[cwag]

Now the song "If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right" is running through my head .
I'm also proud to be a Golden Retriever snob.

 

[puddles everywhere]

Count me in!! I'm a purebred snob for sure.

 

[GoldenDude]

I don't like Mutt because of the way he treated Shania! Dirty dog!

 

[Maggie'sVoice]

To be clear, there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. This is a HUGE myth that non shedding dog breeders use as a selling point. All dogs have dander and just because it does not shed does not make it hypoallergenic. It can help people since there may be less hair around the house so the person is in contact with the hair much less but the dog itself is not hypoallergenic.

 

[Maggie'sVoice]

I just changed my middle name to Snob!

 

[Prism Goldens]

I'll post this here, too- a SUPER article on a study on these mixes Expression of Behavioural Traits in Goldendoodles and Labradoodles

 

[puddles everywhere]

To address the question as asked... we are all dog lovers here so no dislike to any dog. There is however a great deal of dislike to the people that extort the unknowing public & promote the need for euthanasia of unwanted pets. In 40 years of rescue I have yet to see a well bred dog in a shelter.... purebred, certainly but not well bred.

 

[SoCalEngr]

I have nothing against mixed breeds but I strongly disagree with intentionally breeding them for profit. If shelters are full why not pick from there if an AKC breed doesn’t exactly meet your criteria?

I can only speak for myself, but...

Straight up? I am not equipped to handle issues that others have instilled into a dog, and have zero desire to make the attempt. I know that we have our work cut out for us just not creating problems of our own making (ergo, why we hired a dog trainer...to train us! 😁).

It may be a sad personal commentary, but my head overrides my heart when it comes to taking on responsibility for "someone else's discard" (and, potential attendant behavior/health issues). I know it's not the dog's fault, and my heart aches for those dogs that will be killed (let's be honest, "euthanasia" is not the correct term), but my head says I'm not prepared/willing to be responsible for righting that wrong.

 

[puddles everywhere]

I can only speak for myself, but...

Straight up? I am not equipped to handle issues that others have instilled into a dog, and have zero desire to make the attempt. I know that we have our work cut out for us just not creating problems of our own making (ergo, why we hired a dog trainer...to train us! 😁).

It may be a sad personal commentary, but my head overrides my heart when it comes to taking on responsibility for "someone else's discard" (and, potential attendant behavior/health issues). I know it's not the dog's fault, and my heart aches for those dogs that will be killed (let's be honest, "euthanasia" is not the correct term), but my head says I'm not prepared/willing to be responsible for righting that wrong.

Not all rescues are discards, people die, have serious accidents or are put in rest homes and the family doesn't want the dog... dogs get lost ... people steal them then try and sell, when that fails it's a trip to the pound. People leave them at the vet just because they don't want them anymore or dump them in expensive neighborhoods. BYB's send dogs to shelters when they can't sell them all and have a "new" litter on the way, their only previous behavior issues is being raised in a cage. Many BYB and puppy mills supply pet stores and auctions. Rescue may not be your thing but it's not fair to say all rescues have behavior problems. Some of my best dogs have been rescues.
The best solution for righting this wrong is to stop the irresponsible breeding. Nature provides plenty of accidental breedings, there will always be a mixed breed dog needing a home.
This is why I'm pro reputable breeder. Reputable breeders screen their puppy buyers carefully, they will always take a dog back. Reputable breeders microchip their pups and will happily retrieve any puppy when notified... sort of forced repo? Shoot I used to chip my rescues but because of careful screening have never had one of my pups show up in a rescue.

 

[SoCalEngr]

Not all rescues are discards, people die, have serious accidents or are put in rest homes and the family doesn't want the dog... dogs get lost ... people steal them then try and sell, when that fails it's a trip to the pound. People leave them at the vet just because they don't want them anymore or dump them in expensive neighborhoods. BYB's send dogs to shelters when they can't sell them all and have a "new" litter on the way, their only previous behavior issues is being raised in a cage. Many BYB and puppy mills supply pet stores and auctions. Rescue may not be your thing but it's not fair to say all rescues have behavior problems. Some of my best dogs have been rescues.

