Change in breed desirability?

Cinnamontoast

Cinnamontoast

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Ran into a pet food shop to top up on food and saw an Airedale, an Old English sheepdog puppy, a dalmatian and possibly a Welsh springer, as well as a teeny cavalier puppy. Normally, I'd see cavapoo, cavapoo, other poodle x. Are others noticing a change in what breeds are around? There are 2 unrelated pointers in the park too.
 
Haven't seen the only rough collie in my area for ages ?

We are finally managing to be sociable in the park. Pups are very respectful, sitting to greet big dogs. They're desperate to run off and play but there's no way they're coming off the longlines yet!
 
Christmascinnamoncookie said:
Ran into a pet food shop to top up on food and saw an Airedale, an Old English sheepdog puppy, a dalmatian and possibly a Welsh springer, as well as a teeny cavalier puppy. Normally, I'd see cavapoo, cavapoo, other poodle x. Are others noticing a change in what breeds are around? There are 2 unrelated pointers in the park too.
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I think you're maybe right CT, I've seen a very big variety of dogs on our walks recently and I'm often asking owners what they are.
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Could it be that all the poos have become so expensive it is actually no dearer to buy a pedigree dog? Once upon a time mongrels were cheap and plentiful and pedigree dogs needed a well-heeled discerning buyer but mongrels now all have fancy names and commensurate price tags. I actually saw an ad for a couple of poo pups reduced last week.
 
Much probably depends on where you live. I’m in shooting and sheep country so there’s always a high percentage of gundogs (mainly Labradors, WCS, ESS and the odd GWP as well as terriers mainly Patterdale) and working sheepdogs (mostly border collies but also working beardies and the odd Kelpie or huntaway). When I drive the 30 mins down hill to one of the many lovely beaches there are still plenty of poos and doodles around. WCS and Labs also seem extremely popular and still outnumber poos I would say from my non scientific and very anecdotal and limited study ?. Rarely see GSDs other than my own, and haven’t seen once popular breeds such as Irish & English Setters, Rough Collie or OES in years.
 
There are a couple of OES round here. My best friend and her parents were pretty big in the breed in the 80s and 90s so sorta grew up with them. Great dogs, but unless they are in a tight clip, the coat can be a real PITA. Also prone to HD/ED and epilepsy so I can see why they are not that popular as pets any more. The pool of good/responsible breeders is pretty small. Their last champion male was a hoot, he thought if he couldn't see you, you couldn't see him, he would stick his head behind the sofa and think he was invisible :p
 
I don't think many people near us have doodle types, I can't imagine having to get the mud off one every day is much fun. Labs, gun dogs or cranky terriers are the norm near us.
 
I sometimes see 3 lovely pointers up on the hills. Can't remember last time I saw a setter, red or English. Plenty of Labs, Spaniels and Collies but no Shelties or roughs. Did see a Cav puppy a year ago ...

Mostly Staffs, dogs that can't breathe and doodles in the town though.

And wanted ads for terriers seem to be frequent on the internet sites.
 
I was not quite actively looking for an English setter litter at one point, although the OH will not change breeds, we’ve had springers for almost 20 years plus it was his childhood breed.

I saw one lovely looking litter in Eire, the import issue just seems to be a pain when I could easily access a springer litter in England. Otherwise, they seem ridiculously rare, is it the leish issue? Or they’re just not popular? I know breeds go in and out of fashion but you can’t find them for love nor money in the U.K. I think they’re gorgeous.

On the pointer front, Bear told off the young bitch in the park today. She’s very in yer face and was bitten/chin torn by a very calm dog last week because she slammed into him. Whilst the puppy pandemic group is great to give the puppies introductions to friendly dogs, the owners literally stand round talking, the dogs go nuts around them, they don’t get an actual walk. I dunno if they’re building problems, but there are 2 gun dogs in the group.

My OH did training with Bear while I did introductions with the pups then we took them away to do recall/sit/stay training with the group as a deliberate distraction.
 
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Everything is a doodle type, some variety of dachshund or an unidentifiable bull type breed of a blueish hue. You see the odd lab or cocker spaniel, and border terrier here and there but…they’re the exception.

We have seen a beautiful pair of Gordon setters, and a Keeshond this week - which was nice. Controversially I met and fell in love with an Irish setter x standard poodle, who was more like a shaggy Afghan - and generally I don’t do designer dogs.
 
Christmascinnamoncookie said:
I can’t understand the point, except to make the dog look fierce. It must be done without anaesthetic as it’s illegal.
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I know, its horrible. I think people try to get round it by saying the dogs are imported but in reality it will probably be done by the breeders with no pain relief much like tail docking I guess.
 
We saw a pair of beautiful Flat-coated Retrievers today, several Border Collies, many spaniels of various kinds and dozens of terriers as we swelled the number of Labs at Cannon Hall Park today. Not one 'poo'. We also saw an unfamiliar Ridgeback in the village as we set off. There is a pair that we see regularly but this wasn't one of them.
 
Seem to be loads of GSPs about these days. There's a couple of Irish setters in town. Also haven't seen a Rough or Sheltie for years, our neighbours used to keep them.

There was a very good English Setter breeder in Hereford but don't know if they're still going.

That park group sounds like a nightmare CT. You're just relying on strangers/their dogs not being dicks.

