As I am Swedish, I still take an interest in what goes on in Sweden with dogs, and I receive the Swedish KC's magazine. Last night I was looking through a recent issue, where there were reports from their largest championship show held in December. The idea is for each and every BOB to be photographed, and the mag then has several pages full of the photos, which is very interesting. It does point out that it isn't complete as some BOB winners did not turn up to be photographed.

However when looking at all the breeds, it really hit me just how MANY breeds there are out there that do not yet exist in the UK! And which would not be all that difficult to import if they exist in Sweden -not far! I may be wrong about some rare breeds, they may exist here, but I counted to no less than 50 breeds having been shown in Sweden that we do not have here in the UK.

Then consider the fact that several BRITISH breeds are under threat of extinction because of a lack of interest in them.

And people still crossbreed?! There is NO WAY anybody ever could say there is no breed for them out of all those that ALREADY exist. It's fair enough when it is done for certain working abilites with crosses found to work i.e. Guide Dogs and their Lab/Golden crosses (indeed in Sweden the most common Guide Dog is a GSD/Lab cross), serious obedience people etc, but when it is just to create a new "breed" (read: new crossbreed) and make money. :rolleyes:

Makes you think, once again.

This is something I've been thinking about posting on for quite a while but haven't got round to & now you've done it for me :D . I agree completely, it's not just native breeds which are under threat, although obviously they are the ones that the KC feels the need to support, but many of the smaller imported breeds - which have been in this country for many years which are also under threat. There are already around 200 breeds recognised by the KC, I defy anyone to come up with a satisfactory explanation as to why  one of these designer breeds is better!

I also agree with all statements on here so far and it's what I've tried to say, well in a roundabout way on other items such as the Labradoodles!!

There are enough breeds around without having to breed more that have all the features and more that these supposed cross breeds have to offer.

what do people find appealing in a X that they cant find in a pure breed? now as you "all" know im not anti purpose bred mixbreeds. BUT i still dont know why ANY body would want one ........(then again i cant see past a BC as the perfect breed full stop).

the thing is,i think we are NEVER going to find the answer on CD. after all who is going to say on here "i love my xdoodle because........."

so how can we get people intersted in these breeds ?& not in the Xs.?
i agree this would be a good idea,because if the bottom fell out of the mixbreed market then the puppy farmers/backyarders would hopefully stop expoliting them, & the "responsible" breeders of them (& IMO there ARE some) could show that they are good breeders (without the witchhunt).

i do think ,however the purpose mixbreeds are here to stay, why are the non showing public (ie pet owners) wanting them? what do they have "extra" to offer?

Availability? :rolleyes:  Novelty?  A Label?

I do think that the 'designer' label helps :(  If you look in any shops (other than food shops) these days it's 'designer' this and 'designer' that :rolleyes: never mind the fact that everything manufactured had/has to be designed in the first place :rolleyes:

The sad thing is tho, that these xbreeds are anything but designed :(  the most thought that goes into them is dreaming up a ridiculous or cutsey name for them :rolleyes:  and anyone who thinks that they will become a breed simply by crossing the first generations is going to be sadly disappointed, there will usually be more variety in the second and third crosses than in the first, unless sound genetic practises are used ;) lets face it the people breeding these crosses aren't usually known for their knowledge of breeding successful pedigree lines, let alone having the knowledge of breeding necessary for developing a new breed :(

To me the most insulting thing about these xbreeds is the exhorbitant prices and spurious health claims used to sell them.

does anybody think the KC should be doing something?

i do think ,however the purpose mixbreeds are here to stay, why are the non showing public (ie pet owners) wanting them?
Because "pet owners" want something "different" & don't realise that they could have a "different" purebred.
Because "pet owners" believe all the hype that is sprouted about mixed breeds.
Because "pet owners" haven't done any research to find out about the very similar purebred dogs.
Because fools & their money are just waiting to be parted.

Obviously "Pet owners" is a generalisation. I'm a pet owner who happens to have chosen 2 different breeds because I like their breed characteristics.

but what can be done about that?

Education - but don't ask me how. Sometimes I despair ....if people are still taken in by puppy farmers, what chance do they stand when they hear on a Crufts programme that designer dogs are healthier than pedigrees :rolleyes:

KC or goverment?media?

I can't see that the Government would be at all interested. After all, in other animals, no-one bothers if one type of rabbit is crossed with another type etc etc The 'Government' would only be concerned with legal aspects - fraud, trade descriptions etc and of course if huge numbers of unwanted strays occured. Should be the KC's pigeon - but, again, they have no powers to prevent it , all they can do is try to educate and prevent 'new' breeds being recognised.

Daisy

but they arent are they?
so should they be petioned/emailed?

or should we push the goverment more on puppy farms. maybe that ONLY registered breeders can breed full stop?

