Poodle crosses

[Doggonecrazy]

So following on from my previous thread, DH not keen on a minature poodle, is it ever okay to buy a so called designer pup? Thinking a schnauzer poodle cross.
Don't want to support the so called puppy trade I have read about. Is it possible to buy from a reputable breeder?

How about a Bichon Frise? I have only had ours less than a week - adult from a shelter so no expert but she is lovely and whilst a breed in itself now was originally a poodle crossed with a something or other water dog.

Yes, to some extent I agree about Many Tears. However, I've also seen that they pay not insubstantial amounts to help dogs with eye and other health problems. If they name and shame, then dog breeders won't give up their dogs to them and will probably just shoot them/have them pts.

I think it's also the responsibility of local council not to grant licences to people who they know are puppy farmers and to name and shame the awful ones by more rigorous and frequent inspections. Many rescues take in ex-breeders not just MT. Until Joe Public are willing to learn about where their fluffy puppies come from, the problem will continue.

I stumbled on this thread. I'm desperate to fill the dog-shaped hole in my life, just waiting for the DS's to grow up a little. I'd always thought I'd get a doodle. I really had no idea about almost all the points people have brought up here.

This is why I love mumsnet. Thanks all for posting.

many tears do have some lovely puppies

My brother got a wonderful 3 legged golden retreiver form them last year, only about a year old but he has lovely manners and is a gret dog.

MTAR take numerous dogs from Irish pounds as well - those that are due to be killed less than a week after being taken on. It costs a lot of money to constantly arrange transport, ferries etc.

I 'paid' (because it's a contribution) £170 for MuttDog from MTAR. I am glad I did. Her and her sibs were taken from their mother, zipped up in a sports holdall and dumped next to a bin. If a member of the public hadn't heard them cry they would have died.

Sylvia's blog on the MTAR website makes sobering reading, but the 'happy endings' posts of all their saved dogs makes up for it.

My local rescue dreams of the day that they can be as successful as MTAR. Until then, dog after dog after dog will die.

A lot of rescues also advertise on Pets4Homes website. Just choose the For Adoption option and you'll see, you can search by postcode which is useful.

Doggonecrazy just checking - are you and DH OK with the need for the dog to be groomed, clipped +/- ears plucked every couple of months? Also with the need to teach it not to yap if it shows tendencies in this direction?
I've seen a couple of schnauzer/poodle crosses and they have been nice little dogs - but I agree with the other posters - it's hard enough to find a good pedigree breeder let alone a good crossbreed breeder and the point made by another poster that people sometimes use crossbreeding as a way to get around the Kennel Club rules of only registering a certian number of litters per bitch is a very valid one.