Aibu that dogs are now a class identifier??

[MammabearX1]

Just that.... Since my dc have returned to school (London prep) the school gates are crowded with little fluffy pups.... All expensive cockapoo or cavachon types... Thorough breds seems to be gone out of fashion & there's not a mongrel in sight... I'm thinking these are a class identifier as those fluffy dogs are so expensive... My husband thinks it's down to the dogs size making them perfect for London living with smaller garden space etc... Is it just our school? When I was young the posh kids had cocker spaniels or some type of working dogs but then I grew up in the country...

No it is not class, it is fashionable or the only ones available to families with small DC they can't adopt from the pound with small DC.
Every second person around here seems to have a small fluffy or sleek small dog, lockdown puppies WC area.

Gorgeous, Corrag! 😍
I was outvoted and ended up with a greyhound. One day...

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Its generally labs and spaniels here. (And an Australian Labradoodle that is like a massive fluffy teddy bear).

There's no such thing as an Australian Labradoodle. There aren't any Australian labs or poodles! Maybe it's crossed with a Maremma which is a type of big, fluffy guardian dog which is popular here...but they're really Italian.

They're all mutts really.

Labs and Spaniels here. All DC at prep/boarding schools.

I actually think those type of dogs are good choices for families; they are quite sensible. I dislike seeing people with Huskies, Border Collies, working Cockers etc when they obviously don't have the right lifestyle for them. I also hate to see any flat faced dogs - knowing the health and breathing problems that they have; people really should be discouraged from breeding them.

I have a flat face pedigree. I'm not class conscious, I resent being told I don't care about his health, I wouldn't know what's in or out regarding fashion. He's a rescue, he needed a home, I love him. Simple as that.

Cockapoos / cavapoos etc are mongrels though

Of course, if he's a rescue then that's totally different; you're not responsible for unnecessary breeding, you're doing a good thing.

I have a mongrel which we bought in the last year who is one of them fluffy little cross breeds. To be honest all dogs are just so expensive at the moment and the thought of one who doesn't shed like my labradors did was a big contributing factor to getting her. I think it's really odd to judge someone for what dog they have

I wouldn’t say they’re a class identifier - rather more an identifier of people who are followers of fashion - or perhaps slavish followers of fashion
I'd be inclined to agree. Lockdown puppies for people who are happy to spend thousands on a teddy bear style, fluffy dog.
I'm sure many of them will claim they know their fashionable lockdown dog didn't come from a puppy farm, and then make some comment about hypoallergenic (as they seems to be the go to justification), but I'd be very surprised if the sudden explosion of lockdown puppy buying has come from responsible breeders.

@Literallynoidea it's called "Love Letter to the British Isles" on Spotify and it's absolutely brilliant, can't recommend it enough. I have learned so much from it and the presenter is fantastic. I was a little worried from the title it would be some kind of jingoistic thing but in fact it's completely the opposite - it starts a million years ago!

Look at the history of retrievers, bichon frise etc they all ‘produced’ by breeding for desirable characteristics just like the cockerpoos of today. What everyone is basically arguing about is just a question of timing. Old designer dogs have become established breeds.

It's mainly those types of fashionable crosses at my kids school and has been for years, but it's not a middle class area.

Personally I think those dogs are popular because they meet the needs of families: smallish, minimal shedding, good with kids etc. People get snobby about them being crossbreeds, but essentially the reasons humans have bred dogs since the stone age has been to meet our needs.
Breeding dogs for dog shows is a more recent development.

I have a rough collie myself, I have no idea what class that signifies, I got one because I've wanted a 'lassie' since I was a little girl.

Bernese mountain dogs seem to be very popular where I live at the moment, I'm constantly seeing new puppies around the place.

The absolute easiest dog I’ve ever known was friends’ King Charles spaniel, a rescue, casualty of a divorce. So docile, good with small children, etc. Apparently common traits but not a fashionable breed.

Friends’ former dogs included flatcoat retrievers - really lovely, good-natured, affectionate dogs but needing loadsof exercise, and a Westie, who was a snappy little bugger and couldn’t be trusted with children, or anyone he didn’t know, TBH.

@WhoEatsPopTarts

Where I live it is, but the cockapoo is for the try hards. The ‘posh’ all have rescue dogs.

I’m excited to hear I am a ‘try hard’ as I sit here in my egg-stained cardigan and slippers, reading the Farm Foods leaflet for entertainment. I’ve always been more of a ‘must try harder’ type.

We have a Jack Russell/Patterdale cross, a Patterjack apparently.

But she’s just a mongrel really. But the most gorgeous mongrel you’ll ever meet!

@Notanotherhun or how hard it is to rescue a dog if you’ve not owned one before or have dc. We looked for a year and gave up then a friend had a litter of cocker spaniels (kc reg great lines) and we bought one. He was £2k and I think that’s reasonable. I don’t think dogs should be cheap. He’s loved, cared for and part of our family but we researched and selected an appropriate breed for us.

@EiffelPower

At the rates the flat face breeds seem to be filling local dogs homes, I think they will rapidly become amongst the most commonly rescued breeds. Which again changes perceptions. Around here it’s staffies that have gone had a bit of a “rebrand” in recent years, they fell out of favour with the demographic who saw them become overbred, and are now being rescued by more conscientious owners.

I’d never buy a Frenchie/pug from a breeder, but I’d rescue one if it felt like the right dog for my family. They’re not bad dogs, just overbred and often in expensively poor health as a result. Same with plenty of other less popular breeds too just seen less.

The only signifier for me is ... Do they look after their dog properly? Yes = top class. No = bastards. I don't much care about class otherwise.

Thank you so much @Xiaoxiong - I googled it and found two. That is JUST the sort of podcast I've been looking for.

@AnnaFiveTowns

I dislike seeing people with Huskies, Border Collies, working Cockers etc when they obviously don't have the right lifestyle for them

How would you make that judgement? Seeing me briefly, what would I need to demonstrate within that moment of time that would tell you I live the right “lifestyle” for my working cocker? What amount of mud on my Hunter wellies would be appropriate?

Doesn’t matter where I walk in London - and I walk a lot - from Richmond to Primrose Hill, every second person has a cockapoo or cavapoo. I’ve been wanting one for a while but they’re everywhere so it’s actually put me off. . And you’re not getting much change from £3k either. You’re husband is right though, they are great family dogs, ideally for small London gardens and don’t need much walking. The do however require a lot of company so it’ll be interesting to see what happens when people start going back to work full time/full days.

*your

@Wrennie24

Cross breeds like cavapoos and labradoodles are mongrels.

Yes. Best re-brand ever, re-name a mongrel and sell them for thousands.