Dog breeds are now a Middle Class indicator?

[Brightonbabe5]

Or at least in my dcs school (private). We thought it was bad in September with all the new puppies on the school run... Mostly the same breeds poodle crosses (cockapoos, labradoodles) bichon friese crosses (cavachons, cavapoos etc)... Insta tells me Christmas has brought a whole new pack of fluffy things.
I said this during the lockdown that these particular breeds are now a status symbol & the new MC accessory. Although DH claims a land-rover is also needed to transport the fluffy dog. Friends agree they are also as these breeds tend to be non shed & hypoallergenic...
DC also want one in the worst way😢 We're refusing based on the fact that we don't want a dog type that's considered a status symbol in our area & they cost a bloody fortune.... They are irrestible though with gorgeous temperaments but out of our range unfortunately

Adopt a mongrel. Don't buy a backyard-bred mongrel for hundreds. Dog breeds as status symbols are appalling and wanky.

Poor fucking dogs.

I'd say a private school is more of a status symbol than a dog breed.

A very common puppy farm casualty and I can’t help judging people who spend ridiculous amounts of money on them.

Poo-crosses are a money maker, and stupid people will pay thousands for them. So I’m not surprised people use them as a way to show off they have money.

I just feel for the dogs, especially these types of crosses that are so so often bred in horrid conditions because people know they will sell. I judge pretty much anyone that chooses a dog because of looks and what imaginary status it brings, rather than making sure they’re not feeding into a business that peddles animal cruelty.

Friends agree they are also as these breeds tend to be non shed & hypoallergenic..

Not true. The parent breeds, poodles, yorkies and the like, are non shedding and less likely to trigger allergies.

Cross it with a normal coated dog though and it reduces the chances if the dog having that type of coat massively- it’s usually some sort of mix-part shedding, part not, which can cause huge grooming issues.

If you want non-shedding and hypoallergenic, get a poodle. Imo the only reason people get poo’s is because a lack if understanding of genetics, and because of some preconception about poodles being french wanky dogs with pom poms.

Get a poodle. Cheaper, more stability of breed traits, less likely to be from a puppy farm, and nobody can tell the difference between a poodle and a cockerpoo/labradoodle etc when they have the same haircut.

Totally agree it's horrible & wanky to get a breed to keep up with the joneses... Am I the only one who's noticed the trend?
We have applied to local rescues & our application was rejected as dc were too young (need to be over 8) Also as we would be first time dog owners... We were told they prefer dogs to go to homes with experience unless they were young puppies which are very hard to come by but we're on a waiting file 🤞

Cross breed dogs are now so expensive that only middle class people can afford them.

I don't agree re those particular dogs - anything crossed isn't a breed BTW, and cavapoo is KCS x poodle. Round here not status symbols and not necessarily gorgeous temperaments (some cockapoos are very lively and reactive). There is one dog that does seem to be a status symbol here and that's a black lab.

Considering your DC is in a private school that in itself is a massive status symbol more so than a dog breed!
I have a cockapoo, we got her because she was the right size for us and all the ones that we had met had been lovely as is she... I didn't get her because I wanted her to been seen as a status symbol!

All breeds are too expensive at the moment

We have a homebred cavapoo bought well before lockdown. These dogs are often puppy farmed and also often "fake" - the Facebook cavapoo page has a constant stream of people DNA testing their dogs to find they are not cavapoos at all but some other poodle or bichon cross.

We chose our pup because my autistic DS had a very close bond with my mum's cavalier spaniel, but she (dog) shed terribly and had a number of health problems so we wanted a dog with some hybrid vigour and lower shedding, but with aspects of cav sweetness. Our boy is a wonderful companion and very healthy. They are lovely dogs. I wouldn't buy one at current prices and it's a breed where the usual caveats of health testing, seeing puppy with mum and suckling, are particularly vital.

I think it de where you live. I'm quite rural and everyone seems to have some sort of gundog. Labs, spaniels, German pointers, etc. I have a bichon cross and I'm judged for it, comments have been made.

I previously had a slighthound and that was very borderline.

I was going to say the same as Jacob, I live rurally and the ‘right’ dog is a gundog.

I'd actually disagree. I used to work in a central London veterinary practice. Established middle class tended to go for traditional working type breeds (spaniels and labradors, mostly), rather than designer crosses.

Squiffybear, as I said in the post above these dogs are gorgeous but it's a trend I noticed on the school run since Sept.. Lots of new puppy introductions on instagram this Xmas & on the dc's class whatsapp parents groups.. The puppy's are all the types mentioned above!
A neighbour has two female cavachons aged 11, they are the cutest, sweetest dogs but she paid 150 for them 11 years ago...

I was going to say YABU but thinking back to when I lived in Chiswick 8 years ago EVERY fucker had a miniature schnauzer. If you came from elsewhere on an every Sunday at brunch o clock, you'd think there was some kind breeders convention.

It's mainly working breeds, lurcher or greyhounds around here.
The only poodle cross I know is meant to be a poodle / retriever mix, that the owner was sold as hypoallergenic.
It's the size of a small pony and trails clouds of hair behind it as it walks!

I would agree that the 'fashionable' cross breeds are more for lower middle or even working class - up there with giant flatscreen tellys

The 'real' higher classes will value a 'real' dog. My friend who is a giant snob very quickly corrects anyone who dares suggest her dog is a cross!!!

These aren’t breeds though. They’re over-priced mongrels.

I actually find those types of dogs a bit nouveau riche. It’s tacky not to adopt.

What a silly thread! We happen to have one of the aforementioned breeds, she's not a covid fad or a status symbol, we've had her for two years now. We bought her because of the loving and playful temperaments of the parent breeds, because she doesn't cause my dd's eczema any aggravation and we wanted a dog her size. We've had dogs before and I can honestly say she is the perfect dog for our family, she is worth her weight in gold so I understand why these dogs are so expensive.

For the record I also drive a Landrover and have kids in private school but that's totally beside the point, we got our dog because she was right for our family. Perhaps only middle class families are able to afford these dogs but I feel it is unfair to say that everyone with a poodle cross bought one as a status symbol!

Get the breed that suits your lifestyle and experience

Who cares what breeds other people have
Dogs are family not accessories

All these designer crosses - lots are from puppy farms or bred by backyard breeders with no genetic health testing etc

Either get a proper mongrel or do your research into the breeds that will suit your family

I'd love a border collie, but I have mobility issues and wouldn't be able to give it the exercise it needs. So I have a Pomeranian 😁

Dog breeds have been an indicator of class for years but the real upper middle class dog of choice is some sort of gun dog not a wanky mongrel with an over inflated price tag.

Cockerpoos and labradoodles are for the hunter wellies crowd.

@elQuintoConyo

Adopt a mongrel. Don't buy a backyard-bred mongrel for hundreds. Dog breeds as status symbols are appalling and wanky.

Poor fucking dogs.

This

We have a rescue Lhasa Apso, non shedding which is needed as dd has allergies. Try smaller rescues OP, our dog was listed as suitable to be rehomed with small children and she would have been fine as she is a lovely gentle dog and fine with dgs. No small children here but I must have rung them at the right time.