General Discussions

Cocker spainial maltiese mix

Nicolefinan@designermixes.org (Nicolefinan) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:03:56 GMT

So does anyone have this mix? I do she's a year old 11lbs and is such a great dog! I just recently found out that people are actually breeding this mix calling it a silky cocker. I found a couple that just moved in togeather she had a maltiese and het had a cocker spainial and they accidendly had puppies and they were just giving them away to good homes that's how I got Miranda and my sister went and got her sister! Guess I got lucky. But if anyone has this mix I would love to hear about your dog

Picture Gallary

sycadoog@designermixes.org (sycadoog) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:56:44 GMT

I just have to say that this morning looking through the picture gallery, I came to a mighty realization. The people who belong to this site have the most extrodianry, beautiful, radiant, ravishing,splendid, statuesque, stunning, sublime, superb, bewitching, captivating, charming, comely, enchanting, engaging and enthralling group of dogs that I have ever seen. What a bunch of lucky people we are.

There are 1 replies, with the last one on 9/9/2009 at 8:56 AM by sycadoog

Reply: I have to say that I agree. We are definately the luckiest people on the earth.

Bichon Markings

Grammy@designermixes.org (Grammy) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:44:13 GMT

Do some Bichons have black around the eyes and around the vent? Also how can a pure white dog have dark skin? Wouldn't this mean the coat should be black or grey also? I have a Bichon/Poodle and she has these markings. Her nose and eyes are coal black and some parts of her body have pink skin and some parts have the darker skin.

Pure breed snobbery

sophiesmom@designermixes.org (sophiesmom) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:30:29 GMT

Hi all,

Three weeks ago I lost my Westie at 14 years old.

Two weeks ago today I bought a Scoland Terrier (aka Scottie cross Westie) and I've been looking them up on the web to get pics of them in adult form.

What has amazed me is the absolute snobbery of those who only acknowledge 'pure' breeds. I have read article after article where new hybrids are given short shrift.

I agree that ridiculous crosses are unacceptable, but when you have a dog like mine you are actually only returning to the original forms that were exploited to get the 'Scottish' breeds.

Having owned Westies and Skye Terriers, I was struck by just how the 'Scoland' bears more than a passing resemblance to the Skye.

I have also noted that this hybrid is getting a 'standardised' set of coat markings with the prominent white streak down the chest. Is this not the basis of a breed? That, if it breeds consistently true then you essentially have a new breed.

Take for example the 'Sprocker' - a cross of the Springer and Cocker Spaniel. Well what you actually have is a 'Spaniel', exactly the same type of Spaniel from which the two distinctions were made and bred from. Litters were mixed, the larger dogs used for retrieving and the smaller for flushing.

Then some bright eyed young thing got the idea to breed type with type... 17th CENTURY DESIGNER DOGS! We suddenly had two breeds of Spaniel which were actually the SAME dog.

Th attitude that we should keep inbreeding the same mutants to create even more mutants is abhorrent. My sister owns two Westies from different litters and quite frankly they look nothing like each other both in facial shape and build. They are beautiful fellas with very good pedigrees if you go for that type of thing but what makes them any more valid as a distinct breed than my own 'mutt'?

Dougal is a fine little chap, amazingly well house trained at 9 weeks and criminally intelligent, something that could not be said of my Spaniel which was criminally stupid and which had a pedigree and all that jazz as long as my arm. What's more his build and poise are superb.

I'll keep my little F1 Hybrid and I'll be proud to say that hes a 50/50 :)

What's more I will chuckle, maybe even guffaw at those who tell me he's not a 'proper' Scottish breed and direct them to a history book, painting or period account before the Purebreed Nazis came to power!

There are 5 replies, with the last one on 8/28/2009 at 3:30 PM by sophiesmom

Reply: Mark, I know what you mean. My Sophie is the love of my life and I could not imagine life without her. I don't know when I have ever felt such unconditional love from a loved one with four legs.

