What Is It With Designer Dogs?

[SquishTheBunny]

[QUOTE=vacation1;6557712]
The “designer dogs are AWFUL” thing is kinda a recurring topic on any animal forum, but I have to confess, I’m getting less sure this is accurate. Yeah, I hate the people who randomly mix random cute dogs just to make a buck and sell them online. But is it any worse to create endless doodles as family pets (for which there is at least an endless need and a less-than-endless supply these days) than to create “working” mixes which have a tiny market? I can’t get over the people who created Border Jacks, just to excel at agility. WTF were they thinking?

And re: the argument that people should just be going to a shelter and rescuing a doomed dog? It’s getting harder and harder to find anything in a shelter that isn’t a pit bull or a Rottweiler. Most people shouldn’t own either, and they know it.[/QUOTE]

I think they can make great pets. But, they do not need a price tag of what they are currently selling for. Unless you can prove to me that there are generations of good hips, eyes, elbows, etc. etc. then the $2500+ pricetag is just rediculous.

[7HL]

@lovey1121;6557679

7L, congrats on your pup! But you know we need photos of all puppies:yes:

“Howard” - puppy
“Earlene” 3 yr old Toller

[kdow]

[QUOTE=vacation1;6557712]
And re: the argument that people should just be going to a shelter and rescuing a doomed dog? It’s getting harder and harder to find anything in a shelter that isn’t a pit bull or a Rottweiler. Most people shouldn’t own either, and they know it.[/QUOTE]

Except that a heck of a lot of dogs that are labelled ‘pit mix’ or ‘rottie mix’ in shelters actually aren’t. People are notoriously horrible at identifying the breeds in a mixed breed dog. If you go by the dog rather than the label, many of those dogs might in fact be perfectly good pets.

[danceronice]

[QUOTE=7HL;6557809]
“Howard” - puppy
“Earlene” 3 yr old Toller[/QUOTE]

Oooooooh…puppy! And I see some Corgi color there for sure, even with the beagle face. (I have a Corgi, my parents have a beagle, I’m not sure I’d want one with both-for starters, not enough food in the Western Hemisphere…)

And is a Toller a Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever?

[ex-racer_owner]

We had what was believed to be a GSD/ Malamute or Husky/ Lab mix that we got from the local shelter. He had the general body type of a GSD, the coat of a Husky/ Malamute, and the ears of a lab. He pretty much had personality traits of all three breeds. We affectionately referred to him as our “Polish Couch Dog”, lol!

Getting back to the comments about what one can find at the their local shelters, most everything around here is a pit bull, or rather, Am Staff cross:rolleyes: When my sister got her last dog, as a puppy, from one of the area shelters, he was listed as a pit bull mix, which she and her husband were fine with. As they were leaving with the puppy, one of the staff called out to them, “Have fun with that Akita!”. Apparently someone knew more than they let on at the shelter, because that dog was clearly more Akita than pit bull! That dog also turned out to be a lovely companion to them for 10+ years and is still missed daily.

I myself have definite ideas about horse and dog breeds and which I like, but with cats, I could care less- in fact I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite breed. I’ll take a DSH, or barn cat, any day!

[7HL]

@danceronice;6557883

Oooooooh…puppy! And I see some Corgi color there for sure, even with the beagle face. (I have a Corgi, my parents have a beagle, I’m not sure I’d want one with both-for starters, not enough food in the Western Hemisphere…) There are hints of heeler as well.

And is a Toller a Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever? yes

They get along great.

[pony_baloney]

I saw a program on TV about dogs once, and they said that if dogs were left to their own devices and allowed to breed on their own, eventually all the dogs would look similar to dingos, with a golden coat, longish nose, upright ears and a twisty tail.

I just find it funny that people are willing to shell out big bucks for a mutt. They have no idea which traits from which dog will be more dominant, but it’s cute and has a cute name and may not shed.

I knew a Jug years ago that was a snorty, drooly hyper dog, and very annoying. The doodle dogs I’ve seen just look a bit odd (I think it’s their ears that don’t go with their body). All the homeless dogs on Petfinder just makes me sad, and this fad of designer breeds is just adding to the huge number of them.

[7HL]

“Big bucks for a Mutt”

Breeders that charge high prices for “designer dogs”, all that can be done is no buy.

When rescues & humane leagues charge high prices to “adopt” why are they buying into the hype? When we looked at finding a puppy or younger dog, we looked at rescues. Starting prices was between $300-$400. There were all kinds of excuses on why, from want people to show a committment to they needed the money to survive.

[SquishTheBunny]

[QUOTE=7HL;6558312]
“Big bucks for a Mutt”

Breeders that charge high prices for “designer dogs”, all that can be done is no buy.

