Does anyone else own a cockapoo? Do you feel there is a stigma to owning a "doodle"?

There is definately lots of people on this forum who are against designer dogs if you check the archives. They make some very valid arguements. In the real world however, I never hear anyone comment - other than to say how darn cute they are!

She's definately a cutie but be prepared for alot of people who are against designer breeds.

The big question on the designer breeds for me is: Why would you pay good money for a mutt?  There are plenty of "designer breeds" in the shelters. Why not adopt?

I've owned plenty of mixed breeds in my lifetime, mine just didn't have fancy names.  And, yep, one was even a cocker/poodle mix.  They are sweet dogs.

I think $2000 is enough to give you a wide range of selections of good purebred dogs.  My poodles sell for $950 and I know people who sell comparable ones for more and for less.
 
There may be something of a prejudice on the message boards for your owning a "designer dog" but I would guess the general public isn't aware enough of the issue (or your dog's breed for that matter) to make it a universal stigma.
 
I think real dog lovers see a dog and see "cute", not "ewww, designer dog". That's how I feel when I see one even though I wouldn't breed one.

I own a "poogle" (1/2 poodle, 1/2 beagle). I, like you, didn't intentionally set out to buy a "designer" dog.  I had been looking for a "poodle" or "poodle/mix" for quite a while, but just couldn't bring myself to pay that kind of money for a mixed breed, or any dog for that matter. About three weeks ago a  friend told me about someone they knew who had decided to breed their dogs to "earn a little extra money." It turned out being more than they bargained for and were going to send the pups to the pound once they realized they weren't selling like they'd hoped. Thus.. along came Molly.
She's adorable, sweet and seems to have the best traits of each of her parent's breeds. The poodle coat (so far) and the beagle bark (good? depends on who you ask and the time of the day she comences to barking, lol).
I too have gotten some nasty comments about my "desginer dog"  and how "irresponsible" it is to breed them.
To me... it's not a matter of the "breed". It's a matter of weather or not I can provide a good home for a needy dog. It's a matter of personal preference. And it's a matter of personal opinion. Would I have paid $2000 for her? No. Would I have paid $200 for her? Probably not. Not because of her "breed", but just because there are too many deserving dogs out there that I could adopt for a lot less. Do I feel lucky to have gotten Molly? Most definately. I've wanted a poodle/mix for years now and just couldn't bring myself to fork out that kind of money. Something kept telling me to just hold off, and I did. And thus I have proven my point... good things come to those who wait.
And to those who want to hound me about being irresponsible and how ridiculous it is to breed and sell mixed breed dogs.. I say: I didn't I own her parents, I didn't breed her parents and I didn't pay alot for her. So mind your own business.

We have a dog that was supposed to be a cockapoo,but i seriously doubt that she is.She was surrendered to a shelter as a "Breeder reject" i think because the wrong dogs bred! We also have a Schnoodle.SHe came from the pound.We have them but since they are both rescues i dont get the same ridicule as i would have if i had bought them.They are both little darlings though!

I think real dog lovers see a dog and see "cute", not "ewww, designer dog". That's how I feel when I see one even though I wouldn't breed one.

 
Thank you I agree with that! I don't mind designer doggies as long as people are not using them to carry around as a fashion thing. That seriously ticks me off! You do not adopt a dog because it will be cute to carry around in your purse! In that way I am against designer doggies.
 
For the most part however, I don't think I really went and set out to adopt a cockapoo. Bailey picked me out the day we met and I simply could not resist her. I don't see how anyone can argue with that one.
 
If you are about to tell me that I should have gone to a shelter first you are correct. I went to a number of shelters and nearly adopted a five year old dog from one of them. Things did not work out and I found it very hard to find a small dog at any of the local shelters (yes I did use pet finder) I also wanted a puppy. Don't get angry though I had a reason for wanting a very young dog! I had a very old sweetie pie that I had to have put to sleep a few weeks ago. I wanted to have a dog that was young and full of life. Anyway, I went to a place I had heard about on line. The breeders would bring their dogs there as a group. It seemed to me that this was better than going to a "mall pet store" or something. To make a long story short I adopted my cockapoo Bailey there. I would not care what she was mixed with or what kind of breed she is (she would have to be small because of where she is) but, it is the personality of the dog and the owner that matters....no matter what kind of dog my Bailey would be I would want her because of her quirky personality and the fact that she is such a love- not the fact that she is a "designer doggie." Do you guys agree?

