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?

"It goes without saying that you wouldn't breed dogs with the same genetic issues."

Except people do, all the time...that's why people post about health tests, because that at least weeds out the worst breeders who don't even do those.

Lots of pedigrees have the possibility of genetic problems. My brother's pedigree dog has exactly the same disease our family dog who died ten years ago suffered from. Different breeders in different parts of the country.

You're missing the point though Pirate, it's not that pedigree breeders are always better or that pedigrees are somehow better.

It's that if you look hard enough you will find a good breeder of most breeds (not all, because some breeds are in such a state that really no-one should be breeding them) someone who is breeding without being in it for money, who is doing everything they should be doing and offers the right aftercare. If you're looking for a cross rather than a breed, you're not going to find that breeder because that's not what breeders of crosses are doing.

I don't think I'm missing the point at all.

My dog came from a litter which was a result of an owner who had left their dog with her sister and the sister - not the biggest dog fan but doing her sister a favour - didn't realise the dog was in heat and a next door dog who dug his way under the fence. We were able to meet both parents and were advised that although they didn't think any of the puppies would be bigger than a cavalier or would have a poodle coat there was no way to know. He was the runt of the litter but has long poodle legs so is nearly as tall as a springer spaniel!

The only massive issue was the owner of the mother went into labour early and we were asked to take the puppies two weeks early but they had their vet come out and take all 4 new owners through bottle feeding and weaning on to solids. I felt it was unfortunate but who can expect a new mother to look after 4 puppies especially as they were very honest about the circumstances.

I think that's why I get so frustrated about the 'you wanted a designer dog' reaction I get - rarely in person and mainly online - DP wanted a cavalier but there seemed to be a laundry list of health issues not to mention I don't like the little pug like faces so we agreed on a cavalier cross. DP refused to consider a cross with a bichon frise because his sister's is nuts and I knew enough about a poodle to think if they took any many poodle traits we mightn't be able to cope properly. A friend in work mentioned her cousin had a dog expecting puppies and were we interested. Went and seen the puppies and fell in love. Funny enough out of 4 I think 1 had the poodle fur in Black and Tan, 1 could pass as a pure bred cavalier except she's jet black, 1is a brown ball of fluff the size of a boot and my favourite description of my dog is a cocker spaniel on stilts so I agree that if you are getting a cross be aware you never know what the end result will be!

"I think that's why I get so frustrated about the 'you wanted a designer dog' reaction I get - rarely in person and mainly online - "

In fairness I think it's a very different sort of discussion online to a conversation you'd get in RL.

Unless I happen to know someone is RL is actively thinking about looking for a puppy, they'd not really get my opinion on breeders.

There's also the...well you're just telling someone they're wrong for no reason part of it.

In your case with your particular reasoning about cav's health, it seems logical to get a cross instead to avoid the health issues, but it's not because some of the health issues with cavs don't actual present symptoms until later on and they're caused by a group of genes so you don't need both parents to be affected or carriers, they can come from just one parent.

Now in RL, I wouldn't bother mentioning that because you have your dog already, there's no purpose in telling you that actually it could have gone horribly wrong, online, someone else may read it and realise that getting a cross instead of looking for a good breeder or finding another breed (cavaliers are lovely lovely dogs, but their health is in a shockingly bad state) is not the best way to avoid the health issues.

I still don't think it crops up randomly in threads about recall or flea prevention though, but yes it is going to happen more online than in RL.

I'm still waiting for a link to a thread !
playinggrownup , that story is typical of a BYB , I know 2 'designer' cross breed owners ( different litters) where it is from an accidental mating between neighbours / relatives dogs .

"I know 2 'designer' cross breed owners ( different litters) where it is from an accidental mating between neighbours / relatives dogs ."

Yes, you do get a surprising amount of accidental litters given that it'd be easier on the bitch and owner to go and get the mismate injection rather than continue with the litter.

It's also surprising how many people then sell the puppies rather than asking a rescue to help rehome them.

But some of those must be genuine I suppose...

I think that's a great idea OP, we got our "crossbreed" poodle/cocker spaniel cross from Dogs Trust. We picked her because she was the only dog suitable for our family after several visits and I would love to talk about her without being judged 🙂

Tell you what Flora - you link me to a thread where someone mentions having a poodle cross without being jumped on.

There is a level of ignorance on here about puppy farming. Puppy farming started after the war as any google search will tell you. It's a bit rich blaming it on poodle crosses.

Blu '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?' Yes, God created the world with labradors in NewFoundland and German Shepherds in Germany - didn't you know? Seriously, you would think that was the case from some of the discussions on here.

lovemyweedog 'We picked her because she was the only dog suitable for our family after several visits and I would love to talk about her without being judged ' Well exactly. We did a lot of research and decided that the characteristics of both our crosses suited our family and lifestyle. I think most people are sensible enough to do that. There are no-where near the number of poodle-crosses in pounds that people on here suggest there are.

tabulah 'It's that if you look hard enough you will find a good breeder of most breeds (not all, because some breeds are in such a state that really no-one should be breeding them) someone who is breeding without being in it for money, who is doing everything they should be doing and offers the right aftercare. If you're looking for a cross rather than a breed, you're not going to find that breeder because that's not what breeders of crosses are doing.' That's a ridiculous and uninformed generalisation to make. There are some good breeders of poodle crosses.

whatthese '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' So true. We were also looking at labs and I was unhappy with the approach of some of the breeders I talked to.

WellErr 'Genuine question - what WAS she bred for then?' - she was bred to produce pet rather than working dogs. I'm afraid I don't understand that comment. Are you suggesting that unless dogs are bred for working they shouldn't be bred at all and shouldn't be bred at all.

