Labradoodle Creator Has Massive Regrets Over the Craze He Started

AMEN!!

Cindy you did a great job with your comment. So much is common sense. I adopted a cat from a rescue group ten years ago yesterday. We are a family.

No fix all the mutts now or else all our purebred dogs will go extinct. Require a city or state ordinance that all unpapered dogs not licensed to breed be fixed and then all the overflow at the pound will start decreasing over time.

8 years ago I was walking the dogs with my son at the local shelter and a woman was dropping off a Schnoodle pup, 6 months old she paid $450.00 for the pup in the pet store. Cute as a button and very frightened, this pup needed a home. The woman said . "you want her--it will save me $30.00 from leaving her here"

I couldn't say no, and took her from the woman. The puppy was starving and ate all the crumbs on the floor of the car! Even though I already owned another dog, I had to take her home, she is now our dog, Ariel, and is the love of my son's life.

Actually, Jim, the problem isn't just with mixed breeds. I work at an animal shelter and a large percentage of the dogs we get in are purebreds. Purebred dogs are just as overbred, if not more, then mutts. And purebreds roam the streets just as often.

thank you cindy for rescuing a sweet doggie!! i also rescued what we thought was a doberman pinscher from a local kennel. much to our delight, he has turned out to be the most amazing dog i have ever had the pleasure to live with! he brings a joy to our little family that just can not be explained in words!
thank you to your son and congrats to oliver! (no matter what breed he is)

and we all despise puppy mills!!! how can you not???

My first job out of college was a vet tech at an animals shelter. To this day (15 years later) it was the job I loved the most. But if I had woken up one day and driven to work and found the shelter was closed & I was unemployed because there were no more unwanted animals, it would have been the happiest day of my life. As a society we have to stop seeing living creatures as 'things' or possessions and realize that we are their stewards....we are all responsible for their destinies.

What it all boils down to is they are mutts. Better that seeing eye-dog trainer train a pure poodle for the lady as the are allergy resistant, as well as being one of the top five smartest breeds. Designer my foot. All the shelters in our Nation should put up a sign stating they have DESIGNER DOGS FOR ADOPTION...!!!

ALL dogs are the greatest !!!! I have 2 standard poodles and 2 (litter-mates) black labs..I would never crossbreed because they are perfect just as they are!!! I love the way they act and look in their purebred style..And 1st breed doodles USUALLY shed..it takes another generation to breed that out...That being said; if I were to have a 'mixed breed', it would be a lab-standard mix!!!
Woof Woof!!!Carrie

Thank you for your honest statement on the cruelty and greed that harm animals and people. And thank you for your generous spirit in adopting an adult who'd been mistreated.

This was the most interesting article. I researched the breed extensively 4 years back, spoke to my long time vet. I found a wonderful, loving breeder. She took an application and called "every reference", spoke at length with my vet. I have to tell you, this breed, like so many others, is special; independent, yet vulnerable, loving, affectionate, extremely intelligent, excellent watch dog; she listens so well, I had to do minimal training, rather I spent so much time with her, she mimicked me. I am single professional middle aged woman, no children,, and would never have one dog. I have had Gorden Setters since 1975. These two are now 2 and 2 and 3. Lovely, well mannered, precious dogs. They love each other deeply. My only complaint, they sleep on top of me in a King Size bed:)))) & take the chair with ottoman.Seriously, these dogs, both breeds bring me great companionship, loyalty and love. BUT, I love them back enough to hike, run, be with them all I can, which is a lot. They are family after all. I even BBQ them treats with the dry food mix.....yep, owning a dog is about love and responsibility. Breaks my heart how people sometimes treat these 4 legged wonders of our world.

About 6 months ago I adopted a maltipoo from a shelter. She was on her 4th home, was 12 years old (really...12), was very thin, fur falling out, dull eyes but licked my hand as I went by her cage and I couldn't go any further. I have another rescue dog at home who I've had for 6 years and is very well adjusted. I couldn't leave her even though I know she may not have a very long life. It's just my husband and I now and I don't have little children to disappoint anymore. I have NO IDEA why this dog has been in 4 other homes. She is sweet, gentle, has put on weight, has beautiful fur now and is spunky and frisky every day. We love her to pieces and she is great company for our other dog. They just love each other. I can't figure people out! Look what they are missing!