I hear you. I didn't mean to imply that all rescues "have issues". For that matter, not all straight-from-a-litter puppy won't. I just know that I, personally, feel better about integrating a new family member where I know their history. And, for better or worse, I wanted to be able to pick-and-choose, and don't mind paying for that opportunity. 😁

The best solution for righting this wrong is to stop the irresponsible breeding. Nature provides plenty of accidental breedings, there will always be a mixed breed dog needing a home.

This is why I'm pro reputable breeder. Reputable breeders screen their puppy buyers carefully, they will always take a dog back. Reputable breeders microchip their pups and will happily retrieve any puppy when notified... sort of forced repo? Shoot I used to chip my rescues but because of careful screening have never had one of my pups show up in a rescue.

Cannot agree more. Responsible breeders, responsible owners. Have yet to meet an "irresponsible puppy".

 

[puddles everywhere]

At least you know and willing to acknowledge what you can and will handle. I've have been blessed with great rescues... only one that was hard to place was a labradoodle Crazy issues!
My 1st golden was a rescue, I'm guessing the owner died or placed in a rest home as she had a sweet spot for old people. This precious girl passed her CGC and therapy dog assessment the 1st week after adoption. I would love to take the credit but truth is she came this way. Last golden rescue really missed her daddy but biggest issue was loosing about 60 lbs and treating for heartworms. Very nice young marine deployed to Afghanistan. So people, if you are unable to pay the price for a quality, ethical breeder remember there are really great rescues in many different breeds that will make a wonderful companion.

 

[SoCalEngr]

To address the question as asked... we are all dog lovers here so no dislike to any dog. There is however a great deal of dislike to the people that extort the unknowing public & promote the need for euthanasia of unwanted pets. In 40 years of rescue I have yet to see a well bred dog in a shelter.... purebred, certainly but not well bred.

Agree with everything. The issue is not "the mutt", it's the people seeking to profit off ill-bred puppies.

Will quibble with you on the use of the term "euthanasia". I view having a vet give a lethal dose of pentobarbital to a pet in the last stages of a life-ending disease as "euthanasia". Killing an animal because no one wants it and it's too expensive to house indefinitely should not be softened by referring to it as "euthanasia", as if, somehow, we're doing the animal "a favor". (yeah, others suffering because people act irresponsibly is a hot-button-topic for me ).

 

[Prism Goldens]

FWiw- even the vets who do it in the case you illustrate? They call it killing.

 

[SoCalEngr]

Thanks to all who responded. I say that sincerely. I'm unsure what, exactly, I expected for responses, but I didn't plan on "we're with you 100%".

After reviewing the responses, what came through the loudest was this...

It's not about "the mutts". I will even extend that to it's not about the well-considered, purposeful mixed breeding to achieve repeatable, predictable characteristics. It's about the ill-considered breeding of dogs, with uncertain outcomes, just for the sake of selling puppies.

One side-bar to this is a variant to a core mantra to my life perspective. People would not be selling puppies that are the result of ill-considered breeding if there wasn't a market for them. So, however much I may want to blame "those breeders", the reality is that "we" (as in, "we, consumers-as-a-collective-group") incentivize their behavior with our purchases.

There's a lot of directions I could take these thoughts. But, an Internet forum is the wrong communication channel for that level of discussion. So, I'll just say "thanks for your input" and leave it lie.

 

[MushyB]

I can only speak for myself, but...

Straight up? I am not equipped to handle issues that others have instilled into a dog, and have zero desire to make the attempt. I know that we have our work cut out for us just not creating problems of our own making (ergo, why we hired a dog trainer...to train us! 😁).

It may be a sad personal commentary, but my head overrides my heart when it comes to taking on responsibility for "someone else's discard" (and, potential attendant behavior/health issues). I know it's not the dog's fault, and my heart aches for those dogs that will be killed (let's be honest, "euthanasia" is not the correct term), but my head says I'm not prepared/willing to be responsible for righting that wrong.

We've had 3 rescued Goldens; 1 was a papered boy (from Florida, living in CA) surrendered by his family that didn't have time for him at 1.5 years old, 1 was a rescue (between 5-7) from Taiwan, and 1 was rescue, senior (10-12), from the same group as the first boy, but no papers or ID (he was found wandering in Reno on July 5, 2017, ended up in a shelter, and the rescue got him from there).

