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

Even the gamekeeper (who obviously has his own black lab) plus all the local deer hunters love him and bring him deer carcasses.

Yes there is judgement but the basis of it is this - the mania for 'new' crossbreeds has basically been a vehicle for, an absolute gift for, unscrupulous dog breeders and puppy farms. It's like - let's find a new way of making owning a dog something that's a new cool thing to do AND find a way to re-market it all so people will pay ever more and it's also ever more easier to create them.

@KeepOnKeepingOnAgainandAgain my dog thinks she is yours in just a tiny 5kg package 😆

There's far more of a mix round here. We have a westie and friends have cockerpoos, blue weirmarner, Lhasa apso, boxer and a lab. We all have big flat screen TVs on the wall so I suppose we're all common anyway regardless of the dog breed

Absolutely @LizDiz - like the rest of us don't work hard!
And in reality it's about choice not sacrifice.

Wow... ironically enough for a thread about dogs this is one of the cattiest things I've read in a while.

No dog here. But if I got one in 2020 it would be because I am permanently working from home and can finally make it work, not because I'm following a trend. And likewise if I got a poo or cavachon it would probably be because I have met some absolutely gorgeous and charming ones, not because I want to join the herds at the school gate. I expect there are many, many others in this situation.

Some individuals will make bad decisions and buy for the wrong reasons. Some individuals will make a quick profit and breed cruelly. Many won't. Give people a bit of credit.

Yawn!

I think private school is much more of a status symbols than dogs.

Do you judge people buying pedigrees? Or is it just mix breeding that offends?

@JacobReesMogadishu

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.

Black labs are at the top of the tree 🤣. Spaniels are for the beaters. No idea why the Duchess of Cambridge was allowed a spaniel (well, I have)...

(OP Also ignore the haters. I think the private school point was obviously relevant to the post, not a stealth boast)

@midnightstar66 oh she is absolutely adorable!

Another JRT owner here. Ddog is my third JRT, wasn’t going to have another one but there was little else to buy other than poodle crosses. Whilst all of the ones I know are lovely (and I know quite a few) I didn’t want the hassle of having to take them to the doggy hairdressers.

Ddog is lovely, I teach in an indie and DC also attend it. I grew up on a inner city council estate with a staffie who was the best dog ever. Not sure what class I am (don’t have a 4x4) though. Live on a new build estate but on the very edge of the countryside so if someone could tell me my class I’d appreciate it.

I think dog fads come and go, from the 70s it was Alsatians followed by Dobermans, followed by Rottweilers and then staffies. Now there is a real urge for people to have these dogs which look like cute teddy bears. IMHO, as long as dogs are loved and looked after properly that’s enough. I do wish there weren’t unscrupulous breeders though.

When I wrote 'most small dogs', JRTs were not what I had in mind; several friends have JRTs, and they definitely aren't lapdogs. My DM had a Havanese until recently and he was a good companion for an elderly lady... and a rescue. However DM is nearly 86 and was getting fearful of icy mornings and evening outings, so the dog has been adopted by another member of the family with small children and they still see each other regularly.

In the school I work at the vast majority of families seem to have generic small white fluffy dogs and designer crosses. Some pugs as well and every one seems to have serious health problems.

I don't think it's a breed snobbery but people are following the trend. Looking at how quickly they seem to go from thinking about a dog to getting a dog is interesting as well, there must be a few buying from puppy farmers.

I think dog fads come and go, from the 70s it was Alsatians followed by Dobermans, followed by Rottweilers and then staffies. Now there is a real urge for people to have these dogs which look like cute teddy bears. IMHO, as long as dogs are loved and looked after properly that’s enough. I do wish there weren’t unscrupulous breeders though. This! And I remember the trend for labrador puppies following the very successful Andrex ads - not everyone had aspirations to look like lord of the manner!

@Lexilooo

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.

Ha, yes, I came to say the same. I'm in rural Devon and pretentious cross breeds (fancy expensive mongrels, surely?) are very much for people who ponce about in 4x4's that they don't get muddy/only take to Sainsburys (no Waitrose near us).

Any kind of class status or indicator of money is with a gun dog type.

I have a gundog black lab (husband out shooting with her at the moment) and 2 JRTs. Its what most people round here have, (rural affluent area).

The cavapoos etc tend to belong more the people who live in the new estates in town. I would say its quite a nouveau riche kind of dog to have and also one that inexperienced dog owners choose.

My black lab would love to be out shooting, all day, every day. It was what she was bred to do. Sadly she only goes shooting when DH is controlling the vermin squirrels.

Plenty of people around here with Labs - none of them are gun dogs - more likely they are overweight with bad hips! Poor dogs.

My well trained, healthy poodle mix (not called Luna) is hereby judging you all....

I have a rescue staffie. Should I be wearing a Burberry cap and shellsuit?

Solidly wc. Surrounded by French bulldogs, bichon frese, pomeranian and chihuahuas.
She is the only staffie around here and the most gentle, loyal dog I've ever owned. The neighbours dogs are snappy, snarling and barking machines.

@BigusBumus

I have a gundog black lab (husband out shooting with her at the moment) and 2 JRTs. Its what most people round here have, (rural affluent area).

The cavapoos etc tend to belong more the people who live in the new estates in town. I would say its quite a nouveau riche kind of dog to have and also one that inexperienced dog owners choose.

Yep we have a parsons and most around here have JRT/PJRT, labs etc. The rest are very much Instagram type dogs.

Well I have designer mongrel and a pedigree working dog. I also couldn't care less what class I am.

I have a rescue staffie. Should I be wearing a Burberry cap and shellsuit?

Don't forget the roll up hanging from your mouth 🤣🤣

@bengalcat thank you and many calls ours for Fred when they meet him :). I don't mind as I do love a bit of Fred Basset..

I have Eurasier.. not sure where that puts me

In a gay friendly 80s pop band.

I don't make the rules!