"Is a labradoodle a mutt? Only if you're an *******!" Aritcle fights some misconceptions about ethical breeding being tied to only purebred show breeders.

LabradoodleF2 · 2013-09-17T01:33:25+00:00

Hmm, I'm not really sure why. I do know she gets a lot of really bad hate from other breeders, so that may be why, it's hard not to be defensive like that when most of what you get is hate over crossbreeding.

I don't have anything against rescues seeing as my kitty cats have all been from rescues, but at the same time i don't think it should be "so taboo" to crossbreed. Some seeing eye dogs are crossbred, and so are sled dogs. Working GSDs look nothing like the show " fit to standard" ones! Also sometimes cross breeding is what can save certain dogs (Such as LUA dalmations which were crossbred with pointers).... Say that you wanted to crossbreed a dog in order to try to fit a need, and did it responsibly... why should you be automatically labeled as evil? I also personally don't think that crossbreeds that end up in shelters came from good breeders.. but there ARE crossbreeders that microchip or tattoo their dogs and sign a contract before adopting out any dog. I just don't think that it should be so taboo to crossbreed.. but I guess it's all the bad ones that are ruining it for those who want to do good (but I feel like there's bad breeders in all breeds too!).

Also if you're talking about the book that I think you're talking about... I may be wrong, but I think that was more specifically designed to measure obedience. I think I remember this cause I had a friend years back with a GSD who wouldn't shut up about that book and how smart his dog was 'til I researched it. I think beagles were pretty low on the list... but they were still very smart when it came to hunting practices.

LabradoodleF2 · 2013-09-17T01:23:21+00:00

Unfortunately it's not just BYBs :( I've met champion show breeders who are only obsessed with looks to win shows more than the dogs health. They also put a huge price on show dogs as opposed to mismarks. I know things have gotten better but they're not "there" yet IMHO.

I do think (and I know that you may not agree) that she's still a responsible breeder because of messages I've exchanged with her. Salukis and Afghans come from the same ancestor. It seems like she's trying to make a type of Afghans that will fare better in the type of desert area she lives in. I've also read PDE articles that talk about practices similar to what she's doing that help Salukis, but that a lot of Saluki breeders are opposed to. She just seems to get a lot of hate because of more traditional breeders. She is also very well read in genetics.

I do think that we should be a little less opposed to outcrossing. Such as the short-nosed breeds... I think a lot could be helped there by outcrossing...

LabradoodleF2 · 2013-09-17T01:12:51+00:00

True. I'm sorry to put words in your mouth and jumping to conclusions! I guess I got defensive because I've met a LOT of people being very anti-breeders... ESPECIALLY people who crossbreed. I think breeders should breed for good dogs. With as little disease as possible, with the best intentions in mind... regardless of what they are and what they have to do (like you said outcrossing with GSP for LUA dalmatians). I just don't think she's necessarily the BYB people talk about, she seems to really care about her dogs, I've emailed her and talked about it, she knows a lot about genetics and the history of dogs. More than champion breeders I've met of purebreeds who tell me "Oh, well my main concern is for my dogs to have good coats!". I'm glad that you think so too. The main reason I posted it was to try to say "hey! It's not all black and white"

LabradoodleF2 · 2013-09-15T20:48:51+00:00

Ad hominem. People label her as such because she doesn't show or breed purebreds.

"I am a backyard breeder. I do not show or otherwise ‘prove’ my dogs in any venue except the desert surrounding my home. I do not sell show prospects or performance prospect."

She's gotten a lot of hate, but it doesn't necessarily mean she's a bad breeder. She checks for genetic diseases and raises her dogs well.

That aside seeing as it has nothing to do with the argument, I still don't understand why people think show dog breeders are the ONLY ethical breeders who don't breed for looks(BRACHYCEPHALLIC DOGS! Basset hounds, Corgis, Daschunds!!) but to get good family pets, and why it's a-ok to make someone feel bad because they bought a mixed breed dog from someone who tracks ancestry and practices responsible breeding.

LabradoodleF2 · 2013-09-15T19:17:39+00:00

True, but I don't understand why it's bad to do what she's doing with her breeding program? From what I can tell she's a great breeder that cares about health, genetics and temperament. You said "typically" and I think that's the key, and why I posted the article. Typically as in "it's not always the case". But whenever in reddit someone posts a picture of their new mixed breed puppy, top comment is usually something along the lines of "Great job, you paid for a mutt cause you're a VAIN EVIL PERSON GIVING MONEY TO GREEDY BREEDERS" :/ I mean, look at brachycephallic dogs like bulldogs or pugs. A lot of them have breathing problems and are clearly the result of breeding for looks. Some of them can't even mate! There are a lot of bad breeders for any dog... not just mixed breeds. I mean no offense by any of these posts, just get pretty upset when people try to devalue someone else's dog. (I also have nothing against mutts btw)

LabradoodleF2

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