TooDogCrazy
September 10th, 2006, 08:06 PM
I've read many articles about the designer dogs and do agree with the basic message thats behind them and why there is such an outrage from true dog lovers .... because the public is being mislead about what they are getting, their mistaken believe that the dogs they are getting are better than the average dog found in shelters all over the country ... there just so much HYPE now that its padding the pockets of many disreputable people and of course, some of these dogs may end up as well in shelters, from people who bought them (impulsively) and found out differently once the dog started to grow up.
I'm sure there are many (ignorant) new owners who were lead to believe something that may/may not actually happen (no shedding, etc.) ... but I do think (just like with show dogs) that if a person were a smart consumer, they would do their homework and insure that if they spend more than $25 on an animal, that they'd want to see what type of background the parents had, what health testing was done; how much genetics the breeders really got involved in and the environment in which the puppy was raised, etc. To educate themselves on what they were getting into, what its really like to raise a dog, etc. No matter how much you spend, or how little, that is something that should be important to you. There are some hybrid breeders who are concerned with health and genetics (those are in the minority of course) but they can be found if you look. Because ALL dogs started as mixes and crossed with something else, I don't like having the reverse prejudice against these new mixed breeds.
As well, there are just as many dogs from "show homes" that end up in shelters because people bought the dogs for all the wrong reasons -- cuteness and naiveity. There are many, many show people who sold their dogs on open registration to many of these now deplorable backyard breeders -- they had to come from somewhere -- and its a vicious cycle. But to say that just hybrid breeders are the world's worst evil -- well, I would have to disagree with that. I know just as many show breeders who SAY they do health testing (but they don't) ... who SAY they don't sell their dogs on open registration, but they do. Who SAY they will take their dogs back if you cannot keep, but they don't really want them back either.
I don't think there is anything people can really do to stop this visous cycle, except education. Of course, not financially supporting the true backyard breeders would help "dry up the market" and I think that is beginning to happen -- in some breeds. But people are sly. Some of the best show dog homes that have impeccable reputations are just as "slick" at covering themselves and I've been taken twice, and I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about the show dogs that I got.
I just recently got two "doodle" dogs -- why? because I wanted a mid-sized dog and frankly just preferred the "weird" and comical look of the two that I got. They make me smile just looking at them ...and as I've loved every breed coming & going, if they don't turn out to be pro-poodle or pro-other mix, it doesn't matter in the least to me. If they shed? so what! With my St. Bernards, I think I can handle some more stray hair around. So I didn't get these two under any misrepresentations by the breeders at all -- I just got them because I wanted a medium sized dog, and if they DO happen to shed a little less than my Saints, well, even better. I know enough about labs to know they're high energy and don't calm down for 4-5 years and I'm o.k. with that too. I didn't choose either of these two because I was naive or just out of cuteness alone. I really did CHOOSE these two because they were just what I wanted at this time in my life. As I'm now getting older, having to physically take care of another St. Bernard puppy is more than I could bear right now. (My dogs live indoors with me, and as such, they get bathed ALOT)
As for why choosing these two vs. a mutt from the pound (and I don't like to use that word on any dog as it has an insulting tone to it and I don't want to insult those at the pound either!) ....I don't think they know they are mutts, they just know they want to be someone's "one and only" .... but in our small town, we only have 2 rescue groups and both of those are VERY strange organizations. Their policies are so strict, that I can't see how they are benefitting the animals. Many people in this town feel this way, but both groups have a monopoly and many people have gotten disenchanted with their missions and don't support them anymore. As an example, they rarely let someone, who has other animals, adopt one of their animals. Another issue is that they make you feel like a criminal if you say you work during the day, etc. .....they woudl rather keep a cat in a crate for the rest of its life vs. trying to see if it can work in a home with dogs .... that kind of thing. Their rigid and inflexible beliefs cause many people to just look elsewhere. I just like shaggy, strange looking dogs, so I did find a breeder who had some goldendoodles. That started my search ....and I didn't pay a huge fortune for either of my poodle mix dogs (I was SHOCKED at what I found on the internet, when starting to look for a "doodle" mix dog===absolutely SHOCKED at the prices being asked for these mixed breed dogs). People sure are suckers, is all I can say!
Anyway, I now have these two and I love them dearly, but I feel like I should be ashamed if someone asks me what kind of dog they are -- I feel like I have to apologize if I say "labradoodle" or "goldendoodle", so I figured out that I didn't feel so badly if I said a poodle mix (thats my story and I'm sticking to it). I just don't like feeling guilty because I got these two puppies who are very near & dear to my heart -- I just like it that they're so cuddly & cute. I've had (and still do) have large, large dogs (St. Bernards) and while I was showing in conformation, I had extremely smaller dogs (Havanese) ....both breeds being extremely expensive ....and I never felt more important or prestigous with either of those breeds, but I certainly never felt GUILTY about having them either ....so why am I feeling like I have to apologize for these two?
I'm wondering if others who have doodle mix dogs feel the same way -- like we're criminals because we chose these type of dogs? Mind you, I've been "taken" by crooks in the show dog world (at almost every turn) and I don't feel that way by this woman asking a small amount for what she put into the litter. Nothing more. The local dog rescue groups asks almost the same thing as what I paid for one of these dogs, so price has nothing to do with it.
I'm having a hard time making sense of all of this -- and I can see both sides of the coin too -- I don't agree with any breeder making money off their animals. And while the elitist show dog people like to pretend that money is not their highest priority, it definitely is with the majority that I met and dealt with. And I'm not naive about breeds and I certainly don't believe anything told to me, I've researched certain breeds for years & years, asked around, met dozens of breeders, got recommendations from others, etc. and still ....the bottom line was the "bottom line" and thats very disheartening.
