Andrea Rosebrock 
Ok, don’t get me wrong here, there’s nothing wrong with mutts or mixed breed dogs. They’re great! As wonderful as any pure-bred dog. My point is that you’re seeing this influx of so called ‘designer’ dogs that are nothing more then mixed breed dogs and people are selling these mutts for outrageous prices and even worse, people are paying those outrageous prices!
I read a great article this morning about just this topic and it hit the nail on the head so well. I remember when people used to just give these ‘accidents’ away or maybe sell them for $25. Then I started seeing them get ‘names’ like Peek-a-poo, Pekinese and poodle and now there’s a whole new breed of breeder out there intentionally combining breeds and giving them cute names and making a bundle. Absolutley ludicrous!
Snoodles and puggles and labradoodles… Yorkie-poos, cock-a-poos, Lhasa-poos, Peke-A-poos, Pom-a-poos, doxie-poos… bassatoodle, cockanoodle… You name it, if someone sees money it is, they’ll breed it. And people are selling these mutts for $500…. $700… and more!
And now there are a ton of registries out there that will register just about anything so these breeders can actually claim they are selling you a registered dog with papers to help to validate the outrageous price.
Sure they’re cute and sure they can make great pets, but so can just about any dog or puppy you adopt from a shelter or rescue and then you get the added satisfaction of knowing that you saved a life… as well as the satisfaction of knowing of knowing that someone’s greed didn’t put a hole in your wallet.
If you want a pure-bred dog, there are actually a lot of them in shelters or you can go to a breed specific rescue. You can find one for just about any breed of dog you want. And if you want a dog that’s registered and comes with papers, and a lot of people do, there’s nothing wrong with that either. We all have our own reasons for wanting dogs and certain things we want in our dogs. Do yourself a favor and find a reputable and responsible breeder.
Don’t think that just because someone claims their puppies come with AKC papers, that that makes everything ok. Many puppy mills dogs come with AKC papers and the breeders are USDA licensed and it doesn’t mean a damn thing!
I’ve posted this before but there are still too many people who just don’t know… and not knowing, they get taken advantage of.
Some quick fast rules:
- DO NOT buy a puppy from a pet store – they are notorious outlets for puppy mill puppies!
- DO NOT buy a puppy on the internet – the is the latest venue for puppy millers. The often pose as reputable breeders. The internet is also rife with puppy scams. If you must insist on buying an internet puppy, at least take the time to read up on some safety tips!
- DO NOT buy a puppy from a flea market, roadside area or parking lot. If you cannot go into a breeder’s home to see the environment where the puppies were born and raised that should be a big red flag!
Now I am not saying that you cannot find reputable breeders online. Many excellent breeders operate websites and if you do your homework, you’ll easily be able to tell the difference. See the article on Safety Tips for some excellent information about finding reputable breeders.
Here’s a few tips on good breeders:
- Fully answers questions about the breed, including the downside of living with it
- Is honest about the breed’s potential health problems, including any seen in his or her own dogs
- Provides copies of health certifications performed by specialists on both parents of the puppies
- Raises puppies in the home, not in pens in the backyard, and doesn’t live in filthy surroundings
- Has puppies that are friendly and healthy, with bright eyes, shiny coats and no discharge from eyes or nose
- Doesn’t breed more than one or two litters per year and limits each female to no more than three litters in a lifetime
- Helps you choose the right puppy for your personality and lifestyle
- Helps you find another breeder if he or she doesn’t have what you’re looking for
- Has a sales contract that includes a minimum one-year health guarantee against life-threatening or crippling conditions caused by heritable defects
- Willing to take the dog back at any time in its life if you’re unable to keep it
Personally my first choice for finding a new canine member to add to my family would be a shelter or rescue but everyone is different. I cannot fault people for their choices as long as they are made for the right reasons and people take the time to properly educate themselves.
A dog or puppy should never be a whim, they are for life and should be be a member of the family. Take a minute to read “Do You Think You’re Ready For A Dog? Find Out!” It will ask you some questions that you really should think about and answer before you take that big step.
I completely and totally agree with you.
all these people that spend hundreds for mixed breed dogs (or even pure breds) should be forced to go to a puppy mill first. then take the money & donate it to a rescue
I use to have 4 mutts. Obviously, I now have 4 “Designer Dogs.” I got them all at the Humane Society for only $110 a piece. I must have gotten a damn good deal.
You forgot to mention the designer dog that sums it all up perfectly -
a cross between a bulldog and a shih tzu -
known as a Bull Shitz
@Lucky – Some people will never learn!
Way to go!!
@Proud Mom – You’re so right!! What a deal and you’ve probably got some great ‘designer’ dogs!
I have 4 “designer dogs” before they were ‘cool’ that cost me nothing, except of course the usual vet bills,food and toys. I wouldn’t give up my mixed breed dogs for anything.
I have a hybrid dog and resent the amount of criticism directed toward them. Every breed currently recognized was the result of mixing of two or more other breeds. Because of puppy mills, many “purebreds” are unhealthy and while I have had two rescues in the past, I needed a dog that was absolutely trustworthy with children and good for kids with allergies. I was unable to find one in a shelter after a yearlong search.
I spend a lot of time working against puppy mills and resent the suggestion that those who buy “designer dogs” bear some guilt that those who buy AKC registered dogs do not.
@Nancy Woodward – It’s not so much that the criticism is directed toward ‘hybrid dogs,’it’s directed toward people who breed them. I have no problem with mixed-breed dogs, they can be and are as wonderful and fantastic as purebred dogs.
I’ve heard so many stories about ‘hybrid’ dogs, people pay a fortune for them from breeders and they’re not what they were ‘advertised’ because they’re genetics can go one way or another. People looking for a small dog wound up with a larger one because one of the breeds is a larger breed and that genetic trait dominated in that particular puppy.
These ‘hybrids’ are no more than mixed-breeds but people label them ‘designer’ and rake in a fortune off of them. That is my problem! Not someone who chooses to have one. Please understand that.
I don’t like the main points made in this article. We have a maltipoo (half maltese and half poodle). She has been the best pet we have ever owned. We are not “professional breeders” but wanted another just like her so we “bred” her and she had two puppies. We sold the male and kept the female, who is as cute as pie. These dogs are great pets, great with children, clean, and do not cause allergies. They are also in high demand. We got 8 calls for the male after we already sold him in one weekend. I do not agree that it is irresponsible to breed these dogs. Of course, I do agree that puppy mills are TERRIBLE. But not all people who mate their pet and sell one is running a puppy mill!!!!
Laura, one litter does not make you a breeder and certainly not a puppy miller. My ire is directed toward people who breed for a living, who breed a lot of dogs and continue to swell the ranks of puppies when so many are out there already needing homes.
I do not have a problem with mixed-breed dogs or pure breed dogs. It’s not the dogs’ type at all, it’s the people who make their living off them. I admit, I am not a fan of BYBs (back yard breeders) either, most of them are irresponsible but I would not slam them all.
So you see, this is really not directed at “you” but at the greedy monsters out there.
D.
I totally understand what you are saying. Thanks for the reply.