Generally, a mutt is of uncertain ancestry. A designer dog has documented purebred ancestry, and one knows for sure what it is. The ACHC is the leading registry for designer dogs. (courtesy of dogbreedinfo.com)


For those of you that insist on calling a "designer" dog a mutt...you really should research FACTS before posting opinions on the subject. And your so-called "purebred" dogs are nothing more than inbred anymore. Breeding sisters and brothers, moms and sons....now THAT makes a really appealing dog. Thats why most of them are as dumb as a box of rocks and completely untrainable. It's no different than inbreeding humans. There are going to be serious reprocussions in the long run. Hmmm - give me a so called "mutt" anyday. Oh and yes - I have a Chion - for those of you that are uneducated about your breeds - that is a Chihuahua/Papillon mix.

Wow I am offended!
Uneducated about breeds?.....Lets see most of these "new breeds" are new! How is one suppose to keep track of all the "new" breeds?
Your also making assumptions on purebreds as well. Not all breeders inbreed. Most Cross breed and if you dont know what that means look it up.
Also about purebreds being dumb as a box of rocks I beg to differ.
Look at this.. My purebred dumb as rocks dogs can do this. What about yours?
The link will send you to several video clips. I would start with 12 - FC AFC Riversides Raggedy Ann so you can see that we use hand signals also known as casting to direct our dogs to retrieve the bird that has been thrown at a distance away. Feel free to look at them all. I would like to see your Chion do this.
http://www.akc.org/events/field_trials/retrievers/narc/2005/wednesday.cfm
Next time maybe instead of name calling and being rude you might want to research FACTS before posting opinions.
Thank you

[summitview]

For those of you that insist on calling a "designer" dog a mutt...you really should research FACTS before posting opinions on the subject. And your so-called "purebred" dogs are nothing more than inbred anymore. Breeding sisters and brothers, moms and sons....now THAT makes a really appealing dog. Thats why most of them are as dumb as a box of rocks and completely untrainable. It's no different than inbreeding humans. There are going to be serious reprocussions in the long run. Hmmm - give me a so called "mutt" anyday. Oh and yes - I have a Chion - for those of you that are uneducated about your breeds - that is a Chihuahua/Papillon mix.


Wow, someone certainly has their panties in a wad. Being that aggressive on your first post won't make you friends very fast!

My "dumb" and "inbred" purebreds have competed successfully in ISDRA (International Sled Dog Racing Association) Sprint and Mid Distance Races. Two have also earned AKC Companion Dog titles, along with their Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog International certifications.

Did the puppymill that produced the mix you have do anything to prove their dogs? I somehow doubt it. You, my dear, are the one who needs an education.

:spam:

[lovemytacodog]

Wow, someone certainly has their panties in a wad. Being that aggressive on your first post won't make you friends very fast!

My "dumb" and "inbred" purebreds have competed successfully in ISDRA (International Sled Dog Racing Association) Sprint and Mid Distance Races. Two have also earned AKC Companion Dog titles, along with their Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog International certifications.

Did the puppymill that produced the mix you have do anything to prove their dogs? I somehow doubt it. You, my dear, are the one who needs an education.

:spam:


Actually, Mr. Know-it-All, mine was a rescue from the local shelter that my daughter works at and did not come from a puppy mill such as the one you might be running. I happen to be very educated on puppy mills and the so called "purebred" animals they produce. I also happen to be very active with the local Humane Society and trying to put a stop the the puppy mills in the area. And whoopdeedoo good for your dogs - at least they can get a good citizenship award - shame their owner couldnt do the same. I dont try to exploit my dog and get him to win awards in frivilous contests that do nothing more than give people bragging rights for nothing they have control over - thats no different than the parent that tries to live out their dreams through their children. You know, the ones that couldnt play football so they push their kids into it. Oh and I dont care about making friends with people that continue to add to the unwanted pet population by breeding dog after dog after dog and selling them to people who grow tired of them once they cant show them anymore and dump them in the shelters anyway!