New training show on Animal Planet

sands904@designermixes.org (sands904) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:30:12 GMT

If any of you have caugth Animal Planet's latest dog training show, I am very sorry! I just finished watching my first (and last) episode of 'In the Dog House' with Brad (the incompetient trainer). He is a horrible a$$ who jerks the dogs around while yelling at both them and their owners.

I am currently studying dog behavior in hopes of becoming a trainer someday and am appalled by this show and his techniques. If anyone is using such techniques on your dogs I urge you to reconsider.

I have a very fearful dog who *used* to bark/lunge at other people and dogs but with positive reinforcement, counter conditioning and desensitization we have made huge progress. Logan is now walking loose leash next to me 90% of the time and very rarely reacts to people and it getting much better with dogs. I have been working with him for about 6 months but during the last two months I have begun reading about dog behavior and it has extremely progressed our training. If I had tried yelling at him and jerking his leash he would be even more scared, fearful and stressed.

I just don't understand. We stopped hitting children with a ruler in school because we thought it was cruel and didn't really help so why do we use similar techniques with our dogs? People learn better with encouragement and positive feedback and so do dogs!

There are 4 replies, with the last one on 8/24/2009 at 9:30 PM by sands904

Reply: You are right there are tons of books/methods out there. The method I recommend when training is positive reinforcement. This works by giving the dog a treat, praise or some other type of reward for performing the desired behavior. The rewards works as a reinforcer to increase the liklihood that the desired behavior will happen again. If you are interested in a good read to start off with I would recommend "The Other End of the Leash" by Patricia McConnell. It was the first book that I really read about Dog Behavior. I learned a lot and it was a great book. Some of the other ones I have read are from the IAABC's (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants) recommend reading list.

As far as the show I don't recommend it(In the Dog House)...but if you are interested in seeing the alternative to positive reinforcement and the techniques used to train dogs in the past you could check it out. You should definitely check out "Its Me or the Dog" on Animal Planet Saturday nights. It is a great show!!!

liking you

bman@designermixes.org (bman) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:18:53 GMT

this may sound silly but how do u tell if your dog likes you? anything will help thanks!

There are 4 replies, with the last one on 8/23/2009 at 4:18 PM by bman

Reply: yea he does all those things to me, i guess my dog loves me

Mixed Breeds?

RUDY@designermixes.org (RUDY) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:46:05 GMT

I have done a lot of reading about opponents to this 'Designer Dog' craze and cross breeding in general. I know there are valid points on both sides and I am just curious about everyone else's point of view. Why should we or why should we not be creating mixed breed dogs?

There are 9 replies, with the last one on 8/12/2009 at 4:46 AM by RUDY

Reply: I think you will find that "muts" is another term for mongrels rather than designer dogs/crossbreeds. For those of you who don't know the history of Doodles, they were originally bred in Australia as guide dogs for blind people allergic to doghair and the original ASD's(Australian Service Dogs) have many different breeds in so are technically mongrels. The English Doodles are mainly Standard Poodle/Labrador or Retriever and are now being used as Guide Dogs, hearing Dogs and Assistance Dogs ie: Canine Partners because although some unscrupulous breeders advertise them as "non shedding" which isn't always the case, frequently they don't shed and DO have fabulous natures ideal for the cause. Obviously, there are now so many poodle crosses and mixed breeds...all wonderful pets and well loved by us. They tend to be healthier and better nature so long live the n#mix breed!

toes

bman@designermixes.org (bman) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:09:32 GMT

at night time i let my dog sleep at the foot of my bedand sometimes he will bite at my toes, but when i take my feet out of the covers hes fine, its like he doesnt know whats down there. for the sake of my toes please help!

UK owners of Poodle crosses

RUDY@designermixes.org (RUDY) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 14:41:02 GMT

Are there any other members with Poodle crosses who live in the UK? Would love to meet up with other owners and oodles for walks etc.

