There was a small story (one of those buyer beware stories) on CTV or CBC newsworld (forgot which) a while back that you may have seen. It reminds me of your petshop experience

It delt with the issue of pure breeds. Since the term "pure breed" has legal significance, breeders and pet shops that sell mutts use terms like "whole breed", "full blood", "full breed" etc. to deceive buyers without having to deal with the consequences since those terms don't mean anything.

There are some people trying to develop a "designer dog" called a Carlin Pinscher, or Muggle. This is a cross between a pug and a miniature pinscher, sometimes advertised as a miniature rottwieler. AKA, mutts, bred by byb's and puppy mills. I think the whole concept of designer dogs started as a way to get a nonshedding, hypoallergenic dog, and then they "caught on" and people have jusg gone ga ga about them. Do you know there is actually an organization called the American Canine Hybrid Club? How stupid is that? Among other things, crossing two breeds of dogs does not create a hybrid. A mule is a hybrid, but a mutt is not. sheesh.

 Quote: janice jarman

There are some people trying to develop a "designer dog" called a Carlin Pinscher, or Muggle. This is a cross between a pug and a miniature pinscher, sometimes advertised as a miniature rottwieler.

Actually, I did a Google search for this... Some of them are darn cute!

Dennis, even that is ridiculous, because nothing (and I do mean nothing!) is better at rabbiting than a Whippet -- Lurcher is the name I think you may have meant (Greyhound or Whippet cross-breeds) which are the "poor man's" rabbiter, IMHO

Lurcher, that was it

For the record: I love my mutt!

The problems are going to start with these designer dogs that have been happening for a long time with so called Purebred dogs that are mass bred for popularity purposes.
Every time a breed becomes publicy sought after. We've all seen it, Dalmatians, jack russels, Golden retreivers etc etc... all started to be inter-bred father to daughter, mother to son etc. to keep up with the demand to produce these breeds of dogs due to their overwhelming popularity, be it based on a TV show, movie or some other form of entertainment. Dalmatians were over-bred after the popularity of 101 Dalmations, Jack Russels became more popular after the TV show Frasier aired and golden retreivers although always popular did spike due to their presence in alot of movies/tv shows.
Its a never ending circle and these little fluffy bundles of cash are going to go the same way. Over bred, unscreened parents being used to mass produce these little four legged cash grabs.
Yes, they are cute as puppies. But from some of the ones i've seen after a year old with their bow legs, overshot or undershot jaws etc etc. its not going to be a pretty sight in a few years.

But i do have a question for anyone that can answer. I do understand some of the reasoning for using a poodle in a breeding due to its hypo-allergenic coat. But, is that a heridatry trait that is guaranteed to be carried over to all of the pups in a litter? Take a Cock-a-poo...is it possible for some of the pups in that littler to have more a cocker spaniel type coat which isn't hypo-allergenic at all?

And for the Record...I love my MUTT too. Actually when anyone asks what type of dog he is I say he's a Mutt first...I am proud to own one!

I'll stick with my well-bred pure german shepherds any day. I don't know what people are thinking of these days; and it's sure not about the pups they are producing, but I can just imagine how many deformities and mental instabilities are being bred into the dogs. Makes me shudder!

 Quote:

And for the Record...I love my MUTT too. Actually when anyone asks what type of dog he is I say he's a Mutt first...I am proud to own one!

...Here Here!! Nothing against pure bred BTW. I love my dog and wouldn't trade her but if I had my time over I probably would have gone a different route. Don't get me wrong though, I am against back yard crap and the mills and all that, but once the dog has been born I do feel it still deserves a good home regardless of the origin.

I am a trainer in a small obedience club, nothing to serious, just basic obedience and socialisation.
We have 2 Labradoodles,2 Cockerpoos and the latest is a Chorkie.........missguided for sure but they want to make the best of their dogs so there is no way I could turn them away because of their choice of pet. Personally I love GSD's ( I have 2) but there is no accounting for taste!


John