[lovemytacodog]

Wow, someone certainly has their panties in a wad. Being that aggressive on your first post won't make you friends very fast!

My "dumb" and "inbred" purebreds have competed successfully in ISDRA (International Sled Dog Racing Association) Sprint and Mid Distance Races. Two have also earned AKC Companion Dog titles, along with their Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog International certifications.

Did the puppymill that produced the mix you have do anything to prove their dogs? I somehow doubt it. You, my dear, are the one who needs an education.

:spam:




Actually, Mr. Know-it-All, mine was a rescue from the local shelter that my daughter works at and did not come from a puppy mill such as the one you might be running. I happen to be very educated on puppy mills and the so called "purebred" animals they produce. I also happen to be very active with the local Humane Society and trying to put a stop the the puppy mills in the area. And whoopdeedoo good for your dogs - at least they can get a good citizenship award - shame their owner couldnt do the same. I dont try to exploit my dog and get him to win awards in frivilous contests that do nothing more than give people bragging rights for nothing they have control over - thats no different than the parent that tries to live out their dreams through their children. You know, the ones that couldnt play football so they push their kids into it. Oh and I dont care about making friends with people that continue to add to the unwanted pet population by breeding dog after dog after dog and selling them to people who grow tired of them once they cant show them anymore and dump them in the shelters anyway! Oh, and lets not forget about the abuse the sled dogs endure to get them to win their races. Now that's REALLY admirable.

[Zoom]

Here's an idea...take a look around a bit before tossing around totally unfounded accusations. Have a nice day.

[Laurelin]

First off I know what a mutt is, my mistake at calling them a breed, but what I meant was just making mutts more appealing. As apposed to SOME PEOPLE, who are all about PUREBRED animals. "Oh, my dogs a purebred so and so and yours is just a mut..." We've all heard it and I'm sure some of you only have purebred animals for showing. This only makes the "mongrels are impure" thing worse.

All of you need to take a step back. The majority of people WILL NOT get a dog from the pound. Why? As I mentioned in many more rural areas, smaller towns and cities, the only dogs available there are older and already have vices and habits that conflict with possible adopters. EX) bad with other animals, children etc.

So my point on this whole issue, is that rather than someone who just wants a pet going to a breeder and purchasing a purebred animal now "mutts", mix breed animals are "acceptable as well". Yes, I understand AND I ALREADY MENTIONED, that it's not right to label them as purebreds and charge outrageous prices, purebred breeders charge "outrageous prices" too! If people pay it than that's not really your issue is it?!?!

Anyways to break it down(HOW I AM SAYING THAT I LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF "DESIGNER DOGS":
1. Purebred animals are inbred. It's a fact. The more we keep breeding same breeds to get one specific characteristic from them or even their appearance they are becoming more and more inbred, causing breed specific diseases and such. Ex)jack russells are known to go blind, larger dogs are known for hip dysplasia etc.
2. Designer Dogs are mix breed animals. This is introducing new genes and therefore the animal is less prone to specific downfalls of a particular breed.

So, knowing that many people do not want a dog from a HS, for whatever reasons, buying a mutt is a positive because it's reducing the amount of INBRED animals. The show I was speaking about mentioned that we should STOP breeding "purebreds" for looks and start breeding just good pets. Not based on looks or breed specific characteristics.

So... People buying these "designer dogs" obviously do not plan on confirmation showing, so what better way to get off the inbred train than to stop the inbreeding for animals that are just pets??? So instead of a family looking for a FAMILY PET going out and buying a purebred animal they have the option of getting a puppy so there are no bad vices AND their stopping the inbreeding by getting a mut.


Okay... time to add more fuel to the fire...

