My input:
1. why spend 550 bucks for a cross when you could have one for much less at the shelter?? Doesnt make much sense at all.
Because it was a cross I wanted, was interested in, and wanted to raise from 8 weeks of age.
2. Mixes and purebreds all have their genetic problems due the gene pool getting smaller with ever litter produced.
I agree...but you see much, much more inbreeding with purebreds.
3. As for dogs being our employees, sorry but this will continue as long as there is a need for it. Dogs are used for search and rescue, drug warrants, explosives, etc. I am training my dog to do what it was bred to do- retrieve waterfowl. Will he be bred - not likely. But I still advocate to positive and responsible continuation of my breed. When he comes to 24 mos of age I will have him tested for eyes and hips, and not for breeding reasons, but for his general health.
That's exactly what I said, with the exception of a few working dogs. Also I'm not saying that we should erradicate pure breeds, I'm not trying to be a puppy hilter here, only that you should be open minded and not so doggy snobby when it comes to mixes.
How they allow for mixes to be tested for OFA and CERF I dont know. What sickens me is that I found out yesterday that there is now a mixed breed registry in the United States. This will cause more puppy mills to be built, as this registry will be making lots of money off of the recent craze of mixes.
In your above quote you say that you will have you dog health tested, for general health....
Asking why they are allowed to be tested is just like saying "Oh that mix has HD...oh well, put it down or let it suffer, it's not worth anything anyways"
This is exactly why they allow health testing for mixes...general health. You want to deny a healthy mix dog? Thats just ignorant. If you went to a foreign country, where you were different, people didn't like you, and hadn't seen people like you before, would you expect to be denied medical testing and medical care just because you were different?
Sorry, but when someone says they bought a cockapoo or maltipoo, or even a labradoodle from a reputable breeder, I cant do much more than shake my head and wonder to myself if youve given used judgement all.
Sorry, but thats just my opinion.
Dixie
Yes I've used good judgement, I went to a reputable breeder, I didn't walk into a petstore, I didn't look for an ad in the paper, or take a puppy from a sign on the side of the road "free dogs" I did research, checked for health, temperment in parents and all the above that the fancy purebred owners do. I got the dog I wanted, and he's wonderful.