Would any poodle cross owners be interested in a separate forum on here where we can (hopefully) talk without judgement?

[DoodlesInTheHouse]

Genuine question. I asked MNHQ about this (under different name, if you are looking at this MNHQ) and they said to ask on here to see if there was interest.

I understand fully the views of some that some poodle crosses are not a good idea for a variety of reasons (puppy farming, health checks, various other reasons etc etc), but we also have our own reasons on why they suited our family, why we chose not to rescue at that time (and very likely will rescue in years ahead) and we are very, very happy with our choices. We are intelligent adults and made an informed choice. I come from a very dog-oriented family and knew what we were doing.

It seems impossible to ask a question about poodle crosses on here without being jumped on. It wouldn't be the done thing if we were talking about breast v formula, or SAHM v working mums, but it seems to be acceptable to ridicule the choices that some of us have made.

Would anyone be interested?

TBH, you have irresponsible breeders with every single breed.

I think it's a good idea to raise this issue - I don't even have a poodle cross but I get tired of the same old (flawed) objections which get trotted out every time someone mentions a non-pedigree dog, and especially poodle crosses.

For the record, I have a crossbred dog (not a poodle cross) FROM ABROAD which provokes a different kind of ire - and it's repetitive. I fully understand how annoying it is to be treated like an idiot. Enough said.

Perhaps a 'sticky' thread at the top would be better? Then a general advice post can be posted at the top regarding good breeders and health checks for poodle crosses, but people can chat underneath without being virtually assaulted by the objectors. Same could be done for pedigrees, and another for rescue dogs (from home and abroad). That would only be three sticky threads, but each thread could contain the necessary useful advice on potential pitfalls in each scenario.

Personally, the poodle crosses I know are delightful dogs - trainable, bright, affectionate, and of healthy conformation. They are a pretty good choice of dog for many people so long as buyers go into the process with the necessary information and reasonable caution - same as with absolutely every other dog/puppy.

Well done for raising this issue, OP

Mumsnet is already huge with numerous topics that don't generate enough traffic.

A separate topic for one cross-breed of dog is not necessary. And it also wouldn't stop people who want to make negative comments from posting on there anyway so really pointless.

I don't understand what is wrong about having/wanting a cockapoo/cavapoo/labradoodle etc.

A friend of mine bought a cockapoo for 1k, and is about to have cockapoo pups to sell on.

I know MN frown upon this, but I am not sure why? She will look after the pups really well, and only sell to trusted friends (£1k!!!! But that is not my business)

No harm done surely? Yes she only does it for the money, but don't we all do things for money (like... Work! Sell stuff on e-bay).

She will only sell to trusted friends...really?
She has 6 or 8 friends with 1k to spend on a pup and if things don't work out she will take the pup back? Of course she has. if not there's always Gumtree
Hope she is declaring the income to the inland revenue.
I would say this was a wind up, but sadly I hear the same story every bloody week.
Yes, we all do things for money, like work, and sell kids toys on Ebay, not puppies. Regardless of breed, it is beyond irresponsible.

OP I think that would have been a lovely idea.

I love my poodle cross and bought her from a very responsible owner and I couldn't care less what other judgments posters have about that ! How they can judge when they don't know me or the person I bought her from.

No harm done surely? Yes she only does it for the money

It's very, very difficult to breed dogs responsibly and make any money. If someone is doing it specifically to make money then they're cutting corners somewhere to maximise profit or it simply wouldn't be worth it.

The outlay for breeding properly is huge; health testing, some kind of independent evaluation of the dog (showing/working/dog sports/temperament testing/etc.), travel to the stud dog that most compliments the bitch, stud fees, whelping kit, time off work, all the extra power and water, vets fees (breeding is rarely, if ever, covered by normal pet insurance), extra dog food, etc., etc. Not to mention the time investment which is (or certainly should be) absolutely huge, right up until the pups are old enough to leave.

The only people who manage to make enough money from breeding to make it financially worthwhile are either cutting corners or breeding at very high volumes.

"I don't understand what is wrong about having/wanting a cockapoo/cavapoo/labradoodle etc.

A friend of mine bought a cockapoo for 1k, and is about to have cockapoo pups to sell on."

They're two different things...

I recently offered to take a friend of a friend's cockapoo puppy because it turns out that their allergies were still triggered by a cockapoo.

I like poodles, I like cockers, I wouldn't be fussed if it turned out like one or the other or a random mix of traits.

but equally I'd have offered to take it if it was a poodle or a cocker.

