Purebreds Passé? Designer Dogs Woo Pet Owners

[TribalRats]

Purebreds Passé? Designer Dogs Woo Pet Owners
Mixed-Breed Dogs Fetching High Prices

OMAHA, Neb. -- Mixed-breed dogs used to be called mutts, but now breeders are combining bloodlines to create "designer dogs."

Breeders said they hope to get the best traits of both breeds, and they are getting hundreds of dollars for the animals.

"It's amazing how many different dogs people want because they saw this on the Internet, or saw this in another pet store, or they saw this on TV -- some of them I've never even heard of," said pet store owner Lorraine Charlie.

Purebreds are becoming passé as breeders and pet store owners watch mixed purebreds offering owners more choices.

"I think it's interesting to see what different breeds will produce together," said Julie Tully, a kennel owner. "Sometimes it's a better product of the two parents."

Charlie said one such pairing -- the "teddy bear" -- mixes a Bichon Frise and a schitzu. At Tully's, they offer the "malti-poo."

"This is half Maltese, half toy poodle," Julie Tully said.

Charlie said anything mixed with a "poo"-dle flies out of her store.

Linda Heckman purchased her designer dog, Sadie, five months ago.

"I like the way she looked. There was enough of the terrier/schnauzer look to her that I've always liked," Heckman said.

The desire for designer dogs goes beyond purely cosmetic pursuits. A "schnoodle" is a crossbreed of a schnauzer and a poodle. Breeders said they're often bred together because poodles are non-shedding.

Heckman said that's what drew her to schnoodle Sadie. She needed a hypoallergenic dog.

"Needed the basis of the poodle, but I didn't really care for poodles for looks, so the schnoodle is perfect," Heckman said.

Experts said perfection is not what you should expect from a designer dog.

"You're playing genetic crapshoot there," said animal behavioralist Denise Gurff. "You're going to get what comes out and you're not going to know for the next 10 years how that dog actually turned out."

Gurff said she saw pet stores reject the "golden doodle," which combined a golden retriever and a poodle.

"Somebody thought they were getting a sweet little poodle -- what they got was a sweet golden retriever that's high energy and ready to rock," she said.

Gurff said there's no real way to predict if a dog will have a certain temperament. In some cases, she said, crossing purebreds such as pugs and dachshunds can make an unhealthy pup.

"You're getting a dog that might have a weak rear-end and a dog that might have all sorts of breathing problems," Gurff said.

Tully agreed that not every combination is ideal.

"Sometimes it's difficult to sell some of the crossbreed puppies. I think the labradoodle is the perfect example. You don't know if they're going to shed. You don't what their hair's going to look like. Some are cute and fluffy and some have straggly hair," she said.

Heckman said her designer dog is the perfect companion.

"You're just like my baby, aren't you?" Heckman said, petting Sadie

[briarlow]

Umm yes, unfortunately a lot of these cross breeds are now in the UK. Why they are needed I don't know because there are enough pedigree breeds with different looks to suit everyone's needs.

What makes me laugh the most is that people buy Labradoodles etc. because of the look that they hope to have, but all they need to do in reality is have a Poodle and just have it in a puppy clip for the whole of it's life then it will look more like a Labradoodle.

There was someone recently who asked me was a dog a Labradoodle, I said no, it's a Standard Poodle that hasn't been clipped they didn't believe me and walked off as though I was stupid!

[DakotaSpirit]

The breeding of designer dogs is just ....fusterating. It really is becoming quite a problem and the shelter I work at brings in more and more 'oodle' dogs daily. I make a point to never use the cutesy designer name should I encounter one of these dogs because I don't want to show or encourage anyone into beliving that I support the breeding of these mixed bred dogs.

Briarlow, that seems to be happening more and more these days. Ignorant people who know nothing about actual breeds no longer even care to learn. They'd just rather go pick up the nearest 'doodle' out of the closest backyard

[KennelMom]

pure breds will never be passe...the doodle fad will wane just like the country's interest in other fads. At least on message boards, I'm starting to see a social stigma on those who purchase a doodle/designer breed (which is great!)...hopefully this is the beginning of the end and the designer breeders will go out of business.

