Rant - The Current Dog 'Pandemic'

[Arzada]

my friends dog groomer has recently taken on 2 cavapoos as the owner couldnt cope, she is trying to rehome them by word of mouth through her clients and i was asked if i would like one.. guess what my answer was

'One is not enough. I'll take them both'

 

[splashgirl45]

you have got to be joking !!

 

[Arzada]

you have got to be joking !!

No photos?!

 

[splashgirl45]

i didnt even see a picture of them, i knew i wouldnt want one or two

 

[MinKo]

I’ve met a lot of cockerpoos, and they’ve all been delightful, wonderful family dogs. I’m quite a fan actually.

Me too! My friend has a cavalier x Jack Russel and he is awesome too. I also know a parsons Russel x Yorkie and he is lovely too, both are keen hunters just like my little one. I also have a shih Tzu x something bigger and he hunts too. Both of mine are from homes where there first owners passed away ?

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

I'm not a dog person but I know of one that was acquired during lockdown. It's a daschund and I think is from a rescue but they've had it from a puppy, so presumably born at the rescue.
It cannot be left alone, they're lucky as they've been allowed to stay wfh but if they have to go somewhere, other people have to look after it. I'd have been laying the groundwork by stating to get it used to being alone even if I was at home all day, as I couldn't be doing with the tie to not just being able to pop out and leave it for a couple of hours
It's snappy too, though randomly, you can stroke it nicely multiple times, then try another and it'll snap. I'm not sure if it would actually bite, but I don't intend to find out

I refuse to allow it in the house, OH couldn't understand my viewpoint, but we have cats including a breed that can't sense danger. I'm not running the risk of it going for them and them potentially not being able to get away as that would devastate me. I also don't see why they should be shut away and scared in their own home because the dog has not been taught to be capable of being left alone. Fortunately the owners rarely visit so it hasn't yet been a problem

I can't abide badly behaved dogs (or badly behaved horses), ill probably never get a dog but if I did, I'd be researching training methods before getting one and taking it to puppy classes/ socialisation and building up leaving it alone. Maybe there should be the equivalent of BHS stages for dog owners!

I think my aunt had a Cockerpoo who i house sat for once and she seemed quite pleasant and polite

 

[mini_b]

They do seem to appeal to first time owners

poodles are super smart, right? They are originally an old working breed.
I can’t see how crossing anything with a poodle is suitable for “not doggy folk that want a dog”

…if you understand what I mean?

 

[scats]

I’ve met a lot of cockerpoos, and they’ve all been delightful, wonderful family dogs. I’m quite a fan actually.

Same here. I probably see more cockapoos than most on here as I have a shed load on my books. I can think of 1 who springs to mind who is extremely nervous/neurotic and 1 who is aggressive to my dryer! The rest are actually really lovely dogs and some of my best behaved dogs are cockapoos. They are just extremely high maintenance, coat wise.

I have more neurotic and ridiculous working cockers if I’m honest.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

poodles are super smart, right? They are originally an old working breed.
I can’t see how crossing anything with a poodle is suitable for “not doggy folk that want a dog”

…if you understand what I mean?

I had a standard poodle back in the 80s, she was a fantastic guard dog but sweet natured. V busy when at the yard with me all day too....
I'd not have a x from one tho.
People laughed when they saw her play fighting (as they do) with my then young GSD and with the rotter. She always came out on top tho.

 

[TPO]

My great Aunt and Uncle had poodles. One was a standard and I can't remember of the other was a miniature or toy.

They lived way down south in Eastbourne and annually my relatives would travel up in their wee campervan with the dogs. They would stay at my grandparents farm and the highlight was going over to play with new dogs! The standard especially was a lovely cuddly boy. They tolerated us fussing and running about with them fine. I've got a feeling that the wee one was maybe a bit nippy when excited because he wasn't allowed to play fetch with us.

My grandparents had a border terrier as well as an outside farm collie. The poodles got on great with kids and dogs.

A friend has a malti-poo as a first dog with young kids and the dog has been perfect. She enjoys the wee girl dressing her up and hops into the toy buggy.

My mum had Japanese Chins when we were younger and my sister used to dress one up in baby clothes, put her in the toy high chair and push her around in her dolls pram. Tilly (the dog) loved it and would happily play for hours.

It's hard to say X breed for definite because there is so much variation within a breed depending on so many other factors. I guess you can just do your research and find out about certain breeding if you decide on a pedigree dog or spend time finding a good rescue with robust rehoming procedures in place to match dogs with families

 

[Penny Less]

Will people breed from these crosses, what will they then become ?