A) Inbreeding is not always a bad thing. Inbreeding is detrimental when bad traits are present in the line. In other circumstances linebreeding can improve a line and assure you that you keep out genetic problems that don't exist in your lines. Extensive research is done when a good breeder chooses to linebreed or outcross. Outcrossing is many times seen as a more risky procedure because you do not know those bloodlines and therefore their weaknesses as well as your own. It's easier to breed an unwanted trait into your line that way.

b) Hybrid vigor- doesn't really apply here. You're assuming that a BYB designer dog is coming from the same quality stock as a purebred show dog. BYB purebreds tend to have many genetic problems, and if you cross breed two of them you will still have genetic problems, sometimes even more because you'll get both the issues from the parent breeds. BYB crossbreds are still often inbred, if you're so against inbreeding...

If you want a healthy dog the best bet you have is to go to a breeder that does genetic testing on their dogs and only breeds dogs that score highly on these tests. Ex- my paps parents were tested for PRA. This reduces the chance that they'll have PRA. There's never a guarantee with what you get, but by going to a breeder that does this, you have the best chance possible to avoid these health problems. Of all the dogs I've had, the one with the most health problems was a mutt. He was a cross between two breeds that have hip problems, and he had to have two hip surgeries. Just because it's a 'hybrid' doesn't mean it's going to be healthier.

The thing I love about purebreds is you have a very good idea what you're getting. It makes it easier to fit a dog into your lifestyle. A mutt could act like one parent, or the other or a combination of both. You never know. By getting a purebred from a reputable breeder (note the difference here) you have an idea of what look, what personality, what size, what potential problems etc to expect. Why do you know this? Because the breeder is actively breeding towards a certain goal. Like I said, there is still variation in a breed, but much less than in a mix.

The problem I have with designer breeds are not the dogs themselves. The mix isn't inheritantly wrong or anything, it's the way it's being treated. Anyone who breeds dogs needs to do so responsibly. When a breed or a crossbreed such as many of the designers become popular, many people get into breeding them solely for profit. No thought is put into what is being produced. They advertise them as breeds, which is wrong. They're mutts. Mutts is not a bad thing, don't get me wrong. You simply can't call a f1 generation crossbreed a breed. Papillons are a breed because they've been around hundreds of years. Their pedigree is many generations of papillons. If I breed two papillons, the puppies will be papillons. A Puggle is not a breed because there is no standard for a Puggle. They vary in size, temperament, look, etc. The ancestry is pug qand beagle, not puggle. If breeders worked towards a standard for a Puggle in some time, it might be a breed, but it is not right now. It's false advertising to call them a breed, it's right to call them a hybrid. It's also wrong to say that f1 labradoodles are non shedding and hypoallergenic. Most are not. Some breeders are breeding multiple generation crosses for this, but your average ones are not. They sell these dogs as hypo allergenic when in fact they will be exactly the same as your everyday dog for allergy sufferers.

I honestly don't really care what people breed (purebred, mutt) as long as they do so responsibly. If someone crossed any breeds responsibly, I'd have no problem with them. They need to do make sure they breed healthy animals, and all that other stuff I've previously said. Hybrids shouldn't be marketed as a 'new breed' nor should they be bred and sold for profit. There are bad breeders in both the purebred and non purebred dog world. The problem with designers is that the vast majority of them are not good breeders. I advocate responsibilty when breeding dogs.

I personally love my purebreds and I'm sure I'll be called a purebred snob for that. Ah well... I love my mutts too.

EDIT: And a good conformation breeder breeds for health and temperament before anything else. I'd never breed a dog with a bad temperament or one with a genetic disease no matter how successful it was in the show ring.

[Laurelin]

What's the difference between a designer dog and a mutt? Generally, a mutt is of uncertain ancestry. A designer dog has documented purebred ancestry, and one knows for sure what it is. The ACHC is the leading registry for designer dogs. (courtesy of dogbreedinfo.com)


For those of you that insist on calling a "designer" dog a mutt...you really should research FACTS before posting opinions on the subject. And your so-called "purebred" dogs are nothing more than inbred anymore. Breeding sisters and brothers, moms and sons....now THAT makes a really appealing dog. Thats why most of them are as dumb as a box of rocks and completely untrainable. It's no different than inbreeding humans. There are going to be serious reprocussions in the long run. Hmmm - give me a so called "mutt" anyday. Oh and yes - I have a Chion - for those of you that are uneducated about your breeds - that is a Chihuahua/Papillon mix.

