There seems to be a misconception...

For me personally I like a dog to have a purpose and be able to do the job they were originaly bred for hence having Dobermanns & a Lancashire Heeler.

I share that preference DG, but not everyone does and that is up to them after all.

Incidentally we do have a labradoodle belonging to one of the agility instructors at training, and he is an agility, and possible obedience, star in the making - he is really very good IMO. So I would say he does have a purpose.
 
I'm planning to take my 'purposeless' labradoodles to agility training in the new year - so watch out agility folk of the west country! :D
 
The breeder in this case did not make any claims about non-shedding coats or allergies.

So (serious question!), are you anti (as in actively opposed to, rather than wouldn't want to own) non-purpose pedigree dogs such as toy breeds, lap dogs etc?

The 'purpose' of this parcticular breeding was to produce nice pet dogs for pet homes.
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Glad that there were no claims made re shedding/allergies! So at least the breeder sounds like they know what they're talking about (and not just repeating what they've heard from their neighbor, or whatever).

I'm not sure who the serious question was posed to, but I'll happily answer that NO, I'm not against pointless dogs! LOL. I've only ever *had* pointless dogs! Okay, Miniature Pinschers might have been bred to be ratters, and mine were pretty good at catching the odd wee mouse. Border Terriers certainly had more purpose as a breed, but MINE is utterly clueless. And Miniature Poodles - bred down from Standard Poodles - which were hunting dogs. Minis I believe at one point were used for truffling and circus tricks. But again, it's kind of a moot point cos I wouldn't know a truffle if it bit me on the big toe and sometimes I think Merlin would like to run away with the circus. But all in all, there are lots of breeds which were bred to be loyal pets, lap warmers and so on.

Incidently, it occurs to me that the more pointless the origins of certain breeds, the more modern health issues there seem to be IN those breeds? Or am i just dreaming that one up?
 
The 'doodle moniker is just the smallest part of what I dislike about DD's. So to me, if all the criteria have been met for responsible breeding, confo/temperment/future of the litters is considered carefully, then who am I to moan? LOL

Before anyone jumps, I just want to clarify a point in my own post -

I meant to say that the 'doodle moniker was the smallest part of what I like about the BREEDING of DDs (I don't have a problem with the dogs per se).
 
Incidently, it occurs to me that the more pointless the origins of certain breeds, the more modern health issues there seem to be IN those breeds? Or am i just dreaming that one up?

I know what you mean - I'd also add that the further away a breed has grown from its origins, the worse the problems sem to be. Basically when you start looking at form over function that seems to be where problems spring from - look at the horse world, with the extreme dished faces seen in some show Arabs.
 
For me personally and that does mean my own preference it dosnt mean everyone has to think like that I like a dog to have a purpose.

Last night I saw advertised terrapins not the little critters that swim but Border Terrier x Min. Pinscher, now they might be wonderful ratters but the name is to attract people in and I feel personally that is what it is all about making money.

When I did my starter agility course there was a Labradoddle doing it as well, he was very good but looked liked an OES with a haircut.

So Broodle when you are doing your agility in the west country(and you are not far from me) look out for a lightening fast Dobermann called Darcy who is being impeded by an old bird like me.:D
 
I'm planning to take my 'purposeless' labradoodles to agility training in the new year - so watch out agility folk of the west country! :D

Purposeless? Even the first breeding of labradoodles had a purpose. They were supposed to be non shedding guide dogs. Okay, a bit of a FAILED attempt ('round these parts I only ever see pure bred labs), but the intent was there ;)
 
Dobiegirl - I'll be the dishevelled looking woman with a dog disguised as a sheep :D

PnP - Good point! Mine shed like anything ;)
 
saw this and thought of you (all!!) :D:p
http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/pets4homes/home.nsf/LookupUNID/63A320053A1668B28025793D004C6B7E
'we can arrange a puppy to be collected from a train station' had me!!
I dont know whether I find it hilarious or horrific?!!! is both possible?!!
mind you, for a min pin X chihuahua (minchi? chinpin?! ooops, now im stirring LOL!!:p) it must be worth it?
oh...wait a minute, the mum might not be a min pin!! ROFL!!! £450...bargain.
 
saw this and thought of you (all!!) :D:p
http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/pets4homes/home.nsf/LookupUNID/63A320053A1668B28025793D004C6B7E
'we can arrange a puppy to be collected from a train station' had me!!
I dont know whether I find it hilarious or horrific?!!! is both possible?!!
mind you, for a min pin X chihuahua (minchi? chinpin?! ooops, now im stirring LOL!!:p) it must be worth it?
oh...wait a minute, the mum might not be a min pin!! ROFL!!! £450...bargain.