When rescues & humane leagues charge high prices to “adopt” why are they buying into the hype? When we looked at finding a puppy or younger dog, we looked at rescues. Starting prices was between $300-$400. There were all kinds of excuses on why, from want people to show a committment to they needed the money to survive.[/QUOTE]

I think $250-450 is standard for a rescue. The reason why is that spay/neuter costs, deworming and vaccine costs add up to about that amount.

We recently had a rescue spend $5000 on a surgery (liver shunt) on one of their dogs. They wont get that back, his adoption fee would be the same as any others.

But yes, there are some “rescues” that take pets from shelters in mexico for $25 and try to adopt them out here for $500, often already spayed/neutered/vaccinated in mexico. But, there are a lot of good rescues out there too.

[maunder]

I have former puppy mill purebred Pekingese that I adopted from a rescue. Her rescue fee was $275. That may seem like a high price, but all of her veterinary care information came with her and the cost to rescue her and foster her was well beyond the $275.00 adoption fee.

I know there are rescues that want to price hike cute dogs, but at least I know in Ting-a-Ling’s case that I got a deal. She’d been spayed, a hernia repaired, her teeth cleaned and had been updated on all shots. She’s then been fostered out for several months until lucky me came along. She’s a delightful little dog who has blossomed after living her first five years in a puppy mill hell in Pennsylvania.

[HenryisBlaisin]

I have two issues with the designed mutts. First off, as many have said, most of them (yes, I know there are a few careful breeders out there, but as I’ve said before, a good breeder strives to produce generations of dogs which better the breed…there is no breed here, so, not sure the term “responsible breeder” can apply when there is no breed standard to strive for.) are bred willy-nilly just for a cute name and a high price tag.

Second, I find it snobbish and ridiculous that people will buy a designed dog at a high price but would never, ever, have a “mutt” or a “mixed breed” or even a “cross.” Get off your high horse and call a spade a spade. You have a mutt. It isn’t a “doodle” or a “cocka” or a “peeka” or anything else. It’s a mixed breed dog. Stop being such a snob and admit it. Mixed breeds can be great dogs, but some people will take one who got the worst of every part of the cross, has a lousy temperament, and health problems over a decent mixed breed because it has a “name.” The whole designer dog market just comes across as so snobby…get over yourselves already!

My not-so-designer shelter mutt is the BEST dog I have ever had. He came from the county pound. He is an excellent dog in part because I took the time and effort to train him and make him one…it doesn’t happen overnight, no matter what the mix is. He looks to have some Golden in him and a little Chow or spitz…maybe I should call him a “Chowder?”

[maunder]

[QUOTE=HenryisBlaisin’;6558457]

My not-so-designer shelter mutt is the BEST dog I have ever had. He came from the county pound. He is an excellent dog in part because I took the time and effort to train him and make him one…it doesn’t happen overnight, no matter what the mix is. He looks to have some Golden in him and a little Chow or spitz…maybe I should call him a “Chowder?”[/QUOTE]

I think a Chowder is a great name for him! :lol:

[red_mares]

[QUOTE=SquishTheBunny;6558371]
We recently had a rescue spend $5000 on a surgery (liver shunt) on one of their dogs. They wont get that back, his adoption fee would be the same as any others.

.[/QUOTE]

Sorry, but spending $5K on vet bills for an unwanted dog is stupid.

[Wayside]

@SquishTheBunny;6558371

I think $250-450 is standard for a rescue. The reason why is that spay/neuter costs, deworming and vaccine costs add up to about that amount.

:yes: I think the adoption fee we paid for Tessa was close to $200, but like you said, she was already spayed, microchipped, and up to date on her shots, so I considered that a really good deal. Plus she was 4 years old, so we knew how big she would get, she has an “adult” personality, and we got lucky and she was 100% housebroken too, which was really nice. IMO, it only makes sense for a rescue/shelter to charge enough to cover some of the most basic and essential vet work.

[EquusArtist]

I teach dog obedience part time where I train with my rott’n boys and I see “oodles”, designer breeds, mutts, whatever you want to call them. The phrase that comes to mind is “a fool and his money is soon parted.”

Someone mentioned that people who buy into the DD craze is a completely different creature than those dog owners here. I have to agree with that. I think what goes on are a bunch of different things here. I think one thing is related to status and “oodles” (especially the little ones) are hot right now. These are the people who lug their oodle around in a purse or in a stroller and the dogs are called “poopsie whoopsie-kins”. Visualize Paris Hilton and her dogs if you will. I think a subcategory of this same reason is that if something costs a crap load of money…it’s higher quality. We all know that is a load of hooey.

