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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:
loveMyWeeDog · 14/05/2016 17:40

Floralnomad....but wasn't this thread about starting a section for poodle crosses? The OP already has one so she wasn't asking advice on buying one Confused

tabulahrasa · 14/05/2016 17:41

"They are biddible and intelligent and they may inherit health problems that the pedigree dogs they are bred from have anyway?"

Because that all applies to the breeds they're bred from and with those breeds the average puppy buyer has more chance of being able to find a breeder who isn't just milking a fashion for all its worth.

Finding that breeder will still be hard, but you've weeded out the dodgiest ones from the pool.

PlayingGrownUp · 14/05/2016 17:43

This post was about opening an entire board which seems excessive. It also was about what people think of people's attitudes to poodle crosses so I'd call this an extreme version. I agree some people have extreme opinions but ignore them.

If you post that your dog is peeing on your boots or is nipping or is barking at night most people will do their best to help and not bring up the breed.

tabulahrasa · 14/05/2016 17:47

"If you post that your dog is peeing on your boots or is nipping or is barking at night most people will do their best to help and not bring up the breed."

That.

people really don't start going, OMG, it's a cockapoo (or labradoodle or whatever) if someone posts for help or just a funny wee story about their dog, whether the breed is mentioned or not, they just don't.

So there's no need for a seperate board.

exLtEveDallas · 14/05/2016 17:47

Lovemyweedog what the OP did was assume that anyone that owned a poodle crossbreed would be jumped on. They won't. Her OP is incorrect in that fashion. There have been a number of threads in the doghouse about training, feeding and grooming poodle crosses where the OP has asked a specific question and got a specific answer - from dog owners, dog lovers, vets, behaviourists et al. For that reason there is no need for a separate 'doodle thread.

If a poster comes on wanting to buy a poodle cross breed they do tend to get jumped on - because dog lovers don't want yet more dogs bred to suit a current fashion. Plus there are lots of poodle crosses in general and breed specific rescues - from both unscrupulous breeders who have got rid because the dog is shagged out and from owners who were 'sold a dud' (still allergic/didn't get the curly coat/got bigger than expected etc)

loveMyWeeDog · 14/05/2016 17:47

PlayingGrownUp....It is definitely extreme but you are right I should just ignore it. I just felt a bit sorry for OP being dived on

Floralnomad · 14/05/2016 17:51

lovemyweedog Yes that was what the thread was about and the original point I made was that it was unnecessary because these issues only arise on threads about people buying / breeding poo dogs which is what this thread has degenerated into ( once again) , I note that nobody has yet linked me to a behaviour / nutrition thread where somebody gets 'told off ' for buying a poo dog and that's because it simply doesn't happen or is so rare they can't find one to link to .

PlayingGrownUp · 14/05/2016 17:55

I read away at it before we bought out dog. It actually convinced me id prefer a boy to a girl.

He also peed on every pair of shoes I owned over 3 months and never not once touched a pair owned by the other half. Still trying to replenish my shoes!

Original poster
DoodlesInTheHouse · 14/05/2016 17:55

exLt Because there is no function that a purposely bred poodle cross fulfils that any other dog cannot fulfil. Except to make the breeder money - but I thought 'we' have already agreed that some breeders will maximise their income whatever the popular dogs are - be they crosses, pugs that can't breath or King Charles spaniels with squashed skulls.

So a dog needs a purpose? Really? They can't just be a pet?

I'm sorry, your argument just doesn't stack up - what 'purpose' does any non-working dog have compared to any other really, so long as it has the traits you are looking for.

OP posts:
Bubble2bubble · 14/05/2016 17:56

I have nothing against poodle crosses, but I feel very strongly about indiscriminate breeding.
Made up 'breed ' names slightly irritate me, but I'm not gunning for anyone who chooses to use them.
There are too many dogs and not enough homes.Look at Gumtree - page after page of puppies for sale, and we just don't need anymore. I really do want people to wake up to this.

loveMyWeeDog · 14/05/2016 17:57

Floralnomad....that's really good to know that for future reference because it would seem a shame to have to justify your own dog whatever breed or type it is

tabulahrasa · 14/05/2016 17:58

"So a dog needs a purpose? Really? They can't just be a pet?"

If a poodle and whatever breed they're crossed with wasn't perfectly good at fulfilling the purpose of being a pet, then their offspring wouldn't be any good at it either.

