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

Utter nonsense . We have two poo crosses and a lab, we didn’t think about aspirations or status when we decided upon them, we determined they were right for us for multiple reasons.

The poo crosses are much better around my horse than the lab and my lab was terrible around livestock for a long time (ok ish now after lots of training), the poos are great, calm and uninterested in livestock, and this took minimal training. The lab sheds and definitely has a ‘doggy smell’, the poos don’t smell at all and don’t shed. They really are wonderful dogs with v little downside. I’m solidly middle class but if you want to think of me as a ‘chav’ (do people still use that term?) fill your boots 🤷🏻‍♀️ by the way, those who possess legitimate class never use terms such as ‘nouveau riche‘, the aspiring middle classes certainly do though, as well as other vile expressions such as ‘common’. Just a little ‘inside’ knowledge from me to you.

I just wanted to come on and say dogs are amazing.

Here are mine. Luna (french bulldog, was bred by my mother in law- she has a poorly eye :( ) and Molly (bottom- staffie cross) was (accidentally) bred by someone in my class last year and I offered to have one of the pups.
They’re amazing.

I do think all breeds have gotten ridiculously expensive this year but each place seems to have its own trends. Where I live (Yorkshire) the adverts seem to have more poodle or lab crosses, whilst my DHs family live in South Wales and it’s all french bulldogs and expensive KC registered breeds.

I just hope all these dogs don’t end up in shelters when people go back to work properly.

I have a lovely poodle cross. He's great and he makes me very happy.

Mumsnet is absolutely fucked up about dogs! Get what dog suits you, look after it well, enjoy it and seriously give no fucks what MN thinks

Haven't RTFT but yes I think all -poo crosses and similar are awful, badly bred dogs that are total social media fodder and massively tacky.

Wouldn't get one, like I wouldn't drive a white 4x4 with blacked out windows.

But then I'm the judgy type :)

Poo mixes are gorgeous imo, and for people like me, with allergies, are a good option. I'm always jealous when I see them and the ones I've interacted with are always boisterous bundles of joy. I met an Australian labradoodle a year ago that I still haven't forgotten - he was beyond perfect.

Though my heart is on a miniature schnauzer (has been for the last decade or so). Too bad I can't find a pup for less than £2.5-3k 😭

This thread is hysterical! I've only recently come back to Mumsnet after a loooooong hiatus...I feel better equipped to deal with the unpleasantness on it now, although it's less so than 13 years ago.

Why is everyone on the whole board so obsessed with being middle class?! Is this indicative of RL? I very rarely notice!

Doesn't judging everything get a bit fucking wearing though?

Poo mixes are gorgeous imo, and for people like me, with allergies, are a good option

But surely a poodle is a better choice for people like you with allergies?

Crossing a poodle reduces it’s hypoallergenic qualities.

So what I don’t understand is why you’d choose a poodle cross when there are already poodles out there which are less likely to trigger an allergy than a cross?

It just seems backwards to me. You wouldn’t put peanut butter in a jam sandwich and expect it not to trigger a nut allergy because jam sandwiches don’t...

@bluebluezoo I have nothing against poodles really, though they're larger than I'd personally like.I live in a small one bed flat, so if I were to get a dog, I'd prefer it were smaller. I also find smaller dogs manageable.

I walk regularly walk a wheaten terrier (lovely dog!) but he's medium sized and can be a handful for my small 5'2 self!

I have nothing against poodles really, though they're larger than I'd personally like.I live in a small one bed flat, so if I were to get a dog, I'd prefer it were smaller. I also find smaller dogs manageable

You know poodles come in 4 sizes? And that toy poodles are only about 10 inches and 4-6 lbs?

Considering my smaller than average yorkie is 4.5 lbs (and I’m often asked if he’s a “teacup”), I’m struggling to see what “smaller” dogs would be more to your taste!

@bluebluezoo Yes, I love toy poodles but I thought they were a mix, no?

You seem a little defensive, not sure why, I merely stated that I think poodle mixes are sweet dogs. Also, I don't understand the 'just get a poodle" logic for those that want a poodle mix. Why don't you demand they get a staffie instead - it's the same logic.

I have my heart set on a schnauzer in any case, as i've previously mentioned. I guess you'll make some form of judgement on this too?

You won’t find any ‘poos’ around these parts; no soggy spaniels or labs neither. Almost everyone has sled-dog breeds; Malamutes, Huskies and Samoyeds. The occasional St Bernard’s or Bouvier Bernoise.

But then I do live in a ski resort. Kilometres of Swiss mountainside and Alpine pasture for exercising the dogs and they are perfectly at home in the snow and sub-zero temperatures for hours on end.

Thanks flocon - lovely images conjured up by your post !

