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

I have no problem with the breeds but my god they're all called Luna!! Think of a new name!!!!!

Like others said it depends where you live. Cocker spaniels, cockapoos and black labs are what most people have here in rural oxon. We have a JRT and see a few around. There's been an increase in Daschunds here too.

Belington Terrier's, I will never understand why they are so overlooked. Amazing temperament, curly woolly coat, whippet shaped, hardy, loving and laid back.

My biggest concern with dogs isn't crossbreeds its breeding and owning dogs that have serious genetical medical problems. It's cruel.

@dogsaremypeople

I have no problem with the breeds but my god they're all called Luna!! Think of a new name!!!!!

My poodle is called Luna. Double whammy

‘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!’

Agreed. Whoever thinks like is just a resented idiot.

I don't like most small dogs much, except as companions for the old and unfit a Jack Russell will run and run all day, ours gets at least an hour and a half walking everyday, often more.

@Twerking9to5

Wow. This is quite an unpleasant thread in many ways.

We adopted a 6 month cockapoo. Where does that put us?

Completely agree - so many vicious judgemental, nasty comments. I know a lovely lady who has a 3 year old cockapoo. She lives in a small council owned property. She has a physical disability and also suffers from mental health issues after losing her baby. She has trained her dog by herself and he is now officially recognised as her support dog. They mean the world to each other. The thought of her being judged as a “chav” with her “tacky designer dog” is sickening. This really is one of the most unpleasant threads I have come across.

As I said upthread I have 2 goldendoodles. They are perfect in every way. Paid £1500 each. Worth every penny.

I also have a (rescue from a puppy) standard poodle. She is a sickly dog, costs a fortune in vets bills. She has a beautiful temperament. But I don’t like the look of poodles, much much prefer the look of the goldendoodles.
None of the poodles/doodles shed which is amazing.

I also have a rescue mongrel, probably a shepherd mix. He sheds constantly, and is dog reactive. He has been really hard work from the moment I got him. I adore him, he was my first dog so is extra special, but he makes life harder than the other 3 combined.

I work in the dog rescue but will not get another rescue.
I will get the dog I want (probably another goldendoodle).

Crossing breeds is a legitimate way to breed dogs with specific traits and done responsibly isn't a problem, and isn't a mongrel either

Again though, the main traits people site wanting a poo cross for is “non shedding and hypoallergenic”.

Which a poodle already is. Crossing actually diminishes these desirable traits, they’re being bred out, not in.

So what is the point of all these poodle crosses when in the main, a poodle already fits the bill?

*I don't like most small dogs much, except as companions for the old and unfit

a Jack Russell will run and run all day, ours gets at least an hour and a half walking everyday, often more*

Agree. My yorkie will tramp all day, or come running with me. Most dogs, whatever the size, can out run a human easily.

The dogs you mentioned are chavvy, not middle class.

looks fondly at DDog of rare French gundog breed snuggled up on sofa guess that makes me posh then!

I can confirm that the default in my semi-rural, affluent home county area are labs, spaniels and collies. A few Jack Russells and Border terriers too.
I also associate crossbreeds with not-quite-so-middle classes; maybe because I assume the owners to be uninformed/ wanting to be trendy / needing to have something "to put on Insta"/ not really having a clue about dogs (small and fluffy doesn't necessarily mean easy to train or good with children).

Different breeds of dogs has been an indictar of social/class position in our society for some time its not new thing.

Maybe its a evolve thing what particular social/class a few/some of the dog breeds are classed as?

Saying that I am more into/know more about cats.

I have had a fair cats over the past years,
In the past often strays cats were acctracted to my house too.

Oh I’m glad we’ve got another cockapoo bashing thread. I was begging to think MN had gone soft...

I’ve got a cockapoo and a black labrador, so if MN can decide amongst themselves whether I’m chavvy, working class, middle class wannabe, real workig class, that would be great. It’s keeping me awake at night not knowing what class I am by MNs arbitrary rules. I should let you all know though that I also have a toilet brush, so factor that into the calculation. I’ll just keeping enjoying my dogs as they are, regardless of what class MN puts me in.

As always MN, remember that there are dog owners with every breed who can’t be arsed to train their dog and that with a fashionable breed, you get more of those owners in that breed at one time. There’s a beautiful black on my road who has never been socialised, is walked for 15 mins 3x day on the same route and never off lead. He’s not been trained and to make him complete his small, boring walk, the owners just throw treats ahead of him. But oh no, it’s only cockapoo owners that get dogs because they don’t want dogs.

Oops ment to say

Instead of societies peoples dog breeds indicator of position of social class .

Is maybe a changeable idea/mindset kind of thing over a time/or contempary,times currently.

You're all so vile and judgy. I bet you also judge people on their kids names, what they drive, and whether they hold their knives like pens.

It's just a dog, and doesn't say anything about the person who owns it. That is solely down to that person's personality.

Woohoo I have a black lab and my eldest goes to private school. Apparently that makes me middle class!
In reality I live in a working class area and work very hard and go without to send my eldest to private school

I've always had labs and spaniels but now adore my small dogs - they have plenty of energy and can run all day

Small dogs can have tons of personality

I have Eurasier.. not sure where that puts me But when I was researching nearly 3 years ago I knew I wanted a particular temperament, a wolfy face (I love GSDs but there are too many problems with hips and nervousness in a lot currently) and I wanted a dog that came from a long line of genetically tested and healthy animals, so I researched, waited a long time and she's perfect for us... semi rural, long off lead runs with creatures to chase! I knew I didn't have the experience for a rescue (plus cats and a son with ASD) but I think now I would consider it if there is ever another dog .

Our local walks ( West Oxfordshire) are mostly springers and cockers and the odd working lab. Very few dinky lap dogs. Mine is rather ususual but I like that.. it's a nice conversation starter!

I can't say I've noticed any snobbery about breeds tho, nor a surge in puppies, thankfully..and my breed club has not put up prices even though there are long waiting lists for the few puppies a year.

Breeds of dogs, along with almost everything else you can think of, have always been a class indicator.

My issues with these new cross bred dogs is that there is no way of predicting what you're getting; size, coat, temperament, shedding, health issues, anything.
People are being misinformed about all of these aspects, because they are led to believe that there is a uniform crossbreed , with uniform characteristics, that will suit their family. Then they discover that they have a poor temperament, or health issues or shed, or whatever, and the dogs are rejected, or bite someone, or something.

Puppy farmers are making big money out of them, with no thought as to their welfare or health. This has been exacerbated by the lockdown demand.
Reputable breeders are just carrying on as usual, without the inflated prices.

Oops
I ment, instead of evolve,evolving

The word
Changeable in place of the ubove words..

Sneery.

Some people have to put others down to keep their own insecure psyche afloat.

Its really v transparent, telling and ugly.

It’s a ironic that some of those people with “class” don’t have the intellectual or emotional bandwidth to respect other people’s choices.

Live and let live.

I hope everyone who has a dog, whatever the breed, whatever their “class” - has a positive, affectionate and mutually fulfilling experience with their own personal bundle of love and joy.

The Home Office should print off this thread and give it to anyone thinking of migrating to the UK.

If nothing else would make people think twice... 🤣

To paraphrase Crocodile Dundee - that's not a dog - THIS is a dog

Not the old 'I work hard and fo without so can afford to send my child to private school' MN chestnut. Many people work and go without. That still wont equal to a spare £15-20k for school fees. I suppose they're too busy spending it on cockapoos