Would any poodle cross owners be interested in a separate forum on here where we can (hopefully) talk without judgement?

[DoodlesInTheHouse]

Genuine question. I asked MNHQ about this (under different name, if you are looking at this MNHQ) and they said to ask on here to see if there was interest.

I understand fully the views of some that some poodle crosses are not a good idea for a variety of reasons (puppy farming, health checks, various other reasons etc etc), but we also have our own reasons on why they suited our family, why we chose not to rescue at that time (and very likely will rescue in years ahead) and we are very, very happy with our choices. We are intelligent adults and made an informed choice. I come from a very dog-oriented family and knew what we were doing.

It seems impossible to ask a question about poodle crosses on here without being jumped on. It wouldn't be the done thing if we were talking about breast v formula, or SAHM v working mums, but it seems to be acceptable to ridicule the choices that some of us have made.

Would anyone be interested?

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

It sounds very niche, tbh - and how many cross breeds should MNHQ provide separate boards for?

[DoodlesInTheHouse]

I'm suggesting one board for all poodle crosses. If people could try and put them selves in the position of families who have chosen one of these dogs, it is frustrating and annoying to have to justify them continuously.

We travelled all day to pick up our fully health checked pup (zero zero on one parent's side, 5 and 3 on the other). Brought up in horsey, animal focused family with intelligent breeders who hadn't bred from this bitch before. I come from a similar family. I'm not suggesting we all support puppy farmers, but for those of us who have made intelligent decisions, there is nowhere to talk on Mumsnet without having explain what I have just done every.sodding.post. It's really not funny or fair.

This way, we won't irritate those of you who consider us to be dim wits and can hopefully get our questions answered without judgement.

[Newes]

Don't justify your choices, ignore the naysayers. If they contravene Talk Guidelines report them.
It's The Doghouse, people are going to have opinions on dogs. As long as they do so with regard to TG they are entitled to have an opinion different to the owners/breeders of specific breeds and mongrels.

[AllPowerfulLizardPerson]

Too many topics already.

[DoodlesInTheHouse]

I know Newes, but it's all the fucking time. Every thread. Again, and again and again. Regardless of what the question is, the same stuff is trotted out and the OPs just stop coming back. There is a snauzerxpoodle thread just below this one at the moment and the op just disappeared.

[TrionicLettuce]

There's often plenty of ire directed at people who choose to buy pedigrees as well, especially if they're involved in the show world. The same for those who import rescues from abroad or choose to feed certain brands of food. We'd have a ridiculous number of sections if every different type of dog owner wanted their own "safe space".

For some reason dogs tend to inspire very strong opinions in people. As Newes says, if they breach the site guidelines then report, otherwise ignore.

[Floralnomad]

The only 'judginess' I see is when people ask where to find a good breeder for a poodle cross - and they are few and far between , any general dog questions I don't see any judging so I don't really see the need . If it happens though I shall expect a forum for all us minority dog breed owners which in my case will be patterdale mixes .

[exLtEveDallas]

They get grief because they deserve grief.

Anyone who breeds crossbreed mutts, of any type, not just poodle crosses, is doing it for the money and no other reason.

If you are willing to put your bitch through a potentially dangerous pregnancy just to make money out of her, then you don't actually care about your dog/any dogs at all.

Personally, whilst all rescues are full and the RSPCA are killing 32 dogs every single day I'd ban ALL breeding. But can understand why show breeds/working breeds and endangered breeds continue. There is no justifiable reason to purposely breed a cross.

And - potential crossbreed owners are better off having their decision questioned than blindly going ahead. If one person is put off buying from a back yard breeder as a result, GREAT! A dedicated board full of crossbreed owners who think they've done a good thing because they don't think of the consequences is not somewhere where a potential crossbreed owner is going to get a view from both parties.

[DoodlesInTheHouse]

Well what a surprise. Well done LtEve. No, I take exception to that. Not every poodle cross owner is in it for the money only.

The kind of person stupid enough to buy from a puppy farmer isn't going to be intelligent enough to make a good decision on dogs generally, in my opinion. They'll get a pug that can't breath, a King Charles with a tiny skull or a lab with crappy hips.

[PirateSmile]

Good idea doodles Nobody should ever feel they can't talk about their pet on her, yet thanks to some posters, we do.

[Newes]

It wouldn't solve what you see the problem as anyway. People who feel strongly about cross breeding will still comment and if they do so within Talk Guidelines MNHQ will not delete them or tell them to stay away.