Every single one of these dogs were amazing dogs. The time range for these Goldens is 2000 - 2019; this range started off with me single, then meeting my husband, having a couple of babies, moving - every major life event and each one of these dogs were an integral part of our family. Our dog from Taiwan had to learn ENGLISH commands, but he was the sweetest, gentlest, darling-ist of the bunch (and I include Barkley in this grouping, he he freakin' poops rainbows in my eyes). He was SO HAPPY to be a part of our family, I truly can't explain it, and we were so grateful for the time we got to have him (we lost him after 4.5 years with us to cancer. He had such a rough start on the streets of Taiwan, I was devastated I didn't have longer with him to give him the amazing life he deserved. He was so special. I have tears in my eyes from the memories. It's been 3 years, and I miss him every day. Still.)

The most recent senior; he was a better teacher to Barkley than we were! I'm positive some of his sweetness rubbed off on Barkley as he helped teach him to be a good dog. We lost him at Christmas, miss him too. Miss them all!

Please don't look at rescue dogs as "someone else's discard" - so, so often they are good dogs that ended up in the wrong home, and need a second chance.

 

[DevWind]

It’s not the dogs...it’s the people. We are overrun by doodles here. We have a service dog place here that breeds doodles and also take 5 week old puppies out in public to “socialize”. They have people believing that they are all smart like poodles and have a golden or lab temperament. Which is true for some, if you breed enough you are bound to hit on the mark occasionally. There are others though that seem to have inherited every single bad trait from both sides. There’s zero consistency. These dogs are mostly for children.

I have 4 dogs. 2 goldens, 1 brindle mix, 1 Could be a Brussels griffon or a pug mix.

3 of 4 have titles. Nothing against mixed breeds here.

 

[SoCalEngr]

Straight up? I am not equipped to handle issues that others have instilled into a dog, and have zero desire to make the attempt.

I just want to clarify that the prior comment was made specifically in response to the following...

I have nothing against mixed breeds but I strongly disagree with intentionally breeding them for profit. If shelters are full why not pick from there if an AKC breed doesn’t exactly meet your criteria?

So, I wasn't responding to rescues for goldens, nor even breed-specific rescues, but to the idea of picking up a "mutt" from a shelter.

 

[DblTrblGolden2]

I just want to clarify that the prior comment was made specifically in response to the following...



So, I wasn't responding to rescues for goldens, nor even breed-specific rescues, but to the idea of picking up a "mutt" from a shelter.

The Golden/Irish Setter mix I adopted from the SPCA was an 8 week old puppy. They had an entire litter. They often have puppies so you could adopt and not deal with issues others had created.

 

[Dunmar]

Not all rescues are discards, people die, have serious accidents or are put in rest homes and the family doesn't want the dog... dogs get lost ... people steal them then try and sell, when that fails it's a trip to the pound. People leave them at the vet just because they don't want them anymore or dump them in expensive neighborhoods. BYB's send dogs to shelters when they can't sell them all and have a "new" litter on the way, their only previous behavior issues is being raised in a cage. Many BYB and puppy mills supply pet stores and auctions. Rescue may not be your thing but it's not fair to say all rescues have behavior problems. Some of my best dogs have been rescues.
The best solution for righting this wrong is to stop the irresponsible breeding. Nature provides plenty of accidental breedings, there will always be a mixed breed dog needing a home.
This is why I'm pro reputable breeder. Reputable breeders screen their puppy buyers carefully, they will always take a dog back. Reputable breeders microchip their pups and will happily retrieve any puppy when notified... sort of forced repo? Shoot I used to chip my rescues but because of careful screening have never had one of my pups show up in a rescue.
I got a mutt from a pound. I got her at 15 months. She was well mannered, potty trained and was just about perfect when I got her. The best dog i ever had.

 

[Sweet SaraBelle]

I love Golden Retrievers for their Temperament. To me they are distinct from other breeds. In the past my family had one Golden & one mix breed simultaneously. I'm all for adopting from shelters to give a dog a loving home. However I need a Golden Retriever in my life as a constant companion.