Anyone having trouble with DBR???? I can't register my litter!

sycadoog@designermixes.org (sycadoog) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:52:18 GMT

I sent in a litter registration more than two months ago to the Designer Breed Registry in MI. This is my first mixed breed litter. I have called them and emailed then numerous times without any reply. Their phone goes directly to voice mail even during working hours. Is this a scam? Anyone have any other insight?

What other registry handles designer breeds that I can trust not to just take my money but actually send me my puppy registrations? My puppy owners are getting really mad and I don't blame them.

Thanks,
Elaine

There are 2 replies, with the last one on 7/27/2009 at 8:52 PM by sycadoog

Reply: I am not familiar with the Designer Breed Registry but I would take steps to report them to the Better Business Bureau and tell every one you can not to do business with them. I would also tell your puppy owners not to worry to much and if they paid you ask for more time to investigate this other registry. Good Luck. Oh and can we get the contact information for this Registry so we can try to contact them to. I would like to know where they are at as I live in Mi.
Thanks

The term "Desinger Dog"

manateelover@designermixes.org (manateelover) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:54:59 GMT

Does anyone know who actually coined the term "Designer Dogs", and what breed was the first known Designer Dog?

There are 2 replies, with the last one on 7/27/2009 at 7:54 PM by manateelover

Reply: I just read a book called Designer Breeds put out by the Animal Planet. They went into how that term came about and said the first "designer dog" was the labordoodle. It's a good book about the care of designer dogs, but it provides the history and the genetics behind designer breeds.

Puppy Mills

Sekrett@designermixes.org (Sekrett) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:04:15 GMT

Many designer dogs are from puppy mills. That is where they are tortured and the female dogs are constantly forced to breed and produce puppies. The dogs live in horrible conditions, often without food and water or adequate shelter and are abused. 90% of dogs bought in pet stores are from puppy mills. I bought my dog from a pet store and found out that he was from a puppy mill. Pet stores often say they get their dogs from private breeders but no responsible breeder would sell their puppies to a pet store. STOP BUYING FROM PETSTORES and make sure you get a dog from a shelter or a responsible breeder.

There are 3 replies, with the last one on 7/17/2009 at 6:04 PM by Sekrett

Reply: 99% of dogs from puppymills are purebred!

Before you buy from a breeder online

bman@designermixes.org (bman) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:34:39 GMT

Many people who post their puppies online. Many of these people are backyard breeders. They are just people looking to make a quick buck and are willing to do it any cost to the dog. These people usually operate in their own neighborhoods and are unsuspecting to others. These online ads claim that the puppies are loved and well bred but do you really know anything about that? On these sites they never show pictures of the breeding facilities or pictures of the mom and dad. They are the ones being tortured most, being forced to breed over and over. What reputable breeder would sell their puppy online or to someone they had never met? Just look at the plain fact, they are selling the dog ONLINE, wouldn't a responsible breeder want to meet the person that they are selling the dog to, to ensure that it is raised in a good home? Who would send a puppy that they claimed they loved to some stranger if they really cared about it? I personally would never buy a dog online because there are so many horror stories. Don't be fooled by fancy websites that these people offer or their pictures. If you are truly interested in getting a dog, go do the research, visit where they are from, and get to know who raised them. Don't trust an ad.

This was from http://www.sniksnak.com/ac/mills.html
How do you know if it's a reputable breeder or a pet mill??? Here are a few alarm bells:

Are they unconcerned about the home environment you are offering the pet?
Do they sell X-bred animals at inflated prices?
Do they refuse to let you see their kennels or members of the breeding group?
Do they refuse you contact with others they've placed a pet with?
Are they unfamiliar with a specific animal's personality?
Do they have numerous "fashionable" breeds and constant supply of litters?
Do they fail to produce a current certificate of vaccination? de-worming?
Do they refuse you "after-sale" support?
Do they sell to pet stores, use brokers or auctions?

There are 2 replies, with the last one on 7/15/2009 at 11:34 AM by bman

Reply: I see where your going with this and thats a good point but some arent bad. i looked at my dog online and we called the people we met and they were backyard breeders but only breeded them twice per mom and they showed us their parents and grandparents which looked very healthy and well kept.