It's a difficult question - obviously the KC could be doing more in pointing out the fooolishness of paying lots of money for these crossbreeds - but breeding them is not illegal. Definitely should be more control of 'puppy farms' or anyone who is keeping dogs in bad conditions or breeding from unhealthy animals. Registering breeders may not produce the results that you want tho' :)

Daisy

clearly the KC will get money from the XBs if they register them on the activites reg

?? Yes, but they would get the money anyway - there will be always crossbreeds :)

Daisy

How would people become 'registered breeders'? And what would the penalty be if a non-registered breeder had a litter? How would they be found out?

Also those of us who breed in our homes with litters in our bedrooms and kitchens (where they are best socialised etc) would probably fail any registraion process, and we would be left with only the more commercial breeders with purpose built facilities for tehri dogs, and not the breeding from our companions that is doen in a make shift but good way when we breed an occasional litter with loving care.

They would probably use the model kennel regulations, which means we wouldn't be allowed our wooden kennels, or home nade runs, and whelping boxes etc.

This is something I am always saying, and in fact I am sure that anyone looking for a combination of two breeds with enough research will probably find something that already breeds true and fits the bill, and these rare breeds can give the creative and pioneering all the flare and room for creativity anyone needs.

Had a great chat at Crufts while manning the Discover Dogs stand for my breed with some Lundehund breeders in Norway who were dismayed when I told them the breed had been de-registered here as none had been registered with the kennel club for too many years..

>Lundehund< 

Aaaw the Puffin Dogs :D wonderful!

gosh! didnt realise were de registered :(

Last year :(

Oh I didn't even know they could do that! :(

Yes I think it is if there ahve been none registered in 10 years (might be more).

I do agree with everything that is said here - and disagree completely with the whole designer mutt thing BUT there is one 'cross' breed that I would love - a Silken Windhound. I love my borzois but these two will be my last two. Alongside my border collies I'd like to have another hound breed, I don't like the scenthounds and I like coated breeds. I'd like a smaller dog - there is no small long haired sighthound. So for me somtimes a new breed can be justified especially when they have went about it in the correct way with dna profiling etc for all breeding stock.

What about a Beagle?

beagles are scent hounds - and not long coated??

I was just joking as I saw you don't like scent hounds! I like all hounds! :)

You could always breed mini Afghans ( just kidding! ) After all you could fit them in your pocket lol.

Sorry, I'm having that Friday feeling early............

lol bertbeagle...afghan/chihuahua cosses....what will we call them??

It's the racy, elegant shape I love in the sighthounds...there's nothing more beuatiful (IMO) than a sighthound racing across open ground. The smallest coated sighthound is a saluki - and they don't have a lot of coat - and are not particularly small :D

Have you never considered the Bedlington Terrier??  They have the racy, elegant shape and the coat ;)  Don't let the Terrier bit put you off, they are often quite hound-like in temperament compared to other terriers - my two are ;)  If you get to a ch show have a visit to the Bedlington benches, you'll find them easily, they're the quietest area in the terrier hall/tent ;)  They love to chase things and run about at speed, yet they're quite calm and quiet in the home :)  Take the topknot off (clip it ;) ) and you have something like a mini borzoi - LOL :D but still a pedigree ;)

Thanks Dill, you're right Bedlingtons are ALMOST hound like and I did consider them and went to see the Honeymist ones years ago...but I want a long silky coat (and pretty colours) not one that has to be clipped...fussy I know but I've been looking for the perfect breed (for me) for a long time  :D

Don't clip it then :d

lol..it's still not the same...there is definitely an argument for another new breed here :D

You can have Anton my long legged Spanish !!  :d :d  No, no I'm only joking, I love him really!

ok...stick him on the next train up here....and tell him he'll be expected to help protect the house and grounds from dangerous maurauding cats and potentially dangerous pigeons. He's going to have to spend a great deal of time sleeping on my bed or on the sofa. His main duty will be to entertain me while out on our walks, he'll be expected to run flat out round in huge circles chasing and dodging the other dogs. He'll occasionally have to catch and eat the odd rabbit (or the longer legged, longer eared variety). He'll be expected to occasionally roll in and/or eat dung and sometimes I'd expect his hearing to fail as we head back to the car. He'd have to lean on me whenever I stand still and reach out with his legs to trip me up as I step over him in the house. He'll have to learn to steal, and to completely ignore strangers fawning over him....once he's proved his point that he's superior to them he should proceed to jump up on them with his muddy paws. Oh yes and he has to look like a mini borzoi :D

Right then Chaumson who's been talking to you about my Anton then, he does all of the above.  Hasn't caught a rabbit yet as he hasn't been in a n area too, but his brother does with ease, not that his owners want him to :d

I think he meets every single bit of your criteria and he does look a bit like a mini borzoi as he's very lean for a SWD and has long fine legs :d  His head is quite short and stocky and he has a very short muscley neck but other than that he's perfect :d

ok...so do we have any plastic surgeons on the list??? Sounds like a simple operation or two and I have my perfect dog :D