Hmm, I guess I'm just venting out loud, but I would be interested in talking to other doodle-owners if they might have experienced some of these things that I mention.
Anita
Rochester, MN
I'm sure there are many (ignorant) new owners who were lead to believe something that may/may not actually happen (no shedding, etc.) ... but I do think (just like with show dogs) that if a person were a smart consumer, they would do their homework and insure that if they spend more than $25 on an animal, that they'd want to see what type of background the parents had, what health testing was done; how much genetics the breeders really got involved in and the environment in which the puppy was raised, etc. To educate themselves on what they were getting into, what its really like to raise a dog, etc. No matter how much you spend, or how little, that is something that should be important to you. There are some hybrid breeders who are concerned with health and genetics (those are in the minority of course) but they can be found if you look. Because ALL dogs started as mixes and crossed with something else, I don't like having the reverse prejudice against these new mixed breeds.
As well, there are just as many dogs from "show homes" that end up in shelters because people bought the dogs for all the wrong reasons -- cuteness and naiveity. There are many, many show people who sold their dogs on open registration to many of these now deplorable backyard breeders -- they had to come from somewhere -- and its a vicious cycle. But to say that just hybrid breeders are the world's worst evil -- well, I would have to disagree with that. I know just as many show breeders who SAY they do health testing (but they don't) ... who SAY they don't sell their dogs on open registration, but they do. Who SAY they will take their dogs back if you cannot keep, but they don't really want them back either.
I don't think there is anything people can really do to stop this visous cycle, except education. Of course, not financially supporting the true backyard breeders would help "dry up the market" and I think that is beginning to happen -- in some breeds. But people are sly. Some of the best show dog homes that have impeccable reputations are just as "slick" at covering themselves and I've been taken twice, and I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about the show dogs that I got.
I just recently got two "doodle" dogs -- why? because I wanted a mid-sized dog and frankly just preferred the "weird" and comical look of the two that I got. They make me smile just looking at them ...and as I've loved every breed coming & going, if they don't turn out to be pro-poodle or pro-other mix, it doesn't matter in the least to me. If they shed? so what! With my St. Bernards, I think I can handle some more stray hair around. So I didn't get these two under any misrepresentations by the breeders at all -- I just got them because I wanted a medium sized dog, and if they DO happen to shed a little less than my Saints, well, even better. I know enough about labs to know they're high energy and don't calm down for 4-5 years and I'm o.k. with that too. I didn't choose either of these two because I was naive or just out of cuteness alone. I really did CHOOSE these two because they were just what I wanted at this time in my life. As I'm now getting older, having to physically take care of another St. Bernard puppy is more than I could bear right now. (My dogs live indoors with me, and as such, they get bathed ALOT)
As for why choosing these two vs. a mutt from the pound (and I don't like to use that word on any dog as it has an insulting tone to it and I don't want to insult those at the pound either!) ....I don't think they know they are mutts, they just know they want to be someone's "one and only" .... but in our small town, we only have 2 rescue groups and both of those are VERY strange organizations. Their policies are so strict, that I can't see how they are benefitting the animals. Many people in this town feel this way, but both groups have a monopoly and many people have gotten disenchanted with their missions and don't support them anymore. As an example, they rarely let someone, who has other animals, adopt one of their animals. Another issue is that they make you feel like a criminal if you say you work during the day, etc. .....they woudl rather keep a cat in a crate for the rest of its life vs. trying to see if it can work in a home with dogs .... that kind of thing. Their rigid and inflexible beliefs cause many people to just look elsewhere. I just like shaggy, strange looking dogs, so I did find a breeder who had some goldendoodles. That started my search ....and I didn't pay a huge fortune for either of my poodle mix dogs (I was SHOCKED at what I found on the internet, when starting to look for a "doodle" mix dog===absolutely SHOCKED at the prices being asked for these mixed breed dogs). People sure are suckers, is all I can say!
Anyway, I now have these two and I love them dearly, but I feel like I should be ashamed if someone asks me what kind of dog they are -- I feel like I have to apologize if I say "labradoodle" or "goldendoodle", so I figured out that I didn't feel so badly if I said a poodle mix (thats my story and I'm sticking to it). I just don't like feeling guilty because I got these two puppies who are very near & dear to my heart -- I just like it that they're so cuddly & cute. I've had (and still do) have large, large dogs (St. Bernards) and while I was showing in conformation, I had extremely smaller dogs (Havanese) ....both breeds being extremely expensive ....and I never felt more important or prestigous with either of those breeds, but I certainly never felt GUILTY about having them either ....so why am I feeling like I have to apologize for these two?
I'm wondering if others who have doodle mix dogs feel the same way -- like we're criminals because we chose these type of dogs? Mind you, I've been "taken" by crooks in the show dog world (at almost every turn) and I don't feel that way by this woman asking a small amount for what she put into the litter. Nothing more. The local dog rescue groups asks almost the same thing as what I paid for one of these dogs, so price has nothing to do with it.
I'm having a hard time making sense of all of this -- and I can see both sides of the coin too -- I don't agree with any breeder making money off their animals. And while the elitist show dog people like to pretend that money is not their highest priority, it definitely is with the majority that I met and dealt with. And I'm not naive about breeds and I certainly don't believe anything told to me, I've researched certain breeds for years & years, asked around, met dozens of breeders, got recommendations from others, etc. and still ....the bottom line was the "bottom line" and thats very disheartening.
Hmm, I guess I'm just venting out loud, but I would be interested in talking to other doodle-owners if they might have experienced some of these things that I mention.
Anita
Rochester, MN