Designer dogs- does this bother anyone else?

[gidget529]

Originally Posted by Teegy

They'll be breeding them with parrots next and selling them as angel dogs with wings

LOL!!! That just killed me!! Don't really have strong opinions about the content of the thread, but had to tell you that is hilarious!

[ourfirstyorkie]

Originally Posted by xoxStephie

I've always had a thing against crossing breeds intentionally. I believe breeding should be between two of the same breed etc... Well a couple minutes ago I came across this article.
pug-beagle-love-puggle-wsj: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance
It wasn't too horrible until I came across the part where a women is a broker... She sight out says she has some breed the puppies, ship them to her house, and she lists them online for x amount of money.
I couldn't finish reading the article because it was bothering me but I figured I would post it here and see what you guys thought.
By the way the yahoo headline that caught my eye was something about big business in designer dogs.

I just wanted to point out that back in the 80's labs and goldens were intentionally crossed with a poodle for a special needs person with severe allergies to dogs. The result was a more laid back dog with low to no shedding. So in this case I find no issue with these cross breed dogs.

[capt_noonie]

That article was absolutely disgusting. I wonder how much the writer was paid by the broker to write that.

Originally Posted by ourfirstyorkie

I just wanted to point out that back in the 80's labs and goldens were intentionally crossed with a poodle for a special needs person with severe allergies to dogs. The result was a more laid back dog with low to no shedding. So in this case I find no issue with these cross breed dogs.

The man who first bred goldendoodles now admits he regrets doing it bc of what has come of it (designer dog industry). I don't remember his name, but I think Britster was the one who has posted about it.

[Teegy]

Originally Posted by Deuce

at first i thought you meant i'm not meant to have a dog .

All I was saying is the guy regretted his decision to start mixing the two attempting to create a service dog for a person who could greatly benefit from having one...I understand what he was trying for, a dog with the labs temperament but with the poodles hypo-allergenic genes. I don't agree with it, I can't see why he couldn't just train a poodle to do what the average service dog does...but I do think there was something behind mixing the lab in there...
I agree with no more designer dog craze, I hope it blows over soon...

Hahaha sorry
aren't pigs supposed to be as smart as dogs, couldn't they just train service pigs, then when you are done with it you can have a bacon sandwich, oh that's terrible....
but really I did hear that, if people are not allergic to pigs couldn't that work?
I wonder if they have ever considered it

[Deuce]

I think it'd be harder to get away with bringing a pig into a supermarket than a service dog...specially in the meat section.

[LDMomma]

I have a "designer breed." Let me just say that my designer breed (Shorkie) will never end up in a shelter. EVER! When I refer to her in public, I call her a Yorkie mix so that I don't increase interest in this "breed."

The issue for me is that any breeder that deliberately crosses is probably a crappy breeder to start. in fact, I've never seen any reputable, quality breeder offer mixes.

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by deuce

i think it'd be harder to get away with bringing a pig into a supermarket than a service dog...specially in the meat section.

lol!!!

[Furbaby Friend]

Originally Posted by Teegy

Hahaha sorry
aren't pigs supposed to be as smart as dogs, couldn't they just train service pigs, then when you are done with it you can have a bacon sandwich, oh that's terrible....
but really I did hear that, if people are not allergic to pigs couldn't that work?
I wonder if they have ever considered it

It all depends on what type of services you need. A pig isn't as dexterous as a dog in a lot of ways. They are smart though. However, if you need a certain height/weight, pigs may be a problem.

That may be another reason the man who was allergic couldn't have just a standard poodle. He may have needed a bigger dog to do what he needed them to do. Some service dogs need to be able to support their owner. If the guy was really large, a poodle may not have cut it. In addition, labs are notoriously good service dogs. You don't really see a lot of poodles and there may be reasons for that I am unaware of.

They have also done research where certain dog breeds are more attuned to things like seizure disorders and such. I'm not sure which they are, but the point is that the breed of dog can make a difference depending on the service you need.

Just throwing my two cents in on that.

[SWHouston]

I definitely support the concept of breeding/crossbreeding.
If not, then we wouldn't have all the wonderful breeds out there
which are able to assist and focus their spatiality for our needs.

I however, think WE'RE THERE, we don't need any more breeds.
And I vigorously object to someone just stirring the pot, to get
a cute little animal, where they can line their pocketbooks, and
have no regard at all, to the medical issues, which they create.

[Mer]

My main issue, besides breeding more dogs, is calling them "designer" dogs and then selling them for a premium price. My aunt paid a hefty fee for her labradoodles that are basically just another mix breed. She has 2 of them and they both look and act completely different.

[ArmaniMan]

I don't see why mixed breeds needed to be created for people with disabilities in the first place. There was already a SMART, hypoallergenic breed- the Standard Poodle- poodles are already trained as service dogs. When you mix, you have no idea what you are getting anyway- the dog may not even be hypo allergenic. If you think a poodle is "too girly or prissy" then you shouldn't get a service dog.

[OwnedByJezebel]

Originally Posted by ArmaniMan

I don't see why mixed breeds needed to be created for people with disabilities in the first place. There was already a SMART, hypoallergenic breed- the Standard Poodle- poodles are already trained as service dogs. When you mix, you have no idea what you are getting anyway- the dog may not even be hypo allergenic. If you think a poodle is "too girly or prissy" then you shouldn't get a service dog.

I agree. The Standard Poodles that I have been around are every bit as large and sturdy as the average Golden or Labrador Retriever. And, like you said, they are very intelligent. Not every Golden or Lab has the right temperament to be a service dog. They have to be tested to see if they have the right temperament for that job and trained. The experts that train service dogs could easily evaluate and find suitable candidates among Standard Poodles.