I've had a look at the thread you referenced. There are strong views on there but no outright nastiness imo.
I could post asking for advice on breeders of a particular dog. No doubt someone would come along and talk about puppy farmers and rescues etc, which would be fine. I could take or leave their advice if I didn't find it helpful.

[Newes]

Puppy farmers can be incredibly convincing btw. They go to enormous lengths to hide their appalling treatment of the dogs they use and abuse, so I don't see all people who buy from them as necessarily 'stupid'. Woefully misinformed, perhaps, which is why it is good thing the message about their practices gets repeated so often in The Doghouse.

[Bubble2bubble]

I am with LtEve on this.
Sadly for the very few poodle X owners who have done the research and made a good decision, there are so who have bought a puppy farmed poodle X or a pup from a 'friend who has a lovely poodle' who will have made a couple of grand from the litter.
Maybe some are unaware of the problem, maybe some just want a poodle X whatever the cost.
Only today, my neighbour told me his son has bought a springerpoo. The 'breeder' has informed him that after thorough research he can guarantee this dog will only ever need a maximum of 40 minutes exercise a day you can't fix stupid.

[tabulahrasa]

"Not every poodle cross owner is in it for the money only."

So what valid reason do they have? What definite improvement over a poodle does a cross give the dog or the potential owner?...when you take into account that mixing breeds means which traits from which breed is completely unpredictable.

As to a poodle cross section, Who would need to post in it? It's a bit irrelevant that it's a poodle cross if you want to talk about food or training or what have you, so what a whole section of mumsnet for people looking for breeders?

[DoodlesInTheHouse]

So why don't we have a sticky thread that we can link to advising people what to look for in breeders and tricks that they get up to. This could be linked to for those looking for cross breeds and pedigree dogs.

I spoke to so many people when choosing our dogs and was put off by many things that other people may not have picked up on had they not been quite fussy or informed.

Surely this would be a better approach?

[DoodlesInTheHouse]

No, you can't fix stupid Bubble2bubble (but in some ways I'd rather they had a springerpoo than a collie or a rescue that needed the input of time, patience and even more common sense).

It's a bit irrelevant that it's a poodle cross if you want to talk about food or training or what have you, so what a whole section of mumsnet for people looking for breeders? But we can't always post about those things - as if you need to mention breed then the thread goes off topic.

[Bubble2bubble]

I would be more in favour of a 'match me with rescue dog' section' :)

[tabulahrasa]

And btw, I don't judge most poodle cross owners (occasionally, but it's not just because they own one, there's got to be extra reasons) I do judge the breeders though.

[sweetkitty]

My uncle lives to tell people how he paid £1000 for his "pedigree" labradoodle (slapshead)

[dotdotdotmustdash]

I do judge the owner's of intentionally bred crossbreeds, and I certainly wouldn't want to see a separate section for them to crow about their expensive mongrels. Designer dog breeding is a huge issue in the dog world and it's something that people (who choose to support it) should be morally accountable for.

[DoodlesInTheHouse]

Fair enough. I'm going to find somewhere else to talk about our animals I think.

Thanks all

[Micah]

Why just poodle crosses though? You could apply it to buying any cross breed.

It's the buyers responsibility to check health and ethical breeding of the breeder.

Poodle crosses are simply fashionable, and profitable. Anyone who understands genetics knows that all the theories over hypo-allergenic coats etc are rubbish, and buying to get certain traits is irresponsible as you can't guarantee it. Friends of mine bought a poodle cross for £1000 as their DC was allergic to dogs. It was rehomed within 3 months because guess what, the kid was allergic. Want a hypo allergenic dog, buy a pedigree poodle where the coat type is guaranteed.

And I say this as someone who has a poodle cross (rescue), and actually prefers crossbreeds generally.

It doesn't really matter if you have your own topic anyway, doesn't stop people reading and commenting.

[tabulahrasa]

"But we can't always post about those things - as if you need to mention breed then the thread goes off topic."

I don't see that it does if it's a general question about a dog, I'm sure I have been on plenty of threads about poodle crosses where people haven't actually commented about the cross, just the OP.

When you get loads of people commenting on cross breeding it is when someone is looking for a breeder or about to buy a puppy.

Because often they don't know what they're looking for at all so people explain the issues with breeding crosses and about health tests and what have you.

[WeAllHaveWings]

Doghouse is a fairly niche enough topic already, no need for even more on dogs. If you don't want some advice ignore it, having a separate topic won't stop people having an option on your choice.