Insight needed into Pure Breed Only people.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I am seriously looking for insight because I don't understand......I met a girl online who is a friends sister... We met because of a fund raiser my friend have done for me to help with medical costs for me going to CO.... ( only saying that because she donated money to me that I now feel obligated to give back to her) since I make "her sick by owning a doodle"

I don't particularly care if people like doodle's or not.. I am not one of those people who has to change the minds of other people....

Anyway she is a die hard animal lover..which I totally respect and think it great.. The world can't have enough animal lovers as far as I am concerned... She has three Labrador Retrievers.. Apparently they are the only good dog on the planet.. or other pure breeds are okay but "doodles are an abomination"

Now we had been talking back and fourth, sharing ideas and information..She is a CF carrier, so she doesn't have the disease but carries the gene.... all was going great until she posted that article.. that has been posted on here already and is not a big deal.. It is the guy who thought of creating the Labra-doodle ...the article where he states he is sorry he ever did it because people have gone crazy with it..... making false claims etc.. Most of us have read it and most of us I think agree with it.. It is not right to make claims that they are hypo-allergenic etc...

So when she posted the article... that is when I told her I have a golden doodle.. That I agree with a lot of the article that back yard breeders shouldn't be breeding etc... I commented on how DRC has so many dogs because of false promises from breeders.. I felt like I was fair about the article but that if people wanted one, knowing full well what they were getting into, what harm is it. It isn't like she only adopts shelter dogs and if she did I would understand her point more..but she is buying from a breeder too.

 She called Jack all kinds of names etc.. Jack's feeling's are not hurt LOL but seriously....

Is this common among pure breed dog owners, they think there breed is the only breed that is good? I certainly don't think that about doodles.. I certainly am aware they are mixed dogs considered mutts at this point... I don't care.. Jack doesn't care... 

I get the point about false claims with them and I told her so... Now when she makes posts with questions she says Labrador retriever owners only please answer .. It is laughable

I love all dogs... seriously .. kick me off DK if you want :) but I am pretty sure any dog that was placed in my home I would fall madly in love with....  I do love doodles.. I think they are very, very cute, probably the cutest dog in the world.. 

[Sally S Miles]

Some folks need to be 'right', at all costs. If you had a mutt, or a GSD, or a Chihuahua there would be another reason to criticize. Too big, too nervous, too small, etc....   We all have choice and they all need homes. There is no single 'perfect' breed of dog.     

Most of our family members don't 'do dogs'  they are cat people and so it goes - a cat won't do this, or that, yada yada. 

"Just goes to show , there's always something".

Love me - love my dog!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

It really seems to be that we are all sort of saying the same thing ... people have a right to their opinion, they just don't have a right to be outright rude!  One thing I would add to this though is that I have encountered very little of this in person (although I've read about it here many times).  I have however been on the receiving end of the AKC Purebreed snobbery from the local kennel clubs at a couple of local dog events!  And now that they have opened up some of their events to mixed breeds they don't understand why we don't want to participate.  I totally get what April is saying.  I for one though am so in love with the doodle because I don't want the poodle coat and I don't want the retriever coat, I want the beautiful shaggy combination.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Thank you April and Ginny for sharing a different perspective.  I think labs and golden retrievers are magnificent dogs and there is nothing better than a lab lying by the fireplace at your feet on a winter's night. Nothing. But I am totally smitten with the our doodles, and although a doodle is perfect for me, I don't believe a doodle is for everyone either. Luckily I have not encountered a lot of the meaness and when I have, it's usually because of the competition and the downturn in sales for what these breeders see as an inferior dog (lack of health testing, records, etc.) When I explain the health testing and temperament testing done by good doodle breeders, they may still not like it but at least they have a new perspective too.  It's not just the shedding that has turned people in this area off when it comes to retrievers.  It has been the cancer rates -especially in goldens. I salute breeders like you who are striving to create healthy wonderful dogs.  Last summer some of you might remember that a large well respected golden retriever rescue took in 21 doodle pups.  It was a tough decision because of the attitudes you mentioned.  The Executive Director shared with me (and gave me permission to share with you because of the great support DK members offered at the time) that although she was a self professed breed "snob" for many years, she had fallen head over heels in love with one of the pups and was keeping him. She was wondering how to break this to the people around her.  Now I fully realize what a tough decision that was for her. Goldens remained her first love but she said her organization would always be there for DK and she made good on her word assisting with a DRC rescue not too long ago.  Perhaps I'm an optimist but this is how bridges will be crossed.  I, for one, would liked to see the hype on doodles turned down a notch because it just results in too many unhealthy dogs and dogs in need of rehoming.  Thank you both again for taking on the challenges you face and for breeding wonderful dogs. As for the rude, ignorant lady who insulted Jack...well, lucky Jack's a bigger person than she is :) 

[April Cliber]

Very, very well said!  The cancer rate in goldens terrifies me and to be honest some of the blame can be placed on the breeders.  It's well known that inbreeding and line breeding are common practice.  It's believed that over time this has contributed to the rise in the cancer rate.  Inbreeding does give them great qualities many times, it also doubles up on the bad ones and can can backfire.

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

[Jennifer and Jack]

Well said!

[KLN]

You never know what people are going to be sensitive about but here's what my response would be...I had "purebred" dogs for years (cocker spaniels) and because of their long genetic lines, one of them had serious genetic problems, so badly in fact that I lost him at only 6 years. Goldens and labs are similar, they have a lot of health problems from long lines of breeding. This doesn't mean that people shouldn't get purebred dogs but what it does mean is that everyone should recognize the benefits of a cross breed like a doodle. I had never heard of this breed before my vet recommended them after I went through what I did with my cocker spaniel. I wanted a healthy, happy dog and that is what I got...partly because I have an amazing breeder and partly because I have a fully health tested and cleared mixed breed where almost all of the potential golden or lab issues have been bred out with the cross breed. You just have to ignore people like your friends sister. :(

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Sadly, many doodle suffer from many of the same genetic diseases that plague their purebred parents and grandparents. Many of the most devastating genetic diseases cannot be tested for, and run in both poodles and the labs and goldens, so crossing the breeds does nothing to ensure that they are healthier. In fact, the healthiest dog I ever had was a purebred poodle from show lines. She live to be 16 and never had a sick day in her life. My labradoodle, on the other hand, has two immune-mediated diseases, one of them genetic, and he is an F1, 50/50 mix, so absolutely no chance of any ancestors in common. Here on DK we've heard of doodles who have just about every genetic disease that runs in the GRs, Labs, and Poodles.

Part of the reason for the health issues in doodles, I believe, is that the parents are bred very young, before many diseases have had a chance to show up. With purebreds who are being titled in conformation, obedience, or agility, they are usually not bred until they are at least three years old and have earned a title. One of the top Standard Poodle breeders in the country, who is known for having bred the Standard Poodle with the lowest inbreeding co-efficient on record, does not breed a dog before he or she is 5 years old, partly for this reason.

[KLN]

Thank you so much for your insight!  I did a lot of research before I made the decision to go with the breeder I did and part of the reason I chose her was that she does extensive genetic testing on all of her males and females that she breeds and does wait until they are at least two years of age to breed them.  I know that there are no guarantees but I did do my best to find a breeder that (I think) breeds responsibly.  This information is really helpful, thanks again for sharing!

[Janice Jones]

My dad use to say in situations like this "accept it, change it or move on"
I think the "move on" part works in this case. :-)
"Don't let the turkey get you down" is another one applicable here! :-)
I love doodles and "others" but then I try not to judge peoples choices.

[Stella]

I have been invited to join our local kennel club by a friend of mine. This has put me in a moral dilemma!! I am honored that as the owner of two doodles I have been invited to join. The friend who has invited me to join is a breeder of French Water Dogs (Barbets) and is a wonderful breeder, and would definitely pass the "what to look for in a good breeder" criteria. Joining the kennel club would allow me to meet more doggy people in the area, and allow me to promote my canine rehab business's there. But, I know I will be exposed to breed snobbery from some of the members, and I know there are breeders out there who have practices I don't agree with, things I think the kennel club should be acting to stop (breeding dogs that are closely related etc etc). So what to do??

[Lynda Kamrath]

Go.  You may have some opportunities to educate some people who need to hear some different opinions.  And I am impressed that you have a canine rehab business.  We love the facility near us.  Are you connected to a hospital, veterinary service, groomer, boarder?  The one we use is connected to a veterinary hospital and at the opposite end of the parking lot.  It is for rehab, grooming, and boarding.  What a super idea.