If I was going to pay someone for a puppy though I'm damn sure I wouldn't be encouraging them to put their pet bitch through pregnancy and birth for no good reason by rewarding them with a ridiculous amount of money.

Yy to not making money breeding. Friends of mine bred from their show yorkie. £750 each, 6 puppies, and only broke even after vets bills, stud fees, vaccinations, kc registration etc. They are glad the did it, but have said never again.

For me, the thing i have against poodle crosses is all the crap reasons people come out with, it'll be hypoallergenic, have non shedding fur, be this, have that, when there's no guarantee any puppy will inherit the desired traits. It could inherit all the traits you say you'll avoid by crossing!

If you want all those poodle traits, just buy a poodle. The cross just makes it more fashionable, as for some reason many people dont seem to like the idea of poodles- stupid haircuts, too girly, daft name etc, when they're fab little dogs.

The poodle cross trend, imo, is driven by people who don't want a poodle, but want a dog with all the poodle traits.

It's very, very difficult to breed dogs responsibly and make any money.

Agreed

It's piss easy to breed dogs irresponsibly and make plenty of money. That's why so many do it.

This thread has rather derailed.The discussion about breeding is separate to the issue of poodle crosses, which just happen to be popular at the moment. The next big thing is French Bulldogs - female pups currently going for £1800 on Gumtree.

Really, who cares this much?

Perhaps those who are too invested in this should spend time campaigning or doing work for dog rescue, rather than giving people a hard time on t'internet.

I have never met an irresponsible 'poodle cross' owner, yet Scumtree and the like is full of Staffies and Staffie crosses.

I am one of those people who does invest time and energy into rescue, so yes I do care.
The fact that feckless people continue breeding more puppies to end up in rescue is like a continual kick in the teeth.

My dog may be part poodle but he definitely sheds! When he gets off my lap it looks like Chewbacca rolled over me and I keep lint brushes stashed in the house, car and work locker. Having said that he's also part King Charles cavalier and two years on we still can't find treats to bribe him with!

"I have never met an irresponsible 'poodle cross' owner, yet Scumtree and the like is full of Staffies and Staffie crosses."

Gumtree is pretty much the go to website to find irresponsible owners and breeders...and it has plenty of owners looking to sell on poodle crosses because they'd rather get money for them than rehome them responsibly through a rescue.

Yes staffies are way overpopulated and in all honesty I don't know how anyone with a conscience can breed or buy puppies knowing that thousands of them are PTS every year because there aren't enough homes for them.

But that doesn't negate anything about bad breeders breeding other types of dog.

Bubble, I couldn't agree with you more. As a Staffie lover (I grew up with them), it absolutely kills me and breaks my heart that so many are languishing in rescue centres. However, I think the proportion of poodle crosses in there would be minute by comparison.
Tabula, I wish it were illegal to sell dogs online in this way.

I have a poodle cross and I dont give a shiney shit what other people think about her, she is absolutely gorgeous and we love her to bits.

However, I thought we had done a lot of research into buying her (7 years ago) and I thought we had gone to a good breeder, it turns out we hadn't. This doesnt make my gorgeous dog any less because other people dont like labradoodles , it does make me so bloody angry that I didnt have more knowldege and experience when we bought her.

I also cannot stand the sanctimonious rubbish that is spouted everytime we mention poodle cross, there are so many bad breeders we should be working together to eliminate all bad breeders not just ones that cross poodles.

I personally think anyone who breeds dogs should be licensed and the cost should be high.

I don't think we need a separate board.

I nearly bought a poodle cross beginning of 2015. It was called a Yorkiepoo. I thought I'd done loads of research and j paid a deposit of £150 over the Internet. The full price was £1,500 ( at my naivity).
Anyway, I popped over here to ask if there was anything else I needed to think of. Yes, I was 'jumped' on but in a really constructive way. I was asked for a link to the place and the Doghouse people basically opened my eyes to what was a glossy front to a puppy farm. They saved me a lot of grief. If there was a separate board I don't think that would have happened.

I spent much longer re-thinking my plans and we now have the most amazing Border Terrier.

On our walks we meet lots of poodle crosses, some are lovely. My dog plays often with a younger cockapoo who's just gorgeous. I haven't got anything against them, but I do think sone crosses (and names) go too far.

