Misleading cross-breeds

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lizziebell

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Haven't been on here for a while, but needed to vent a bit of frustration and H&H is a great outlet.

A friend of ours has bought a cross-breed. Nothing wrong in that, but they seem to be under the impression they have bought a pure bred puppy, and therefore have spent a silly amount. She keeps telling me how she would recommend "the Cavachon Breed" to anyone looking for a family dog.

IT IS NOT A BREED !!!

(Same friend who wouldn't buy from the local rescue because she said they were mongrels)

My main issue, is that there seems to be a lot of these cross-breeds being irresponsibily marketed and bought by niave people who do not understand what they are buying, and these breeders seem to be asking silly amounts for these "designer" dogs.

When did cross-breeds start getting labels of thier own? The first I remember is the Labradoodle.
 
When some idiot thought it would be a clever marketing ploy to name them silly names instead of saying something like cross between X and Y ;)

My boy was advertised as a border collie springer spaniel mix. A few months later loads of puppies were being advertised as sprollies...
 
Don't get me started. Jug puppies for ffs sake!!! Jack-a-poos!! Just silly money for mongrels which you can get for £150 adoption fee at local rescue centre!
 
Jake10 said:
When some idiot thought it would be a clever marketing ploy to name them silly names instead of saying something like cross between X and Y ;)

My boy was advertised as a border collie springer spaniel mix. A few months later loads of puppies were being advertised as sprollies...
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I have one of these and I always call her a Sprollie but always make it clear that she is a cross English Springer/ Welsh Border Collie, she is a wonderful dog and having met many cross breed dogs they are lovely but at the end of the day they are not purebreeds and should not be sold as such. Can't imagine anyone thinking they have bought a pedigree though when they know the breeding of the animal but I don't see any harm in making up names for them as long as they are honest about the breeding.
 
Crugeran Celt said:
Can't imagine anyone thinking they have bought a pedigree though when they know the breeding of the animal ...
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Not everyone has a clear understanding of what pedigree breeding is, and believe if they see it says mum and dad are pedigree kennel club registered that the puppies will therefore be "pedigree", despite mum and dad being different breeds.
 
lizziebell said:
Not everyone has a clear understanding of what pedigree breeding is, and believe if they see it says mum and dad are pedigree kennel club registered that the puppies will therefore be "pedigree", despite mum and dad being different breeds.
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It is so sad that someone who looks to buy a dog and spend a lot of money doing so are not prepared to do their homework on the breeding. I looked for another Sprollie a couple of years after having the first but found them to be more expensive than a pure bred springer so got one of them instead!:)
 
i totally agree. Cross bred dogs make wonderful pets just like any other dog but the hype around silly named and being able to charge hundreds means 'lay people' are being bamboozled.

I have a colleague who has two Cockerpoos and raves about them as a 'breed', there is even a Cockerpoo forum apparently!!

And all this F1, F2 business :rolleyes:
 
Never seen the fascination to be honest. Especially cross poodles. They were a dog old ladies had for companionship when I was a child.
 
Kaylum said:
Never seen the fascination to be honest. Especially cross poodles. They were a dog old ladies had for companionship when I was a child.
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lol, so true!

All the people i know who have a something-poo or a something-doodle have all told me that they would never have a pet poodle as they think they are horrible. They why have a dog that is half poodle? Weird logic sometimes :)
 
Nobody wanted pedigree poodles they were never popular. I don't dislike them a lady next do had one but he was very high maintenance another thing not considered if they don't molt you have to clip them.
 
We had a lady ring up yesterday asking us to take her "cairnoodle" puppy! I mean for goodness sake... luckily the poor little lass looks like a cairn and is not as weird as the name would suggest! :D
My mum's friend has a cockerpoo and mum raves about what a fab "breed" they are, and what a fantastic dog it is. Meanwhile the lady's husband keeps about 6 fantastic pedigree working springers outside and mum just refers to them as "those kennel dogs" *sigh*
 
I don't really mind, people can call their dogs what they like imo, and its like a lot of language.. it gets shortened lol. A quick google will soon tell them the cross.. and if anyone is daft enough to think them a 'breed' then so be it, they might well be one day given that we humans have created every other breed in existence. The KC reg thing doesn't really work either given that jack russels wouldn't be a breed then either... and most people would certainly consider them so.

I actually think the F1/F2 thing is quite important as people do then actually know what they are getting (if they want to know).
 
What bugs me is that some unscrupulous breeders are jumping on the bandwagon of designer crossbreeds and claiming all sorts about 'hybrid vigour, non moulting' which is utter nonsense.

I cannot understand the prices for these dogs, particularly when the majority of these BYB don't seem to health test so may be doubling problems rather than trying to eliminate them. Call the dog what you like, I will laugh quietly as people pay crazy money for what is effectively a mongrel.
 
but, if it is none pedigree you can't show it.. is there anything else you cannot do?

surely if hypothetically somebody is breeding good quality cross breeds and having all relevant health tests done on the parents it is no cheaper to bring one of those puppies into this world as it would their pedigree counterparts, if so why should they be cheaper? We don't expect cross breed horses to be generally cheaper particularly, particularly if it is a cross done well.

I just don't get the only pedigree is right and worth it argument just because ;) and it is down to the potential owners to check out their breeders.. which seems to not always work/be the case whether we are talking pedigrees or not as the recent labrador puppy threads have shown.
 
When I bought my sprollie I payed next to nothing for her because she was not a pedigree, crazy to think people are paying more now for these cross breeds than a pedigree. Does make you wonder about the intelligence of these new 'breed' of owners! Are they fit to own a dog if they are so unaware of what they are taking on?
 
