You've most likely seen these impostors. They are in adds in the paper, in pet stores, and in homes around the country. They are advertised as "one of a kind", "a brand new breed", even "rare and exotic." Curious? Who wouldn't be? Almost everyone wants something different, unusual, something new and exciting, something no one else has.
Meet the new "designer" mixed breeds; Yorki-poos, Peke-a-poos, Terri-poos, Rott-a-dor, and labradoodles, just to name a few. It is the new scam in the dog world. New breeds? Hardly. Yorkie-poos are simply yorkshire terrier and poodle crosses. Behind the hype and the clever name is a common mutt. And belive it or not there are people purposely breeding mixed breeds to turn around and sell them for as much or more than a purebred.
Unsuspecting people will believe the lies that these breeders say. These "one of a kind" dogs are no more "rare and exotic" than any other mutt and mixed breed in the shelters today. They are simply mixed breed dogs, that people made up fancy names for. Naming these dogs is simply a way to sell puppy-mill dogs and backyard accidents for an inflated price by duping the uneducated buyer into believing he is acquiring a purebred dog. You may find a truly "unusual" designer mutt, such as a "Box-a-Shiht" (Boxer/Shih Tzu) or "Bull-Shiht" (Bulldog/Shih Tsu)
Sure they make great pets, as all mutts do, but purposely breeding more mixed breeds is just irresponsible. Why are the breeders breeding these mixed breeds? Well, some are doing out of love for the mix, but these people are uneducated as to the effect that their breeding will have on the pet overpopulation issue. Most of the breeders are doing it for the money involved. The latest money-making trend is the promotion of mixed breeds with official-looking "registration papers" and catchy-sounding names. The "registrations" come from a burgeoning industry of registry services, each willing to issue documents at the drop of a few ten dollar bills.
How do these breeders survive? Well most people don’t do thier homework before buying a dog. They walk into a pet store and see a puppy with a cute face and a fancy name. There is also a lot of lying going on with these breeds. Here are a couple of the lies and the real truth behind them.
“We're making a new breed." Unsuspecting people will believe the lies that these breeders say. These "one of a kind" dogs are no more "rare and exotic" than any other mutt and mixed breed in the shelters today. They are simply mixed breed dogs, that people made up fancy names for. Naming these dogs is simply a way to sell puppy-mill dogs and backyard accidents for an inflated price by duping the uneducated buyer into believing he is acquiring a purebred dog.
The process of creating a new breed and achieving AKC (or United KC or Canadian KC - inserted teacher) recognition is long and involved, requiring many years and many generations. A “breed” is a genetically similar strain of dogs that resemble each other in appearance and temperament.Bred together, two dogs of the same breed will produce puppies that are also similar in appearance to the parents and will develop in a predictable fashion. The first step is to set a standard as to what the breed will look. For example, what characteristics must a Yorkie-Poo have in order for it to be considered a Yorkie-Poo? What is a Cocker-Chon or a Peke-A-Pom supposed to look and act like? Only the Cockapoo has taken this first step. All other of these “new” breeds haven’t taken that first step. These dogs can look like a purebred of one side or another or anywhere in-between. They can have either breeds temperement and that includes good or bad points! There has not been any serious effort at all to create a distinct breed that the AKC (or United Kennel Club or Canadian KC - inserted from Teacher) would recognize.
Responsible breeders of purebred dogs, breed their dogs to try to combine the best temperaments and physical traits for that breed. People have long-admired and desired a pure bred dog because a buyer has a good reason to expect that the puppy they choose will resemble its parents and that it comes complete with both a historic lineage (a pedigree) and a breed history (where it came from; what its originators had hoped the creature to be; what the breed had accomplished)
· “We're combining the best of both breeds into one! If we cross one breed with the poodle, we can get a non shedding dog!
