Cockerpoo

[seasquirt]

Originally posted by spinner
And I would like to know why you would consider a mixed breed owner less responsible than a purebreed owner. Thousands of purebred dogs are killed every year. Does that mean all breeding should be banned?

I'm guessing this comment is directed at me, since I was the one who initiated the dialogue about the "mixed breed" stuff. Not once did I EVER say there was something wrong with OWNING a mixed breed. I said there IS something wrong with PRODUCING mixed breed dogs ON PURPOSE when there are plenty in the shelters.

And you're right, purebred dogs are not immune from being sent to the shelter. I DO recommend rescue groups for purebred dogs before I recommend going to a breeder. There are just as many unscrupulous purebred breeders trying to make a buck because they paired together any two registered dogs that happen to be of the same breed and think that the AKC papers guarantee a healthy dog that conforms to the breed's standard.

And not everyone who breeds his/her dog on purpose is trying to make money or be selfish. Sometimes the reasoning is that it would be SO cute for their dog to have puppies and it would help the kids learn about the miracle of life, or that these two breeds would be really cool if they were mixed, or "I love my dog so much that I want one of his/her puppies". NONE of these are good reasons for breeding ANY kind of dog, purebred or not.

None of the above types of breeding should be encouraged. If you are seriously interested in finding a good breeder for a purebred dog, there are things to look for:

- All the necessary health clearances (hips, eyes, heart, thyroid) on BOTH parents
- The breeder will take back the puppy at ANY point in its life if you are unable to keep it
- The breeder shows or competes with the dogs that he/she is breeding
- The breeder interviews YOU as much as you interview him/her

Also, a few other notes about good breeders - they usually have waiting lists for their litters, and they're usually filled up BEFORE the litter is even born. They also usually don't breed unless they are planning on keeping one of the puppies for their own breeding/showing program.

All of this may sound pretty stuck-up and hoity-toity; I realize this. But unless you plan on competing with your dog in kennel events, there is no reason you shouldn't adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue. They're the ones that need your help.

[seasquirt]

Also, please note that the above is my opinion/position on the intentional breeding of dogs. It is not meant to be a personal attack on anyone here.

And blueeyes, your dog pic is very cute!!! Looks like a real sweetie.

[blueeyes76]

Thanks seasquirt! He is a real sweetie!

[spinner]

I guess in a perfect world everybody would adopt from a shelter, and we wouldn't need shelters. Do I think we need to stop breeding so many animals? yes But I don't think that there is a special place in Hell for people who do breed mixed dogs, I am reserving that for people who own puppy mills. And I hope that hell is the bottom of a three story cage system without trays. What started this thread is somebody wanting a cockapoo. Many of the breeds now reconized by the AKC are breeds made up of several breeds. I don't know anything about the cockapoo association, but someday they could be registered. Probably not in my lifetime. When we bought our Jack Russell many years ago, the breed was not AKC. but had it's own registry. And they were MUCH more strict about genitic defects. To the point the dog had to be over 6mos to register, you had to send in pictures and a certificate from a vet saying she had no inherited defects. Some breeders see AKC reconigition as a death knell for their breed, second only to a popular sitcom or a Disney movie. Make no mistake, in my opinion AKC is only after the money. As long as you have the right numbers on the application form and on the check they'll register it no problem. Please excuse my spelling I am in a hurry

[Christy (Premo)]

I'm guessing this comment is directed at me, since I was the one who initiated the dialogue about the "mixed breed" stuff. Not once did I EVER say there was something wrong with OWNING a mixed breed. I said there IS something wrong with PRODUCING mixed breed dogs ON PURPOSE when there are plenty in the shelters.

Didn't we all go round and round about this before? Personally, I'm more for breeding of the mutt dogs in order to mix up that gene pool. I've had a bazillion dogs and my mutts have always been healthier and lived longer than any of the pure breeds.

I think to say it's okay to to breed, but only if the dogs are of of the same breed is silly.

I guess my preferences have always been of the Heinz 57 variety. I know I'm going to get smacked on this one, but I've always thought breeding dogs for profit, is just kinda strange. It's something I've never supported (with my wallet). I currently have a pure bred, great beagle, but we found him in the woods, his mother left him to die. I only know this because it was our neighbor that was the breeder. He just let us keep him, as I'm sure there is something wrong with him that I'll be paying big money for eventually!