Crugeran Celt said:
When I bought my sprollie I payed next to nothing for her because she was not a pedigree, crazy to think people are paying more now for these cross breeds than a pedigree. Does make you wonder about the intelligence of these new 'breed' of owners! Are they fit to own a dog if they are so unaware of what they are taking on?
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Hence why so many dogs end up in rescue :(
 
This might well cause a problem in the future as with mine, a Sprollie, an English springer full of energy and needs plenty of exercise and a Collie, a working dog that needs lots of mental stimulation. She has 3 walks everyday, a short one around our fields and neighbours fields moring and night when the horses are all checked and a walk of between 5 and 8 miles during the day depending on how much time myself or OH have. She is very fit and totally happy to lie in her bed for the rest of the time in the house. If she was with someone who didn't walk her she would be manic! As someone said earlier you could also be breeding the worst of the two breeds instead of the best.
 
ester said:
surely if hypothetically somebody is breeding good quality cross breeds and having all relevant health tests done on the parents it is no cheaper to bring one of those puppies into this world as it would their pedigree counterparts, if so why should they be cheaper? We don't expect cross breed horses to be generally cheaper particularly, particularly if it is a cross done well.

I just don't get the only pedigree is right and worth it argument just because ;)
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Personally couldn't care less if people get crosses or mongrels.

The point is, not many of these BYBs are healthtesting, are they, yet they're charging silly prices for the pups because they have 'interesting' names and are the latest greatest idea :rolleyes: Some of the crazy claims about the health/coat I've seen are misleading and some naïve people will be persuaded to buy what is more than likely a puppy farmed dog with potential health issues. If they're lucky, they'll get a healthy cross which is not a 'breed'.

I didn't say that only pedigrees are right, although I would only have a pedigree or a proper Heinz 57 as opposed to some 'designer' cross. Equally, puppy farmers should be named, shamed and banned from owning even one dog. :mad:
 
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But does a X breed NEED to be health tested? I mean if you get Labradors X Poodles for example, doesn't the Poodle ((help)) eliminate the hip problems a lab may have? I'm happy to be told otherwise, but I think people assume this is the case hence they breed the X, and obviously the ''fancy name'' that comes with that cross is an added bonus on the marketing side.

I do think that puppy farms need to go though. Or at the very least be under strict orders to keep to welfare.
 
no, they are still susceptible to the problems had by one parent and a lot of crosses are from parents with the same issues and I think anyone breeding should be testing.

CT, do most BYB charge more for the crosses or the pedigrees they chuck out? Is a poorly bred cross more than a poorly bred choc lab for example because of the name? If not then it isn't the name that is helping and I wouldn't think that the labs are actually worth more just because they are labs if the are rubbish (if that makes sense)

I know some would say that a pedigree does have more inherent 'value' but am just not sure that I go along with that unless I wanted to show or breed myself. I think some (rarer) pedigrees are justifiably pricier as with anything that poss has a supply v demand issue. (or if you have to C-sec because that breed cannot give birth naturally ;) :p )
 
I would suggest that the majority of breeders don't health test, crosses or pedigree. I'm talking about those who I've seen advertising as opposed to those who breed to keep back a pup and/or show and consider creating a waiting list before breeding.

Looking at eg poodle crosses, say cavapoos, the prices they are charging are ridiculous compared to what is charged for a cavalier or poodle. I see why someone might think using a poodle would be fab re the non moulting issue, but there are some crosses that I don't understand and of course, there are no guarantees re moulting/eliminating health problems when crossing.

It seems that BYBs are jumping on the bandwagon left right and centre and producing crosses just because they can with little thought as to why they're doing it other than financial reasons. :confused:
 
yes, that is more comparing like with like I think and indicating the diff a name/sales pitch is making.

The onus really does have to be on the purchasers though, as where there is a market and they keep selling the BYBs will keep going.
 
daftdog.jpg

My Daniff. bought for peanuts and fit as a flea. Hopefully she'll stay that way
 
Believe it or not rare pedigree breeds are not more expensive than more common breeds, we have a rare breed a Lancashire Heeler who is on the vunerable list and she cost £550. She is from health tested parents and she is also DNA tested, I believe there were 4pups in her litter which is about the norm for this breed so the breeder is never going to get rich breeding these but is breeding for the love of the breed. Thankfully because of the low price and small litters they are not going to appeal to puppy farmers.
 
£750 each:
Description
Superb litter of Cockerpoo pups. We have 4 boys and 1 Girl (girl and one boy now reserved) All our pups are Optigen PRA clear by DNA (which means the pup will never develop hereditary eye disease) Mum is our lovely pet Cockerpoo Marly, and father( who is at stud) is Tango a Toy red Poodle. Pups are wormed every two weeks since birth, will have there 1st vaccination and flead with frontline. 4 weeks free insurance, and vet checked.Pups will be ready for new homes on the 4th July. KC assured Breeder. Non refundable deposit £100 required to secure your pup. please see ads on preloved and pets4homes for phone no.

£425 each:
Description
Ready now! K.C registered toy poodle puppies.... Apricot & Black dogs and Apricot bitches available...both parents bva eye tested and here to meet, mum is a K.C registered chocolate poodle, dad is a registered over sized Apricot toy poodle both have super loving characters.. puppies are raised in the home used to young children, cats, large dogs, mtorbikes, etc:100% home bred..will have first vaccination and health checked, wormed reguarly, 4 weeks free insurance, microchipped, royal canin puppy food vouchers..contract/advise sheet provided....

Note the cross breed seller says he/she is a KC assured breeder: (health tests, therefore?) so why cross breed? :confused:
 
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CT the KC only allow 4 litters to be registered with anyone bitch so they then xbreed, its always about the money. I wonder if the KC are aware they are doing this, I would hope they would kick them off the assured breeders list.
 
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