Rumors of Obama's choice of dog sparks outrage!

[sniffa]

There's been talk that 10-year-old Malia Obama has put in a bid for a goldendoodle, a cute, fluffy crossbreed between a golden retriever and poodle. At his news conference yesterday, Obama dropped a couple of other hints. An Obama dog has to be hypoallergenic, he said, since Malia has allergies. Ever the populist, he said the family was leaning toward a shelter dog, and "a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me."

Goldendoodles became popular in New England about four or five years ago, and in some circles - the purebred ones - they're still considered underdogs.

"The goldendoodle is not a recognized breed," said Patty Bullock vice president of the American Dog Breeders Association, which registers dog breeds with a "verifiable three generation pedigree," according to its website. "A lot of people think they are taking the best traits of each breed. This is an absolute fallacy. . . . They take dogs of two different breeds and breed them together, and it's just a mutt."

......

In an echo of the presidential campaign, Bullock went after Obama's lack of experience in light of rumors he's considering a goldendoodle. "He's a novice," she said. "He knows nothing about dogs."

......

Owners say goldendoodles are friendly and less likely to bite than the disgraced terrier Barney.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/2008/11/08/goldendoodle_talked_up_as_first_dog/?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed2

:rofl:

[ContinentalOp]

1. Oh no! We wanted to get a goldendoodle. Maybe we should act fast before he gets one...

and they become super trendy!

[Essene]

62. yes, act quickly before people scoff at your g-doodle

[stray cat]

2. Aren't we all mutts?

[billybob537]

6. ruuroo Rorge

[zbdent]

22. don't tell that to the Grand Wizard ...

[cameozalaznick]

68. I am. Polish, German, Scots-English and

Native American.

[Pirate Smile]

3. Ms. Bullock, I don't think Obama minds mutts since he considers himself one. How funny.

What a clueless dog snob.

[NoSheep]

72. Can I get the fist bump avatar too?

I love them together and I really like that picture. They seem to be everything I DREAm of in a relationship. Mutual respect. Affection.

[laconicsax]

4. People actually care about what kind of dog the Obama family gets?

[frogcycle]

5. can you say stick-up-her-ass elitest prig?

[jwirr]

13. bingo - they want a dog for their family, not a show dog. She is

definitely out of touch with the people world.

[Sebastian Doyle]

27. well, that's a dog breeder for ya.

If you've never seen the movie "Best of Show", I highly recommend it. From the same people that brought you "This Is Spinal Tap" and "A Mighty Wind". :rofl:

[bitchkitty]

63. That is the funniest movie EVER!

I loved Rhapsody's two mommies!

[slampoet]

37. BTW The 3 generations thing is BULLSHIT. We were told that we could get papers for our Pug.

No one knows where our pug came from. Nobody knows who bred her.


Yet we were told that we could get her certified as a pure bred pug and take her in dog shows.

All we had to do was have and "expert" examine the dog.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

7. There are few types of people more insufferable than purebred dog snobs

How much you wanna bet Patty Bullock is a Republican?

[Critters2]

23. Yep. I have a friend who would NEVER CONSIDER getting a resuce dog,

as all of mine have been. Her reasoning: "You don't really know what you're getting". So, her obscenely expensive purebreds have included a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with a congenital heart disease for which the breed is known, and a cocker spaniel with a submissive peeing problem--also a breed trait. I'll take my un-registered, slightly oversized rescue beagle any day!

[blondeatlast]

30. We rescued a cocker that was so damn inbred she was both genders until we corrected tha (female).

Dumber than a doornail but what a big ol' bundle of wiggling love.

The people who bought her first bought her to breed (she was AKC--snicker).

[slampoet]

38. I heard some Bitch say this about adopted children right in front of the child.

And it was a human bitch in case you were wondering.

[Blondiegrrl]

43. I know a woman (friend of a friend, actually) who said she doesn't want a

"used dog."

WTF?

[RollWithIt]

8. This is all so silly... what the kids want, the kids will get...

I'm sure they'll be able to find a shelter dog of their liking somewhere.

[LiberalFighter]

19. He should try Petfinder.com

I'm fostering a miniature Poodle. But she wouldn't be good in that environment.

[RollWithIt]

25. That's another thing to consider... like I saw a post on a Greyhound adoption...

Greyhounds are very loving to their owners. They are also extremely timid, especially if they're taken from a track. They also sleep 20 hrs a day. I had one as a child, great dog, but they sleep, ALL THE TIME. They save up their energy for quick bursts, like cheetahs.

[Hepburn]

9. Excused me, but.....

...there is NOTHING disgraceful about a Scottish Terrorist... er... Terrier. Obviously Barney was provoked. At least that the story from my Scottie Maggie and she is sticking with it!

Actually, the dog I "nominated" was a Labradoodle. Great dog...and very much like a Goldendoodle ~~ so I have heard.

:hi:

[TahitiNut]

31. As a dog lover with a preference for Labs and Goldens ....

... I can easily understand the desire to take advantage of the excellent breed temperament and intelligence. Until I did an extraordinary amount of research (reading, dog shows, visits to breeders and vets, etc.) many years ago, I'd been only somewhat aware of the nature side of the "nature vs. nurture" dialectic.

