We have a bedlington x whippet bitch and are looking for a miniature poodle to breed from.  Sounds odd, I know, but we think it would maintain the size, shape and speed of our bitch and add a little intelligence.  We are not looking to profit from the pups.  We have the bitch as a pet only - she's not a working dog.  We live in West Gloucestershire and have been unable to find an entire male poodle anywhere.  Any suggestions would be gratefully received.
Mary

Not at all sure what you are hoping to achieve if you do not work your bitch.  What sort of homes do you think would want all the other pups?  Poodles are intelligent little dogs but so are Bedlingtons so why not just buy another Bedlington/Whippet puppy that looks like it will make the size and coat type you like as if you cross yours with a Poodle you have no idea what will be inherited from each parent they might all just look Poodley or just like your Lurcher rather than a nice medium.
I doubt you would find a responsible Poodle breeder willing to entertain this cross as they would, quite rightly, be concerned about the future of all the pups which leaves you having to source a stud dog from less responsible breeders which would not bode well in getting a typical, health screened example.

Sorry but --- dont be silly!

IF you had a really good reason for this, ie you wanted a good all round working dog, small in size, fast and capable of water retrieval as well as running/bushing etc then perhaps you would have a point. If you had a waiting list of people for one of these pups... if you were asking for a stud dog that had a reputation as a good worker...

You have NONE of these things AND you are wanting to cross a dog who is already of a type that can be found quite easily. Most beddy x whippets look IDENTICAL so you cant claim they are hard to find, they vary too much etc etc, the fact is, they DONT.

Asides taht, once you introduce a third breed you dont know WHAT you will get.

Genetics does NOT give you an equal third of each dogs characteristics (or even 25% beddy, 25% whippet, 50% poodle).

In REALITY, (that place where bleedin thousands of crossbreeds are dying everyday because there arent, and never will be, enough homes for them all), thats just NOT what happens.

In reality, you get a litter, say its a litter of 6 pups. Two might look like taller skinnier poodles, two might be smooth coated, two might look just like poodles. BUT none look like your bitch.

Or, you could get a bolshy opinionated dog with all the WORST traits of each (and imho, mini poodles can be very bolshy little things as can beddies who are also not shy of a fight and if yours was working bred then it WONT be!, and whippets (again yours will be part working bred whippet) are likewise not shy of a scrap if needs be and bleeding fast with it.

What a nightmare!!!

Thats on top of the massive costs, the risks to your bitches health and then the work involved finding homes for them all.

Go to a rescue, get a beddy x whippet dog!

Em