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

[Julie, Boomer, Milo & Casey]

My daddy always told me . . . If you have to ask how much something is, you can't afford it.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Oh, I like that one too Julie!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I've long ago given up worrying about people who are small minded enough to even think this way.

[jenn D]

Thanks everyone! You've helped to make me feel better. And I know I'll get double the dose of these remarks next year when we add a doodle friend for Brisby. ;) I like your responses. Next time ill say he's a years worth of the Starbucks habit!

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Good answer, love it:)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

That just might be my favorite answer yet!

[Linda Hershey]

I say you get what you pay for, I too get some crazy comments, usually I don't tell what the cost was.  I usually hear, you paid for a mutt, boy did you get taken.  Well I guess I did pay for my designer mutt but I got exactly what I wanted in a dog and I'd do it again.  I have had mostly pound dogs, rescue dogs, cats, and a few pure bred dogs.  I wanted what I wanted and if you spread the cost out over the life of your dog, it really isn't that much for what you get.  Ppl spend more on booze and cigarettes in a few years than what I paid for my dog.  And they have nothing to show for it besides bad breath and bad health.

Linda Hershey

[Janice Jones]

Julie, I am going to use your response from now on! " If you have to ask the price you can't afford it" I agree all our doodles are priceless!

[Breanna]

I like all of these responses. I was actually going to post something about her being referred to as a "mutt" because it really irritated me. My mom told her coworker how much I paid for Crush and she said "she paid a thousand dollars for a mutt?!" I just think that is so rude and insensitive. My mom was telling a lot of people in conversation how much I spent on her. I finally said "stop telling how people how much I spent on her! It makes it sound like I have a lot of money that I don't have!" I saved for my dog and she was well worth it. 

I don't understand why people have to make such hateful comments. I've seen posts on google where someone asks the temperament of a labradoodle and people say things like "you can't predict what a mutt will behave like," "any reputable breeder wouldn't breed these," "you would be a fool to spend that much on a mutt," etc. 

I've been asked how much I spent on her by people who are pretty close to me so I didn't really take offense to it. If someone asked me to be nosey or snarky I would take offense to it. 

[April Cliber]

Good responses! Try being at the vets office with a litter of pups and having someone say how cute they are and how much are they? My typical response is, "They all have wonderful families." I've often asked myself why I feel the need to justify the cost to complete strangers. I would never buy a brand new car but don't judge those who do. I don't own a vacation home but think it's wonderful if you can afford one! Invite me for the weekend! :) In all honestly, many people spend more money on coffee in a year then you did on your doodle. Over a year it works out to $5.47 a day. Not so much when you break it down. The next time I'm asked, I think my answer will be, $5.47 a day for a year! LOL! :)

[Diane, Baker & Oskar]

People who first insult your choice in dogs & then ask prying questions do not deserve ANY response.  

Why do they think it's OK to be rude?  They should stop at "what a great dog you have"...we should not apologize or feel awkward or try to justify our decision in response to a person with no boundaries.  Just walk away.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

So true Diane!  One day when I was walking Libby a man stopped me and asked me what kind of a dog was she, when I answered a Labradoodle he laughed and said, oh a "fru fru" dog and continued to laugh, I was already halfway down the sidewalk.