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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

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

268 replies

DoodlesInTheHouse · 12/05/2016 17:04

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?

OP posts:
PirateSmile · 14/05/2016 07:17

Lots of posters, myself included do refer to their dogs as crossbreeds. I wish some posters would stop making stupid assumptions.

mollie123 · 14/05/2016 07:22

eerm - I am not making stupid assumptions - did I mention posters on here or make it personal (I would not be so rude) Angry
this is very enlightening from the history of designers dogs (aka cross-breeds)
www.doglistener.co.uk/designer-dogs-disaster-or-success
FYI - I have a cross-breed and I call him that !

PirateSmile · 14/05/2016 07:25

Did I mention to specifically mollie?
Who's thin-skinned now?

PirateSmile · 14/05/2016 07:25

You not to.

mollie123 · 14/05/2016 07:29

so why did your post follow immediately after mine - of course you were referring to what I said although you did not quote me and I do not like being accused of making 'stupid' assumptions when I was giving a general opinion.
This thread is getting personal now - so I am out - suggest some of you over-sensitive posters read the link I posted as it states my views much better than I could

PirateSmile · 14/05/2016 07:35

mollie So I can't express my opinion now? Flounce off if you like but you are the one making things personal when you talk about thin-skinned posters and despite your objections, we every right to respond and defend ourselves.

Blu · 14/05/2016 07:41

Non-dog owner here, with no knowledge.
Aren't many of the standard breeds the result of some 'designer breeding' ? Did Dachshunds occur naturally? Or German Shepherds?

MotheringShites · 14/05/2016 07:55

I agree with you OP. We have a Golden Retriever/Poodle cross puppy (won't use the cutesy name for fear of appearing pretentious). I would never post to ask for advice/tips even though it would be a great resource.

WellErrr · 14/05/2016 08:04

She's not from a puppy farm, she's from a family home, she wasn't bred for money making.

Genuine question - what WAS she bred for then?

Think about it.

I have bred a litter. It was from an extremely good working sheepdog, because we needed to keep a pup and had had repeated requests to breed this bitch from other shepherds who needed good dogs.
We had around 11 homes lined up before even mating her, and I know all the pups have gone on to be useful working dogs in good homes.
But most importantly, we got to keep out replacement who is brilliant and a vital member of the farm staff.

So why was your friend's whateverapoo bred? Genuinely?

mrslaughan · 14/05/2016 08:11

Pirate smile - Thats great - but you are missing the point, you got what you wanted you are lucky, my friend who has a labradoodle with a labrador coat - wanted the cute fluffy poodle coat, thats what it looked like she was getting until the dog matured.....with a crossbreed, there is no predictable outcome, with how they look or temperament. What would you have done if your doodle - matured to have a labrador coat? I presume then your husband would have been allergic?

mrslaughan · 14/05/2016 08:14

Blu - yes they were selectively breed for a purpose, over time looking at what characteristics were wanted, temperament traits. Bitches and dogs carefully chosen to achieve this. This is not what is done with poo's and doodles in the vast majority of cases, some may argue all cases.

PirateSmile · 14/05/2016 08:20

I'd have got rid of DP!

harryhausen · 14/05/2016 08:23

I'm terribly allergic to the soft coats of a lab or a spaniel. When I was thinking of a dog, so many people told me to get a poodle cross.

I spent some time with some friends with a labradoddle, cockapoo and a cavapoo. I was really allergic to the labradoodle (too much lab I guess). I was also allergic to the Cavapoo. I came away thinking that it was all a bit of a lottery.

So we looked into pedigree breeds instead as I least I could ask questions and know within reason what I was going to get. Never in a millions years did I think I'd end up with a border terrier. So glad we did though.