Flocon, our neighbour has a samyod they are stunning dogs!
As mentioned upthead another neighbour has a pair of beautiful cavachons, so loving, well trained & friendly to my dc. They looked like mini old english sheepdogs during lockdown 1 before my neighbour ordered a grooming kit & started doing DIY jobs on them Of all the mixes out their the cavachons or shicon/bichon X are my favourite. The bichon friese mixes don't seem to be as energetic /bouncy as the poodle mixes.

@FloconDeNeige wow my dc would be in their element with all of those dogs. Our husky is 7 days away from being allowed out for proper walks and yet today we have woken up to a blanket of snow in Liverpool it will be short lived of course.

We also love Malamutes but they’re huge. We know our boy will be a super shedder but we researched the breed and accept that’s part of what huskies do.

It must be so lovely to see all of those snow dogs on a daily basis. We don’t see many here at all.

Toy poodles aren't a mix, they're poodles.

My JRT hates huskies and malamutes. I've no idea why but there are quite a few round here and we have to take a detour to avoid them, maybe it's their eyes which are quite unusual. She's not keen on flat faced dogs either but is getting better with the smaller French bulldog/Boston terrier types. She like Spaniels and other JRT's best. With Border Terriers they seem to go through a ritual barking and snarling and then make peace.

*Yes, I love toy poodles but I thought they were a mix, no?

You seem a little defensive, not sure why, I merely stated that I think poodle mixes are sweet dogs. Also, I don't understand the 'just get a poodle" logic for those that want a poodle mix*

Toy poodles aren’t a mix, they’re a kC recognised pedigree.

Not defensive no. Just a bit fed up of seeing statements about poodles that are incorrect.

If people did their research they’d realise that if they genuinely need a hypoallergenic, non- shedding dog, then a poodle is a far better choice than a mix. Or they’d realise a toy poodle is not a cross .

Poodle mixes are driving puppy farms, backyard breeders and overbreeding. They aren’t regulated and are less likely to be health tested than pedigree. Read the DM article linked previously.

For me, it’s not “just get a poodle”. It’s that in the vast majority of cases, for what the buyer wants a poodle would be the better option, for them and the dog. Fewer would end up in rescue when they get it home and realise it does shed and little johnny is allergic, and they cant get hold of the breeder because he kindly met them in a park closer to home...

My JRT hates huskies and malamutes

This is quite common (sorry to those breeds, who I think are very beautiful) - they have a very upright posture which I think can make them look less than friendly to other dogs. Sometimes. It can be similar with breed like boxers - all straight legged and upright backs.

Again, no offence meant to those breeds. Personally, I think every single dog is beautiful.

Do they end up in rescues though? Having spent many many months (even years) trying to find a rescue and being rejected because of cats and dc (who are teens!) I have never seen a doodle needing a home. There are a few specialist places but very few as a percentage of the numbers there actually are

I love cockers but I too, genuinly, do not understand which bits of the cocker is wanted in a cockerpoo. I don't really get what the cocker spaniel brings to that particular party.

Friendly? As are poodles; in fact, poodles tend to rate more highly for freindliness tyowards other dogs and strangers, meaning the cocker is likely reducing friendliness in the mix

Athletic? Poodles also

Size? As above, smaller sized poodles do that too

Ball orientated? OK, maybe that's more common in spaniels than in poodles but both are gun breeds so both have soft mouths and the desire to carry things in them

Intelligence? Not more than a poodle

Clinginess? Both breeds have tendancies to be clingy and bond more closely with one person in the family

Sensitivity? Both breeds are highly sensitive

Trainability? A poodle tends to be easier to train than a cocker, though both breeds are known to be 'biddable'

The only thing I can think is to soften the fur a little, which sometimes happens. i.e. to create the teddy bear look. However, both poodles start out with wavy fur and many poodles can keep the softer, wavier fur into adulthood.

It's a strange mix, tbh, because it's hard to understand what the improvement is that's being sought. Unless it's that cocker spaniels typically have bigger litters than poodles and so it was maybe a way of getting higher yield per pregnancy.

@Zoflorabore

I would love a Malamute but it’s not really a good fit as we have small children and a cat (albeit a 10kg Maine Coon!). After much deliberation, we decided on a Samoyed and are waiting on a local breeder for a puppy. I’m hoping he’ll be happy to come cross-country skiing with me!

@Lululatch

Do they end up in rescues though? Having spent many many months (even years) trying to find a rescue and being rejected because of cats and dc (who are teens!) I have never seen a doodle needing a home. There are a few specialist places but very few as a percentage of the numbers there actually are

I've done a fair bit of volunteering for rescues. In my (albeit anecdotal) experience, it's the breeds with a lower resale value that tend to end up there more than others.

I cannot say for sure, that's why, but wonder if those with higher value tend to be sold on, rather than surrendered? Admittedly, I am influenced in that by one woman who brought two frenchies in, saying she could no longer give them the right home and then tried to ask for £ for them, from the rescue. She tried bartering when her original £500 per dog was not met. At £300 she gave up and walked off with them - presumably to sell them provately instead?

The dog on foot (paw?), not skis, obviously!!