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CorvusCorax said:
park group sounds like a nightmare CT. You're just relying on strangers/their dogs not being dicks.

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Huh? I do know what I'm doing. I've been observing the group since it formed over a year and a half ago and scrupulously avoiding them. I have approached once or twice before we had the puppies without Zak.

I supervise very closely and bring them away once they've done a polite hello/had a few minutes sniff. I'm not about to allow mine to be involved and just stand chatting, nor do I want them involved in altercations. None of them nasty dogs. As per, I will be training on walks, not standing chatting.

Not sure why I'm justifying myself but I think you have entirely the wrong idea about what I'm doing.
 
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Until recently it was a standing joke that to get a dog in our village it had to be a cockerpoo or a labradoodle and be badly behaved. The last few months there have been more terrier types, both pure bred and crosses, a couple of vizlas, a couple of pointers, some nice labs as well as a setter and several schnauzers of varying sizes.
It has become much nicer to walk round here apart from one very bouncy very mad lab whose owner always shouts don't worry he's friendly as he knocks people over and runs over small dogs. There is also a dalmatian of similar character. Overall there does seem to be a change. There are also two lovely bearded collies I see regularly.
 
P3LH said:
Everything is a doodle type, some variety of dachshund or an unidentifiable bull type breed of a blueish hue. You see the odd lab or cocker spaniel, and border terrier here and there but…they’re the exception.

We have seen a beautiful pair of Gordon setters, and a Keeshond this week - which was nice. Controversially I met and fell in love with an Irish setter x standard poodle, who was more like a shaggy Afghan - and generally I don’t do designer dogs.
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My childhood dog was a Keeshond, beautiful, loyal, stubborn! I couldn't cope with the grooming or I'd have one like a shot!
 
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Christmascinnamoncookie said:
QUOTE="CorvusCorax, post: 14805546, member: 50952"]park group sounds like a nightmare CT. You're just relying on strangers/their dogs not being dicks.

View attachment 85105

Huh? I do know what I'm doing. I've been observing the group since it formed over a year and a half ago and scrupulously avoiding them. I have approached once or twice before we had the puppies without Zak.

I supervise very closely and bring them away once they've done a polite hello/had a few minutes sniff. I'm not about to allow mine to be involved and just stand chatting, nor do I want them involved in altercations. None of them nasty dogs. As per, I will be training on walks, not standing chatting.

Not sure why I'm justifying myself but I think you have entirely the wrong idea about what I'm doing.
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Okie dokie. Probably being governed by what I see at the dog park, which makes me shudder, it was just the description of others allowing things to get to the stage where a dog had it's chin torn.
 
Christmascinnamoncookie said:
QUOTE="CorvusCorax, post: 14805546, member: 50952"]park group sounds like a nightmare CT. You're just relying on strangers/their dogs not being dicks.

View attachment 85105
Click to expand...

Huh? I do know what I'm doing. I've been observing the group since it formed over a year and a half ago and scrupulously avoiding them. I have approached once or twice before we had the puppies without Zak.

I supervise very closely and bring them away once they've done a polite hello/had a few minutes sniff. I'm not about to allow mine to be involved and just stand chatting, nor do I want them involved in altercations. None of them nasty dogs. As per, I will be training on walks, not standing chatting.

Not sure why I'm justifying myself but I think you have entirely the wrong idea about what I'm doing.
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Although from a socialisation position, there’s nothing wrong with standing and chatting.

I met a lovely couple today with a charming BC puppy. We stood and chatted for about 5 mins (their puppy on its lead, mine also). All dogs had a very polite introduction and then we resumed our chat. It was great for their puppy who quietly sat by them (mine likewise), whilst we talked about how great our dogs were ? and I described some nice walks for them to discover.
 
Christmascinnamoncookie said:
QUOTE="CorvusCorax, post: 14805546, member: 50952"]park group sounds like a nightmare CT. You're just relying on strangers/their dogs not being dicks.

View attachment 85105
Click to expand...

Huh? I do know what I'm doing. I've been observing the group since it formed over a year and a half ago and scrupulously avoiding them. I have approached once or twice before we had the puppies without Zak.

I supervise very closely and bring them away once they've done a polite hello/had a few minutes sniff. I'm not about to allow mine to be involved and just stand chatting, nor do I want them involved in altercations. None of them nasty dogs. As per, I will be training on walks, not standing chatting.

Not sure why I'm justifying myself but I think you have entirely the wrong idea about what I'm doing.[/QUOTE]


I am certainly not suggesting that you don't know what you are doing, I know that you have had plenty of experience with dogs but what you describe would be one of my worst nightmares. I want my dogs to be dog neutral, not to approach others in any situation. We took 3 today (our 2 x 2yr old Labs and the 6 month Lab pup that we look after when her owner is at work) to a local(ish)place of interest where there were many dogs and children running around. Ours went of lead, with a ball to play with and totally ignored all the other dogs, as they have been trained to do. I am pleased to say that none of the others approached ours ,either. Most of the other dogs were in small groups too and it really seems to me that when they are with their pack, they couldn't care less about other dogs.
 
Sorry folks didn't mean to derail thread/piss people off. I'm going to go and get something to eat now and hopefully that will make the horns retract ?

At my local park people just allow their dogs to bomb up to others despite a leash order and why wouldn't they, they're allowed to in the dog park bit/at daycare etc.
 
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