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.

Hoplike, sorry I haven't been clear. I will be honest and say I have issues with most, but definitely not all dog owners. This trading in dogs and breeding drives me insane. I had a beautiful pedigree dog through my childhood that developed epilepsy early on and later stomach problems leading to a life span of about seven years. I have friends who have had mongrel dogs which much happier lives and lived beyond the age of 13. I absolutely hate the trophy dog fashion. As a child my best friend, I.e. my dog had fits in the park etc. I also have issues with people getting dogs and then leaving them inside all day whilst they go to work. IIt's inhumane but the same people always describe themselves as dog lovers. I don't have a dog now as I couldn't provide decent welfare, I am the dog lover

If it were up to dogs, they'd just shag other dogs, they wouldn't care about whether they were making a cocapoo or whatever

We had an accidental mix between a collie and a setter, he got all the worst physical traits of both. His lips were far too big for his collie face. He was the best dog in the world.

People who treat animals as accessories deserve to be out of pocket for their twattery.

Just like us homo sapiens then. Thankfully we breed out of love and attraction not genetic modelling

Hop, but with a labradoodle you could get an eager to please, highly biddable, massively shedding dog, an intelligent, work driven, non-shedding dog or anything in between.

The same with a half Alsation, half malamute - you may get a work driven, people loving dog, or an aloof lazy dog. The only guarantee with that mix is your home will definitely be covered in hair. Surely you are better off picking a breed that suits you, rather than gambling on two breeds that might?

If anyone is interested in a doodle of any kind there is a 'Doodle Trust' which rescues and rehomes labradoodles as well as other poodle cross types :)

I never get the whole "CALL YOUR DOG A MONGREL" frothing at the mouth. Conversations always go like this anyway -

"What sort of dog is it?"
"A cross breed"
"What cross is it?"
"Labrador and poodle".

So much easier to just say

"What sort of dog is it?"
"A labradoodle".

So much easier. Will never understand why some people get sooo het up about it!

Yes, you can get a dog with a bad nature even if you've had high tea with its grandparents.

Paying thousands of pounds for a dog while hundreds of dogs are getting euthanised every day is..,bizarre, at best. Just my opinion.

"But also think most people should only get rescue dogs, so my dog opinions are not popular on here."

On the contrary - the Doghouse section is renowned for posters advocating rescues. In fact, there was a time when you didn't dare post on here at all unless you could prove you had a rescue staffie.

I said 'reliable' pedigree breeders. There are puppy farms for all breeds. Also rescue charities for most breeds. Maybe I should have used the word 'decent'.

I saw a Labrador crossed with a Bassett hound the other day. He was definitely a mistake but God he was so completely gorgeous.

at blackbin. I'm now off thinking of all the combinations of birds now. That should be another thread

• a crow and thrush = crush
• jackdaw and starling = jackling or stardaw
• a chaffinch and blue tit = chafftit (or is that something you get when you jog?)

Actually you have to go back to the Order for it to be the same, so for us that would be Primates.

Breeding a robin and a blackbird would be like a human and a bushbaby (for example).

Whereas a spaniel and a poodle are more like a petite Japanese woman and a tall blond Swedish man. Look very different, but biologically the same.

Polka I love the analogies you use! They are most helpful

I love my little crossbreed. I would be lost without her. I do think there is a lot of dog snobbery around though; purchasing a crossbreed is always bound to divide opinion.

Yes but if both breeds are ones you'd be happy with, then odds are that you'll be happy with the cross. We didn't care about the shedding element, okay so it would have perhaps been easier if my dog didn't shed, but we didn't care either way, and as it happens, he sheds for England! We wanted either a lab or a poodle, I am not a fan of the KC, and don't have good past experiences with pedigrees, so we went for a cross.

Sure, in an ideal world everyone would rescue, but sadly we love in a far from idea world.

hmmmm- but breeders have to exist to some extent, in order to have pedigrees or mongrels or any dog at all? I don't have a labradoodle as a trophy dog, I didn't get him because he's fashionable, he's just my dog. There is someone in the house with him pretty much 24/7, we live in the countryside so he has lovely long country walks, gets fed the best food, gets the best vet care, and generally has a lovely life- he's not a trophy, he's just my dog, but yes, he is a labradoodle. We have also had bad experiences with poorly pedigrees, and bad experiences with rescues (all of which were extremely well loved and cared for I hasten to add!)- so far the labradoodle (7 years old) is the most lovely, reliable, healthiest, happiest of them all.

Deffo. I hate this new wave of designer dogs and their owners who look down on everything that's not a chorkie or jackawawa

At least Labracocadoodles or whatever they are called don't look strange unlike this husky corgi mix. Apparently it's called a horgi he is sort of cute but weird.

I was waiting for the 'designer dog' label to come out!