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Will people breed from these crosses, what will they then become ?

Oh, they're still cockerpoo's don't you know.. They just now 'come from a great line of cockerpoos'

 

[AmyMay]

Oh, they're still cockerpoo's don't you know.. They just now 'come from a great line of cockerpoos'

I have. Bichon Frise, where did she originate from?

Where did a poodle originate from?

Where did any ‘breed’ originate from?

I find the attitude that all crosses should be ridiculed really outdated, and offensive to those who have them.

 

[CorvusCorax]

France, originally.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Oh, they're still cockerpoo's don't you know.. They just now 'come from a great line of cockerpoos'

And if no one is writing any of it down/keeping a note of it, the opportunities for very close inbreeding are huge. Same with anyone breeding back to back from the same two animals every year or twice a year.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I find the attitude that all crosses should be ridiculed really outdated, and offensive to those who have them.

I have nothing at all against crosses, I have had a few of them (well, mine were rescue crosses of the truly mongrel variety but my point still stands). I just think they should be bred for a purpose and intentionally rather than any old Tom's dog shagging whichever other happens to have uterus, and be tracked/moderated or governed by someone.
Eg: apply to the Poodle registrar and ask permission to make 'x' cross with 'x' bitch/dog pairing because you are hoping to breed 'x'. Then they can check the medical history, note down the outcome and whether it was successful to reach your original aim.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

Poodles are cracking dogs, my vet breeds Standards and if it wasnt for the grooming, I'd have one in a shot. Dad had a poodle (miniature) called Midge, she was fab although I was only 6 when we had to have her PTS. I personally miss those little black and tan mongrels we used to see everywhere-had my last one of those in the 90s, she looked like lab x terrier with a drop of collie going on her ears (also had a couple as family dogs when growing up, before mum went mad on GSDs). Mongrels are not always healthier or more robust-last one died at 5yo from epilepsy (staffy cross beagle possibly).
I have told OH we will have dachshunds one day-when I can no longer cope with 35kg retriever cuddles.

 

[scats]

I have. Bichon Frise, where did she originate from?

Where did a poodle originate from?

Where did any ‘breed’ originate from?

I find the attitude that all crosses should be ridiculed really outdated, and offensive to those who have them.

Agreed, if you look at the history of breeds, they’ve all come about from crossing various breeds together to make a new one. I’m amazed that a lot of people don’t seem to realise this.

I wonder why it is deemed more acceptable to cross horse breeds but not dogs?

 

[DressageCob]

The main reason why I don't accept that cockerpoos/labradoodles etc are breeds per se is two fold. The first is that they are straight crosses. If you look at established breeds, they aren't just crossing one breed with another and calling it new. There is the influence of any number of breeds or types over decades to create the new dog. Crossing one breed with another is just a crossbreed.

The main reason though is that there is no consistency. There is no breed standard which is closely followed. There is a massive difference in size and coat type between labradoodles, cockerpoos may be tiny yorkie sized things or the size of a springer. There is no consistency as to temperament either.

When establishing a breed, the breed traits are selected and then bred for. Breeders don't breed from stock which does not meet the standard for the new breed. With the poos and doodles it is any poodle with any cocker/labrador/retriever/collie/whatever dog happens to be up for it, irrespective of whether they are good examples of their breed or likely to create pups of any specific type. Then they breed poo to poo or doodle to doodle, again irrespective of the quality of the parent dogs (and quality is vague anyway because there is no breed standard).


I also really resent breeding without health testing, particularly using breeds known to have frequent and serious health issues, like cavaliers.

 

[bonny]

I could well be wrong but I thought cockerpoos etc were a straight cross of two different breeds and shouldn’t be bred with each other ?

 

[CorvusCorax]

Agreed, if you look at the history of breeds, they’ve all come about from crossing various breeds together to make a new one. I’m amazed that a lot of people don’t seem to realise this.

I wonder why it is deemed more acceptable to cross horse breeds but not dogs?

Lots of people realise it, they just wonder why it still happens deliberately when there are thousands of breeds of all shapes and sizes already.

Because only one tends to come out at a time, they're much harder to use as a money-making enterprise and you less often get two completely unsuitable breeds crossed deliberately.

 

[only_me]

Anyone want a “goberian”

https://www.gumtree.com/p/dogs/goberian-golden-retriever-husky-husky-puppies-for-sale-/1409824217

i will admit the white one looks like will be super fluffy lol.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Anyone want a “goberian”

https://www.gumtree.com/p/dogs/goberian-golden-retriever-husky-husky-puppies-for-sale-/1409824217

i will admit the white one looks like will be super fluffy lol.