Why a Poodle Mix?

bman@designermixes.org (bman) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:24:42 GMT

Well, I thought I'd be neat to see why everyone decided on getting their poodle mixes....

Why did you chose to get a Poodle Mix?

*While traveling in Arizona and New Mexico with my husband, we'd always visit the local pet stores and see the puppies. I noticed the cutest pup, it was silver and tan with a wirey coat. It turned out to be a JRT x Poodle. I held her and she was the softest and sweetest pup, we agreed that if her price dropped to a reasonable price then we'd buy her. So, I went back each Saturday to see her, until on day she was sold. I was heartbroke, so my hubby said that if we were to find a reasonably priced Jack-a-Poo pup in our area, then he'd get it for me. Turned out, as soon as we came back home to Virginia, we found a litter about 20 minutes away!!! We called, then visited, and picked Teddy out. We picked him up at 3 months old!*

There are 5 replies, with the last one on 7/15/2009 at 11:24 AM by bman

Reply: well me and my family really wanted a non shedding dog. we decided some were really cute but shedded we searched untill we found moxie, a papion poodle mix. He was so cute we got him on spot and we didnt regret it.

Dogs & Television

bman@designermixes.org (bman) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:15:38 GMT

I have heard for a long time that dogs cannot see TV. I have had doubts about this as well as it has often looked like my dogs were staring at the TV and actually watching it. I have heard arguments that this is because of the sound and moving colors on the screen.

Last night I was about to sit down and watch an episode of 'Underdog To Wonderdog' that I had previously Tivo-ed. I had it paused on a screen with a clear picture of a dog staring straight ahead while I was was in the kitchen. I heard Logan bark. I came around the corner and he was on the floor staring at the TV. Keep in mind the TV was paused so there was no movement nor sound to accompany this picture.

I picked him up and held him level with the television. He starred at the screen trembling slightly and growling lowly which he also does when he sees dogs out our front window. He was even sniffing at the direction of the dog on the screen as if trying to smell it like he would a real dog. After this I am convinced that they can see what is on the TV screen.

Any thoughts or experiences?

There are 7 replies, with the last one on 7/15/2009 at 11:15 AM by bman

Reply: I completely agree with that. i have two dogs and any time we watch any movie or show that involves dogs the will bark when they hear barking and if they hear a doorbell or a knock they run to the door and bark like mad even when its the middle of the night.

breed info required

sycadoog@designermixes.org (sycadoog) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 11:45:49 GMT

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of the Ba-Shar hybrid? I have seen some pics and really like the look of them but cannot find any real information on them.

There are 1 replies, with the last one on 4/26/2009 at 11:45 AM by sycadoog

Reply: It is often hard to provide real info on a mix because they are all so different. Depending on the quality of the parents and how strong their genetics are puppies form the same litter may behave and look totally different. The best thing to do is look at the parents and their personalities. However, weird things can and do happen with designer dogs. My dogs parents were both small, under 10 lbs and my dog is around 20 lbs. His color and markings look nothing like his parents but he looks exactly like his only sibling. Hope that helps

Pedigree Dogs Exposed - On Youtube

Tibalier@designermixes.org (Tibalier) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 22:40:37 GMT

I really was enthused that the BBC and a production company decided to reveal some of the problems involved within the show breeding community and with purebred dogs with this documentary that was shown to an audience of 5 million in Britain in August. It has caused quite a stir there.

I will add that of course most breeders who show dogs are much better than the ones that are highlighted in this documentary. Obviously there are bad seeds in all areas.

There is reference in this film to genetic diversity and the problems inherent with breeding dogs within a closed stud book system.

I'll post the links to the youtube page with the 6 segments, and as well as to the diversity study mentioned in the film.

http://ca.youtube.com/results?search_query=pedigree+dogs+exposed&search_type=&aq=-1&oq=

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_15-8-2008-12-22-2

http://www.genetics.org/cgi/content/abstract/179/1/593

Hope you enjoy.

Woof!