[mainesheltie]

When I first started seeing these 'designer' dogs, my thought was why are these people creating mutts and why are consumers shelling out $$$ for them. The answer for the first part, of course, is $$$. But why anyone wants to pay major money for them is beyond me.

Then, after reading about it here, it was like, "OH, MY LORD". These designer dogs are not mutts. And there WILL be problems in the future for what these people are breeding. And, like one post said, there are so many breeds to suit most any persuasion.....

Only Mother Nature can make a pure mutt; and we all know it's not nice to fool Mother Nature. Mutts are grand; designer dogs maybe not so much.

Any designer breeders care to enlighten me as to their methodology?

[Ritz459]

Heckman said that's what drew her to schnoodle Sadie. She needed a hypoallergenic dog.

First off....no breed is hypoallergenic. Low shedding, yes, hypoallergenic...not so much.

A "schnoodle" is a crossbreed of a schnauzer and a poodle. Breeders said they're often bred together because poodles are non-shedding.

*sarcasm*Because we all know that Schnauzers just shed everywhere...I mean, they shed worse than Chows...*end sarcasm*...come on people....

You're playing genetic crapshoot there," said animal behavioralist Denise Gurff. "You're going to get what comes out and you're not going to know for the next 10 years how that dog actually turned out."

Gurff said she saw pet stores reject the "golden doodle," which combined a golden retriever and a poodle.

"Somebody thought they were getting a sweet little poodle -- what they got was a sweet golden retriever that's high energy and ready to rock," she said.

Gurff said there's no real way to predict if a dog will have a certain temperament. In some cases, she said, crossing purebreds such as pugs and dachshunds can make an unhealthy pup.

"You're getting a dog that might have a weak rear-end and a dog that might have all sorts of breathing problems," Gurff said.... "I think the labradoodle is the perfect example. You don't know if they're going to shed. You don't what their hair's going to look like. Some are cute and fluffy and some have straggly hair," she said.

Thank you!

[dedeeboru]

I don't understand the point of a schnoodle.
If you want a soft/curly coated terrier who won't shed why not get a bedlington, a kerry, or a wheaton???
I've had a ton of poodle crosses but not for a bazillion dollars from a petstore. The free-to-good home mutt puppies that have always been.

[brandysmama]

That's what I didn't get in the article, either. My ILs' purebred schnauzer doesn't ever seem to shed, even after a bath or when he gets to the point where he needs a trim. Why get a schnoodle if you don't want a "shedding" breed? A schnauzer would work just fine, I would think...

[Ritz459]

"I think it's interesting to see what different breeds will produce together," said Julie Tully, a kennel owner.

If you want to see how interesting mixed breeds are go walk down to an animal shelter and look at all of the unique and wonderful mixes that are on deathrow. Wow, so now the reason to breed a dog is because it looks cute?

[DakotaSpirit]

Originally Posted by Ritz459

If you want to see how interesting mixed breeds are go walk down to an animal shelter and look at all of the unique and wonderful mixes that are on deathrow. Wow, so now the reason to breed a dog is because it looks cute?

Amen to that. I am so sick of people thinking dogs or any animal for that matter are little more then their personal play toys, giving little regard to what is actually best for that particular animal >_>

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

My comments on the current "woo". :

Puggles, Labradoodles, and Jackapoos

[Swiftwind]

That article makes my blood boil!

[Sayuri]

Normally these things just burn me up - but this time I had to laugh a little bit, just because of the title. Anyone who takes one look at my dogs is going to think twice about calling them "passe." This breed has been around since the Joumon period, and they STILL get people talking and looking.

And if they ever did become "passe." Ha - more for me.

[Ritz459]

Crossfire, in the link you posted, you do have to admit....that pug/beagle mix puppy is seriously CUTE! I personally love that mix, but I hate the idea that people are breeding them. I didn't see the name of the author for the article...who wrote it, just for curiosities sake?

[DakotaSpirit]

Originally Posted by Sayuri

Normally these things just burn me up - but this time I had to laugh a little bit, just because of the title. Anyone who takes one look at my dogs is going to think twice about calling them "passe." This breed has been around since the Joumon period, and they STILL get people talking and looking.

And if they ever did become "passe." Ha - more for me.

Hahah! I completely agree!