My friend bought a doodle

Sorry to hear that, I am sure it is a frustrating situation. I have some acquaintances that have fallen for the "doodle" craze and its hard as anything for me to bite my tounge without sounding like a condecending jerk. If I knew these people better I would be more likely to express my opinion, but I don't know them well enough and its not until after they get the dog that I find out they got a "doodle" [:@] One of these acquaintances got a goldendoodle who was a complete spaz. The owners said that the dog was completely mis-advertised by the "breeder" as they were looking for a laid back dog. After the dog knocked her down several times (the last time she was down for 15 minutes in the woods unable to get up as she was an older tiny woman) they rehomed the dog. After I heard that I did casually give her my opinion. It makes it tough when they are your friends.

Sorry to hear the news. Why can't your sister get the dog until August? I mean that is a long time to let someone hold on to a dog and then you said she's not for sure where she will be living in August. Sounds like your sister didn't really think this through. I think I could have a found a poodle in the shelter in the state where I live or states around me if she is willing to get a dog from New Orleans.

Ugh, this whole "designer dog" thing is bothering me really bad. They arent designer, animals cant be "designer". It`s just adding to the thousands of mutts that get euthanized every year in shelters. They are cute though.

Ugh Designer dogs, glorified Mutts whichever you prefer to call them.  There are oops my dog mated with another dog and purposeful breeding of these animals...Its sad because there are so many dogs that are homeless and waiting to find homes before the face euthansia.

And, because I live in a very upscale area and have to teach puppy class to all these unsuspecting people who are so unable to delay gratification that they buy doodles, or from pet stores, or online from unscrupulous volume breeders, etc., I must keep my mouth shut.  It's the only thing I hate about my job.  The boss says there's nothing we can do about where the client bought their dog once they have it and we need to respect the fact that they now love that dog.  The last part is true, but the first part bothers me a lot - there IS something we can do about not having them buy their second dog from such sources.  To be honest, I do mention the non-shed breeds and this stuff if I have a class that's doodle-free, just to spread the word.  If dog people are the only ones who know this, it will be the best kept secret in the world - it needs to get out into the mainstream.
That's one reason I emailed the video on the advocacy thread to my non-dog contacts.  I want them to see those dead bins, and know where the doggy refuse ends up!!!!!

What's wrong with it, if that's what she wants. These designer dogs are not going to go away, they are too high demand. It doesn't make it right, but why do you care that she has chosen to give this dog a home. I'm not picking a fight. I just don't see what the big deal is. Everyone has different taste. There really are bigger things to worry about than someone buying/rescue a mixed dog.

Angel, I'm guessing that there are a number of issues at play here.  First the gal doesn't even have a place to live once she brings the dog home.  That's not a terribly responsible move.  And then there is the issue of supporting your basic BYB.  When you go to the shelter and choose a mixed breed or even a purebred, you KNOW it's a crap shoot as far as the health goes.  That's bad enough.  But this woman is pretending to BE an actual breeder and deliberately mixing breeds, and I'm betting does no health testing on any of the breeding stock....if you are spending big bucks on a "breeder" dog, there ought to be some guarentees.

There is just NO such thing as a hypoallergenic dog.  Non shedding, or low shedding, yeah, but for someone to shell out cash for a designer dog thinking that they will NOT be allergic to that dog, is foolish.  The worst allergens come from dander and saliva, and EVERY dog has those things...not just the shedding breeds.

PLUS this dog is in New Orleans.  Anyone wanna place wagers on whether the dog is even gonna still BE there come August?  I'm thinking that this particular pup will be sold again...and that the friend will be told s/he was lost in evacuation, or lost in the hurricane, or whatever.  I'm betting this pup will NOT be going home with this gal.

And she's charging $10 per month to board her?  I've had fosters who people didn't want to pick up until after whatever, and let me tell you, $10 wouldn't cover their food for a week.  So what is this breeder feeding??  A pup raised on Ol Roy isn't going to be a terribly healthy pup.  Then there is the whole Southern mindset of dogs not being allowed in the house, so likely this pup is kenneled outside...and then there is the whole issue of heartworm potential.....there are a heck of a lot of Katrina dogs who were HW positive and it's NOT just because they came from owners living in abject poverty.....you honestly can't understand the Southern attitude if you've not lived there, but, I'm betting this woman basically considers her dogs to  be livestock, and you flat out don't spend one penny more than you HAVE to on livestock.  And HWP??  The prevailing attitude down there is that it's a waste of money.

Now, all you Southern folks, don't get your backs up at me.....YOU aren't like that or you wouldn't be here, on this forum.......and blanket statements aren't great, but, this is what I've experienced in the deep South.

So, Angel, it's not JUST the designer dog...it's the WHOLE ball of wax that's got the OP up in arms with her friend.

Well, it sounds like a done deal, and there's nothing to be done about it at this point, EXCEPT, support your friend and help her to give this dog a good life.  We all may not agree with this type of breeding and purchasing dogs in this manner, but we do all agree that every dog is entitled to a good home.  

I agree that everything surrounding this is not good. I just don't see why people get so upset with doodles or any other mix being sold. I think that if everything is done right, and the breeder and buyer are both responsible than it should be fine. I do think the friend is in a trap though.

