[QUOTE=misslissa;3057521]i think the designer breeds have a merit but i don't like that people have stopped breeding pure breed dogs because they think they cost to much to register./QUOTE]

Please explain what you think their merit is?

Is it enough to justify the numerous "designer" breeds that can be found in kill shelters across the country?

Hmmm, I have never thought the paperwork was that bad, nor the DNA testing. I guess if you bred alot, the paperwork would be quite a job, but I don't have more than one litter a year, makes my job a bit easier!;) It doesn't cost that much anyway, at least with the purebreds, one can know the temperament of that breed as an adult, with the mixes they are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get!

I"m looking for another Yorkie, and I've had to wade through all kinds of FOS ads! The latest is a woman who wants 300 dollars for her Yorkie puppies, but they are seven weeks old and THREE POUNDS already! Like I said: FOS. The lady admits that her female Yorkie already had one accidental litter by a neighbors dog. And this time she said: her 10 pound female had coitus with a 14 pound male. And voila! Three pound seven week old YORKIES? I very much doubt it. Perhaps she has Yorkie Cockers, or some such. They were cute, it's just that Toto and I area looking for AKC standard Yorkies. Three to seven pounds full grown. Oh, well. Toto may have passed by the time I find one in my area. So many people are just out to rip you off!

Callie and Toto

Kudos to you for not supporting this "greeter"!:) They very well could be purebred, but far from standard!

I think YT has educated me the most of the pet shop "puppies" coming from puppymills...I stop by this one pet shop in my town every now and then just to look at their puppies...and they often have 8+ pound ten week (so they claim) old Yorkie puppies they say come from reputable breeders (but no I can't have their name...) -- I do spread the word now to those who plan to buy from these pet shops that they are supporting puppy mills - I think I've managed to talk a few out of buying from them...
But I guess one can think of intermixing dog breeds as we wouldn't have our Yorkies today if someone hadn't first started mixing breeds. Every dog is a mutt I guess.
~KC

I probably should have put a little smiley face after that ...every dog is a mutt...

Hmmm.. My dogs are not hyper at all. They are actually real couch potatoes. Infact when people come over to my home they are amazed how calm they are.

Also I have been researching about the theory of mutt/mixed breeds vs purebreds and this came up over and over again that mixed breeds can actually get genetics problems from both breeds they come from. And unfortunetly many unsuspected owners thinking a mixed is better do not get their dogs tested to be sure and could be carring a problem that just not has arised yet or can be passed on to their pups.

(e.g.: However, such a return to the wild is not going to happen, and in spite of assertions that they are healthier than purebreds, crossbred and mixed breed dogs are subject to the same diseases, structural problems, joint dysplasias, allergies, and genetic abnormalities as their blue-blooded cousins. Furthermore, it is more difficult to track diseases in crossbreeds and mixed breeds because these dogs are unlikely to be x-rayed for dysplasia, checked for abnormal thyroid or eye diseases, examined for heart problems, or tested for various autoimmune problems. For example, Golden Retriever-Collie crossbred puppies are susceptible to the diseases that affect the two breeds: hip dysplasia, heart abnormalities, eye problems, etc. The inheritance of structural problems such as hip dysplasia is complex and can multiply through the generations; thus mixed breed puppies in litters from crossbred or mixed breed parents are also potential victims. "Dog Owner's Guide")

Hey, my yorkies heard that!:D They are convinced they are "real people"!:D

I really have problem going to local pounds to see the abandoned dogs, I couldn't face the fact people are doing bad things to them, my heart feels so painful whenever I read/see articles from pounds, every living creatures deserve good life. Let's call me a coward, but I really couldn't take that... My heart feels so painful just reading this thread, my tears are rolling down... I hope all people believe in karma :cry:

[quote=bonbon;3057543]no you are right it is not to justify the number of dogs in shelters but should people stop breeding German Shepards and Labradors because they end up in shelters. my local humane society and pound are full of labs and German shepherds we had so many golden retrievers being turned over that someone started a rescue just for them. I don't think the designer dogs are better then pure breeds but i have meet a lot of the designer dogs in my area and people seem to prefer them for reason like temperament hair type and looks people want a dog who fits into there life style and if one mix can fill that spot be breed or from a shelter i think that is better then buying and abandoning several dogs until you find one that "fits"

Frequently the result is not "cute" either

A girl who lives in my building has a shih tzu / cavalier cross, and I have to say it is the oddest looking creature.

It is the size of a cavalier with the coat of a cavalier and has the face of the shih tzu. Its head and face are also out of proportion with the rest of the body - way to small. It is just looks so, so, strange

Everytime I see her with it, I just wonder - what was someone thinking?

I've had this same discussion on another forum with the exact same arguements. There are a couple of people on there who breed crosses and they use the same excuses that the resulting pups are healthier and better temprments. Funnily enough non of them actually keep any of the pups they breed, one even admits they do it because they get more money from the cross ups than purebreds and would go back to breeding pedigrees when the tide turns the other way again. From pictures posted the bitches used aren't very good examples of either breed, perhaps another reason to produce crosses.
I've seen some terrible crosses advertised too, most recently yorkiexbeagle and this weekend a litter of yorkiexbassetts. Many vets dont help either as some are quite happy to go on screen and extrole the virtues of crosses no doubt thinking it will encourage people to go to shelters to rescue an unwanted dog, instead its encouraging byb and puppy mills to produce stranger and stranger crosses for a public greedy for the next unusual thing.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Also: Just like RemydeHaviland said... sometimes they are not cute!