Designer Dogs

Well  I think that all dogs are great but that designer dogs are a way  to make money, and like you  said there are many dogs in shelters that need homes. My biggest problem is that if the dog doesn't look right they put them to sleep. Though they are breeding mutts and they all aren't going to look the same. alot of nearby rescues are filled with "designer dogs"

The differnece is that when dogs were mixed in the past it was to serve a specific purpose. Most of these dogs are bred for looks and if we continue to do this we will eventually have all mixed dogs. Plus their is pride and breed loyalty. Some excell in agility, some are used for hunting, and some are used for hearding. In the end they are breedign for money or looks and their is no pride in that. If we had a shortage of dogs and empty shelters that would be one thing but its ridiculous. As for current owners of desinger dogs, we wont bash them. Yes every dog deserves a loving home regardless of the breed BUT that wont stop me from educating people about the reality of desinger dogs.
I fight for the advocay of pit bulls who take of 2/3 of our shelter dogs and these a-holes are making MORE dogs!!!! Why not fix the ones we have that mankind made this way instead of causing more problems?

I mean I myself feel guilty. When I think of getting another dog in the future I have mixed feelings. I would like to get one that is a breed and as a puppy. Something about being there to watch and grow with the little life is amazing to me. But then I think about all those poor creatures that are behind bars. And what I was saying was no matter what type of dog it is still paying for it when there's plenty in the shelters. And the times have changed not much people will be breeding dogs based on work. Today;s time and age dogs will be breed for looks and family pets.

Eclipse,
Not so true, look at Chesapeake Retrievers, Collies, Aussie, Duck retrievers, hog dogs, catahoula's, All hearding breeds and hunting breeds are still bred for a specific purpose. Pit bulls are still bred for gameness, Presa's for security and even though we may not agree with some of it it si still defintly in effect. Plus even if they are breeding for looks they are doing it to preserve a breed standard that has been implented and followed for hundreds of years so despite their reason they are still preserving the breed. Twenty years from now I dont want a hodge podge melting pot of dogs. I want a pit bull that screams american history, pride, and honor. People will want a lab that still has a soft mouth that his ancestors used for hunting. People will still take pride in their rat tertiers long nose and shape for hunting out rodents.
Bottom line in my book is it is unecessary and is ridiculous since we already have unintentional mixed breeds.

  Bottom line in my book is it is unecessary and is ridiculous since we already have unintentional mixed breeds.

How true.

It is actually entirely possible to get a purebred puppy as a rescue. It may not have papers, but if you check into breed rescue and are willing to travel, and are patient, it can definately happen. I've heard of situations in which a pregnant bitch is dropped at a rescue or shelter because the 'breeder' finally realized they were not prepared to do that job, only a few weeks too late. Often pregnant bitches are abandoned by some lily livered coward for the same reason and when the pups are born, they look purebred or pretty darn close. There are rescues from puppy mills that are shut down.
 
Rescuing is not for everyone, but I think that it can be great for most people if you keep your wits about you, are patient, and prepare yourself.
 
I understand when people buy purebred dogs from reputible breeders for specific purposes, such as working, show or performance. The vast majority of down owners don't need a dog for any of those reasons, and don't really need a purebred dog. Reputible breeders are needed for the few folks who require working or showing dogs, and for a few others who are pet owners with special needs to take into consideration. The whole reason is because there needs to be a bit of predictability (though there are never gaurentees) if you're going to buy a dog who's job it is to protect your valuable livestock, or who is going to be a good fit in your household of 5 kids all under the age of 8 plus your 10 cats. Desginer breeders don't fulfill either of those needs because their dogs are not bred to any standard at all. There's zero predictability. Who's to say what a puggle will turn out like? Every time you breed a beagle to a pug you're rolling the genetic dice and you could wind up with a friendly, happy companion, or a drivey rabbit-chasing wheezing stubborn impossible to housetrain nightmare. You can't have any idea at all. Someone who breeds dogs reputibly has a loooong chart that shows how the dog's and the bitch's lines stack up to temperment, drive and conformation standards and can give you a pretty good chance that several dogs out of that pairing will have many of those same characteristics. No breeder of hybrids can say that.

What would you guys think if someone new came to this board to talk and they had a cockapoo?
 
We have MANY members here with mixed breed dogs...of all sizes shapes and colors. What you pay for your dog, what you choose to call your dog, and who you buy from is a personal decision. People on a message board really can only give input...they cannot dictate what you WILL do.
 
We aren't here for comparisons or "I got my dog from a better place than you..." we are here mainly for support and to talk about dogs...no matter what breed.
 
Designer dogs are a fact of the times we live in....whether being bred or rescued, in a shelter or in a backyard. Their owners and those that love them are welcome here....this is a community for dog lovers...after all. Don't expect everyone to agree with everything you might post....be aware that no one here believes dogs are a commodity and I don't see why anyone would have issue with your dogs breed or breeds?
 