I think the 2nd reason we’re seeing this is because the puppy mills have been publicly villanized and the oodle backyard breeder seems to be a good choice as opposed to the pet store pup to this type of dog owner. They see the both of the parents and they think they know what is behind the puppy they are bringing home. Once again they think shelling out $$$$$ for a puppy means it’s good quality.

I think the 3rd reason for the oodles is that myth people buy into that mutts are “more healthy” than pure bred dogs. I also think they might like the idea they are getting into a “breed” at the ground level and they have a better chance to have a dog with “less inbreeding.” Those of us who are into breeding the right way with OFA or CHIC numbers for our dogs or have proven our dogs in the either breed or working rings know that inbreeding isn’t what is done. Line breeding sure…but that has to be done carefully and with much thought to what you’re trying to reinforce with that.

I think the bottom line of the oodles and poos is ignorance. Some people will listen and can be educated as to why the DD aren’t really a great idea. Then there are those other people where “you can’t fix stupid.”

[7HL]

@SquishTheBunny;6558371

I think $250-450 is standard for a rescue. The reason why is that spay/neuter costs, deworming and vaccine costs add up to about that amount.

We recently had a rescue spend $5000 on a surgery (liver shunt) on one of their dogs. They wont get that back, his adoption fee would be the same as any others.

But yes, there are some “rescues” that take pets from shelters in mexico for $25 and try to adopt them out here for $500, often already spayed/neutered/vaccinated in mexico. But, there are a lot of good rescues out there too.

First let me say I live surrounded by puppy mills, private breeders, humane leagues/shelters and rescues. Many do provide medical care, some it’s just minimal. Most breeders do not spay & neuter. Many rescues do not either but require the new owner to do so. Not trying to get into a debate of “rescue” practices, but the prices are high, in many cases they are trying to cover costs more then the dogs expenses.

In my case when we bought our heinz 57 puppy, we paid $100. The puppy had been wormed, nothing more. We were slightly concerned because of location that we might be contibuting to a breeders mistake. It was far from that. It appeared it was to show there was some committment to taking the puppy and to cover some of the person’s expenses.

I perosonally think the hype, designer dogs was originally intended so that the puppies of mistake breedings could find a home. Where my daughter lives in TN she is regularly finding dumped puppies. Designer dogs caught on, now breeders are deliberately crossing breeds.

Unfortunately we are a disposable society.

Howard is doing great and he’s made friends with all the cats in the feral colony we care for. A couple come out just to see him. They exchange head bumps. Our other dog Earlene has taught him the ropes.

[turner4554]

I got my “designer dog” (yorkie cross?) straight from the pound. He was a stray (and I obviously have “sucker” tattooed on my forehead). I almost feel like I’m being judged while walking him because I probably look like someone who bought into the designer dog craze… meanwhile he’s actually what I jokingly refer to as a Discount Dog! :lol:

[SquishTheBunny]

[QUOTE=red mares;6558519]
Sorry, but spending $5K on vet bills for an unwanted dog is stupid.[/QUOTE]

Why are you appologising to me? Rescue wanted to…not my choice.

In this area, people have money. We do see a lot of rescues come through our doors that require substancial amounts of money to fix them. Its not my choice of how they spend their money.

In this case, it was a highly adoptable dog (nice pomeranian cross), not “unwanted”. Owners couldnt afford the surgery and were going to euthanize. They contacted the rescue, which took dog in, treated him and will be rehoming him to a more suitable family.

If you think its stupid, thats fine. I can easily see two sides.

I was simply stating that even though this dog has $5000 put into him (at minimum), he is still not a “purebred” (actually a great example of a designer breed that clearly wasnt selectively bred!) and would never warrant a high dollar purchase or adoption fee. His adoption fee, like all the others at that rescue is $325. Im sure that is a fraction of the cost the original owners bought him for.

Our municipal animal control also treat/fix highly adoptable dogs. So does the humane society. They are not high kill, but will euthanize aggressive or unadoptable dogs. The ones who can be adopted are treated as need be. Locally, there are not a huge volume of strays in this area. I guess its just a “thing” to do here since people have money and there arent thousands in need. I think its really area dependent.

[Guin]

@red mares;6558519

Sorry, but spending $5K on vet bills for an unwanted dog is stupid.

I agree. That “rescue” could have taken care of 10 or 15 otherwise healthy animals for that kind of money. If a “rescue” spends $5000 on one stray dog for surgery instead of helping fifteen others, there’s no way I’d pay them any kind of adoption fee.

[Guin]

“The oodles and poos” :lol::lol::lol::lol: