Designer dogs and the owners that love them

Lorina · 03-01-2007, 03:41 PM

My favorite "Designer Dog" was born too soon to be considered a "Designer Dog."

My parents dog Chester (aka Chester Von Wigglebutt, or just Chet) was originally supposed to be a Beagle - Cocker Spaniel mix, but as he grew up, it was apparent he was more likely a Scottie mix. Possible with poodle? I've seen supposed "Scoodles" at pet stores that looked a lot like him. His fur isn't as course as a typical wire-haired dog, and has a bit more wave/curl to it. Doesn't shed much, either, but he does bother my husband's allergies and asthma.

Anyway, he's a fantastic dog. He'll be 14 this year, and still acts like a puppy. Smartest dog I've ever met. A bit of a coward. I remember one time I was walking him and we came up to a St. Bernard in someone's fenced in yard. Chet ran behind me, then barked at the big dog. But sometimes he thinks he's a hero. I took him to the vet once, and while we were in the waiting room, he was terrified and sat on my lap shaking the whole time. Someone had a puppy, then someone else came in with a big German Shepherd. When the GSD went over the sniff the puppy, Chet gave off a little warning growl, like, "Don't mess with that pup, or you'll have me to deal with."

Yeah, Chet. All 25 pounds of you is soooo intimidating.

Chester loves my dad. Mom's the one who feeds him, but he's a Daddy's Boy. Everytime my dad coughs or sneezes, Chet goes over and sits by him to make sure he's ok. My mom can tell when my dad is getting up in the morning, because she hears Chester's tail thumping on the floor.

I love everything about Chester. Except where he came from. My brother bought him when he and his fiance got an apartment together, saying that they'd just keep him at my mom & dad's until they got a new place. They bought him at a pet store*, but lied and said he was from the SPCA so my folks wouldn't send him back. It wasn't until he was about 2 years old that my brother confessed to me where he came from. And I don't think my parents knew until I let it slip last year. But anyway, it's been almost 14 years, and my brother has since married, divorced, married again, and owned several other dogs, and little Chester's still living with my parents. I think he's much better off.

(* On the "plus" side, he was $25, so it's not like he was an overpriced puppymill dog. Most likely some local accidental litter by irresponsible owners that gave the pups to the pet store to sell. Still bad, but not as cruel as a puppymill situation. )

Curbside Prophet · 03-01-2007, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weebles

That's so sad. But isn't her dog a purebred, not a designer?

BTW, I think this article explains her logic:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2...440187,00.html

She bought a "teacup" chi. The term "teacup" is a designer term. In breeding terms, this means runt. The standard for chi's does not include variations in size like you would for a schnauzer - mini, standard, and giant. And I would agree, her logic is true Paris - moronic.

Lorina · 03-01-2007, 03:53 PM

I bristle when I hear people talk about "teacup Pekingese." There are a smaller variation of Pekes, but they're called Sleeve Pekingese. A breeder should know that. Anyone who did homework on the breed before acquiring one should know that. And anyone who didn't do their homework shouldn't own one.

Captbob · 03-01-2007, 04:29 PM

Teacup Dog breeding is one of the most horrible things that a breeder could do. Just read the material on this web site to see how bad it is...

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...51C1A9609C8B63

peace36 · 03-01-2007, 05:09 PM

Lorina....What breed is the dog on your picture?? I thought it looked like a pekeneese? Maybe you said somewhere and I missed it

tully · 03-01-2007, 06:20 PM

Hey, tully is a golden doodle and I will have my daughter help me post some pics later. He is sooo cute! He has a great personality and is hilarious! When he was a puppy and I would give him and Rory, my Lab, their chewy treats he just wanted Rory's. They were the same treat but he wanted his big brothers. So, he would get on his back and squirm, and bark and just hve a fit. It was soo funny! Of course, Rory loved it because he got more attention also! Now, he will chew his own chewy but whatever Rory has he is much more interested in!
He flew here from Colorado and when we picked him up it is like he knew we were there for him. He was barking at us like look down here. We brought him home and gave him a goood long bath. After that, you would have thought he had been here for ever! If Rory had to fly on a plane, I would have had to give him an IV for at least 2 weeks!

Tully, lets you know when he is hungry and loves to watch TV. Rory loves the pool but when he was a puppy he did not. Last year, Tully hated it but liked to watch Rory swim and bark and bark on the side. It will be interesting to see if he goes in the pool this year. He is the Alpha dog, me first me first. Rory is OK with it. As long as Rory gets his food, his chewies, his walk and gets mom time he is cool! Tully is a mama's boy too but Rory is his biggest fascination. Everyone try to post some pics if you can

For those who were confused about "designer" dogs don't despair some of us are too. But, if you have a mutt, or a hybrid or a good old breed and want to participate in positive stories and pics please feel free.

PS: Lorina, Curb and CaptBoB, we get you are really invested in your beliefs and we respect that; however, I made it pretty clear that this thread is really for people to share about their animals without being lectured. I don't think that is to much to ask. You have plenty of other places to share your views. Please respect this thread. Thank you.

Curbside Prophet · 03-01-2007, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tully

PS: Lorina, Curb and CaptBoB, we get you are really invested in your beliefs and we respect that; however, I made it pretty clear that this thread is really for people to share about their animals without being lectured. I don't think that is to much to ask. You have plenty of other places to share your views. Please respect this thread. Thank you.

Hmmm. I thought I was sharing a positive story about a designer dog named Bambi. I take my comment about Paris back, she's not moronic.

And I actually thought Lorina's story was quite heartfelt. I'm confused, so I guess I'm sorry.

britishbandit · 03-01-2007, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peace36

Since this is not sopposed to be a thread on who agrees or dissagees about breeding or designer dogs Why not just ignore posts that go against what this thread is for??? Just dont respond to people who try to sway this thread in another direction. Even if they are being nice about it... who cares they should start a new thread if they dont want to stick to what the op cleary asked this thread to be about.

I said nothing bad about mutts/mixed breeds in my post, and since you think that my (and other posters) are against BREEDERS of "designer dogs" mean we are against the actual dogs......I only explained things a little clearer so you would understand it isn't the dogs that are the problem. And "we" have nothing against them what-so-ever. Apparently some of you just don't get it even with explainations.

If you don't want comments, opinions and feedback, don't throw around the terms "designer dogs" and "hybrids". Just because some of you may not like the terms mutt and mixed breed, doesn't mean all of us think they are downgraded terms. I have owned my share of mutts, and I'll tell ya they were awesome mutts! If the post would've said mutts or mixed breeds rather than the terms used, I'm sure the thread would've gone more smoothly, for me anyway.

tully · 03-01-2007, 06:58 PM

Yes Curb, those were heartfelt; however, on the first page she started a rant and on this last page you all were talking about the horrors of peks. I mean, can't some of the dog forum just be light and fun? There are plenty of great stories out there they are not all bleak and dismal. I guess that is what I would like this thread to be. I don't want anyone to feel like they can't share about their dog. NO matter what kind he/or she is or where they got them.

Maybe I should have titled this lets put our differences aside. So, hope we are cool

Curbside Prophet · 03-01-2007, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tully

So, hope we are cool

We've always been cool.

Wimble Woof · 03-01-2007, 07:40 PM

Well im in...
I have some mutts/hybrids/designer dogs/ what ever you want to call them.

My Boxweiler ( that sounds corny as hell) Rottie/Boxer mix, is the best dog in the world... she has an extreme abundance of energy and truely is a half breed! Some of her traits are straight Boxer and some are straigh Rottie! Its like a new dog in every situation...
Shes always been a strange gurl... unique if you will. She insists on jabbering our ears off with her Boxer mumble jumble but if someone comes in the yard.. she's quiet as a mouse???
She has little or no control of her rear end as she has no tail but tries her hardest to wag one...

and has knocked a few kids and adults over in excitment.

My Kita gurl, I wouldnt trade her for the world, but I would never have paid more than shelter price for her. But thats me.
I dread the day she passes,

She is irreplaceble, and I really really love the mix of the 2 breeds, but the odds of me finding another mix like that is slim to none.
Shes only 4 years old now, so hopefully I can keep her around and healthy for another bunch of years yet, so no need to worry about the dreaded day right now.!

Captbob · 03-01-2007, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tully

Hey, tully is a golden doodle and I will have my daughter help me post some pics later. He is sooo cute! He has a great personality and is hilarious! When he was a puppy and I would give him and Rory, my Lab, their chewy treats he just wanted Rory's. They were the same treat but he wanted his big brothers. So, he would get on his back and squirm, and bark and just hve a fit. It was soo funny! Of course, Rory loved it because he got more attention also! Now, he will chew his own chewy but whatever Rory has he is much more interested in!
He flew here from Colorado and when we picked him up it is like he knew we were there for him. He was barking at us like look down here. We brought him home and gave him a goood long bath. After that, you would have thought he had been here for ever! If Rory had to fly on a plane, I would have had to give him an IV for at least 2 weeks!

Tully, lets you know when he is hungry and loves to watch TV. Rory loves the pool but when he was a puppy he did not. Last year, Tully hated it but liked to watch Rory swim and bark and bark on the side. It will be interesting to see if he goes in the pool this year. He is the Alpha dog, me first me first. Rory is OK with it. As long as Rory gets his food, his chewies, his walk and gets mom time he is cool! Tully is a mama's boy too but Rory is his biggest fascination. Everyone try to post some pics if you can

For those who were confused about "designer" dogs don't despair some of us are too. But, if you have a mutt, or a hybrid or a good old breed and want to participate in positive stories and pics please feel free.