PlayingGrownUp · 14/05/2016 18:00

I believe you two just agreed with each other in a round about way.

exLtEveDallas · 14/05/2016 18:06

So a dog needs a purpose? Really? They can't just be a pet?

No. A pet dog just needs to be a pet dog. It doesn't need to be a purposely bred poodle cross.

Original poster
DoodlesInTheHouse · 14/05/2016 18:15

For goodness sakes Tabulah we know that. Someone who doesn't get that could make the mistake with any dog.

exLt a pet dog can't be any dog. So what are you saying exactly, that it should be a what?

OP posts:
exLtEveDallas · 14/05/2016 18:17

Of course a pet dog can be any type of dog Confused What breed of dog cannot be a pet dog?

tabulahrasa · 14/05/2016 18:20

The point is, that a poodle is a perfectly good pet dog, why would it need to be crossed with anything?

If a poodle has traits that are undesirable to someone then choosing a poodle cross is potentially a huge mistake as their dog is half poodle and could end up looking and acting exactly like a poodle.

Original poster
DoodlesInTheHouse · 14/05/2016 18:23

I said it can't be any dog, not it can't be any type.

I'm assuming a pet dog suitable for young children, so a dog that has been well socialised - so where are all these pet dog puppies going to come from, given the lack of scrupulous breeders? Are there enough child friendly, sound, dogs in rescue for every family wanting a pet dog? A quick google says 12 million pet dogs in UK in 2015.

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 14/05/2016 18:26

"Are there enough child friendly, sound, dogs in rescue for every family wanting a pet dog?"

Nope, if there were only good breeders, people would have to wait longer, nothing wrong with that.

They're not products that need to be made to match demand, or at least they shouldn't be.

Original poster
DoodlesInTheHouse · 14/05/2016 18:28

Tabulah

Lab: greedy, can get fat, can have bad hips, shed a lot but intelligent, friendly, biddible
Poodle: can be highly strung, can have bad hips, don't shed, very intelligent, reasonably friendly as a rule.

Why not?

If we're not buying labradoodles, then from somewhere more poodles or labs (or another dog) need to come - which drives up the price of those dogs - and entices bad breeders. It's just a question of supply and demand

OP posts:
PlayingGrownUp · 14/05/2016 18:29

It sounds daft but the other half took great issue of getting a poodle or poodle cross because of the traditional cut which I personally think looks awful. I originally wanted a cairn terrier - but was adamant I wanted the wire coat. People be weird. So long as they are also being responsible let them have their preferences.

Original poster
DoodlesInTheHouse · 14/05/2016 18:30

So ultimately there would be less dogs as pets in the UK. Is that what you want? Because waiting longer for a well bred litter will mean that the queue increases. Given human nature to purchase, I can't see that happening - dogs will be brought in from elsewhere.

OP posts:
exLtEveDallas · 14/05/2016 18:30

Ok. I said earlier we've had a JRT X Corgi, a Collie X Springer and a Rottweiller. All from different rescues and all perfectly great pet dogs. JRT and Collie were puppies (8-10 weeks) and the Rott was 2 years old.

I am struggling to understand why you think you cannot get a pet dog from a rescue that is just as good as or even better than a purposely bred poodle cross.

There are 1000s of dogs in Rescues, pounds and Foster homes. The RSPCA alone kills 32 dogs every single day. Why on earth are people paying breeders to bring more into the world? Why are people specifying poodle crosses as if they are somehow better than poodles, or cocker spaniels, or Labradors, or Cavs, or bloody mongrels?

WellErrr · 14/05/2016 18:31

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.

No you misunderstand me. I was answering the person who said 'they didn't breed my pup for money.'

Well why the fuck did they breed it then? They put their bitch through the danger of pregnancy for no other reason than the selfless act of producing more pets for mankind?

I think not. They did it for the money. Don't kid yourself.

Original poster
DoodlesInTheHouse · 14/05/2016 18:37

I am struggling to understand why you think you cannot get a pet dog from a rescue that is just as good as or even better than a purposely bred poodle cross. I know you can. But I also know that socialisation is really important, and with young children I wanted to socialise our own dog. Rescues will come later.

'Why on earth are people paying breeders to bring more into the world? Why are people specifying poodle crosses as if they are somehow better than poodles, or cocker spaniels, or Labradors, or Cavs, or bloody mongrels?' and why are you completely ignoring the economic arguments I made above? On this thread and other threads it has been alleged that poodle cross owners are a bit dim, some of the arguments on here are a bit weak considering they come from the alleged superior intellects of non poodle cross owners.

OP posts: