Cross breeds

ycbm said:
Barack Obama's dog? I love that. Looked a bit bigger than a cocker poo, but very much the same type to look at. Also non shedding aren't they?
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Depends what type of cockerpoo you are comparing them to....as in what size poo was used in the creation of said mutt! :)
Also, the Spanish variant is smaller - minimum height being 15.5 inches as opposed to the minimum 17.5 inches of the Portugese version.

And yes, non-shedding............allegedly (both of them, according to the KC.)
 
Firstly let me say I am not a dog snob. I have had some fantastic mutts of indeterminate parentage. I have also had pedigree dogs with severe health problems. All but one of my dogs have been rescues.

I used to meet a very nice chap who was extremely proud of his Australian Labradoodle bred in Wales. He paid £2000 a few years ago and felt it was money well spent but even he joked that he had paid £2000 for a mongrel.

He had done a lot of homework before buying from this breeder. The parents are thoroughly health tested. Pups are now selling from between £2000 and £3000.

Incidentally, the pup was already neutered when he got him. I am not sure but I think all the pups are spayed/neutered pre adoption. (I am totally against early spay/neuter for reasons I won't go into here). I did not meet him as a pup. Early neuter had not made him anxious - very confident, assertive dog (bit of a bully) who totally ignored his devoted owner's recall.

I thought it was a ridiculous amount for a cross breed (or any dog come to that) but if someone has the money and that's how they want to spend it then it is their business.

I don't think buying a cross breed can be any more of a gamble than buying a pedigree dog when it comes to health and temperament but don't get me started..... I've got a bit of a bee in my bonnet at the moment about 2 GSD breeders that have come to my notice.

I meet some lovely little Cockerpoos, in fact I haven't met a bad one. I also meet a long haired Chihuahua, a brilliant little dog who is allowed to be a dog and was perfectly happy round my big girls when they were alive (Saluki X and Greyhound X). The Cockers I meet, at least 3 of which are working lines in pet homes, are busy but well adjusted dogs and their needs are being met.
 
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Interesting - the ones I know are very bouncy and energetic, but very nice people with it....i don't notice them being particularly stressy, but then I don't have to live with them. Though they definitely do have the collie car chasing trait :p
 
CorvusCorax said:
Stall the wedding here - why are we saying these breeds 'look like' cockerpoos, doodles etc - shouldn't it be the other way around :p
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Only if MOC says it's okay ;) But yes, I think so. Except then we risk making the breeds in question too popular for their own good, so maybe not. But otterhounds are epic and I want more people to know about them so yes. But BYB exist so no...

<conflicted>
 
do you haver an otterhound KITT? I've not seen any for so long but back in the 90s :p we had a breeder at the vet practice I worked at, they were such friendly lovely dogs (and energetic, soo energetic lol). I actually breifly looked into them when looking at different breeds but figured they were a bit beyond me but yes, totally epic :D
 
MotherOfChickens said:
do you haver an otterhound KITT? I've not seen any for so long but back in the 90s :p we had a breeder at the vet practice I worked at, they were such friendly lovely dogs (and energetic, soo energetic lol). I actually breifly looked into them when looking at different breeds but figured they were a bit beyond me but yes, totally epic :D
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Sadly no, MOC. A family friend breeds them and I spend a lot of time telling myself that actually owning one probably wouldn't be practical for us :( Gorgeous dogs.
 
They really are lovely dogs. Funnily enough my mother did the KC 'What breed' test recently and it suggested an otterhound. For a couple in their 80's, one disabled with no garden I am not sure that would work!
 
I don't understand why cross breeds can't be worth as much as a pedigree (lets face it, a lot of the time they're healthier!). They could still have been bred from perfectly nice parents. I have a labradoodle who we paid for and she's worth every penny for her temperament alone. She's a truly fantastic mix. Surely the only aim is to produce a really nice natured and healthy dog?

Pure bred horses don't automatically command higher prices than part breds, why on earth do people have such an issue with this with dogs?!
 
MagicMelon said:
I don't understand why cross breeds can't be worth as much as a pedigree (lets face it, a lot of the time they're healthier!). They could still have been bred from perfectly nice parents. I have a labradoodle who we paid for and she's worth every penny for her temperament alone. She's a truly fantastic mix. Surely the only aim is to produce a really nice natured and healthy dog?
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Oh god, I haven&#8217;t seen the hybrid vigour thing mentioned for ages! I thought that myth was exploded?

A cross breed is no healthier than the pedigree counterpart (I think I&#8217;d make brachy dogs the exception) and could be less healthy if two incompatible breeds are used or if the pedigree version has had health tested parents. Health testing is pretty much the only way forward to improve health of any puppies.

Obviously, some breed stereotypes have been exaggerated for the show ring and they have a poor reputation and some have hereditary issues eg purine in dallies. Other than that, I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s fair to say that crosses are always healthier.

I think rather than making potential laws about puppies having to stay with the dam til 8 weeks, by which time the dam is knackered and has had enough, maybe the law should be to stop breeding because your dog has a uterus and the parents MUST have all the relevant health tests.

I&#8217;m on a rant, best stop!
 
cinnamontoast said:
Health testing is pretty much the only way forward to improve health of any puppies.
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Just to play devil's advocate - and don't get me wrong, I am all about the health testing and I only have pedigree(ish) dogs - there's an argument that in a closed gene pool there will come a time that the only way to improve health and avoid catastrophic rates of inbreeding will be to outcross.
 
blackcob said:
Just to play devil's advocate - and don't get me wrong, I am all about the health testing and I only have pedigree(ish) dogs - there's an argument that in a closed gene pool there will come a time that the only way to improve health and avoid catastrophic rates of inbreeding will be to outcross.
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I am also an advocate for health testing but agree that outcrossing is likely going to be the only way forward in the future due to ever drcreasing gene pools in pedigree dogs.
 
MagicMelon said:
I don't understand why cross breeds can't be worth as much as a pedigree (lets face it, a lot of the time they're healthier!). They could still have been bred from perfectly nice parents. I have a labradoodle who we paid for and she's worth every penny for her temperament alone. She's a truly fantastic mix. Surely the only aim is to produce a really nice natured and healthy dog?

Pure bred horses don't automatically command higher prices than part breds, why on earth do people have such an issue with this with dogs?!
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Personally I think everything being equal (health tests, rearing, socialisation, lifetime support etc) there should be no reason why a crossbred puppy should cost (or be worth) less than a pedigree puppy.
 
WorkingGSD said:
Personally I think everything being equal (health tests, rearing, socialisation, lifetime support etc) there should be no reason why a crossbred puppy should cost (or be worth) less than a pedigree puppy.
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hmmm. so there's no small recompense (and I don't mean profit per se because I dont believe there is one when you take everything into account) for the training, campaigning, effort (in finding the' right' dogs throughout a breeding program) for someone who's spent years/decades in building up a successful line of proven dogs?
 
MotherOfChickens said:
hmmm. so there's no small recompense (and I don't mean profit per se because I dont believe there is one when you take everything into account) for the training, campaigning, effort (in finding the' right' dogs throughout a breeding program) for someone who's spent years/decades in building up a successful line of proven dogs?
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The truth is people can charge what they like for their puppies whether they are well established breeders or the person down the street, it is up to the consumer to be discerning (or not) about where they choose to buy a pup from and what price they are prepared to pay.
 
If someone had a bitch in season who was a pedegree of any breed and whilst out walking it happened across an entire male dog of a different breed and inevitably became pregnant would the owner then sell these pups for a lot of money calling them a combined name of both parents? No health checks no guarantee of temperament and this is happening bit people are paying hundreds of pounds for these pups.
 
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