PS: Lorina, Curb and CaptBoB, we get you are really invested in your beliefs and we respect that; however, I made it pretty clear that this thread is really for people to share about their animals without being lectured. I don't think that is to much to ask. You have plenty of other places to share your views. Please respect this thread. Thank you.

Tully,

I don't think I need to be lectured regarding this topic or thread. Someone mentioned "teacup" dogs and I posted a story that I heard on a dog radio show a couple of weeks ago, about the way these teacup breeds are developed and that they sometimes have 6 out of seven dogs in the litter live a horrible life, if they live at all, to get one " tea cup dog. If you think my post is upsetting, then don't read it..... By the way I have a "designer dog", it was designed by the two dogs ( a corgi and a GSD) that got togther and created it....... I adopted it from a shelter and it is a great dog.

tully · 03-01-2007, 08:05 PM

Wimblewoof your story of Boxw made me laugh out loud! What a character! Oh my gosh. Can you post some bigger pics?

Lorina · 03-01-2007, 09:19 PM

I'm sorry I go off topic a lot. If I start a new thread for everything that might be a little off topic, I'm going to have 12,354,265,249 threads going. Like I've said before, I'm kind of a cat person and I get distracted easily, like by a piece of string or something shiny.

Peace, my dog is a Pekingese. He's a weirdo, but I love him.

peace36 · 03-01-2007, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by britishbandit

I said nothing bad about mutts/mixed breeds in my post, and since you think that my (and other posters) are against BREEDERS of "designer dogs" mean we are against the actual dogs......I only explained things a little clearer so you would understand it isn't the dogs that are the problem. And "we" have nothing against them what-so-ever. Apparently some of you just don't get it even with explainations.

If you don't want comments, opinions and feedback, don't throw around the terms "designer dogs" and "hybrids". Just because some of you may not like the terms mutt and mixed breed, doesn't mean all of us think they are downgraded terms. I have owned my share of mutts, and I'll tell ya they were awesome mutts! If the post would've said mutts or mixed breeds rather than the terms used, I'm sure the thread would've gone more smoothly, for me anyway.

BritishBandit-I did not refer to you in my post. I just happened to read a post that someone else wrote saying that we are sopposed to stick to the topic. I simply meant to just outright ignore the post that are not on topic. I do not remeber reading yours so Chill out I did not have anyone in paticular in mind when I wrote it.

Also after I wrote it I thought it actually sounded pretty stupid. Things always seem to go off topic. I think we should ignore it if it is people going on about negative things about designer dogs you know alll the debating like in the other posts this was not intended to be another designer debate thats what to ignore

squirt1968 · 03-01-2007, 11:11 PM

Weebles I agree so much for a pleasant thread. the negetive about designer
dogs has been posted quite a few times. I think we have your message britishbandit.

Tess&Coco · 03-02-2007, 06:01 AM

Well... I just love little Coco so much I want to share some piccies of her and her "big sister", Tess. They are both lab crossbreeds. I don't know what Tess is crossed with, sometimes I think she's pure lab, just a small example (vet told me that when I first had her at 6-9 months) and sometimes I think she's got some BC or some staffie in her, probably less than half. Anyway, she's mostly lab-like in her behaviour but she didn't like swimming until she was around 4. Now I can't keep her out! Coco's mummy was a chocolate lab and we were told her father was a German Shorthaired Pointer. I have read a little about GSPs and I really hope the lab traits are prevalent! If anyone has insights about pointers to share I'd be grateful. I've had labs or lab crosses all my adult life so feel pretty confident with them.

My girls
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...Picture045.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...Picture013.jpg

Coco and the incredible nose!
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...Picture002.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...Picture032.jpg

Relaxing
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...Picture080.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...Picture081.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...Picture084.jpg

britishbandit · 03-02-2007, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squirt1968

I think we have your message britishbandit.

Good! Glad to hear it. But it won't stop me from posting it again and again if the threads keep showing up.

tully · 03-02-2007, 07:49 AM

Tess and Coco, what a couple of characters. Is Coco fascinated with Tess? I think Tess is the older, yes? Tully is soo fascinated with his big brother Rory. The pic of your two dogs playing tug of war remind me of my pups. OF course, Tully just wants it because Rory has it. Your pups are just adorable. Tess regal and Coco just a cutie patoootie!

Tess&Coco · 03-02-2007, 08:02 AM

Yes, Tess WAS a sedate middle-aged lady of 8 until Coco came along. Now they play together for hours - it's astonishing how small an item both of them can have their mouths on at the same time. Like yours, Coco wants something if Tess has it, and Tess uses that to tease her or to get her to resume a game because Coco has lost interest. When we play fetch with Coco, Tess will bundle in and "win" just to show she can. If we then introduce a second toy for the baby Tess will want that one too!

So Tully, what are yours, what are their ages and do you have piccies??