You are right Cindy,

I have a "designer" dog. She was rescued by the shelter in Pima Co AZ the woman was a breeder/ hoarder. I brought her to St Louis 4 years ago and she is the best friend I have ever had, she is currently in my lap all day long. She comes to work with me and travels with me. I am very lucky to have her.

But I was in animal control for over 18 years and I have seen many many terrible situations. I agree with you, society needs to take a stand and do something about the over population problem. We need to spay and neuter every animal that leaves a shelter and breeders need to be responsible in breeding and placing their animals. There should be limits set for breeders, unfortunately for the responsible breeders, the mom and pops have ruined for them. Responsible breeders do not make money off of their litters, they limit their litters and take care of their breeding stock. The mom and pops are in it for the money and it is their litters that end up in shelters because of health and behavior issues.

Jim, what makes a dog with papers more special or worthy than a dog without? I don't really understand that logic. My rescued mixed-breeds are the most beautiful, loving creatures I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. ALL household pets should be spayed/neutered, not just mutts! It would seem that you have been dabbling a bit too much in doggie eugenics? How charmingly Hitleresque of you! My sweet little mutts are now hiding under the bed ... thanks a lot. As long as there are animals in shelters that are waiting for loving homes, people should be thinking twice about breeding and buying. Only when the population is under control, should RESPONSIBLE people be allowed to breed animals. I can understand a person with severe allergies insisting on a hypoallergenic breed or a person living in small quarters needing to know for sure that the dog they bring home will absolutely not grow to be any more than 20 pounds. But to insist on a buying a purebred dog for no practical reason, except how it looks? People like that remind me of some women I (unfortunately) know that have no problem dropping $3000 on a designer bag, but would never consider giving a dime to charity. They are morally useless and only concerned about outward appearances.

That is so true - with all animals. The horse racing industry and the slaughter that race horses go through at the end of their racing years - including the top racers like Ferdinand and Charismatic - is a crime in itself and it shouild be treated as such. We are a barbaric society where the animals are concerned - shooting wolves from helicoptors (which the great ex-LOSER- Govenor Palin supports) is another example. I could, and should, go on and on. We need TOP politicians to start handling these matters right along with child abuse.

Wally Conran is a conman if he thinks he invented the Labradoodle in 1988 because I had mixed poodles of many origins in the late 60's early 70's not that i did the breedings but when I learned how to groom dogs I was happy to pick them up and sell them at my grooming shop. We might not have given them "designer names" but none the same they were poodle mixed and some were more poodle looking but a mixed breed in any other terms or names is still a mutt. Sorry wally your not the originator and wont be the last either im sure were there's a buck to be made selling dogs. P.S Purebreds for the most part look like their parents and mixed you never can tell but I want to say you sold out the Labs cheap most reputable breeders wouldn't have done that to any of their top dogs. my 2cents worth.

I agree that backyard breeders are terrible. I have boxers and absolutley adore there goofy yet strong breed. It discust me at the number of people that purchase these dogs and then don't want to deal with their hyper personality and then start trying to get rid of them once they aren't puppies anymore. I go on craigslist daily only to find there atleast 30-40 people trying to find homes for their dogs. In my opinion it is partly the mass breeders fault but also the fault of the buyer. Everyone should really research the breed animal they are getting to know what to expect and be 100% sure you are ready to take on a 10-15 year or longer commitment. Dogs are just like kids once you take them home their yours regardless of the problems they have or the time they take up in your daily schedule. It's all about parenting!

I also have a labradoodle that was born from a rescue in a shelter. My husband & I had no idea what she was or had even heard about the breed. Our Sophie is now 8 & shares a place in our heart w/another rescue that was literally thrown from a car. We swear she is human in dog form : )So AMEN to adoption : )

They've had Labradoodles at least since I was a kid back in the 50s, but back then they called 'em mutts. That was before the days when Wally Conron figured out that if you gave them a fancy name, yuppies would pay 30 times what they're worth just to own one.