How to make a family dog difficult ? They are super cute though!

I'll raise you a Daniff
https://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/121038976/great-dane-cross-mastiff-also-known-as-daniff.html?link=/search?keyword=cane+corso+cross

Or how about a Weimarott?
https://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/121051027/weimaraner-x-rottweiler-stunning-weimarott-puppies.html?link=/search?keyword=rottweiler+cross

I did come across this guy earlier who, if I was in a position to, I would collect in a heartbeat - GSD x Cane Corse. Completely unecessary and probably difficult, but look at that face!
https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming/dogs/dog/filters/~~~~~n~~/1248970/blue

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

oh agree. its terrible. Yesterday I meet someone who out of pity had rescued (bless them I wouldn't have) a yorkie poodle cross. I mean why breed that? I mean I know why but. ?

I know someone who got a lockdown yorkiepoo. Bloody thing yaps endlessly.

Re poo crosses, it’s a trend, so prices are sky high pretty constantly and everyone wants one cos it’s a trend. There’s lots of snobbery around eg cockerpoos, mainly partly due to the idiot back yard breeders who’ve jumped on the bandwagon and breed back to back litters with no idea about health tests.

 

[AmyMay]

oh agree. its terrible. Yesterday I meet someone who out of pity had rescued (bless them I wouldn't have) a yorkie poodle cross. I mean why breed that? I mean I know why but. ?

Why wouldn’t you have?

Isn’t the relevant word here ‘rescued’?

 

[[139672]]

I admit when I was looking into getting a dog 9 years ago, I considered a Cockerpoo. I did lots of research and found out that not all are non or low shedding, some quite small, some big and some look totally different (as lots of poodle crosses can). I saw a pop star on tv with a lovely dog. He was a toy poodle. Because I wanted a non or low shedding dog I bought a toy poodle. He is a little treasure. He has quirks but he is easy to train, compared to a lot of breeds and great fun. His coat takes time. I clip him myself but I figured having spent many hours during my life grooming horses, grooming a small dog would be manageable.
I clip him with a puppy clip/cockerpoo type cut and a lot of people ask if he’s a Cockerpoo. I’ve met people with Cockerpoo saying how lovely he is and I think they could have just bought a poodle instead ?
A friend bought a jackapoo. He sheds hair everywhere, like a JRT and looks like a small, chunky JRT. I do wonder if he really is a jackapoo!?

 

[Parrotperson]

Why wouldn’t you have?

Isn’t the relevant word here ‘rescued’?

honestly probably not. because I'm a bit too old now for those kinds of problems. But I would've helped re-home if asked yes of course.

 

[skinnydipper]

I have met two delightful Yorkie x poodle pups who live locally.

I feel very sorry for one of the pups and her family.

First time dog owners.

Pup has severe hip dysplasia requiring femoral head and neck excision.

Certainly takes the shine off what should be an exciting, happy time for them.

 

[scats]

All my dogs are crossbreeds. I have a Great Dane X Husky, who I got from a rescue at 4 months. She’s the most fantastic dog- is now 12, fit as fiddle and has the most incredible temperament- loyal and kind.
Bess is a Corgi x Cockapoo, weird mix but an absolute treasure of a dog who is loyal, funny, fit and healthy. Her temperament is second to none and she’s intelligent, trainable and so loving.
Lily-Rose is a Shihtzu x JR. I love that the JR influence has elongated her nose so she doesn’t have the associated problems of a brachy dog.
I don’t call them by designer names, simply the cross they are. But they are fabulous dogs.
I wonder if people just called them cocker crosses, would people feel less strongly about it? I almost wonder if the connotations of ‘cockapoo’ now brings almost instant negativity, particularly to those who are very pro purebreds.

 

[blackcob]

There is absolutely a place for particularly small/medium sized dogs, with cute curly teddy bear appearance, of low to moderate exercise and grooming needs, with temperaments that make them suitable for family life, and of robust health and ethical breeding, but I really don't believe this is what most breeders of crossbreeds are producing. More along the lines of the upthread 'anything with reproductive organs goes'.

Combine it with the naivety of some of the owners who seek out these breeds; again upthread, 'none doggy folk who want a dog', they're sold on the idea of a dog but not always the reality, and might not have any of the knowledge or support needed to make an informed choice. The combination does make for some huffing and eyerolling from those 'in' dogs, especially where they're involved in picking up the pieces (training, rehoming, veterinary care...)

Twas ever thus with fads of popular breeds but pre social media and pre culture of immediacy those waves were a lot smaller.