Also Tabulah I think you are somewhat destroying your own argument that 'Labradoodles for instance, labs and poodles share hip dysplasia and PRA as issues that should be tested for'. What happened to the responsible breeders of pedigrees there then?

I would say any thread about nutrition or behaviour - try reading them and then show me where someone is jumped on - I'm a technophobe so can't do links but if you go to the doghouse section you will find them there .
Everybody knows that puppy farming is not all to do with designer crosses but the puppy farmers have jumped on board quite happily , in the same way that they are now churning out French Bulldogs as they seem to be the in thing at the moment.

We wanted a cross breed. The various fog homes couldn't really guarantee the dog's background. We have young kids.

So against my instincts, we got a poodle crossbreed. We checked out the breeder.

My dog is brilliant. Just wonderful. Don't regret my decision for a minute.

One day I will rescue a cross breed.

Not all people who purchase these dogs are the same.

"There are some good breeders of poodle crosses"

That depends on your definition of good.

"she was bred to produce pet"

So they didn't sell all the puppies?

"Also Tabulah I think you are somewhat destroying your own argument"

Only if my argument was that all pedigree breeders are better...they're not. Good breeders are hard to find, the vast majority of people breeding dogs are not good breeders.

Totally agree with you OP, she was the first and only doodle that they had had for years so it was just a coincidence. She wasn't mistreated or came from a puppy farm, and belonged to an elderly couple and one of them became terminanly ill so they were unable to look after her anymore. It wouldn't have mattered if she was a poodle cross, a lab or a mungrel they were just unable to cope.

Tabulah 'That depends on your definition of good.' Obviously! I suspect though that we would both consider 'good' to mean the same things (both parents to have had all relevant health checks, good temperaments *(both breeding bitch and dog sought), puppies to have been nurtured and socialised, to have been fed on good quality food, puppies to have been vet checked, breeders able to advise on termperaments of individual puppies as much as they are able to at that age, prospective buyers to have been vetted and aftercare provided - no?).

I'm interested in knowing where your vast knowledge of poodle cross breeders comes from and how many you have spoken to and evaluated?

'So they didn't sell all the puppies?' - sorry, I genuinely don't understand what you mean by that. I just meant that presumably the puppies were bred as pets rather than working dogs - I was referring to WellErr's post.

'Only if my argument was that all pedigree breeders are better...they're not. Good breeders are hard to find, the vast majority of people breeding dogs are not good breeders' - so why the anti poodle-cross breed vitriol on here then? Surely you are conceding that this is an issue within the dog world generally and not just poodle crosses.

"It wouldn't have mattered if she was a poodle cross, a lab or a mungrel they were just unable to cope."

The only difference is that if she'd been bred by a good breeder, she'd have gone there to someone she already knew rather than a rescue centre.

When we got the MuttDog we wanted...a dog. Our only specification was 'a puppy' because we wanted to train it ourselves. Oh and DH said he didnt particularly want a large/giant breed as DD was still only small.

We went to a rescue and saw what they had - we chose the MuttDog who was described as a 'probably Collie X Springer'. Had she have turned out to a Great Dane (or a poodle or a staffie) we still would have loved and cared for her.

Our first dog came from DogsTrust and was a JRT X Corgi. Until she was about 5 she looked all JRT, then suddenly she turned into a barrel on legs. We still loved her.

The only dog we've ever had that we 'knew' what she was, was the RottDog. Who I pretty much took for a walk and never returned. Sadly we only had two years with her - she was an absolute pain in the arse - but we still loved her.

I have to say, I don't understand pet owners that must have a specific breed and no other - especially if that specific breed/crossbreed has so many variables. I get it if you intend to take a dog to Crufts, or need it for working the fields. But as a pet in your home? Nope, don't get it.

tabulahrasa and how could you possibly know where my dog was bred? The poor couple were in bits and had no family and lived in an isolated area. If you don't like cross breeds and don't agree with them don't click on the thread

"Surely you are conceding that this is an issue within the dog world generally and not just poodle crosses."

It is an issue in the dog breeding world in general, I keep saying that...

It's not just poodle crosses at all, the reason it's currently worse with poodle crosses is firstly that the very few good breeders that exist are concentrating on doing what they're doing, not breeding crosses and secondly the huge issue because poodle crosses even without any health tests are roughly twice the price of fully health tested very carefully bred poodles, they actually attract bad breeders.

There are breeds affected by that as well, French Bulldogs and cavalier King Charles spaniels have both been mentioned on this thread, they're both breeds where you'll find higher than an average amount of bad breeders as well, because they're in demand and expensive.

tabulahrasa and how could you possibly know where my dog was bred?"

Because good breeders have contracts drawn up so that puppies they produce are returned to them if it's needed, they stay in touch with the new owners, they don't just sell them and forget about them.

Actually my mothers dog came from a highly regarded, very proper, KC breeder who we were repeatedly told by a vet, other breeders and others was a 'good' breeder. They actually sold the dog to my mothers friend whose eldest son came home from university and had a massive allergic reaction to her. When my mums friend took the 6 month old dog back to breeder they refused to take her back. Too much hassle having a 6 month old dog and a new litter of puppies. Not all breeders will take a dog back. I'm sure you don't mean it but you sound very judgemental in regards to an elderly couple in an awful situation.

I have a question for us poodle cross owners - do you call your dog a mongrel, a crossbreed or the mixed together breed name eg. Cockapoo, labradoodle?

It was an accidental breeding so I very much doubt that tabulahrasa

PlayingGrownUp i call her a crossbreed or a doodle for the simple reason that I think "cockapoo" sounds a bit silly. If I had a labradoodle, I would call it a labradoodle as I don't think that sounds bad. There's quite a lot of "westiepoos" round here and if I owned one of them I'd probably go with a doodle or crossbreed

No offence to anyone who likes to call their dog a cockapoo