Sickening Huffington Post article on designer dogs.

[Hrossen11]

There were some ugly dogs in those photos and some cute mutts. That is why all my large dogs address shelter rescues, you can find the cutest mutts.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by Maximo

The OP isn't saying mixes in general are sickening -- I believe he is reacting to the particular breeds that were mixed and shown in this article. Some of them don't even look possible, and maybe some were photoshopped as he indicated above.

There are lots of members here with mixes and I think they are adorable. The dogs shown in this article, however, many made me gasp. They looked physically deformed and all I could think of is health issues.

That was my point of calling it sickening. Some looked unhealthy. There were definitely a few cuties there, but my main problem is that the article ignored the health issues of mixing some breeds that probably shouldn't be mixed.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I'm not seeing this article as sickening. They're not saying they promote 'designer' dogs at all - in fact it's never even mentioned. While some misguided people may see this article and think "oh I want one just like that!" (which does promote designer breeding) -- I think others will see this article as just what it seems to be - pictures of awkwardly cute mutts. I don't think any of these dogs are ugly at all.

That said, if they wanted to do it right (right imo), they should've said something along the lines of "mutts are adorable animals too, so don't hesitate to adopt a mutt at your shelter"....that's what I see as the unfortunate missing element. Is the article a bit careless, given what it could ostensibly (but not intentionally) promote? Yes, I suppose it is.

Exactly!

To be honest, a lot of these dogs are insanely cute IMO.

I see certain purebreds and just... CRINGE. To me, a puggle is going to be much healthier than a pug typically. I meet Pugs that can hardly run or breathe because their poor faces are smooshed so much. And I see bulldogs trying to run around but are honking and snorting. I see 'show quality purebred' Dachshunds so low to the grounds, their chests almost touch it. I see German Shepherds with slouched backs they don't even walk properly. Yet... THESE dogs are considered ... not deformed, and for some reason the ones pictured are? How is a Husky/Corgi mix... any more unhealthy than a regular Corgi? Why are we not outraged when we see bulldogs who cannot even give birth or mate naturally. Honestly dogs are some of THE most human manipulated creatures on the planet. I don't see how these are any different than unhealthy looking purebred AKC shown dogs.

As sad as it may be, a lot of BYB dogs are more aesthetically pleasing to me than their counterparts. And honestly a lot of them ARE probably healthier.

[Teegy]

When I grew up people's dogs were having pups because it used to be safe to let them out the back door (usually bigger dogs) all the dogs in the area would play together, most intact and oops pups, lots of mutts. I grew up with my aunties dog Mickey, he was a mutt and the most loving dog ever, I asked my aunty what the dangly things were and she said those are Mickey's plums. I really hate to see people breeding mutts on purpose, although I agree all dogs need love, I wish they would stop it. If you want a mutt go to the pound and rescue and if you are happy with an older pure bred you'll likely find that in the pound too

[yorkiefan_]

I don't see the big deal myself. I mean I like my yorkies and probably wouldn't ever seek out a mix, but people have been selectively breeding dogs for 30,000 years at least. I don't see why it should be bad just because it's post Huddersfield Ben.

[yorkiefan_]

That sounded bad. I didn't mean to disparage mixes at all, as there are some truly stunning yorkie mixes I have seen on this site, like MauiGirl's Meika.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Britster

Exactly!

To be honest, a lot of these dogs are insanely cute IMO.

I see certain purebreds and just... CRINGE. To me, a puggle is going to be much healthier than a pug typically. I meet Pugs that can hardly run or breathe because their poor faces are smooshed so much. And I see bulldogs trying to run around but are honking and snorting. I see 'show quality purebred' Dachshunds so low to the grounds, their chests almost touch it. I see German Shepherds with slouched backs they don't even walk properly. Yet... THESE dogs are considered ... not deformed, and for some reason the ones pictured are? How is a Husky/Corgi mix... any more unhealthy than a regular Corgi? Why are we not outraged when we see bulldogs who cannot even give birth or mate naturally. Honestly dogs are some of THE most human manipulated creatures on the planet. I don't see how these are any different than unhealthy looking purebred AKC shown dogs.

As sad as it may be, a lot of BYB dogs are more aesthetically pleasing to me than their counterparts. And honestly a lot of them ARE probably healthier.

I am upset when I see some purebreds, especially the GSDs with slouched backs who can't walk. I don't like what has been done to them at all.

I don't like seeing large breeds mixed with small breeds. Looks like leg problems.

I still don't like the look of a Husky face mixed with the other breeds depicted in this article.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by MarkFromSea

My best dog was a Heinz 57. Closest description is a yellow lab with a wee bit of Chesapeake Bay retriever. I'm sure it was more complicated than that.

I didn't see any sickening photos in the article. "Ugly" came to mind on one or two. My thought is as long as they live in loving homes, more power to them. Mixes seem to have fewer medical issues.

Its a myth that mixes have few health problems.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Its a myth that mixes have few health problems.

While I agree that it's a myth (there's honestly just TOO many factors to even say one lives longer than the other)... nothing is going to tell me that this:


(AKC showbred Dachshund)

is healthier than this

(working bred Dachshund)

And there are a lot of breeds I could say that for.

I personally prefer the look of a lot of "BYB" bred dogs to "show dogs" if I'm being honest. "BYB" is such a broad term anyway, I kind of hate using it. I am not against breeding mixes if you have a good program in place (i.e. always have your dogs microchipped and have a contract stating that if your dog is brought to a shelter, it will end up back with the breeder). That's probably the #1 concern I have, so that these pups don't end up in the shelter system. #2 would be health testing. But I don't have a problem with the mixes themselves. SOME do serve a purpose, whether it's for a working dog, sport dog, etc, and as long as it's going to a good home, it doesn't bother me as much as it used to.

[Verbena]

My problem with these types of articles is that someone goes oh cool great idea and thinks they can mix this breed and sell it for $5000. That is what makes me nuts. You can just go to the shelter and get a cute mix for $250. And help save a life

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Britster

While I agree that it's a myth (there's honestly just TOO many factors to even say one lives longer than the other)... nothing is going to tell me that this:

Attachment 396134
(AKC showbred Dachshund)

is healthier than this
Attachment 396135
(working bred Dachshund)

And there are a lot of breeds I could say that for.

I personally prefer the look of a lot of "BYB" bred dogs to "show dogs" if I'm being honest. "BYB" is such a broad term anyway, I kind of hate using it. I am not against breeding mixes if you have a good program in place (i.e. always have your dogs microchipped and have a contract stating that if your dog is brought to a shelter, it will end up back with the breeder). That's probably the #1 concern I have, so that these pups don't end up in the shelter system. #2 would be health testing. But I don't have a problem with the mixes themselves. SOME do serve a purpose, whether it's for a working dog, sport dog, etc, and as long as it's going to a good home, it doesn't bother me as much as it used to.

The Dachshund in the second picture, his legs look a little long for going down badger holes to hunt.

I believe that all of us who reacted negatively to the dogs depicted in this article are not against mixes in general. I would oppose someone purposely cross breeding Dachshunds and Golden Retrievers, or Huskies and Corgis. While all AKC recognized dog breeds are man made, there is a limit. To me, some of the breeds depicted in the article are like crossing an elephant with a giraffe.

Also, those of us reacting negatively to the dogs in the article are not automatically condoning all pure-breed standards.