Okay, so.... I had a dog I knew as a 'mutt', a 'mongrel', 'mix', whatever. He was out of an AKC registered GSD and an AKC registered Golden. Does that make him a designer breed? Wait.. he was free... so I guess that makes him just a mutt since we didn't pay an arm and a leg for him? Or maybe since it was an unplanned breeding he's no longer a designer dog? But you said you just had to know for sure it's ancestry- which we did. That's what I call a mixed breed or a hybrid because it has more than one breed. Your reasoning is very flawed here. So if we'd have gotten Shack as a 'Golden Shepherd' instead of a GSD/Golden x when we got him, he'd magically not be a mutt anymore? When we had him we'd always proudly say he was a GSD/Golden x. He wasn't a breed, he was a hybrid. I don't see why designer dog owners can't understand this. It's not a bad thing to have a hybrid, but it's wrong to call them a breed. He was a gorgeous dog and always got compliments. He was smart and wonderful in just about every way. (Except his hips)

And thank you so much for calling my purebreds as dumb as rocks and untrainable. My papillons and their relatives have all excelled at obedience and agility. They're probably the smartest dogs I've ever owned. Oh wait... they're just stupid inbred purebreds, so I suppose this just can't be right.

A Chion is still a hybrid, not a breed, so I can't really be uneducated about my breeds can I? It's another misuse of the word 'breed'.

People need to seriously read articles about linebreeding before they start the whole 'all linebreeding is bad' arguement.

[rabbitsarebetter]

HA! i so agree with you!
:)

[FoxyWench]

i love the fact that people still call them HYBIRDS and use the whole hybrid vigor excuse...

they are NOT hybrids a hybrid is 2 different genuses ie a LION and a TIGER, a DONKEY and a HORSE...they are the same family but completly different genuses.
Dogs no matter what their breed are the same genus, so to breed 2 dogs you dont get a HYBIRD you get a mix...
so the hybrid vigour thing kinda falls short.

The other issue with HYBRID VIGOR is most hybirds are BORN STERILE, nature is strange, if its soooo great to be a hybrid and has soooo mnay positives, why does nature herself make them sterile?! a Liger is ALWAYS sterlie, as is a tigon (lion x tigers) as are jackasses, ect.

Now that being said, a desighner dog is simply an overpriced mutt. why pay $1000's of dollars for a dog that 99% of the time has no health testing and will more than likely have the genetic problems of both dogs...
lets take the puggle.
mix a breed with a high scent/hunt drive with back problems, with a short muzzled dog with breathign problems and back issues...
you get a dog with a high sniff drive and a nose that cant handle it!
the Doodles, created to be none shedding, half shed like whatever their crossed with the other half have the poodle coat...
yeah great idea there...
the problem with desighner mutts is your paying big bucks for a dog you have no idea how its gonna turn out as an adult!

purbred dogs from RESPONSIBLE RESPECTABLE breeders dont cost that kind of money BECAUSE THEIR PUREBRED, but intstead because of the vast array of health testing, certification ect.

ive YET to meet a "desighner" mutt breeder who does any kind of parental health testing.

but its an old argument, there will always be people on both sides of this weary fence, and unless we can rid the world of over glamourized back yard breeders and puppy mills produceing ANY dogs (mixed or not) there will always be the problems such "breeders" bring with them.

[muggsies16]

I just say this, I love my dog for who he is, purebred or not.

