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

Lucky you... mine is terrified of clean water! I have a pile of worn out towels for dog wiping.

Tacky rather than middle class I think. Think Towie cast.

We have a gun dog sweetie. Wouldn't be seen dead with a poo breed! 🐾🐾🐾

I think the kennel club needs to take some responsibility. There is clearly a huge market for medium sized family dogs. The inbreeding and expense if 'pure breeds' has left a massive gap in the market that the poodle cross is filling.
Our local vets fear is what happens when all these new owners have a litter to recoup the inflated cost of their super expensive lock down puppy.

The horse world is even worse than the dog world

here is clearly a huge market for medium sized family dogs. The inbreeding and expense if 'pure breeds' has left a massive gap in the market that the poodle cross is filling

Considering poo crosses are often double or triple the cost of the pure breeds, and that there are quite a few medium sized family dogs that already exist- I don’t really think they fill that particular market gap. And many pedigree breeders are now carefully monitoring inbreeding coefficients, which unregulated cross breeders are less likely to do.

People want the cachet of the “designer breed”. For some reason they are perceived as superior to the parent dogs, when they aren’t.

Poo breeds are for people who think they're getting an 'easier' dog. Go big or go home, is my motto.

@CallmeAngelGabriel

I have to say that when we go to "naice" places to walk, there are hundreds of bloody cockapoos.

This is the lower middle class hoi polloi walking their lower middle class doodles but taking an aspirational walking path

@OxfordwillsaveusbyFebruary

I have a landcover and an XC90 A gun (but don't shoot any more) Have had gun dogs in the past (see above)

Now I have a 3/4 poodle and a 1/2 poodle (both rehomed).

I have antique carpets with moth holes.

What does that say about me?

Were posh, now fallen on hard times

Or

You're the groundskeepers wife.

Daschunds very popular in my leafy suburb. And flat faced dogs. Pugs etc.

I live rurally but don’t own a Range Rover. My dog is a (relatively rare) pedigree breed; not a gun dog or terrier. Do I need to move house or get a new dog?

Wait a minute. That's not allowed. You can't do that. You can't tell us what you drive without telling us your dog breed! This isn't Guess Who? Pets Edition. Tell us the breed, then we can tell you whether or not you need to move to Milton Keynes or ditch the Chihuahua.

@Frenchdressing

Daschunds very popular in my leafy suburb. And flat faced dogs. Pugs etc.

Pugs.

Nope. Pugs are very non-U.

Probably grew up in the suburbs.

Oh, I just noticed you are in the suburbs.

That explains it.

We live in a fairly rural area and most people have dogs - pretty much all labs or terriers (and a few other gun dogs breeds).

I don’t understand why a crossbreed would be seen as a status indicator? Surely a pure bred champion line has more about them

Also don’t understand why you wouldn’t pay thousands for a companion in your life for 10 years that is well bred

What happens if you have a cockapoo but don't have a Range Rover? Does this automatically demote me to the lowest pits of hell?

@squiddybear

What happens if you have a cockapoo but don't have a Range Rover? Does this automatically demote me to the lowest pits of hell?

Afraid so.

Although arguable whether having a Range Rover or not is worse.

Range Rovers are terribly lower middle class / working class done good via University.

The proper middle class (upper middle class, not all these newcomers) wouldn't be seen in a Range Rover unless it's at least 15 years old and referred to as 'this old thing'.

@umpteennamechanges

Oh, I just noticed you are in the suburbs.

That explains it.

Yes. Actually lots of spaniels around here too.

My own dog is 57 varieties and cost a rehoming fee. I appreciate rescue isn’t for everyone but he’s a beaut!

What does my d dog day about me, I have a rescue foxhound

I don't even have a dog, I have four rescue cats.

I grew up super-working class in Stoke, single parent family, long line of miners and pottery workers.

Then went to work in the City (via uni) and live in the Home Counties with a supremely upper middle class (lovely, not weird Tory boy) DH.

So I don't actually care about class but I'm a keen observer of it. Probably because I had to learn everything about being upper middle class to 'pass'.

I find it fascinating!

DH didn't even know what a working men's club was when I met him

Almost everyone round here has a working cocker, or a Labrador.

Except us- we have a mongrel and a lurcher (both rescues)... and a Range Rover to transport them .

I'd say nope. The poodle crosses is what everyone gets with a family, mainly without actually being aware that they can be bloody hard work. If is was going to 'judge' someone based on the dog breed- I'd probably look at a lab, spaniel or certain terriers as more of an indicator than all the poodle crosses now available. The Range Rover thing- it seems an aspiration to many (especially in white)! Would prefer a Land Rover any day as you can thrash that and know it's going to keep going!

@Frenchdressing

Daschunds very popular in my leafy suburb. And flat faced dogs. Pugs etc.

Daschunds live for 18 years- once you have one they last a long time

@minsmum

What does my d dog day about me, I have a rescue foxhound

Ooh...difficult one.

Rescue = not upper middle class as they tend to know 'a breeder, you know, Elizabeth and her husband. They're family have been at the farm on such a road for generations. Had our last two bitches from there, wouldn't go anywhere else'

Foxhound = middle class though but the rescue dynamic throws the whole thing off as you may not have chosen a foxhound per se, just liked him (her?) when you saw him.

I'm going to guess middle class but not upper middle class.

Sick of the sight of cockerpoos, cavapoos, pugs and French bulldogs.

Same people who prize designer handbags and Botox.