Where are all the poodles?

[JaimeLannister]

I regularly see many 'poo' type dogs around especially cockapoos and labradoodles but I rarely see actual poodles. These mixes are coming from somewhere!

[FluffyPineapple]

I said in my pp that the labradoodle was huge and I was not expecting this size it was taller than any lab and poodle.
Not sure why this is so difficult for you to believe. I didn’t say every labradoodle was this size as I haven’t seen all of them.
I don’t know the genetics of the particular dogs and I’m not actually lying about the size of the dog

I just pointed out there is a big difference in height between my two pedigree collies. Too large or too small dogs do not only occur in crossbreeds.

I came across two cockapoos today on our walk, and continued our walk with them and their owner. Absolutely gorgeous dogs. Very well trained. I never really considered them before - I've never really considered anything other than Border Collies or Labs tho tbh. But OMG! I'm smitten!

[bluetongue]

I’ve met some lovely poodles but there are some that seem to have questionable temperaments. Really reactive and snappy. Is this a common issue or have I just met some badly bred or trained poodles?

[UndomesticHousewife]

My lab was not small and I know what size a standard poodle is.
I said in my pp that the labradoodle was huge and I was not expecting this size it was taller than any lab and poodle.
Not sure why this is so difficult for you to believe. I didn’t say every labradoodle was this size as I haven’t seen all of them.
I don’t know the genetics of the particular dogs and I’m not actually lying about the size of the dog

[FluffyPineapple]

Undomestic. I'm sure you have seen labradors of differing heights. Maybe yours is small. Who knows? I have 2 collies from same parents. Both adult. One is 4cm taller than the other. Its not a cross breed thing. If you knew how tall the Huge standard poodle cross was I'm sure you'd find it within the "usual height" category.

[Loore]

We have a blue standard poodle - gorgeous boy he is. I wouldn't have another breed of dog after owning a poodle.

None of the breeders we spoke to when we got him would sell the dogs without having them desexed first so I'm not sure of the quality of breeding stock that goes into making an "oodle" dog, but then I'm sure that those who are breeding them don't really care.

[UndomesticHousewife]

Yes fluffypineapple I said it was huge, much much taller than my own Labrador that was standing next to it.
I asked her what dog it was she said labradoodle.
I wasn’t there at the mating of its parents I have no idea what dogs they were or how big they were just that this labradoodle was big.

[tabulahrasa]

“Given that the height of dog genetically has to conform to the height of its parents.”

It doesn’t have to, that’s really not how genetics works at all.

Even within a breed you sometimes get unexpected traits coming through, as soon as it’s a cross some things are really quite unpredictable... crosses tend to even out in size between the two parents, but sometimes they’re bigger than either.

[FluffyPineapple]

UndomesticHousewife.... HUGE you say.... How can that be possible. Given that the height of dog genetically has to conform to the height of its parents. A Labrador x poodle couldn't possibly be larger than a Labrador or standard poodle.

[JaimeLannister]

Certainly didn't start this thread to offend people. I love dogs. All dogs, and of course we have our favourites. If you have a poodle cross from a good breeder who health tests the parents then that's great.

I just wish I saw more lovely poodles. Especially the standards.

[olivetor7]

Itallhappens, I think the reason for most people’s issues of poos and oodles, is that their breeders are putting two breeds of dogs together that are so dissimilar, so it is a complete mystery what you are going to end up with. That raises alarm bells. Youve got to ask yourself, why did the breeder choose to do this mating, and many people feel that it is simply so that they can call them a silly name and charge a crazy amount of money. I’m pretty sure that a ladradoodle would not be as popular if it was called a poodle/Labrador cross. It does not sit well with me that people spend sometimes double or triple on a Labrador/poodle cross than they would on a pedigree Labrador or poodle. If we stopped using the cutesy silly names, I think the dogs would decline in popularity. I certainly don’t blame owners for purchasing their cross breeds, and I understand that the owners love their dogs very much so don’t want to hear anything bad about the people who sold them their pup, but it has to be ask, why create crossbreeds (with the exception of lurcher and working dogs) with the health and temperament risks involved, when there are hundreds of pedigrees dogs. No matter what your requirements there will be at least one pedigree dog that suits - and you’ll be certain of what you are buying.

[Wolfiefan]

Generally they didn't. They may have a lovely dog but I've never met anyone who can show parents had necessary health tests before breeding.

[Wolfiefan]

I think many people have no idea what health tests need doing. I've spoken to a few people and they say "yes puppies have had a health check." No concept of what health tests parents should have before they even consider breeding.

[missbattenburg]

itallhappensforareason I wonder if some of the suspicion comes from the fact that people who own cross breeds that did their research etc never elaborate on what that research was. There are regularly questions on how to find a good breeder (on MN and other dog forums) and people with breeds chip in with how they did theirs... Normally a combination of breed clubs, KC, looking up the litter's lineage and all parents, grand parent health test results online to check they were correct. Essentially using all the tools they can to check that what the breeder tells them about their line, is true.