We had him fixed right away, so :) he's a purebred. It's about loving the dogs, and not over populating them. Mixed, designer or purebreds. Just my feelings here!:)

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

Hmm...well, I didn't really read all of this, and please correct me where you see error. I really want to be educated about all of this overpopulation, etc. And about dogs in general, mixed or purebred.

The way I see it...whether the dog is purebred or not...you're looking at an irresponsible breeder, and a responsible one. Some people will disagree in saying that anyone who breeds a mix, is irresponsible. I can't agree with that at this point...but if someone has a good point to make about it, I really want to hear it. In my own eyes, a responsible breeder will...

1. Test their dogs
2. Take back ANY puppy at ANY time, to help prevent more shelter dogs
3. Put health, temperment, and quality, before all else when choosing mates.

And I believe that you can accomplish this with a mix, or a purebreed. Some will disagree and say that only dogs who are shown, with correct conformation should be bred. I do agree. *To a Point* I do somewhat see what the people who believe this are getting at....why breed a dog, if it can't perform what it was orignially bred to do? The thing is....only few dog breeds actually still perform what they were originally bred to do....Sure, we still have hunting dogs. And that's great if they can do their job the way they should. But how many dogs in the "hound" group, do you really see out there hunting, as opposed to the ones that, although bred right, are just house dogs? The average household wants a little Terrier as a loving house pet. Not so they can diminish their rodent problem. The point I'm really trying to make, is if people breed a litter of mixes, and take responsibility for it just like the owner of a purebred litter would, what is it hurting? They aren't adding to population. Not if they are a responsible breeder. A breeder of purebreds (that is responsible) will take back any puppy, at any time. If the breeder of a mixed litter does this, is he still adding to over population? If a breeder of purebreeds gets his dogs OFA, CERF, (etc) tested, people check that off their list as a responsible breeder (of course, there is more to consider). But if a breeder of mixes tests his dogs, is he still considered irresponsible? I'm not trying to throw a can of gasoline in this fire....I honestly want answers. I want to learn about what others have to say on this. I have more questions, but I'll ask them as they arise in conversation. :)

[chinchow]

I haven't read this whole thread, so where it's at now, I'm not too sure.

I do not agree with purposeful mixed breeding. These dogs are not contributing anything that a beautiful shelter dog isn't capable of. The breeders are tugging on the heartstrings and wallets of uneducated people, and it's just plain wrong. If a person cannot find a breed to suit them, or a dog in rescue to suit them, then their standards are too high to own a dog, and nothing is going to be completely satisfactory for them.

The claims made by these designer dog breeders are sky high and out of reach, and the fact that if you challenge them, and own a purebred, that you are automatically a purebred snob, should tell you something about their practices and ethics in itself. I have been called a purebred snob countless times by people who think I despise mixed breeds. I've owned many mixes in my life, and I loved them...but I did not buy them from breeders who advertised them as "cute, cuddley, and ready for xmas" and I knew what I was getting into. If you go on message boards lately, many people are asking for help with these dogs, and many many vets are commenting on unstable temperaments. The aim that these breeders are going for has not been reached, and some of these designer breeds have been around for 30 years or more. That says something to me, that these long time breeders still have not acheived what they were looking for. Perhaps, it's because what they were looking for was in the purebreds themselves all along.

I dread the day I have to see my beloved breeds subjected to this. Someone wanting a low-shedding dog with an aloof temperament. It wouldn't make sense either. People don't think before they act, they just think "cute cuddley puppies". Not to mention, many of these small dogs (example,. the "teddy bear dog") grow up looking like lhasas or shih-tzus, so what's the point? These people are buying for looks anyway for the most part, when a problem comes along, they don't want to deal with it. These are the types of people who do not deserve to own dogs.

[muggsies16]

The way I look at it is this. Some people just want a dog as a companion as I do. My husband died and I needed a freind. The kids did the research for me, and found the right dog.

There are a lot of dogs out there, just make sure that you find the right breeder, no matter mut or purebred.

Just do your research first.