PirateSmile · 14/05/2016 08:26

I love border terriers but where I walk my dog there are loads of rabbit holes and I be worried I'd spend my days trying to coax a border terrier out of one.

exLtEveDallas · 14/05/2016 08:28

I have a friend with a boarder terrier and a JRT. I remember fondly the weekend he spent 6 hours digging them out of the drainage system on camp because the little bastards had chased a rabbit in there and wouldn't come out Grin Grin Grin

tabulahrasa · 14/05/2016 08:30

"Non-dog owner here, with no knowledge.
Aren't many of the standard breeds the result of some 'designer breeding' ? Did Dachshunds occur naturally? Or German Shepherds?"

Apart from the fact that poodle crosses aren't being carefully selected for specific traits and then their offspring bred to get a reliable type...when other breeds were created they were created for a purpose, dogs were being bred to do a job and there weren't rescues full to bursting point and dogs dieing because of it.

"I would never post to ask for advice/tips even though it would be a great resource."

Even if there were threads where people asking for fairly standard advice were getting lectured about their breed...which no-one seems to have seen.

I post fairly often about my dog without mentioning what breed he is, not on purpose, it just isn't relevant to what I'm posting about that day.

exLtEveDallas · 14/05/2016 08:33

Indeed. If I need advice on the MuttDog, that's all I call her - I suppose I could say she's a 'Sprollie' or a 'SpringBoard' but it's not necessary.

whattheseithakasmean · 14/05/2016 08:38

lu - yes they were selectively breed for a purpose, over time looking at what characteristics were wanted, temperament traits.

Sorry, had to pick myself up of the floor from laughing. Have you not seen the pedigree freak shows out there? Yeah, right all pedigree were selectively bred for a purpose and that purpose wasn't to over exaggerate a trait until it was unhealthy and freakish. You are more likely to get a healthy dog with a cross breed than a pedigree. Pedigree breeders have been proven to be irresponsible and selfish, breeding freaks for their own personal glory.

I don't get how anyone can have a hissy fit over people enjoy their lovely crossbreed dog and calling it what the hell they like. Better than propping up the Kennel Club & its freaky breed standards.

tabulahrasa · 14/05/2016 08:47

"You are more likely to get a healthy dog with a cross breed than a pedigree."

Actually, you aren't, crossing two pedigree dogs with the same inherited health issues doesn't make it less likely they'll inherit them.

The only way to eliminate health issues is to test for them and not breed from dogs with health issues.

PirateSmile · 14/05/2016 08:49

I regularly see a beautiful GSD with weak back legs and pugs who are struggling to breath, especially in this weather, but this is fine because they are pedigree and come from KC breeders.

PirateSmile · 14/05/2016 08:51

I'm no expert on genetics but I was always taught it's good to widen the gene pool. Does this not apply to dogs?

tabulahrasa · 14/05/2016 08:55

"I regularly see a beautiful GSD with weak back legs and pugs who are struggling to breath, especially in this weather, but this is fine because they are pedigree and come from KC breeders."

No, it's not fine, there's been repeated mentions on this thread that it's bad breeding in general that's an issue, but with crosses it's more of an issue because while there are very few decent pedigree breeders, there are none of crosses.

And just for the record I advised someone against getting a GSD on a thread the other day because of the health issues and lack of decent breeders...and I've often advised against pugs for the same reasons.

tabulahrasa · 14/05/2016 08:57

"I'm no expert on genetics but I was always taught it's good to widen the gene pool. Does this not apply to dogs?"

Not when the breeds have the same dodgy genes in common, no.

Labradoodles for instance, labs and poodles share hip dysplasia and PRA as issues that should be tested for.

PirateSmile · 14/05/2016 09:01

It goes without saying that you wouldn't breed dogs with the same genetic issues. Isn't that the case against pedigree dogs? The gene pool for these dogs is very small and unless breeders are prepared to go overseas to widen the gene pool the situation with pedigrees will worsen.

tabulahrasa · 14/05/2016 09:06

"Isn't that the case against pedigree dogs? The gene pool for these dogs is very small"

Not for the types that are being crossed they aren't...it's only an issue in certain breeds, not all of them.