Not exactly. Genetics doesn't work that way. A breeder can't pick and choose what features will be passed on from each breed. It's strictly a matter of luck because the genetic combinations involved in the crossing of breeds is random and unpredictable. There is just as much of a chance that the puppy will grow up to have the worst characteristics of both breeds! To achieve the best combinations in every dog there has to be centuries of breeding behind that dog.
· “These Beag-A-Poos are registered with the 'Dogs International Kennel Club'.”
The word “registered” has a magical effect on people. They seem to think something that's “registered” must be legitimate and valuable. Not so! Registered simply means recorded. Somewhere someone has the dogs name and date of birth written down. Registered certainly doesn’t mean healthy, or valuable (every dog is priceless to its owner). There are many canine registries in business today that will register any kind of dog whether it's purebred, mixed breed or even of unknown origin.. Best known of the is the US Kennel Club that advertises that they register "rare breeds, hybrids, even pet class." Other "clubs" have appeared that will produce official-looking "Championship" papers if you send them a photo or video of any dog.
Any registration can often cause the price of a mutt to skyrocket, when the paper it's printed on may only be worth using for housebreaking. Puppy buyers are sometimes fooled into paying pay hundreds ofdollars for a "registered" mutt. Being a registered mutt does not make a dog any different from a similar one sitting in a shelter, and it certainly does not turn a mutt into a purebred. Basically being able to call these dogs registered gets the breeder, pet store or puppy mill more money.
· “The price is so high because they're one of a kind.”
One of a kind, sure they are, just like every other dog sitting in shelters. Every mixed breed dog, whether bred deliberately or by accident, is one of a kind because these is no breed description as to what it should look like. No two are alike. Why should the breeders receive hundreds of dollars while millions of mixed breeds are euthanized everyday in shelters. No way. If “one of a kind” made a dog valuable, every mixed breed dog at the pound would be worth a fortune!
· “We have been responsible breeders of Bass-A-Poos for four years.” What is responsible about breeding dogs not knowing what the puppies will be like. Or worse yet doing it solely for profit knowing that dogs, just like the ones that they are breeding, are being euthanized . Almost every breeder claims to be “responsible.” How trustworthy is a breeder who deliberately misleads people about the value of a mutt? I think you can answer that question for yourself.
Truly responsible breeders are honest and knowledgeable with a strict code of personal ethics. They care about the puppies they produce and the people who'll buy them. They would never let their puppies be sold in a pet store, and will always take their dogs back if there is any trouble at anytime during the dogs life. Would a responsible breeder deliberately cross dogs with completely different and potentially incompatible physical structures and temperaments? Would they deliberately mix any breeds? No, not when they know the results will be completely unpredictable and that there are already thousands of accidentally bred mixed breed dogs in need of good homes.
Does this mean that all producer of mixes are unscrupulous and deceitful? No, many of them are simply ignorant of responsible breeding practices and unaware of what they're really doing. Both the deceitful and the ignorant, though, prey on the ignorance of the public. Once people know the truth about these breeders and pets, people will start adopting instead of buying and the breeders will stop breeding. It is simple supply and demand.
There's no doubt that mixed can make wonderful pets. Thousands of people own and love mixed breed dogs of every description. But are these unusual mixes really valuable, unique, “designer dogs”? No, not any more so than the many wonderful mixed breeds available for adoption at the local animal shelter.
Don't be fooled by the cute names, “one of a kind” titles, and the high prices! You can find “designer dogs” of every size, shape, color and personality as close as your local humane society or rescue service and at a far more reasonable cost. Why not go there first and save a life? You'll be glad you did!
Designer Mixed Breeds
Here are some cocker spaniel mix puppies in a shelter. They have a week to find a home or they will be KILLED.
Why purposely breed cute puppies when some are already going to die because they can't find homes.
Mixed-up-Mutts is a site deticated to responsible pet care. Although I believe mixed breeds are the best pets out there, I do not believe that they should be purposely bred. This is the page that demonstrates the reasons why breeding mixed breeds is irresponsible. Site by Katie