The thing about this is, I have a differant out look than that of my neighbour, she can't change the way I think any differant than I can change the way she thinks. Just my personal input.

[rabbitsarebetter]

but like what was said before...
when have you seen/heard/found a REPTIBLE mixed breed dog breeder? so they may have loads of health and temperment problems

[muggsies16]

Sorry, I can not answer that one. I wish I could. I know that Mugs, is getting up in age, and will be buying another dog. When the time comes, I and the kids will use just as much caution then as we did when we bought Mugs.

We, just need to be careful not to feed, the wrong individuals. Do you remember, the song : HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW"? We'll it again is up to us not to go to the wrong person and buy the wrong dog. So if the red flag jumps up listen too it.and walk away! Just talking from experiance of the ages.

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

Thanks for the info so far. Rabbitsarebetter- I agree. I've yet to see a reputable mixed breeder. But....are they out there?

[princess_poppy]

I am tired of defending my choice in dog mixed breed or designer or whatever you want to call it. Hi I am new to this forum and I have an adult female puggle, her name is Lola. Before you judge me, I also am a proud owner of a 4yr old beagle mix that I rescued from the shelter, his name is Ronny. Yes, both of my dogs are fixed and I have no intention what so ever to breed. I adopted Ronny first and was told by the shelter that he had been temperament tested and everything. Later on I found out that couldn't have been true because he is extremely dog aggressive (to the point that he will turn on me). He was found as a stray so my guess is that he was attacked by several other dogs while living on the streets. I take him to a trainer and I work with him everyday to manage his aggression but he can still be unpredictable, however I refuse to put him down. I did learn that if he gets to know the dog over a period of time he no longer will be aggressive toward the dog. Feeling bad that he can't socialize normally with other dogs I decided to get another small dog that he could get to know and socialize with. I did some research on small dogs; I was looking for something half his size with a laid back temperament. I knew that getting him to accept it at first would be hard, that it had to be a puppy. I made the hard decision not to adopt from a shelter because I wanted to know exactly what I was getting. I didn't want to take the chance of ending up with two dogs with issues, plus they didn't have any puppies let alone small breed pug puppies. So I went to a pug breeder who also happen to have puggles, I picked a puggle because it was cheaper than the pug but would still have the right body type and temperament I was looking for. She is now an adult and is one of the best dogs I have ever owned. Yes she is trained, no she is not ugly or weird looking, and yes I knew what I was getting myself into because I know about beagles and I researched the pug. Every time I see my dogs play together I do not regret my decision for a moment, regardless of what you may think of me. Many like to put this mix down or single it out because it's what some people like to call a "designer dog" without even knowing what it's like to personally own one. I personally own one and will tell they are just like any other mixed breed or purebred-they are great dogs if they fit what you’re looking for in a dog. They are extremely affectionate, very trainable, some are vocal but mine is only vocal in play, they are very active (mine is great at agility). It's true they like to dig but that’s not an uncommon activity for dogs. I support and advocate shelter adoptions but in my personal case I felt that buying from a breeder was the best option due to Ronny's issues. I would like to be a part of a dog forum that isn't quick to judge me, call me irresponsible, ignorant etc. just because I own a mix that some like to call a "designer dog". I hope this could be that forum and I also hope I haven't fueled the fire on this huge feud because that was not my intention.

we have nothing against the dogs just the people who perposfully breed mutts. We love nearly all dogs, mutts or purebreds

[SiNNiK]

this was an ad that was in the dallas craigslist, crazy stuff.

*Start of Ad*
Looking for border collie/staffordshire cross

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reply to: comm-234446436@craigslist.org
Date: 2006-11-13, 7:23PM CST


If anyone knows where I could find one I would greatly appreciate the lead... I know they are bred fairly popularly for flyball teams, so if you are part of a flyball team and might know someone who has a litter, I'd take a "pet quality" dog as I'm not looking to compete...