Well there's nowt like being vague as to what mum might be. She could of course just be a poor specimen of chihuahua, they do come in black and tan. A good breeder always likes to have a uniform litter, "last years" varying from 2 to 6 kg don't exactly sound that do they.
Have to confess I have picked up a puppy from the station, sent by Red Star for any of the oldies.;) It used to be quite common to send puppies, bitches to be mated etc, they used to travel in the guards van.
 
I groom one - he's got a bichon coat but silky ears like a shih tzu. It's reallly weird! I wouldn't actually mind him in a longer coat - but the owners are far more sensible than me and they want it short.

For the pesty coats, 7F is my friend! :D

My best friend PP ,for OES totally matted..is a Lister Stablemate! One bitch from a Vicar in Ashford..so tightly matted I cut a "hole" in between the shoulder blades..slipped the clipper head in and just mowed away..as it`s flea army scuttled up my arm.It is a matter of pride to get the body and legs off in one great matt. It is sometimes a tad tricky if you don`t ..as yet..know the sex of the yeti on the table.Always used to stay sane with black humour and say "castrating is extra":D:D
 
When I first posted in dogs about Obi my accidental puppy (big paws - only kidding), everyone was lovelly about it and very supportive, but I do think the cute puppy pics helped! Having had a born deaf EBT and now a mastiff size lurcher with a strong hunting instinct and a mastiff propensity to completely ignore you and act dumb, I can really see the pro's and con's on both sides of the fence. At the moment as I stare at the hole in the kitchen wall that appeared last night I thank god that at least my new EBT puppy just cant be bothered to chew anything!

YET......:D:D:D:D
 
Drop and run! LOL


Actually, I don't know where lurchers fall on that? I had never even heard of them before I came to the UK. I'm under the impression that they were bred for a specific agricultural purpose -- a quick google tells me that they're bred to be keepers dogs and for coursing? I dunno. However, they really do pre-date the whole fad of breeding pom x poodle, calling it a pomapoo and taking £1200 for them. All the lurchers I'd ever seen advertised were like £50.

I don't consider them to be "designer dogs" by any stretch of the word, even though at one point it was probably rather fashionable to have one. I think it was the intention in which they were bred that for me keeps them out of the DD category.

Not so much the Keepers..more the Poachers ! Night dogs,quiet fast and retrieve to hand silently,that is a good lurcher. Also expected to make themselves scarce if the poaching was discovered ! Keepers night dogs were mastiffs and bullmastiffs..for eating poachers!:D Our English history of working dogs is really fascinating stuff.Dogs caught poaching had toes cut off,made them slow and useless,terriers..or working man`s dogs were docked to distinguish them.Only the gentry kept "longdogs" complete with all toes and long tails.
 
where do lurchers sit on the designer dogs topic...?
*tiptoes out chukkling!*

When lurchers are bred with purposeful thought behind the plans, then there is just that, purpose. When they're bred by those who've managed to latch onto the name, but with little understanding, then they can all so often be labelled as Designer Dogs.

Any cross bred dog, with reasoning and thought behind the breeders ambitions, stands a chance of success. Otherwise, and generally, idiot breeders tend to breed idiot dogs, which they then sell on to idiot owners. I wish that it was otherwise. It isn't!!

East Kent.....good posts.

A.
 
My best friend PP ,for OES totally matted..is a Lister Stablemate! One bitch from a Vicar in Ashford..so tightly matted I cut a "hole" in between the shoulder blades..slipped the clipper head in and just mowed away..as it`s flea army scuttled up my arm.It is a matter of pride to get the body and legs off in one great matt. It is sometimes a tad tricky if you don`t ..as yet..know the sex of the yeti on the table.Always used to stay sane with black humour and say "castrating is extra":D:D

:eek: flea army scuttling makes me wanna vom!

I used to keep a lovely collection of pelts taken off in a one-r. Best one ever was off an 11month old standard poodle that was in for it's first ever groom. I started with the face in a 40 at the nose (couldn't get it in otherwise, and then went to a 10 at the top of the head and just kept going. The coat resembled a shearling carpet about 4 inches thick. It was beautiful - I could have made a coat from it.

Never saw that one again. Go figure. They thought that it would just get a wee tidy!
 
Not so much the Keepers..more the Poachers ! Night dogs,quiet fast and retrieve to hand silently,that is a good lurcher. Also expected to make themselves scarce if the poaching was discovered ! Keepers night dogs were mastiffs and bullmastiffs..for eating poachers!:D Our English history of working dogs is really fascinating stuff.Dogs caught poaching had toes cut off,made them slow and useless,terriers..or working man`s dogs were docked to distinguish them.Only the gentry kept "longdogs" complete with all toes and long tails.

Very interesting! I never knew about lurchers but always suspected they had been bred for a purpose. Even if it was a bit fly by night ;)
 
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