Not sure if I´m allowed to post this link, but here goes!

http://www.globalanimal.org/2010/12/02/man-who-created-labradoodles-regrets-the-cross-breed/25768/

Personally I never have agreed with deliberate "designer" cross-breeding.

> Personally I never have agreed with deliberate "designer" cross-breeding.

The original reason was most definitely not for designer dogs.  It was part of a programme to see if it was possible to breed guide dogs that didn't moult, for allergy sufferers.  Haven't read the link, as it's been around so long.

I read the link, I've read it before, and still feel sorry for the chap, his intentions were good, unfortunately he opened a pandora's box that those with less good intentions saw £££$$$$ in the idea of crossing.

We now have poo, doodle and ug all over the place, even those that would usually thought to be above such things have indulged quietly in the background.

In my experience, the most usual reason given by BYBs for cross breeding everything and anything, is that all purebreeds are unhealthy and anything KC reg is horribly inbred and diseased as a result.

Even had an argument the other day when someone with a Staffy x Ridgie boasted that at least it won't have "that spinal disease all RRs get", meaning dermoid sinus, despite my links to show it also occurs in other breeds.

That's the exact same argument the BYBs and volume breeders used to give for not having KC registration - nothing to do with breeding restrictions, unregistered parents or over-breeding of the bitch

slighly off at a tangent but the pedigree v crossbreed thing. I have my renewal in for my moggie and my renewal for my pedigree burmese> whoose is the  higher by £30 from same insurer ? the moggie his claims record ok mainly due to an rta is 3 times higher than my Burmese. Even with out the accident he has still ahd more problems than my Burmese

Seems ludicrous, as msot pedigree cats are kept in and moggies alowed to roam so the greatest risk surely is RTA, resulting in broken bones etc, all high cost procedures to fix.

I have 2 ragdolls and 1 Persian and my monthly premium is 25 for all 3 and the Persian has had a fair bit done, entropian,dodgy back legs etc. None of mine are aloud out.

They dont ask if the cats are indoors or out  ,as it happens both mine are outdoors. I will stop hijacking the thread now :) Have just reread my post appolgies for my terrible lack of puctuation. Its a wonder anyone understood it lol

I wrote an opinion column on this for my student project (www.issuu.com/ActiveK9)- it gets me seething every time. A lot of designer X breed owners take great delight in telling me that my GSD will DEFINITELY have bad hips and a dodgy tum... I suppose ignorance really is bliss.

Talking to a lady carrying a toy type crossbreed who was busy telling me how healthy crossbreeds are and that my Elkhound was bound to be struck down with a dreadful health problem soon as he's a 'pedigree' I told her he was 13 years and had never had anything more than a UTI and asked about the coat loss and weeping skin her dog was suffering from, oh, that is not an illness its an allergy. Well, suppose she was right, what's a chronic skin condition set against a bladder infection.

Trouble is I find the stupidity of such comments leaves one speechless - but don't think not replying really matters as they believe what they have been brainwashed to believe and nothing we owners of the sick and malformed pure breeds say is just not to be believed.

LOL Nova, maybe you should have told her your dog was a Pomeranian x GSD! ;)

I got called snobby by a cockerpoo owner for saying that people who breed crossbreeds should still be doing health testing and how much of a shame it is that only a hand full do. Guess it doesn't matter to there owners if there cross gets a hereditary problem then.

Yes, my OH thinks I am snobby about pedigrees because I disapprove of crossbreeding. I have nothing against the dogs themselves, it's not their fault, but as cockerpoos and labradoos do seem to be such a popular cross, I think it would be great if some of these breeders could be persuaded to do the health testing for the relevant breeds.