What is next for designer breeds?

it does sound like a stupid mix.... i doubt very much that this will be a mix that takes off...and i'd be surprised if anyone pays $200 for these pups...who knows if it was even purposely bred.
 
anyway, i met a shizu/poodle mix today when me and sparky went to the park...i didn't ask, but i think it was purposefully bred...and it was a great little dog...
 
there is a shizu down the block from me...the owner is into the whole "champion" pedigree stuff...nice pretty dog...but like a lot of shizus, very bad with other dogs....this little mix i met today was beautiful, and seemed much more intelligent and playful than the other shizus i have met...owner says he doesn't shed.
 
i see alot of bad press here on other "designer" breeds...just have to say, that i have met many happy labradoodle and goldendoodle owners in the parks, with dogs that are truly wonderful...fun, spirited, friendly, gentle, itelligent....the life of the party.
i can't speak for the ones that people say end up in shelters...i know of no hard facts or studies as to the significance of the numbers of those...just hearsay.
 
there is an issue of irresponsible breeders, and whether there should be much breeding nowadays with so may dogs in shelters...but like it or not, there are possible dog combinations that just might be very, very good dogs.

bull shihtz ....... sounds kinda like a joke. []

ORIGINAL: faramir
anyway, i met a shizu/poodle mix today when me and sparky went to the park...i didn't ask, but i think it was purposefully bred...and it was a great little dog...

there is a shizu down the block from me...the owner is into the whole "champion" pedigree stuff...nice pretty dog...but like a lot of shizus, very bad with other dogs....this little mix i met today was beautiful, and seemed much more intelligent and playful than the other shizus i have met...owner says he doesn't shed.

 
ok... i have a purebred shih tzu ...very nice well socialized dog.  gets on with everyone and is nice with other dogs as well.  as do all of the purebred shih tzu's i have been in contact with. 
 
the senseless breeding of mixing breeds is totally unrational to me.  do the research and find a dog that fits what you are looking for.  a labradoodle?  what are the people wanting in a dog that warrants breeding a lab and a poodle?  if they are wanting a non shedding dog a poodle is just that ... a labradoodle will not come with that guarantee.
 
as with any mutt they can be delightful dogs but to intentionally breed a mutt is in my opinion, ludicrous.  if people took the time to do the research and search out a reputable breeder they could find purebreds with health guarantees and pedigrees that will fit wonderfully into their families and lifestyles.

yep is does but it is a real ad and a real phone number.  [&:]

Sadly you don't need a license to own a dog, have a child or breed whatever you want to breed to line your pocket.  And it doesn't take intelligence to follow the fads of the "stars"  As my oldest son is fond of saying, we are a nation of sheep......we don't often think for ourselves, just follow the crowd.
 
It doesn't matter what the breed is, if a dog is not trained and well socialized it's gonna be a jerk.  Those same owners you met with the shoodle (?) would have likely had a wonderful shizu (sp) simply because THEY put the time and effort into training and proper socialization.

LOL Bull Shitz! 
Anyways, I also own a purebred male Shih Tzu and he is very well mannered with kids, people, dogs and other critters.  I took him to dog obedience and he sniffed and wagged tail with every dog from Silky terrier to Newfie, Dobby, Rott, and Cane Corsos.  He has never shown any aggression towards dogs or people or kids. 
Regardless of breed or combination of breeds any dog can be well socialized.  It takes time and some people don't take the time.
Don't be down on the Shih Tzus for irresponsible owners.  []

Regardless of breed or combination of breeds any dog can be well socialized. It takes time and some people don't take the time.

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well, i may be wrong about shi tzus...i read that many are not good with other dogs, and i saw shi tzus like that...but maybe i confused them with something else.
 
HOWEVER, not all breeds have naturally friendly and sociable temperaments...that was part of the breeding process...terriers are different from retreivers, who are different than guard and herding dogs....
 
perhaps all pups can be socialized with the proper work...but some with much more work than others...there are stereotypes of breeds which are GENERALLY true...purebreed dogs do not only differ in their look, and the jobs they can do...they differ in personality and temperament as well...
 
there may be terriers that get along with the family cat...but if you have a cat, you would be advised to get a golden retreiver, and not a terrier, etc etc

ORIGINAL: faramir

it does sound like a stupid mix.... i doubt very much that this will be a mix that takes off...and i'd be surprised if anyone pays $200 for these pups...who knows if it was even purposely bred.

I agree with you 100%, I cant even imagine how a bulldog/ Shih Tzu mix would look like *shudders*

there is a shizu down the block from me...the owner is into the whole "champion" pedigree stuff...nice pretty dog...but like a lot of shizus, very bad with other dogs....this little mix i met today was beautiful, and seemed much more intelligent and playful than the other shizus i have met...owner says he doesn't shed.

Shih Tzus should be very friendly. Every shih tzu I have met has been a friendly, well mannered dog. I owned a Shih Tzu and she was the friendliest dog ever. Very intellegent too. Also, of course that Shih Tzu mix doesnt shed, Shih Tzus dont shed (despite all the coat) and neither do Poodles.

I just finished my rant over "custom" cats, I don't know what to think anymore on any "designer" "custom" whatever name animal. 
 
I was on craigslist last night and could not belive most of the ads I read there.  I was looking for a foster program I could become a member of and wow, there are so many places to start.  Yet I see foster home needed ads mixed in with ads like the one mentioned above, stange, can't anyone see the connection there?

edited due to a pm I received

And it doesn't take intelligence to follow the fads of the "stars" As my oldest son is fond of saying, we are a nation of sheep......we don't often think for ourselves, just follow the crowd.

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glenmar, what i don't understand:
i meet so many people at the parks who are thrilled with their goldendoodle, labradoodle, cockapoo...why should they feel like sheep?  when i talk to them, it seems like they did research...it looked like a good idea to them...and they're happy
 
perhaps there are reasons not to get one...but many of the reasons i read here would not resonate with them..and some not with me either....there are so many issues involved...it's so hard to have a conversation on this subject, without 20 issues coming up...
 
so sticking to one issue...why should the happy "designer" dog owners feel that they were following the crowd, not doing the peoper research, etc...if they got what they wanted?

I got my Shih Tzu for free, but i knew someone who had one.  I think the problem isn't with the designer dogs but the backyard breeders breeding for money not quality.

let me step in here?  tell me why did they choose the breed?  if a person is buying from a reputable breeder the breeder has health guarantees, the pups will have been breed for health, looks and temperaments.  they will know what to expect which will never happen with a mixed breed. 
 
a lot of people are happy with mixed breed dogs but that doesn't mean that a mutt should be bred.  i am a firm believer if you are not breeding for the betterment of the breed you should have your dog spayed or neutered.  there are plenty of dogs in this world needing homes without intentionally breeding new mutts.
 
so the dog park folk?  they wanted what? a dog that wouldn't shed?  poodles don't.  like to hunt?  every poodle i have ever met would make a great hunting dog with the proper training.  so why did they purhcase their dog?  it is a fad and hopefully one that will die off soon.  here you can hardly give a labradoodle away anymore at any given time will find one at our local kill shelter.

ORIGINAL: Firestorm

I got my Shih Tzu for free, but i knew someone who had one.  I think the problem isn't with the designer dogs but the backyard breeders breeding for money not quality.

 
the backyard breeder is ususally not only breeding for money but for
1. i heard it would be better for my dog to breed once before spaying or neutering
2. i thought my child needed to experience the birth
3. i really like my dog and want one with her same personality
4. $
 
the puppy mills are definitley in it for the money and i wish every one would be located and shut down.  but until the public wises up we are doomed to thousands of pets being euthanized every day....