As the owner of a Labradoodle (and constantly being criticized for it), I found it necessary to st art this topic. I know this is going to be controversial...but PLEASE try to keep it friendly
As many of you have made clear in several different threads, you think that "designer dogs" are wrong. On some level, I agree with you. Dogs shouldn't be bred just because they look cute, especially when they are just mutts, and there are many mutts in shelters that need homes. But what I strongly disagree with is your argument (by "your", I mean folks who can't deal with the doodles!) that these dogs are "bred for no purpose". I don't know about all of you- but my dog was bred to be my pet. To me, that is a very important purpose.
But on to the purpose of this thread- labradoodles vs. other doodles. While I can understand why you are purely against any doodle, I think the labradoodle is different. It was "bred for a purpose"- as a seeing eye dog in Australia. (The Labradoodle Association of Australia)
How do you think a Lab was created? How do you think any type of dog was created? Through crossbreeding. Many of the popular purebred dogs are developing health problems from all the interbreeding among themselves. Most vets will tell you that a mixed breed is actually more likely to have less health problems than a purebred.
Well after all this, I'm sure you have at least more argument: how people are buying these designer dogs instead of shelter dogs. How would you feel if, when you purchased YOUR purebred dog from a breeder, you were criticized from not getting the dog from a shelter? That's how I feel when I get told that I should have gotten a shelter mix instead of the labradoodle I got from a breeder (who, by the way, I made sure is reputable).
The fact of the matter is, while I do feel sorry for mutts and purebreds stuck in shelters, I have 3 young children and I just can't take the risk with a shelter dog. I am aware of the fact that many of them are only put in shelters because their owners couldn't take care of them, and that the dogs are wonderful. But there is a chance that the dog has been abused in the past- and with children, this is a risk that I'm not willing to take. I'm sure many of you feel the same way. So whether or not I was buying a purebred or a labradoodle, I would be more comfortable getting my dog from a breeder.
So why do people constantly criticize designer dog owners? Is it because many of the owners are not educated and buy from BYBs? I'm sure that purebred dog owners also make this mistake, but I don't see them being picked on for it. It is certainly important to buy from a reputable breeder, but there are bad breeders for both designer dogs and purebreds. Not all designer dog breeders are bad.
I find it strange how so many of you care that "doodles" are becoming more popular. Why do you care so much about an owner loving their "designer dog" just as much as you love your purebred?
As many of you have made clear in several different threads, you think that "designer dogs" are wrong. On some level, I agree with you. Dogs shouldn't be bred just because they look cute, especially when they are just mutts, and there are many mutts in shelters that need homes. But what I strongly disagree with is your argument (by "your", I mean folks who can't deal with the doodles!) that these dogs are "bred for no purpose". I don't know about all of you- but my dog was bred to be my pet. To me, that is a very important purpose.
But on to the purpose of this thread- labradoodles vs. other doodles. While I can understand why you are purely against any doodle, I think the labradoodle is different. It was "bred for a purpose"- as a seeing eye dog in Australia. (The Labradoodle Association of Australia)
How do you think a Lab was created? How do you think any type of dog was created? Through crossbreeding. Many of the popular purebred dogs are developing health problems from all the interbreeding among themselves. Most vets will tell you that a mixed breed is actually more likely to have less health problems than a purebred.
Well after all this, I'm sure you have at least more argument: how people are buying these designer dogs instead of shelter dogs. How would you feel if, when you purchased YOUR purebred dog from a breeder, you were criticized from not getting the dog from a shelter? That's how I feel when I get told that I should have gotten a shelter mix instead of the labradoodle I got from a breeder (who, by the way, I made sure is reputable).
The fact of the matter is, while I do feel sorry for mutts and purebreds stuck in shelters, I have 3 young children and I just can't take the risk with a shelter dog. I am aware of the fact that many of them are only put in shelters because their owners couldn't take care of them, and that the dogs are wonderful. But there is a chance that the dog has been abused in the past- and with children, this is a risk that I'm not willing to take. I'm sure many of you feel the same way. So whether or not I was buying a purebred or a labradoodle, I would be more comfortable getting my dog from a breeder.
So why do people constantly criticize designer dog owners? Is it because many of the owners are not educated and buy from BYBs? I'm sure that purebred dog owners also make this mistake, but I don't see them being picked on for it. It is certainly important to buy from a reputable breeder, but there are bad breeders for both designer dogs and purebreds. Not all designer dog breeders are bad.
I find it strange how so many of you care that "doodles" are becoming more popular. Why do you care so much about an owner loving their "designer dog" just as much as you love your purebred?