Please enlighten me, what is a pedigree exactly if it isn't a designer dog? Because from where I'm standing, it seems as if the KC have been designing pedigrees for decades. 'Improving the breed' or 'designing?' Doesn't seem like many improvements are being made as far as I can see...

Hey clam, when saying style over substance, I mean people purchasing dogs and needing a breed name. Other posts have defended needing to know whether a pup will shed a lot of hair etc and this being a reason for choosing a particular breed. Shoot me down posters if you want, but imho it's pretty clear when going to a rescue centre the temperament of a dog and also the likelihood of heavy shedding is pretty obvious, if not to you, then certainly the staff can advise. I understand the want for a young pup and I am not particularly advocating rescue centres when bringing a new pup to your home. I simply can't believe how 'style based' the posts are. Breeders should not be allowed to continue trying to allude to a styles of dog!!! KC grrrrrrr

Also sproke- You're allowed to look down on crossbreed owners, but we're not afforded the same luxury? Double standard perhaps?!

For the record, I don't look down on anyone, whatever breed of dog they have. I couldn't give a flying fuck as long as they are looking after it properly.

Hoplike, I agree we need breeders as we love dogs. I think breeding is regulated but not in terms of what we would expect in 2015. We all know pedigrees have health issues, but clearly governments have been busier with other pressing issues. This is where I get annoyed with the demand for supply.

I think you're right, regulation is absolutely dire, and needs to be overhauled. If I had my way, we'd bring back dog licences, do away with the KC for good, and ban unregulated, unlicensed breeding. Breeders should adhere to strict protocol, and be monitored accordingly and have their licences revoked if they don't stick to the rules.

The best breeders are the ones who ask for more money because they have a reputation to uphold. They should also be showing dogs and you pay for their careful pairing, rearing, vet checks and their work in rearing the puppies. Cheaper dogs, that are never handled, with poor bloodlines are not the way to go. People can have whatever breed of dog they want, so long as they look after them and they are not annoying people.

I also agree that breeders should not breed undesirable faults into dogs and the KC needs to get tougher on their breed standard descriptions. My dog breed is meant to be 10 ins at the shoulder. As a result, only tiny dogs are kept for breeding. The dog breed, in general, is getting bigger due to good food and improved health. The dogs with better temperaments may well be bigger than 10 ins at the shoulder, particularly males. Fox hounds are now enormous in comparison to 70 years ago. Look how human beings are bigger and stronger than they used to be.

Rehoming dogs can be very difficicult and, frankly, is not for everyone. I met a lady in the vets recently who was at her wits end because after 9 months of trying to leave her rescue dog in the house for a short while so she could do the shopping, the dog still howled from start to finish and her neighbour's kept complaining. He had severe separation problems and after months of work from an experienced dog owner and input from the vets, there was no improvement. Our friends rescued an Alaskan Makamut and that never, ever, could be left on his own in the house. Even after 10 years! He destroyed everything and howled. Mental scars in some rescue dogs are very difficult to eradicate.

No no no, I don't look down on crossbreeds. I get annoyed when owners of certain crossbreeds go all holier than thou. I dont look down on dogs in general, it tends to be owners.

I was out with our lurcher (a lurcher is also a crossbreed) and springer quite recently when I was accused of trying to steal some tubes dog. None of them on leads but my two never left my side. This daft looking wee thing followed us despite its owner calling it repeatedly (zilch in the recall dept) I stopped twice to let her catch up but she never even quickened her pace just kept calling which clearly wasn't working. When she finally caught up with me as I was loading mine in the back of the transit she told me I tried to steal her dog and she was going to take pictures of my van and put them on Facebook as a dog thief. I had a pop at her about lack of training and shouldn't be off a lead if it won't come back to which her answer was he's only a wee cavachon and wouldn't hurt anyone unlike mine who was obviously so bad he had to wear a muzzle (lurchers are commonly muzzled).

That's what pisses me off

"What sort of dog is it?"
"A cross breed"
"What cross is it?"
"Labrador and poodle".

Why wouldn't they just answer, a lab poodle cross or something similar?

Why is it a choice between a cutesy name or being weird and cagey?

And while we're on the subject...why is it labradoodle, but cockapoo and cavapoo not cockoodle and cavoodle? And why aren't goldendoodles just goldoodles?

YADNBU, in work (veterinary hospital) I secretly get a bit of a giggle when registering an animal and the owner proudly says 'he's a labradoodle/cocker-poodle/etc' to respond 'ah huh, so... that's poodle cross then...'.
I find it quite sad that people feel they are this wonder dog hypoallergenic extraordinaire. I've met some really quite aggressive poodle crosses and they are still prone to every problem of their respective breeds, including making their owner allergic to them. Sadly they are often poorly bred because they are such a money spinner, and then we have to deal with the consequences.

I think you are much, much better off with a carefully bred lab or poodle. Much less of a lottery.