How to deal with snarky comments about cost and "designer mutt"?

[jenn D]

Hello fellow doodlers!

Long rant here sorry! I'm sure some of you have experienced this.

When I Take Brisby out I get comments about how cute he is, how excellent his temperment is and how well he listens. While I've done a lot of work with him I feel that some of his temperment comes from good breeding.
People often ask where we got him and how much he cost. If I choose to tell how much doodle *can* go for I get shocked looks and a lot of comment such as "you are crazy to pay that much for a dog!" Etc.
Growing up I had both purebred beagles and mixed rescue dogs. They were great and it's helped me learn a lot about training. I have nothing against people who bring a dog into their house via rescue. In fact, the first labradoodle I trained was a rescue from a kill shelter and we took her in, trained her to perform as Sandy in the Musical Annie here in my town and then found her a great home where she's lived her last 12 years.
However, after getting married and having kids I've had to adjust what type of dogs we get. My son has cerebral palsy and epilepsy and sensory disorders so I needed a very stable and reliable dog. My daughter was finishing up chemo and we needed a dog with limited shedding. Idid a lot of research and narrowed in on multi gen Labradoodles and then researched more and found a breeder who's dogs temperaments I liked.
We made a great choice and im happy with our decision. The comments about "designer dogs" and cost just get to me at times, especially when they follow a comment about how "great"our dog is.

Just not sure how to respond to the comments. Even telling people about doodle rescue and some of the costs there, they still balk. I have friends who have awesome rescues and I think that's a great avenue too. I just don't get the bashing about my "$2000 mutt" directly after the "wow what a great dog!" Why even comment at all?

Thanks for letting meget that off my chest.
Jenn

[Miss Ellie]

So sorry for all that you are go through Jenn...and people's hurtful comments are definitely the last thing you need to deal with. These comments often come from ignorance...and it's so sad that more people don't get the opportunity to love these special "designer" dogs...if they did, they could only say one thing...and that is how great these dogs truly are.  What better combination of dogs...you get the best of both world. Having either a golden retriever & poodle or a labrador retriever & poodle mix...it just doesn't get any better than this.  The people that are saying this aren't even worth your time.  Just enjoy your lovely dog you have and feel sorry for the people who don't have this wonderful blessing in their lives.  Sending doodle kisses your way!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Awesome msg. Miss Ellie! Couldn't say it any better than this!

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Ditto here Miss Ellie!

[Adrienne]

I have to also 2nd Miss Ellie's comments.  Enjoy your beautiful dog and let those miserable people find someone else to bother.

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

I feel your pain. I don't need anyone to tell me my Meg is not a pure bred, doesn't make any difference to me and I was smart enough to know that when I got her.  How much did I spend on her?  Seriously, we only discuss our finances in our house and only with the members that have anything to do with bringing the finances in.  I am not sure why people feel it necessary or open for discussion what is another person's business.  Even more, when you make a comment to stop it YOU get the reputation of being the pain...people can just be weird.  Earlier this summer I had a great guy bring all his scouts over to meet Meg, talked training and all that and then wanted to let me know that she is actually a mutt!  They are out there and I think it is the responsibility of the rest of us to pretend we are from the deep south and "Bless their hearts"!  Depends on my mood how I accept that type of thing and I am sorry they made you feel this way.

[Tammy and Violet]

I had one ignorant neighboor catch me off guard and ask how much I paid for her.I was so flustered I told him ,I wish I would have said ...hmmmm not sure really .........a lot of ignorance out there... love my baby !! we all love our fur babies .   :()

I can not believe people ask such things !!!

[Adina P]

It's ridiculous.  It's nobody's business how much you paid for your dog any more than it is their business how much you pay for anything.  Some people pay $2000 for a pair of shoes, others for a cheap car, others for a television.  And you chose to use it on a dog that was bred properly and would be with you for, hopefully, 15 years.  Good investment, I say!

[Tammy and Violet]

Well said Adina !

[Becka]

Amen, Adina--I don't know why people think it's OK to ask things like this.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Absolutely Adina, it is none of their business.  I do not tell people what I paid for Libby even if they come straight out and ask.  It can be uncomfortable at times, but too bad.  Like you said, people pay lots of money for lots of things and we chose to spend our money on the cutest dogs ever:)

[Bonnie and Kona]

Jenn, You have your hands full! I hope that you are able to let these comments go. I know that when I was buying purebred dogs I tried not to tell people how much they cost because I was getting snarky comments then about the cost of dogs. I don't think it matters. If someone is going to be shocked and nasty about how much we choose to pay for our pets, they will be that way no matter what the breed. Having a "designer dog" just adds fuel to their fire. Maybe the next time someone asks you can have an answer prepared... like a nice way to say, "It's none of your business!" I cannot imagine asking someone what they pay for anything. Finances are such a personal decision. Congratulations for so carefully choosing a pet that fits well into your family. Brisby sounds like a wonderful pal for everyone. 

[Linda and Bailey]

When people ask me what I paid for my doodle, I look at them and say "oh, are you thinking of getting one? I can give you the name and number of my breeder. " They are usually at a loss for words and I think they realize just how wrong they were to ask.