Rare Breed! HUH?

[nomrbddgs]

Labradoodles are not a rare breed. They are a mixed breed dog. Period. Same as a puggle, chin-pom, chi poo, etc. As far as I can determine, these cannot and never should be considered a 'breed'. They are too inconsistent in many things. Height, coat, body type, tail, etc. This is all MO, but, seriously, a rare breed? What purpose, other than human companionship do they serve. What are they being bred for except for human companionship? What group would they go in? Temperments vary as well. What health issues do they have? Poodles themselves have well over 44 consistent problems, add in a labs problems and you have a mix of issues that could really hurt the dog. These 'labradoodles' would have to display consistencies from line to line to even be considered a breed, and that doesn't look like it's going to happen within the next 40 years. There are many breeds that took 100 years or more to be recognized as a breed that were consistent for many more generations that these so-called labradoodles. Sorry, guys, this is all my opinion and I have a real issue with BYB-because really, that's what they are. Breeding for profit. No health testing I bet either.

[wizard]

Yes but that begs the point - how do you handle someone who ignorantly thinks they have a rare, unique, whatever breed? I might just say - well yes, the labradoodle is a new breed, not yet recognized by all the various organisations, and you have a nice one - and then walk away.

[mauigirl]

I will echo something yodeldogs said to me once: Why would you want a labradoodle when there are curly coated retrievers?

[etzbseder]

Yea, a lot of breeds are only around because of cross breeding, but they have established standards for them. i.e. the pug, or about half of the bull dogs are bred mixes from older bull dogs, and whatever had the traits they wanted. I even saw somewhere that french bull dogs can't breed on their own, they NEED to be artificially inseminated. If there becomes a standard for the labradoodle, then they stand a chance for registration ability, 'til then, there's no difference between them and mutts except the name.

[nomrbddgs]

@wizard:

Yes but that begs the point - how do you handle someone who ignorantly thinks they have a rare, unique, whatever breed? I might just say - well yes, the labradoodle is a new breed, not yet recognized by all the various organisations, and you have a nice one - and then walk away.

I have had people say to me that the labradoodle is a new breed and I always reply, what are there standards? What are their unique but similar traits? What is always the same about the breed? What can you tell me that is consistent with your new 'breed'? Invariably, they cannot answer because, again, there is no consistency. There is nothing that is the same within a litter, never mind the designation 'labradoodle'. A mutt is a mutt is a mutt. Not to say they don't fill someone's need. Just that they are not a 'breed'.

[YodelDogs]

Breeding breed "A" with breed "B" does NOT make a new breed! (They are not hybrids either. Don't get me started on that.) The creation of a new breed takes generations of careful breeding and culling until breed traits are consistent. The Alaskan Klee Kai is a good example of how a new breed is developed.

[nomrbddgs]

How how many years did that take?? And they say labradoodle is a breed??phhhhtttt!

[snorky998]

Thanks Norm and others that posted. I wasn't trying to be unkind to the woman but she was really set on 'letting me have it', (ie "they ARE a rare new breed", etc..) I'm sure lab-poodle mixes have been found for many years in kill shelters throughout the US. Just another money making scam artist BYB in my opinion.

(BTW, the punctuation is off in my starting post because I drafted the post at work in microsoft word, then did a copy/paste to the forums when I got home. All forums, discussion groups, video sites, etc are blocked at work. Sorry!!)

[agilebasenji]

Just because they are popular, doesn't mean it's a good idea. Remember the Pet Rocks? (okay, probably not a proper, peacemaking response) Sometimes the best you can do is agree to disagree. I'd be tempted to ask about health testing. After all, that is something that all good breeders do.

[tanza]

@agilebasenji:

Just because they are popular, doesn't mean it's a good idea. Remember the Pet Rocks? (okay, probably not a proper, peacemaking response) Sometimes the best you can do is agree to disagree. I'd be tempted to ask about health testing. After all, that is something that all good breeders do.

Good response… and as already said, sometimes you just can't get the point across on what is or is not a responsible breeder... not even in people that are breeding pure bred pups.. as we have seen many times on the Forum... so sometimes you just have to agree to disagree...

I like the idea about asking about health testing... but then you might just get the response, "the vet said they are all healthly"... and then you are back in the same position... sometimes just easier to walk away. However you could tell them that they might want to read on the National Club websites for Poodles and Labs what they think about Labradoodles, I think they have lots to say...

[lvoss]

@tanza:

Good response… and as already said, sometimes you just can't get the point across on what is or is not a responsible breeder... not even in people that are breeding pure bred pups.. as we have seen many times on the Forum... so sometimes you just have to agree to disagree...

This is such a true statement. I had to turn around and walk out of the room at lunch the other day. One of the Ag teachers was showing off her new Mac laptop that "her dog bought". She bred her 10 month old Corgi puppy and sold the pups for $400 each to earn money to buy the computer. She was happily explaining to my other co-workers how she and her mom each got bitch puppies so they could earn some extra money. UGH!

My co-workers didn't really know what to say, they all followed along with my pups and know I didn't make any money. On the other hand, they seem to make a differentiation between just breeding purebreds and breeding "show dogs". There is a huge education gap out there about what it is to be a responsible breeder and why as a pet owner you want to support responsible breeders.

[etzbseder]

I think that difference is the reason why many other countries in Europe allow dogs many places we do not, and are more strict about overbreeding. I would love to be able to take Medjai with me everywhere. It would be so nice to explain to everyone why, although Medjai is a really nice looking dog, it was imperative that he get neutered. My old roommate even said his aunt filed to be a kennel, so she could have as many dogs as she wants and breeds pit mixes (which I find horrendous).

[YodelDogs]

Oodles of Doodles

[tanza]

Here is another interesting read

http://www.thelabradorclub.com/subpages/show_detail_news.php?nid=3

[jenwilson]

Have you ever heard of a bullador?? I ran into a guy that told me he paid nearly $5,000 for one… a lab mixed with a english bulldog.... he stated that the pregnancy normally has to be helped along (artificial insemination?) and that 10 of the 14 pups were stillborn... that's just crazy and doesn't sound natural.

[snorky998]

Thank you for the above posted links. I'm going to save them in case my coworker ever expresses an interest in further reading on the subject (highly doubtful but I can still hope)

[Nemo]

@tanza:

Here is another interesting read

http://www.thelabradorclub.com/subpages/show_detail_news.php?nid=3

Thanks, I also thought both of the links were very informative. I knew about the original intent related to guide dogs in Australia but was not sure what the outcome of the breeding program actually was for that goal. While the original goal was admirable, it's a shame that it was hijacked for a pure-for-profit purpose in the end.

[dmcarty]

Well the guy in Eastern WI that came up with the name "Puggle' for a mix he had been breeding for years and "amazing how it took off when we came up with a good name." - he's trying to breed many breeds in a smaller size including St. Bernard. OHHHHH can't wait.

[moetmum]

I don't agree with all this crossing breeds for a gimmick to make money.

I met an ex-neighbour at our training class who had just bought a puppy (he didn't have it with him he was checking the class out) and asked what breed the puppy was, Labradoodle he replied, I asked if he minded if I asked how much he paid for it, ?800 he replied, I nearly fell off my chair ?800 for a crossbred!!

We are starting to find these coming into rescue Kennels over here as they don't always live up to expectations.

[nomrbddgs]

@moetmum:

We are starting to find these coming into rescue Kennels over here as they don't always live up to expectations.

My point is being made! Too bad it's going this way, though.