It's been a long time since I've had a cocker/poodle mix (childhood) but I am possessed by a pomeranian/chihuahua mix.  However, he is a rescue dog.  I personally wouldn't buy a "designer breed" but that's just me.
 
I think I've only had one negative comment about Baxter and it was only after someone asked what he was.  The person assumed I had hopped onto some bandwagon and bought a cutsie dog.  Of course the person who said this was a little strange anyhow.
 
 

It's sad that people will pass up such great dogs (usually) just because they have been labeled "designer". So many people could find happiness in the dog itself, not the breed, if they'd just give it a chance.
Of course everyone has their own reasons for why they look for certain things in a dog. I wanted a dog that wouldn't shed so much... hence the poodle. But I grew up with Beagles, Labs, GSD's and every combo/mix you could imagine. I lucked up with Molly... I got exactly what I wanted... by chance... by luck...? Who knows? All I can say is she's what I have been looking for for the past several years... it just so happens she's a "designer dog". So while I don't agree with people puropsely breeding two seperate breeds to produce these designer breeds in order to turn a profit.. I'm glad they did. If they hadn't, I wouldn't have Molly.

At my local shelter, they just put down a "goldendoodle" because no one would adopt him. We also just had a "Labradoodle" at the shelter who got rescued because one of the volunteers took him to appear on TV (they do a weekly thing) and couldnt bear the thought of taking him back. So she found him a home. Had she not taken him to the TV station and fallen in love, he too would have been euthanized. He was a very sweet, gentle dog & I advertised him in the paper a couple of times yet he was there for weeks and never adopted.
 
I think in the pefect world Designer dogs would be neat. I think they are cute dogs, the Labradoodle stole my heart too, he was so handsome and sweet! But we dont live in a perfect world and as my signature says (although it is spelled wrong *l*) 2500 dogs are euthanized at my shelter each year (that is an average of 50 a week!), a lot of those are mixes that people are paying $1000+ for. Heck, a lot of them are pure bred dogs too.
 
IMO there are just too many dogs out there to be breeding mutts. I think very few people should actually breed their dogs and the ones who arent responsible should be forced to visit their local kill shelter and see all of the dogs who arent going to ever have a home.
 
"It turned out being more than they bargained for and were going to send the pups to the pound once they realized they weren't selling like they'd hoped. Thus.. along came Molly. "- There is the problem right there. I see that you rescue dogs too and I honestly dont see how you can rescue dogs or volunteer at the shelter after buying a mixed dog from a "breeder". I volunteer at my shelter about once a week and get sickened & angry even when I hear people breeding their pure bred dogs who would never end up in a shelter, even when they are keeping all of the pups for themselves.
 
 These "breeders" of mixed breed pups are all BYBs and some even dreaded puppy mills. After being in rescue, I personally would never buy a dog from anyone who bred the dog on purpose then wont take responsiblity for the pups. You are encouraging the behavior.
 
I do think Designer dogs are cute, I just cant condone buying them when so many get euthanized. Not to mention the people who breed them are not responsible and only care about the $ (as clearly seen in [link>http://forum.dog.com/asp/showProfile.asp?memid=11116]mehpenn[/link]'s case).
 
 
 
 

Molly's breeders were BYB's... and had the situation been different, I wouldn't have paid for Molly. As I see it, the $10 I paid for her was $10 it took to save her life.
I don't condone it. But then again, I can't stand back and watch innocent puppies be sentenced to death in order to "teach the breeders a lesson."
But that's a different subject all together. Back to the OT. I love my poogle, wouldn't take anything for her... but you're right, there is a "stigma" that comes with owning  a designer dog.

ORIGINAL: mmthomason

At my local shelter, they just put down a "goldendoodle" because no one would adopt him.

And they're selling these at the local crap pet store in the mall for $650. It's so sad that they're being put to death in shelters because newly-bred ones take potential homes. >-.-<

My biggest beef about these dogs is that the breeder will supply you with some cockamamie papers and lead you to believe that they are registerable.   If you purchase the dog with the idea that you may show your dog in obedience, agility, etc., it can be a rude awakening to find that you have to find a venue that allowed mixed breeds, or register it with AMBOR registry that is recognized with, at least, UKC.

I had a wonderful schnauzer-poodle mix that was bred by a BYB.  We paid about $50.00 for the fella.  That was before the designer dog craze.  There are some nice combinations like shepherd-collies, schnoodles, cockapoos, etc. - but the truth is, they are mutts.  Enjoy them for what they are - nice mutts.