Anyways, any leads would be great,
Thanks!
*End of Ad*

[Jessiep]

I'm new here and searched for "puggle" to try to get and idea of there were any owners on here. I am not suprised to see that this mix brings up issues.


Let me say this- not all "designer dog" owners are irresponsible puppy mill supporters. We actually have been researching what type of dog to get for nearly 6 months, we were going to get a pug but were concerned that purebreds are often overbred and can have health issues inherrant in the breed. By getting a mutt, even if it is a designer mutt, we thought we might be able to avoid some health issues. It has always been my personal experience that mixed breeds have fewer health issues.

We researched the temperment of a wide variety of dogs and selected what we thought would be a good fit for us. I enjoy the intelligence he gets from his pug side and the tracking and stubborness he gets from he beagle side. We had a good idea of what we were getting into and actually had no idea the breed was some "designer" thing, just thought it was a mixed breed (silly me, I know)...

I have no regrets and hope I find that you are an accepting bunch, even with my designer mutt. I understand the concern for people getting a dog as an accessory but I highly doubt those people are going to be on a dog forum trying to learn how to love their pup better. :D

[Dulce Pit Bull]

this is just sad. why advertise a mutt? why mix 2 breeds together and add to overpopulation?


Why add to the overpopulation? Aren't you a breeder??? I mean, I'm by no means trying to be rude, or step on anyones toes. :)

[bubbatd]

I haven't waded through all the posts , but I'm sure someone must have suggest Petfinder to adopt a Pug/beagle mix. I'd NEVER buy through a breeder..... why encourage them to keep on breeding this mix.

[Jessiep]

I haven't waded through all the posts , but I'm sure someone must have suggest Petfinder to adopt a Pug/beagle mix. I'd NEVER buy through a breeder..... why encourage them to keep on breeding this mix.

Let me play devil's advocate here and ask- why encourage ANY breeding while there are dogs and puppies in shelters?

[Dulce Pit Bull]

Let me play devil's advocate here and ask- why encourage ANY breeding while there are dogs and puppies in shelters?

EXACTLY :rolleyes: It's like..take a hint! Go to your local shelter, and I want you to look into a homeless dogs eyes and say "I breed dogs like you"

I know that might not make sense to a lot of people, but it does to me.

[Dulce Pit Bull]

I'm new here and searched for "puggle" to try to get and idea of there were any owners on here. I am not suprised to see that this mix brings up issues.


Let me say this- not all "designer dog" owners are irresponsible puppy mill supporters. We actually have been researching what type of dog to get for nearly 6 months, we were going to get a pug but were concerned that purebreds are often overbred and can have health issues inherrant in the breed. By getting a mutt, even if it is a designer mutt, we thought we might be able to avoid some health issues. It has always been my personal experience that mixed breeds have fewer health issues.

We researched the temperment of a wide variety of dogs and selected what we thought would be a good fit for us. I enjoy the intelligence he gets from his pug side and the tracking and stubborness he gets from he beagle side. We had a good idea of what we were getting into and actually had no idea the breed was some "designer" thing, just thought it was a mixed breed (silly me, I know)...

I have no regrets and hope I find that you are an accepting bunch, even with my designer mutt. I understand the concern for people getting a dog as an accessory but I highly doubt those people are going to be on a dog forum trying to learn how to love their pup better. :D

It's not THIS mix that brings up issues, it's all mixes and all breeders that brings up issues.

[bubbatd]

Some want a pure breed from scratch .... a puppy . My daughter was raised with Golden Retrievers .... lost her Golden of my breeding and her adopted Lab. She wanted a Golden puppy to grow up with her 5 1/2 Nash . I can understand that . After months of research she found a breeder through our local Golden club. " Seger " is now 4 weeks old and I'll have puppy breath before Christmas ! Now I have to get her to rejoin Chaz for pictures !!

[AnimalLoverCatRescuer]

I'm new here and searched for "puggle" to try to get and idea of there were any owners on here. I am not suprised to see that this mix brings up issues.


