Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just saw on msn video highlights that we have another "hybrid" dog. It is called a Puggle. Maybe someone has heard of it but I hadn't until tonight. While I am all for mixed breed dogs (all 5 of mine are mixed breed dogs (rescued)). I just hate when they promote these dogs as the "must have" this year. We saw it with Eddie from Frasier and then Jack Russells were popular. Then it was Pugs and you get the idea. Suddenly people tend to forget about the mixed breeds at the shelters. They said that the pet stores cannot keep these Puggles stocked. So that unfortunately leads to backyard breeders and so it begins. Now we are going to have a bunch of rednecks breeding these dogs (and not knowing what they are doing) and I say rednecks because I live in a small community and are surrounded! All of a sudden the dog at the shelter isn't good enough - we must have "the in" dog. It saddens me. People are paying $600.00 for a mixed breed dog when you could go to the shelter and adopt a lovely dog for $40.00. There is never any guarantee when you buy or adopt a dog. Like children, they come with all sorts of different characteristics. I myself will keep promoting shelters more than anything else. All of my dogs are wonderful!

puggles have been around for atleast a few years, as far as I've seen they do not breed true and litter mates can grow to look completely oposite of eachother, not sure if someone has finally gotten the hang of breed them yet or not though, as for shelters, all I know is the adoption fee locally around here is 300.- and sometimes more, and some even make you pay to have the dog altered(along with the 300.- "adoption fee" ) else they'll take the dog back and sue for breach of contract, my dog's an "oops" pup and I'm happy with him, never had an issue with chewing or obessive barking and he ignores all the other non canine animals in the house, he's a pure bred mutt.

>>I just saw on msn video highlights that we have another "hybrid" dog. It is called a Puggle. Maybe someone has heard of it but I hadn't until tonight. While I am all for mixed breed dogs (all 5 of mine are mixed breed dogs (rescued)). I just hate when they promote these dogs as the "must have" this year. We saw it with Eddie from Frasier and then Jack Russells were popular. Then it was Pugs and you get the idea. Suddenly people tend to forget about the mixed breeds at the shelters. They said that the pet stores cannot keep these Puggles stocked. So that unfortunately leads to backyard breeders and so it begins. Now we are going to have a bunch of rednecks breeding these dogs (and not knowing what they are doing) and I say rednecks because I live in a small community and are surrounded! All of a sudden the dog at the shelter isn't good enough - we must have "the in" dog. It saddens me. People are paying $600.00 for a mixed breed dog when you could go to the shelter and adopt a lovely dog for $40.00. There is never any guarantee when you buy or adopt a dog. Like children, they come with all sorts of different characteristics. I myself will keep promoting shelters more than anything else. All of my dogs are wonderful!

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Mixed breeds that happen by accident can make great dogs and there is no reason not to adopt them if you want to. But to breed them on purpose and then let them be sold through a pet shop? That's just wrong.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Ugh.. I hate when dogs are treated as trendy.

I do know a wonderful woman though who breeds "puggles". She's the most responsible breeder I've ever met, and only breeds one litter approximately every 18 months, and only when she's already got screened homes for at least 5.. So not all breeders of mixes should be considered backyard breeders..

It is so sad when they're treated as fashionable though, people don't realize the damage that they're doing..

In southwestern Ontario though it's very difficult to find a shelter that adopts for less than $250CAD. Most are around $300 or so. With so many adorable "designer" puppies advertised in the newspapers for less than $200 it's no wonder backyard breeders are raking in the cash. I know that it takes a lot of money to run a shelter but when an adorable 8 week old puppy is cheaper and doesn't require the intensive screening process, what are most families going to go for? Dogs in the shelters are often much older and you never know their background so they're temperaments are completely unknown. My dog was an absolute sweetheart at the shelter and turned out to be a blood-thirsty woman-hunter. I love him but if I had known about it, I definitely wouldn't have paid the $325 I did, I would have chosen another dog. I hate to say it because I love Kaiser to death but if I had known ahead of time the pain we would go through, I would have chosen a young pup myself.

Shelters are making themselves hard to access. Some try hard to place the right dog in the right home while others just take your wads of cash and shove any dog in your direction. Charging more money than bachyard breeders and screening too harshly make shelters seem like very unfriendly places. They seem to judge you and make you feel like a bad parent even before you choose a dog. Most people would rather choose a puppy from a litter running around someone's living room..

Many good breeders use the back yard. It's puppy mills I object to. And irresponsible genetic choices in the parent dogs put together. Back yard breeders who place their dogs in homes personally and will take the dogs back for life if they ever need new homes are totally different from puppy mills who sell their puppies to pet shops and don't know or care what homes they wind up in.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

I couldn't agree more.. It irritates me to no end when breeders of "pure" breeds scoff at those who breed mixes, and I've seen my friend have to defend herself against them. I've met a few "pure" breeders who don't believe what you said - they believe that the only reason to breed dogs is for the betterment of that breed.. And they get very condescending and downright nasty when someone disagrees. Those people tend to insist that anyone breeding mixes is a mill or backyard breeder (I think in general that term is used in a much more negative way than it should..)

You're absolutely right.. Lots of people use their back yards but as long as they're very responsible about it (I don't agree with advertising in newspapers. It doesn't allow for much screening of the homes) who's to tell them not to?

I understand what you are saying about the shelters not being friendly places. Ours in town here is awful. She is a miserable lady and I know so many people she has turned down for adoption and then other people she keeps giving dogs to (i.e. foster homes for kids and the kids torture the animals). I am shocked and dismayed of her actions. So I understand what you are saying about it being easier to get a dog from someone's home. I just wish they didn't charge so much for a mixed breed dog is all. That is too bad that it costs so much to adopt out east. here (I am right in the middle - Saskatchewan) it is only about $50 - $60.00 for a dog. So I guess we are lucky. I am going to try to volunteer at the shelter right away and see if I can possibly shake things up a bit. I would want to create a welcoming atmosphere where people know they will not be judged and scrutinized when they walk in the door. Maybe it is just a dream at this point.