The topics/arguements you cover in your post have been discussed many times before...and really...there's no clear answer because people have strong opinions that will seldom meet in the middle. It can get heated...and I do think that's a shame...but it's not the only topic on Earth that ends up that way...lol. If you are interested you can do a search of the archives to read about past discussions and if you are looking to find other points of view many will be there.
 
I see you're somewhat new to the forum, I'd like to welcome you and hope you enjoy yourself here!

I have a cockapoo. I've read a lot of interesting discussions about deliberately bred crosses and share the opinions of many here on this topic while differing on some points. For example, there is a (very, very small) number of breeders who truly are trying to create a new breed, have ethical breeding practices and I think this is fine. Everyone's been sweet and helpful to me.

I have no problem with mixed breeds. I *do* have a problem with breeders breeding for the wrong reasons.

If Labradoodles, cockapoos, etc really wanted to do things RIGHT, there would be legitimate breed clubs, a breed standard, and an effort to move beyond F1 crosses from BYBs. Labradoodles and Cockapoos have been around at LEAST as long as several new companion breeds which have achieved real recognition- the Alaskan Klee Kai (which was begun in 1982, IIRC) and the Silken Windhound (1984). The AKK is UKC recognized and the Silken is ARBA recognized. Both have crosses in their background but have moved beyond that to breed true. In Australia, it looks like the Labradoodles, at least, are trying to move in that direction.

ORIGINAL: Eclipse

I mean I myself feel guilty. When I think of getting another dog in the future I have mixed feelings. I would like to get one that is a breed and as a puppy. Something about being there to watch and grow with the little life is amazing to me. But then I think about all those poor creatures that are behind bars. And what I was saying was no matter what type of dog it is still paying for it when there's plenty in the shelters. And the times have changed not much people will be breeding dogs based on work. Today;s time and age dogs will be breed for looks and family pets.

Don't feel badly, or guilty.  It sounds like you have learned a lot already.  And, just because you may want to raise a dog from puppyhood doesn't mean you can't find a pup in a shelter or from a rescue group.  The photo in my signature is Sioux, CGC, TDInc.  She was a shelter puppy.

ORIGINAL: sheprano

The differnece is that when dogs were mixed in the past it was to serve a specific purpose. Most of these dogs are bred for looks and if we continue to do this we will eventually have all mixed dogs.

Well, I think that's debatable. Maybe they're bred for looks, but I think a lot of the appeal of designer dogs is that they're supposedly well suited to being kept as pets in today's society. Look at all those poos. That's low or no shedding people are attracted to.

Before you point out all the things wrong with that assertion, I know that there's rarely any thought put into the breeding of these dogs. No real concern for health or temperament or fixing the traits that are so desirable in these mixes. That's wrong and I hate seeing it. However, if designer breeders got their act together, wrote up a standard and started breeding responsibly, I'd wholeheartedly support them. That's how breeds come about. And I think breeding for a companion animal that appeals to the masses is breeding for a specific purpose.

Thank you all for your relpy. I find your relpys very interesting.
thanks

in my book a purebred is no more deserving of life than a mixed. i will always own mixed breeds (go underdog go!), but i will never pay someone to specifically breed one for me. i dont agree with "preservation of the breed" , to me a dog is a dog, just as a person is a person, no matter what color, size, shape or temperment. what kind of jerk would i be if i said i only mated with white people, because i want my lines clean and the white race to be preserved. there are plenty of white people out there right, well, there are plenty of rottweilers out there too, one cannot tell me they are all still producing so many of them to preserve the breed [8|]
 
now that we have my belief out of the way....designer dogs, umm define that for me please. i know it is in reference to these mixes of purebreds, but i think thats how they all came into existance. and i doubt every purebred out there was just created and suddenly there were breed standards and health testing, seriously. it takes some time.
 
having said that, i feel no different about "designer dogs" ( i really hate that term!) than i do about purebreds. there just may be as many responsible DD breeders as there are purebred breeders, because i have seen alot of scumbags breeding purebreds.
 
if someone comes to the site i could care less what breed they own as long as they treat it right-food, shelter, love.

i know it is in reference to these mixes of purebreds, but i think thats how they all came into existance.

Not really.  Even before standards, people like Captain von Stephanitz had a PURPOSE in mind for their breeds, not $$$$$

It was about working dogs, not making a quick buck...and your reference to preserving the breed being a crock really doesn't hold true.  It would take dogs, especially dogs like the Great Dane and BMD who only average 8-10 years of life, to go phbbbt, because they don't live long enough.  Quit breeding them, and they WILL go poof, and it IS about breed preservation.