None of that will work for a cross breed because they won't have long lineages (or records of them) and the health test results for crosses won't be recorded online (I don't think?) but I've never really heard how a responsible cross breed owner found their brilliant breeder...

[tabulahrasa]

“Did anyone watch a programme the other week about British bull dogs?“

Nope, but they’re in a shocking state.

I was about to say they can’t breed unaided or whelp unaided and have one of if not the highest average hip scores of any breed among other issues, so I went to look up their hip score. It’s as high as I remember, but, that’s not the bit that’s made me go

Only 23 dogs have been hip scored in 15 years, who the hell is buying bulldog puppies of all breeds with unhipscored parents!!!

Just to put that in perspective 145 otter hounds were scored in the same period and they’re so rare that only 24 puppies were registered last year, individual puppies, not litters...

That is totally off topic, I know, but it’s genuinely shocked me.

[Ickyockycocky]

And people fall for these so called 'designer' dogs. Mongrels all of them

Of course they are mongrels! It's the pedigrees that are designer dogs, all of them!

[itallhappensforareason]

@tabulahrasa maybe I shouldn't take offence so easily, especially at the hands of random people on the internet, but I just admit posts like this hit a nerve with me. I agree there are people who buy from puppy farms who shouldn't, but it would be nice if people could also recognise that there are people (like myself) who do buy puppies but who also do their research before doing so. Don't really like people implying that all puppy/cross breed buyers are stupid, naive, etc...

Everyone has different preferences with regards to breeds, sizes, sexes, puppies/rescues and as long as these dogs are taken on responsibly then that's all that matters.

Agree with the pug thing and other breeds that have been genetically tampered with in order to make them more 'desirable - thats not good and people should be more aware. Did anyone watch a programme the other week about British bull dogs? It's shocking how much they have changed over the years purely to meet human requirements!

[Wolfiefan]

Or French Bulldogs.
Or many pedigree cats.

[tabulahrasa]

“As a poodle cross owner I take offence to some of these comments.”

Why? If I took offence about opinions on here or other forums about the owners of the breed I have I’d have to just be permanently offended by now.

There are comments about people being stupid enough to buy puppies from puppy farmers, well some people absolutely are buying them from there and tbh stupid is a better option than the alternative that they’re buying them knowingly and supporting it.

“For some reason poodle crosses really seem to piss off MNers.“

They’re a puppy farmers wet dream is mostly why...that and there’s no obvious reason why they’re preferable to a poodle, only at least with a poodle there’s a higher chance you’d be able to find a decent breeder.

And it’s not just poodle crosses, it’s any cross or breed that means there’s an issue with animal welfare either because they’re popular with puppy farmers or there are major health issues in the breed or both - cavaliers for instance, go have a look at threads about those, or pugs, they attract lots of warnings as well.

[BernardsarenotalwaysSaints]

FILs ndn's have 5. 3 miniature, 2 standard. They used to have 2 toy too but they were both pts, 2 months apart, about 3 years ago as they were v v old. Not the breed for me but they are nice.

[MasonJar]

After seeing one yesterday on walk have decided a toy poodle will be my next dog, won't be for a while though as hands full with 2 large dogs
Saw this tiny cute white dog running about chasing a ball, really lively and happy.
I asked the owner how old it was, as thought it was a puppy. He said it was ten years old and a toy poodle! It's coat was clipped evenly all over and didn't look at all "poodle-ish".

[Tutlefru]

Every dog no matter what the breed can have a number of issues be it health or temperment. For some reason poodle crosses really seem to piss off MNers.

I adore my retchid poodle cross. She's perfect.

[itallhappensforareason]

@tabulahrasa no one has directly said it but it has been implied. There are a lot of posts implying that people who own cross breeds whether it be a poodle cross or anything else are worse human beings than those who have standard breeds and have no brain cells for even considering such a breed or for getting a puppy. As a poodle cross owner I take offence to some of these comments.

@undomestichousewife that's called an untrained dog, nothing to do with it being a Labradoodle.

[UndomesticHousewife]

I know a labradoodle from the field where we walk our dogs it’s HUGE really just a massive dog and it drags her along. Not quite what I was expecting

[FluffyPineapple]

... they’ve all been bought by first time dog owners who’ve fallen for the spiel that they’re the ‘perfect’ family dog - and that they don’t shed... While many of them are lovely a substantial minority are a they bounce up to my dog, get in his face and completely fail to read his ‘please go away, I don’t know you’ signals

I shouldn’t imagine any of their owners knowingly bought them from a puppy farm but I worry about where this huge influx of poodle crosses has come from - and I can’t fathom why anyone would pay more for a poodle cross of uncertain provenance than for a pedigree poodle

Poo cross owners you are letting the side down! Its only poo crosses that get in the face of other dogs! :D

Why does it bother you what dog someone else buys?

[Bubble2bubble]

What Whitney said...