Oh, certainly.  It's not the dogs fault that someone wanted to profit off the fertility of their dogs......

I hope this isn't taken the wrong way, but it seems to me that since the poor and poor black population of NO is largely gone, and that the population NOW is more upwardly mobile whites that there should be a BIGGER market for designer dogs there now.  To me, that comment doesn't even make sense, that because of Katrina the good buyers aren't there anymore.  The most displaced folks were the poor and they sure weren't gonna be spending $1000 on a dog of ANY kind.

I think that the reason folks get upset about the designer dogs is first because there are soooo many mixes dying in the shelters for want of a home, and second because MOST if not all of the folks who are cross breeding like this are NOT responsible, don't do the genetic health testing, etc and aren't breeding to improve the breed (whichever one it might be) but purely to fill a demand in the market place.

I could breed Sheba and eventually get a white pup that I could sell for a LOT of money.  Whites are considered a fault by AKC and they are either reviled or highly prized by gsd fanciers.  In this area, whites are highly prized.  BUT, Sheba can be reactive.  I truely do not believe this to be a temperment issue, but rather the result of a jerk who antagonized her during a fear stage, but I don't know for sure, the BEHAVORIALIST doesn't know for sure so there is a chance that a not wonderful temperment defect could be passed on.  Plus, she's white, and if I'm gonna breed, it's going to be to better the breed....AND my dogs don't have that severe angulation that seems to be what judges like these days.  The gsd I saw at Westminister was actually WALKING on her hocks.......

But, I digress yet again.  IF this breeder is doing absolutely everything correctly, well, I've still got a problem with her, because every pup she produces takes a home from another equally wonderful pup in the shelter.  It's just WRONG with so many good dogs on death row to deliberately create more mixed breeds.

Ok - I normally don't dive into controversy at all ... and I still don't want to but I feel I have to speak my mind.  My Riley is a Maltepoo.  He is the mix of a Maltese and a Poodle and I love him to death.  He is a wonderful pup and has a personality like I have never seen before.  Riley is my first dog, and when I was searching to obtain a dog last year, I was looking for one that did not shed (high priority for me as I tend to get allergic reactions to some of the longer haired breeds), small (didn't want a tiny pup as I was afraid I'd step on it in the middle of the night), and I wanted a pup who would be very trainable.
 
With all the searching that I did, I found a breeder in North Carolina who had/has toy poodles.  I checked her out with all the various agencies and found her to be "spotless".  In speaking with her she also told me that she had a litter of Maltepoos as well if I was interested, and that they were already checked and screened for any health issues, etc.  She told me that the mix of a Maltese and a Poodle would give me what I was looking for and it was my choice if I wanted to see them or not, or if I wanted to continue for a purebreed Poodle.  Long story short - I took the remaining two Maltepoo boys home with me to NY (Riley's brother Sam lives with my very best friend).
 
I never visited this site until after I owned Riley.  This site has helped me become a much better "mom" to him than I could have ever been on my own.  I have learned a lot on feeding, training, health issues, etc., and all to the betterment of my pup.  Will my next pup/dog be a rescue?  Absolutely.  Would I purchase another Maltepoo from this same breeder?  Absolutely.  Would I purchase a purebred pup?  Absolutely. 
 
I just find that all the arguing on the subject of "designer breeds" upsets me.  I didn't buy Riley because he was "designer", I bought him by fluke (as I was looking for a oodle to start with) ... and I truly am happy that I have him.  Please understand me when I say that I fully understand the overages in the shelters and the people who purchase (and adopt too) dogs and then abuse them, or don't want them anymore.  Dogs in the shelters, though, are not always designer dogs that were given up as I have seen many GSDs, Labs, etc., as well.
 
So everyone, please don't always think that we "Poo" owners as you call us are terrible people and we buy just for the sake of being "designer" and "with the trend".  We are just like you ... we love our dogs, want the best for them and strive to give them everything we truly can offer them.
 
I'm sorry to rant, but I am also tired of laying back and listening while everyone rants about "Poo" mixes.  Come and meet Riley and tell me if he was worth it ... I can almost guarantee that you'd fall in love with him and not think about the fact that he's a Maltepoo.
 
Thanks for listening.
Mary

Glenda, you've got it exactly. Clearly these people are not responsible at all. She knows the issues, she just didn't want to bother with trying to get a dog in a responsible way, because she knew that nobody responsible would give her a dog, or at least that's how I interpret the statement," I didn't want to deal with the bureaucracy of shelters." I don't like the bureaucracy of some of the shelters either, and that's why I don't deal with the shelters that operate that way. And i've got exactly the same thoughts on even if it is a responsible breeder, which I think we can tell it is not. They are taking home from dogs in shelters. People who responsibly breed purebred dogs do so for a purpose, and I have no problem with that. People who breed what I would call expensive mutts, do so with the purpose of making money in mind.
The only thing good about it is that I think I did convince her to feed the dog Canidae or Innova. I didn't lie, but it really is true that I don't have allergy problems with Millie and Max like I did with the previous dog who ate Nutro. I have no problem with Max sleeping in my bed, but I kicked her out after half an hour when I tried to one night because I couldn't breathe. I don't know that it is necessarily the food that is the reason, but it sounds good, and she is allergic to dogs.