To think that a labracockapoodle is a mongrel

[voluptuagoodshag]

So why can't folk just say so. Or would that be to justify the extortionate amount they paid for it so they don't come across as mugs.

We have a cross breed and a pedigree. Have previously had a Dachshund (most aggressive thing on four legs I've ever met) and a rescue dog (mongrel) that came with all kinds of baggage and eventually he had to be pts as a result of health issues we weren't informed about.

We didn't choose our cross breed because we wanted a designer dog, but because we wanted a pet that had minimal shedding and low odour as well as being friendly and intelligent. I would have liked a poodle, but DH refused point blank to consider one. He cost a lot, but so do pedigrees. He came from a reputable breeder who is well respected amongst the dog fraternity. He is the most loving, friendly, non-aggressive dog you could wish to meet......oh, and he neither sheds nor smells until he rolls in something disgusting

Later we got a pedigree second dog. Similar cost, from a reputable breeder who was instrumental in introducing the breed to the uk. She, otoh (the dog, not the breeder!) is extremely feisty, barks a lot and some people find her intimidating - although that's part and parcel of her breed - she is much harder work, but adorable just the same.

Imho I agree with Hop that all dogs started out as 'designer' breeds as the KC and breeders have played God with the gene pool.......

Forgot to add - the breeder of our labradoodle expensive cross breed did all the required health checks and the environment he came from was cleaner than that of the pedigree puppy we later purchased.....

How can all dogs start off as designer breeds? I mean I get that dogs have been domesticated for a very long time, but the only people I know who have had litters were farmers, and farm dogs tend to be bred for intelligence rather than looks - collies come in a huge array of sizes and colours. Growing up people either had pure breeds of mutts, the mutts were usually several generations away from anything pure (apart from dog that is).

Very few people need a specific look or function in a companion dog apart from a nice nature.

"What on earth needs to be improved in a labrador"

Joint problems. The breed is susceptible to both hip and elbow dysplasia and dogs should have hip & elbow scoring done before the dog is used for breeding.
This obviously isn't a fail safe and there will be people who still breed their dogs despite them having poor scores.

There have also been breeders trying to pass off dogs as being "silver Labradors". These dogs are a cross between a chocolate lab and a Weimaraner. The breed standard protects against these dogs and their progeny being registered / shown as their eye colour and coat colour are incorrect.
Again it doesn't stop backyard breeding but that's a whole other kettle of fish.

the environment he came from was cleaner than that of the pedigree puppy we later purchased.....

This means nothing. I breed working border collies, they are born and brought up in a barn, bedded on straw and shavings.
It is not a sterile environment, and nor should it be. Dogs like humans need germs and dirt in their life. It's not natural for them to be too clean.

I looked through Many Tears on reading this thread as we are considering a new dog. As with most of the rescues I look at, there is very little suitable for a family.

We have children, and neighbours. I know any dog can turn, but we can't have a dog with food aggression, or dog aggression when I am on the school run, or that barks when I take the kids swimming, or many of those other issues rescue dogs can have. Each time we are really looking for a dog and look at rescue sights, it is very hard to find a dog that would be suitable.

Tough I will look at the site you have linked to.

There is a dog on the ManyTears site that 'lunges at children'. Is it really right to rehome that dog?

Owl, any dog can have those issues, not just rescues!

Unless you can guarantee that nothing about your home environment will ever change for the next 15 years, you can't guarantee any dog's behaviour. And even then, you probably can't.

My friends brought their dog up from puppyhood, then she took a part/time job when her husband's income dropped. The dog developed separation anxiety in the mornings and barked for half an hour every day after she left. They were getting advice from a dog behaviourist, last thing I heard.

I don't understand this belief that getting a non-rescue dog is a guarantee of no issues.

All backstreet breeding should be stopped - puppy farms, idiots breeding "the odd litter", farmers with a litter of black labs in the barn, etc - pedigree and crossbreed, right across the board. There was yet another expose of puppy farms on 'Watchdog' last week and it makes me wonder how much ore before a government - any government - would be forced to act? Why don't they legislate now, to strictly control and licence who can and can't breed dogs?

I still find it hard to understand what is stopping successive governments from shutting down every backstreet breeder and every single puppy farm, tomorrow. What is their incentive to let this carry on?

Also - what's the betting many of these puppy farms are now breeding 'designer' crossbreeds? Again, the point is - once the demand is there, the cruelty happens. And meanwhile perfectly nice family dogs sit in shelters not homed because people have to buy "the latest thing".

i have nothing to add except that my friend's really beautiful 'non shedding' labradoodle sheds like a mo fo
she was assured by the breeder that theirs did not
paid £700 for him and he sheds like a lab...very very very sweet though but essentially purchased to be non shedding

Joffrey, the flaw in your plan is that if that was enacted then the only dogs we'd be left with are overbred pedigrees with all their genetic baggage and designer cross breeds. Neither of these options are in the best interests of the dogs, never mind, people.

Many Tears is one of the few places you seem to be able to get a mutt these days but unfortunately they are over 400 miles away from us and insist on seeiNg the whole family before they'll approve adoption. I just can't bring myself to drag 2 excited DCs halfway down the country to meet a dog we may, or may not, be allowed/decide to adopt. I don't know how all the mutts in other parts of the country are rehomed but it's certainly not via our local rescues. A young, non staffie/husky dog seems to be very hard to find.

Tough surely a collie isn't an idea dog with children. There is no way, with three children, I think I can keep a collie stimulated. Where are the others, if you don't want a bichon frise type dog (no objection to bichon frise dogs - but we just need a bigger dog in a busy hour with large children rushing around. I'd be scared of falling over a small dog).

^^ or would it be ideal with children if I was prepared to do agility etc? (would love to). Bugger - now broody for collie puppy!

koala re'I don't understand this belief that getting a non-rescue dog is a guarantee of no issues.' - no but less likely surely, if you have socialised your puppy to hopefully deal with what your life involves (and chose right breed).

I am really glad we had our first dog from a puppy as I wanted to do the puppy thing all the way through and have learnt a lot. I am in a lot stronger position to consider a rescue dog now.

"A young, non staffie/husky dog seems to be very hard to find."

Online they will be, most rescues use their websites to advertise the harder to rehome dogs, it's not all the dogs they have that are online.

Tough, I have trawled many tears a lot. I'm desperate to find a suitable crossbreed rescue dog for our family. But they have v few dogs within 200 miles of us, none of which are suitable. If anyone knows of a mutt type rescue operating in Scotland or the north please let me know!

Ta hula, thanks - I'll call the SSPCA again. They told me all their dogs are online but perhaps not.