Let me say this- not all "designer dog" owners are irresponsible puppy mill supporters. We actually have been researching what type of dog to get for nearly 6 months, we were going to get a pug but were concerned that purebreds are often overbred and can have health issues inherrant in the breed. By getting a mutt, even if it is a designer mutt, we thought we might be able to avoid some health issues. It has always been my personal experience that mixed breeds have fewer health issues.

We researched the temperment of a wide variety of dogs and selected what we thought would be a good fit for us. I enjoy the intelligence he gets from his pug side and the tracking and stubborness he gets from he beagle side. We had a good idea of what we were getting into and actually had no idea the breed was some "designer" thing, just thought it was a mixed breed (silly me, I know)...

I have no regrets and hope I find that you are an accepting bunch, even with my designer mutt. I understand the concern for people getting a dog as an accessory but I highly doubt those people are going to be on a dog forum trying to learn how to love their pup better. :D

I am going to chime in here and say that you do make a good point. And that would be a whole different story if the vast majority breeders of "designer" mutts did any sort of testing and health certifications of the animals they breed. And I am sure there are a few that do and since you want to avoid health issues so much (and that's is totally understandable) then you need to do everything possible to find this very small group of breeders that do.

If you find the breeder online, with tons and tons of dogs, mass produced basically, all dressed up in fancy cute cloths run fast from them. NO MATTER HOW GUARENTEED THEY SAY THEY ARE!!

You want to look for someone who breeds one breed, maybe two, only has one litter at a time, can show you all the health screenings that have been done and the entire history of the pup you are interested in, has health guarentees, neuter contracts, keeps in touch with you or encourages you to keep in touch with them, has the pups in a clean house, very friendly and sociable, etc. Also they shouldn't even start breeding their dogs until they are about 2 years old because that is when most of the health testing for genetic conditions can be done. If the people you buy from have bitches under 1 year or even 1.5 years, that is a red flag most people don't pay any attention to.

So if you search and search for a breeder of designer dogs that fits all these requirements then you can better guarentee the dog to be healthy. Don't make the mistake and assume that if a dog is a mixed breed designer then it won't have the health issues that the pug and the beagle have. If the parents have not been properly bred and tested, it is a GREATER risk that they WILL have these issues you would like to avoid. It is almost guarenteed that there will be problems. Many of the bad breeders are good at hiding it, but they will even just breed the poor bitches on every heat starting with the very first heat cycle, never test or anything and sometimes they aren't even watched while in ehat and just mate with any male, even possibly inbred. So mutt or not, there will be problems in this case. Don't be fooled.

Does that make sense? If there were a couple designer breeders out there who did it "right" then it would be a whole different story. There are some who do, you just have to find them. The ones who don't are just taking over the breeding world because most people are uninformed about searching for a breeder.

It is bad enough that designer breeders are mostly horrible and just looking to make money, it is worse that the people who buy from them are fooled into thinking they are great by their website or their health "guarentees". Most people don't ask for proof, they go on the word of the breeder.

[AnimalLoverCatRescuer]

Sorry to write an essay there, but bottom line is not to just research the mixed breeds of dogs you are interested in, but MOST IMPORTANTLY research the breeder you are buying from. Goes for any breed of any animal, pure or mixed. Any research and info you learn and all the guarentees in the world will be shot out the window if you purchase from a breeder who doesn't know or care what they are doing, which can be cleverly disguised. ASK FOR PROOF OF EVERYTHING THE BREEDER SAYS. And at the slightest unsure feeling find a different breeder.

[SSBGSCKSKLDLSW]

I would have nothing against breeding mixbred dogs if it was done properly (parents got all the hip, elbow, temperment checks ect.) and there weren't homeless animals in shelters. Unless you plan on having a show quality pooch then adopt one that needs a home. It's not hard to find one that will be perfect for your home.