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

Jesus, this is a really nasty thread.

There are some huge snobs on here.

Still not sure what we’ll do, happy to adopt a rescue mongrel in principle but it doesn’t look like it will be possible

Check fb for smaller rescues, or breed specific pages. Often a lot more thorough with rehoming than the “brand name” rescues that seem to be 1st come 1st served much of the time.

Most “poos” have awful training too, they let their little mops do anything because they’re “friendly” and “he’s cute” ...
call it a mongrel (which it is) and they’ll glare at you.
Pathetic.

Most popular dogs round here are either black labs or springers. Apart from the guard dogs of course, which are mainly GSDs.

There are some doodles/poos around but there's a general consensus that they're somehow not 'proper' dogs.

I live in London but dp lives completely rurally

In dp's place, every second dog is some type of spaniel (springer/cocker/sprocker) plus working labs/retrievers

In London, there are a lot more cockerpoo/cavapoo (2 on my small road) plus smaller breed dogs like pugs/Staffies/terriers. Just easier in smaller homes all round I guess.

Seems pretty sensible to me. Nothing wrong with cross breeds and I have no clue about fashion accessories as I've never met anyone who has a dog for those reasons but it doesn't sound like our social circle is like yours!

Also, just to maek a tiny positive point. Those people suddenly aquiring a particular kind of dog aren't getting a dog becasue its trendy (mostly); Dogs are great, in so many ways. If you're going to get one anyway you are goign to be swayed by trends - its human nature, and we do tend towards familiarity, especially if a friend has one and you've imprinted on the breed and like your friends dog.

When inbreeding and health concern is an issue thats not good though

Look at smaller foster based rescues, the dogs are more throroughly assessed and rehomed on individual needs rather than blanket rules.
I have a staffie and two crossbreeds, all rescues, all wonderful dogs.

@AwkwardPaws27

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.

I agree, I think designer crosses are the epitome of chaviness. I judge people who have them as slightly lacking in class.

I live in a fairly "naice" area and it seems like theres an unwritten law that you get a dog (mostly cockerpoo, but occassionally a different poo-cross) when your youngest child is between year 3 and 5 at school.

@Anyoldname12

Most “poos” have awful training too, they let their little mops do anything because they’re “friendly” and “he’s cute” ... call it a mongrel (which it is) and they’ll glare at you. Pathetic.

It's a cross breed. In my understanding mongrels are dogs whose parentage is unknown and unascertainable.

Why would you go around calling people's beloved family pets "mongrels"? In what context could that happen? I mean you might be correct but how would it happen? Without you being deliberately supercilious? "Get your mongrel trained" perhaps? "Put your mongrel on its lead?" Surely you can see that's pretty aggressive in tone?

I would glare at you if you called my dog a mongrel in the same way you would glare at me if I called you a supercilious snob. We would both be strictly speaking completely correct; but we aren't exactly being helpful or smoothing the cogs of friendliness are we?

Cockerpoos, cavapoos, chihuahuas, miniature schnauzers — all naff, all parvenu indicator dogs. Old money has working dogs: labs, retrievers, spaniels, collies and terriers. Real dogs, dogs with a purpose other than to look cute in photoshopped FB-we're-a-perfect-family-living-our-best-life clone pix.

People don’t buy them as a status symbol, they buy them because they are great family dogs that fit in with the modern way of life. Small, low shedding, easy to train, medium exercise, not strong, suitable around children etc.

For what it’s worth, I had goldendoodles before they were ‘popular’. And I chose that mixed breed because it was everything I wanted in a dog.
Paid £1100 for my first, 7 years ago, then £1500 and £1750 for the next two.
I’ll spend my money on whatever I like, not bothered about a designer handbag or expensive shoes, I’ll spend it on getting the dog I want.

They are irrestible though with gorgeous temperaments

I've met three poodle mixes over lockdown. All three are stressed, excitable and heightened at all times that I have seen. They are not quite as perfect as people seem to think, pretty hit and miss in fact. Not a mix I would ever recommend.

