Interesting dog behaviourist chat

Slave2Magic

Slave2Magic

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I was talking to a lady yesterday who is a dog behaviourist. She was telling me that the amount of dogs that she has seen in the last 6 months has increased dramatically. The majority of them are the designer crosses that are so popular at the moment. According to her these new crosses are a problem waiting to happen and their temperament leave alot to be desired. Any thoughts on this? I would have thought that it's a bit of a lottery. You could get the best of both breeds or the worst.
 
Hmmm - it can indeed be a bit of a lottery, but my first question is, is it the dogs, or the owners? Are these dogs being bought by inexperienced people on a bit of a whim - thus leading to problems?
 
I don't think you can blame the dogs or the cross as such. I have an old english cross GSD; he is the dopiest most laid back dog I've ever met. I am constantly being complemented about how well mannered he is and how calm he is for an 8 month old, he goes beating etc and all the farmers are shocked at how immaculatly he is behaved. BUT I don't think he would have been like this without alot of hardwork, I got him I knew he'd be big and strong so Ive worked so hard with training etc so that he is like he is. I've trained him from day 1 and I believe that is 90% why he is how he is. His sister went to a young family and she is crazy, very friendlybut hyper, she digs she runs she jumps she doesn't listen. So it's not 100% down to the breed type... I don't think anyway!
 
thats really interesting - i wonder is is due to the kind of people who want these 'designer dogs' (not all of course), are they people who see them as designer style toys and aren't as equipped to deal with problems?
 
I think it’s a mixture of reasons why. Over recent years a number of pedigrees have become far more unhealthy with a desire to bring new blood into the mix to improve health. You also have far more people allowing their dogs to mix to “see what happens”. Labradoodle is the biggest con going (I have seen some lovely specimens however I have also seen some mental ones) as they were marketed as good for allergy sufferers.
I think the yanks have a lot to answer for regarding this also as they seem to be perpetrators in this .
People want to look ‘Hard’.
People want to own ‘Wolves’
There are also far more exposure to “new breeds” on the television which I also think is resulting in this.

I would also say that the breeds that have survived over the years are breeds that have had a job. Most of these jobs are being replaced by technology which means they are being bred almost totally for their looks not temperament. This of course results in all the issues we are seeing today…
 
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I would say it is most definitely the people who buy them, falling for the cute names like "puggle" or "peek-a-poms" and presented with these puppies that are just balls of fluff. It doesn't suprise me that they have/will cause a problem.

There are enough people buying pure breed dogs that have not got a clue about them, so to then start mixing them all up to get the "really cute" mix carelessly leaving temperament to pot luck is plain crazy, in my eyes.
I was chatting to someone the other day who is buying a "weimerdoodle". £400. I wished him good luck - and googled them when I got in. Looks like just a shaggy haired mutt - plenty of them chucking about in rescues. Could've got a long haired weimaraner, at least. I don't get it.

NOTE - I don't have a problem with crosses in general, just ones for this bizarre designer phase.
 
'Trendy' dogs worry me too. We have a malamute and I read in the daily mail that they are increasing in popularity. They are incredibly cute as puppies but are so stubborn and wilful and I don't think make very good first dogs.

I have already started to see them come in to rescues (there is one in a rescue I've seen on here and she is gorge!) and this saddens me as with lots of training, they awesome dogs and I love mine, but wouldn't (and don't) recommend them to many people.
 
That is interesting. Most puggles (Pug X Beagle) we've encountered have been absolute lunatics. Same for Labradoodles. I'm not talking aggressive; this is in reference to exorbitant amounts of energy more in line with a Border Collie.

I think the people who rescue designer crosses are one thing, but I have to question the substance and expertise of someone who buys a "hybrid". (Please note that in New York City, buying a "designer dog" typically involves walking into a pet shop, plunking down $1000-2000 and walking out with your whim purchase in less than five minutes.)
 
Im thinking def msotly down to owner, I think the majority of people buying these "designer crosses" are very dog inexperienced anyhow! which does not help, it tends to be the absoloute "ignorant" that buy them, because who else would fall for such crap and pay such money? cetainly not a dog savy person they want a well bred dog or a rescue with no tests and no stupid price tag, IMO those with to much money and NIL experience are flood buying these dogs, they do no homework and simply fall for a made up name that sounds cute and make them into their own little fluffy baby, think nothing of exercise "because little dogs dont need it and neither do dogs with posh names or posh hair cuts":rolleyes: "recipe for disaster"
 
Just for the interest of it the last hand in's we have had for problematic behaviour:rolleyes: by this I mean "natural behaviour and renound traits";)

A mini poodle (12 months)
A shih Tzu (10 months)
A beagle (16 months)
A cairn terrier (14 months)

The last call I got for advice was for a westi (1 year)

All of the above, was owner error, the dogs are indeed fine and normal with no behavioural issues however all display normal breed traits.:p
 
we have a schnoodle - mni poodle x mini schnauzer she was rehomed to us when she was 5. She had been ignored and not trained or even walked. i must say she has turned out to be the best behaved dog we have ever had.
 
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