I think i can see where your coming from was maybe focusing myself to much on the purpose ascpect you had mentioned. It does seem as though any numpty can own a dog these days and there are too many being bred but i feel thats across the board. More needs to be done in legislation if only there was something more that can be done than just the responsible owners buying from ethical breeders.

I didnt say because they cant be shown they shouldnt be bred. I said alot of breeders are breeding with no aim for their litters. All their breeding for Is to supply the high demand. You may see nothing wrong with that - I dont agree with It. Not with Pedigree dogs either (who could be shown) Its nothing to do with the type of dogs, But the reasons behind the mating - another example Is, I dont agree with pedigree dog breeders, breeding solely for colour.. (But lets not go there - thats another can of worms)!!


eta - Just seen your next post. I agree more needs to be done. Atm anyone can breed, anyone can buy and dogs are seen as 'products' not living things.

I wouldn't buy a pup from someone even if they had health tested who just wanted to breed for the sake of it. If someone had bred the litter because their dog was good at obedience, flyball, agility or showing then yes I would go to them instead. I wanted a dog who I could do all of the above with because I wanted to carry on obedience with a new dog. If he proves himself well at them (so far he has) then I think that's a reason to breed from him aslong as his health tests are fine. Ofcourse I would pick a bitch who also does a few of the activities so that hopefully the pups will go to 'working' homes!

Personally I think it would be good if all show dogs had to prove themself in another activity to show they are fit for purpose rather than just beauty but never going to happen

So well said

T'is not so much that they shouldn't exist, it is and always has been the hefty price tags that is attached to them! Many of the designer breeds have been made popular hence, unscrupulous breeders have jumped on the band wagon. And how any breeder crossing two pedigrees can determine they price of the offsping can be higher then the full pedigrees of either breed takes some swallowing!

I agree. Which is why back to good and bad breeders i wouldnt pay a ridiculour amount for any dog. Thats fine for some just not me. Not all of them are with the ridiculous price tag. Which again is the same with the peds. For the smae breed you can get ridiculous differences in price for an untested dog. Some of the price tags for peds i think is just outstanding how they can ask someone to pay that. Again across the board not just crosses

But it is not than many years ago that if nexts doors Lab have a liason with the poodle across the road resulting is a little the offspring would have been practically given away! When and why did some bright spark decide that these crosses could demand a higher price then their pedigree counterparts?

And as for the health testing don't really know if I buy that!! What is the norm on the hip score for a poodle and a lab say , are they the same ? now we are generations in what is the norm for these . Somehow cannot see how you can cross two different breeds of different weights and guarantee pups with good hips myself! And I have seen and heard of a fair few crosses with hip problems.

The labradoodle 'creator', commented In various articles on how ashamed he Is with how the crossing has gone from when he did his lab cross standard poodle mating. He did the mating In the aim the litter would be good enough for the purpose he bred them for and Is totally disgusted In how this cross has been exploited.


http://www.pawnation.com/2010/05/06/...aze-he-starte/

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unle...car-crash.html

I think the fact the creator is disgusted says it all really!

and then you get - Beverley Manners who runs Rutland Manor, and Is 'said' to be the co founder of the breed..

People like her are allowed to carry on breeding? Pictures were released showing the state her breeding dogs were kept In with proof of back to back matings..Have you seen the prices she sells her pups for? Some with questionable pedigrees. and to think alot of her dogs are In peoples doodles breeding programmes.

I couldnt support such a breed after some of the things that are 'said' to go on.

I've met a few 'Australian labradoodles' and the owners paid well over the £1000 mark.. One went on about the parents were champion labradoodles etc