I disagree that it's tacky to get a dog if it's not a rescue dog.

I was looking on the local rescue centre page last night and the majority of the dogs available were not considered suitable for us. Some of them said single female owners only and homes that have no visitors. There were also lots of Romanian street dogs available so many of these dogs aren't suitable for rehoming.

A colleague returned a dog to a rescue centre after trying her best for 6 months. The rescue centre was a very well known centre and the due diligence on both her and the dog was non existent. She was heart broken to return him and worked with behavioural therapists but it wasn't working he was aggressive and attacked them causing injuries. They were told he should never be around children despite telling them when they initially adopted him that he was suitable to be around children. They are a young married couple and children are on the agenda.

There is a lot of snobbery on this thread and it's not the people who are buying the cavapoos who are the snobs.

Tbh I'd settle for any dog, whether it's an instagrammable ball of fluff or a working breed. The rest of my family hates/are terrified of dogs so I can't have one. It would be cruel to both dogs and humans

call it a mongrel (which it is) and they’ll glare at you.Pathetic.

i would laugh. i find self-righteous dog-snobs very funny.

I think it’s silly to say people buy it because it’s a status symbol. We bought ours simply because we wanted a smart, cute family dog. She is very smart, intuitive, funny, easy, happy and content dog. We love her to bits. Almost three years in and she is the best decision we made for the family (she makes everyone so happy and so full of love). Sure other dogs can do this. But not all are as smart, easy, non shedding etc. And I have done a lot of research. Grew up with other dog breeds. See friends w other dog breeds etc.

It sucks they are so expensive and not everyone can afford them. But it’s not fair to say people get them as a status symbol.

I have a poodle x one that is owned by a lot of Slebs infact her siblings are owned by slebs....BUT I didn't know at the time she was a "designer dog" I chose the mix as it suited my family. We are just run of the mill. I paid £850 2.5 years ago for her they are now selling for 3.500-5000 it's ridiculous. So my point is dogs aren't always a status so don't judge.

@bluebluezoo

Still not sure what we’ll do, happy to adopt a rescue mongrel in principle but it doesn’t look like it will be possible

Check fb for smaller rescues, or breed specific pages. Often a lot more thorough with rehoming than the “brand name” rescues that seem to be 1st come 1st served much of the time.

Thanks, will do! I really would love to adopt a rescue but since I starting looking earlier this year it’s been ‘would need to be in a home with no children/older children’ or similar. I know lots of people with kids the same age as ours have dogs, so it must be possible!

There are plenty of registered charities that will let you adopt from abroad - they do homechecks, but are much more pragmatic, e.g. about children's ages.

Dogs have always been a status indicator.

Jesus, this is a really nasty thread.

There are some huge snobs on here.

^ this. Just make sure you get a healthy dog, that fits your life and what you can offer it, from a reputable rescue/breeder and ignore everyone else. Also DO NOT get a dog just because your kids want one. The person who will be the primary carer needs to be the one that really wants it and they choose the breed etc. I really wanted a dog. That is lucky as I'm the only one who does the actual day in day out caring for my beautiful boy.

I think more complete herd mentality than anything else.

Honestly seeing someone with the ubiquitous cockerpoo just says to me 'This person knows nothing about dogs and isn't interested in finding out' = they've simply looked at the fluffy dog next door have got and tohught 'Oh amazing, we want one of those'. the end.

just Fluffy Dog.

aw youve gotta let people judge, how else they gonna feel good about themselves?

i love my cockapoo too. hes a great first dog/dog for beginners. my parvenu dh and my nouveau riche children adore him.

I dont know much about the hierarchy of dogs (I've got rescue cats) and not making a judgement about the dog, or the owner - I just notice that more people seem to get a similar type of dog at a similar stage in their life (when I was growing up I hardly knew anyone with a dog)
I assume it's because either some people don't want to deal with a puppy (toilet training, sleep training , learning recall etc) when they have toddlers as well. Or that breeders might not sell them to go to homes with very young children.