Yup, puppy breeding in this country needs to be properly regulated and licensed.
Tell you what, there would have been no such thing as puppy farms back in the day, when you found your pup of choice through the small ads in the newspaper.
The internet has a lot to answer for.

"This doesnt make my gorgeous dog any less because other people dont like labradoodles"

It's nothing to do with your dog, honestly it isn't, I'm sure I'd meet your dog and go home and tell DD about the lovely dog I was talking to.

(Yes I'm that sort of dog person, lol)

"it does make me so bloody angry that I didnt have more knowldege and experience when we bought her."

But that's exactly why people do post about crosses and the minefield of bad breeders when someone is looking for one - because how is anyone supposed to know if no-one is telling them?

"we should be working together to eliminate all bad breeders not just ones that cross poodles."

Yes absolutely, the problem is though, as I've said already, the very few breeders that are doing it right aren't breeding crosses...

I do also post on threads about breeds as well though, about what good breeders do, what to look for and why it's important.

I'm still waiting for someone to link me to a thread where someone has said ,my cockapoo has poor recall / a sensitive stomach and some one has said well it's your own fault for buying a 'poo' dog .

up to you whether you want a separate thread but as one that tries to educate people who are looking at any "poo" dog - lets just be clear - I haven't met a "poo" I haven't liked - though I have meet some very poorly trained ones (novice dog owners maybe - but the poodle is a fiercely intelligent dog), but what I object to is
1/ the puppy farming, that you are supporting a system that leads to bitches being used as machines, this is often naivety on the buyers part, which is why I would always jump on a thread when someone says tell me about having a x-poo
2/ "poo's" make the best family dogs - maybe......but so do labrador's, poodles, cockers
3/hybrid vigor - the hybrid is only as healthy as the parents, and if they are not health tested you have no way of know
4/ you actually have no idea what your very cute bundle of fluff will grow into ....I know a labradoodle that have poodle build, but a labrador coat, so a slightly larger and chunkier whippet looking thing, and a labradoodle who has the intelligence of a poodle and the greed of a labrador.....no food is safe in there house, unless it is locked away - very hard when you have to cook for the family.......
5/they are hypoallergenic - there is absolutely no guarantee you will get a non-shedding coat
That is just randomly off the top of my head.......

the other thing that astounds me is people will buy a cockerpoo - and say I really hope it looks like a cocker, I don't like the look of poodles.....well then just get a cocker......

Frankly, This morning I disagreed with the Op, but now I can really see her point. I have humble mongrel, that happens to have some poodle in it. I paid £100 in adoption fees but someway my dog has found itself in the RSPCA because se every poodle mix owner is an irresponsible git.

Frankly tulawhatever... You say you don't have anything against the dogs and the owners but I really don't get that level of vitriol against a simple mongrel dog.

Some people get spaniels because they have cute ears, Dalmatians because of the movies, and huskies because they look handsome, but it is the doodle owner who is gets all the grief just for believing they may, on occasion, be good for people with allergies? Tsk tsk

"someway my dog has found itself in the RSPCA because se every poodle mix owner is an irresponsible git."

Breeder, I said she was in an RSPCA centre because she had an irresponsible breeder...if she'd been bred by someone who cared about the puppies they were responsible for creating she'd have been microchipped before she ever left them, she would also have been returned to them if her original owner had been unable to keep her for any reason.

"Frankly tulawhatever... You say you don't have anything against the dogs and the owners but I really don't get that level of vitriol against a simple mongrel dog."

I've owned dogs where I literally had no clue what mix/es they were, I'm not vitriolic about mongrels, I am about people, people who punt dogs (crosses or pedigrees) out into the world for money without doing the basic amount of care they should because they're not the ones that will end up suffering for it, the dogs will.

Dogs shouldn't be something that people can abuse for money, so yes if I get the chance to tell people that that is in fact what a lot of breeders are doing and that there are more ethical ways to get a dog, then I will.

I don't think that's that hard to understand TBH.

I love labs but we can't have one because DP is terribly allergic to them. It's the same with cockers and lots of other breeds, including the breed we always had when I was growing up. That's why we have our crossbreed labradoodle.
Fwiw our dog has nowhere near the same appetite some labs have.

lots of very thin-skinned poo and oodle owners here.
It is not about you or your much-loved dogs - I hope you can understand that and appreciate we are all entitled to our opinion even if you disagree.
Just call a cross-breed a cross-breed - not some cutesy twee names which has the 'designer' label attached and is encouraging the over-breeding for money.