I grew up in a family (and friends and neighbors) with dogs ... of all kinds. I knew several Scotties. My earliest memories as a toddler were of my maternal grandparents' Doberman, Dinah. I was one of Dinah's 'puppies' - one of the few who could blithely handle her other puppies without Dinah protesting. Dinah used to grab the sole of my first walking shoes in her mouth and drag me all over the linoleum kitchen floor. It was as good as an amusement park ride. Nonetheless, I also recall intense adult supervision whenever I was in the kitchen with Dinah. Like I say, my family were "dog people" and that has always meant 'responsible.'

My extended family has had a wide array of dogs, ranging from a Norwegian elkhound, a collie, and an Irish setter to a toy dachshund ... and a few HeinzSiebenundfunfzigHunds. I'm strongly inclined to think 'nature' is about 30% of the make-up. There is never, however, NEVER good enough breeding to overcome bad nurturance. With intense, continuous, and skilled nurturance, however, a decent and good dog can result - but there are limits. An OSDO (Obedience School DropOut) mutt is NEVER going to be a soft-mouthed mallard retriever. And an allergic kid won't stop having an allergic reaction to a well-trained dog - no matter how well-trained.

The great advantage Labradors and Goldens have is a very obsessive network of breeders, show people, field people, UDX people, and leader dog people ... all of whom have a big vested interest in the intelligence, temperament, and health of the breed. They're not dogs bred primarily for looks - they're bred for sport, work, and companionship. The sad thing (to me) is that the standard poodle was once a premier water dog ... and excellent retriever. Then the 'fashionistas' took over and it was all about froo-froo. Too many poodles were kept and bred without good temperament and field abilities - because too many people got them for their looks. Furniture. Fashion accessories.

In many places in the country, over the last 50-60 years, a retriever that snapped at a hunter would be dead. Instantaneously. Life was short for a sporting dog that didn't appreciate the killing power of a shotgun and got snappish. The best dogs were bred. (They enjoyed great sex lives.) The worst killed. The so-so neutered.

I've spent a LOT of time at dog shows, mostly regional ones. Most of the sporting (and working) dog show people are interested in selling and breeding. As such, they actually have signs saying "Come and hug a ___" above the benches. I've seen Labs, Goldens, St. Bernards, and Newfies tolerate the most ill-behaved of kids with calm, wise, and loving tolerance ... kids I'd give a time-out to quicker than anything. I've RARELY seen toys or miniatures I'd allow a small child to approach ... even in shows. Even though they MUST be trained to tolerate handling by judges to even pass ... the breed standards aren't rigid and extensive in that regard. Socialization just isn't a priority.

So, it's very understandable that folks would seek a non-shedding, hypoallergenic Labrador or Golden. While I'm quite willing to vacuum and brush and have no allergies, some folks aren't as lucky.

[Hepburn]

61. Interesting info. Thanks for the post.

While I have allergies ~~ only cats bother me. Have never had an allegery to any dog. Thank goodness cuz I am a TOTAL dog lover. Got my first Scottie in the 1950s when I read my first books about FDR and saw the first pictures of Fala. Love at first sight for me of that First Scottie.

:hi:

[frogcycle]

71. all good points

I expect, though that some of the traits go back a lot further than the 50-60 years you mention.

Selective breeding for hunting and other roles goes back hundreds, in some cases thousands of years. Terriers were bred to be small and scrappy, go after rats, badgers, hedgehogs and such.

In some cases, a group of dogs was used, each with specific roles. Some to scent the prey, some to run it to ground (or tree), others to go in and pull it out of a burrow (probably after being wounded), others to retrieve from water.

They'd work in a group, and the little ones needed to develop exactly the behavior Barney exhibited when approached by the bigger ones, or each other. The bigger ones could be more laid back without risk.

Look at the parson russel terriers in the agility trials chasing the lure - they shove and snap at each other to be the first through the door. Nipping is a form of communication. Most terriers love to "play fight" to the extent you think one will lose an eye or something. While natural behaviors can be contained with training, under stress they will respond naturally. What you see at the shows is not "just" what the breeders have accomplished (or not) in the "show" era - it has roots in the original purpose of the breed.

[TahitiNut]

76. Oh... no question that breeding for specific traits goes back centuries and more.

I mention 50-60 years based on personal knowledge, mostly second-hand but reputable. Also, the Labrador Retriever is a "resurrected" breed (nearly died out 80-100 years ago) and the current blood lines don't go back so far.

While I have an appreciation for the influence of 'nature' (i.e. breeding) that increased with my expanded contact and familiarity with different breeds, I also appreciate the critical aspect of 'nurture' - particularly in the first 7 weeks of a puppies life, which many folks just don't fully appreciate. So, 'nurture' is not just the training provided by the new owner (which is still essential), it's also the infancy in the litter with siblings and bitch. I believe this is one of the foremost deficiencies in puppy mill/pet shop dogs - among many - as well as in many rescue dogs. While I'm a BIG proponent of adoption/rescue, I have to balance that with a sense of priority regarding the family into which such dogs are adopted and am particularly wary when it's young children and a FIRST dog. (Balance in such priorities is essential, imho.)

I don't think anyone who has watched a team of sheep dogs perform many times can fail to appreciate nature/breeding. When we also discover the whelping/breeding/kenneling background of the best of such dogs, we gain a better appreciation for the early nurturance, too.

[frogcycle]

84. you're spot-on w/regard to those 7 weeks

and probably more.

I have 2 family members who've rescued seven dogs between them. I'd say their 'success' rate as far as not having neuroses, behavior problems is... zero. I know for a fact that one was separated from the mother at about five weeks - and put in a cage in a backyard. My dtr basically kidnapped it! She had it for years; it could be delightful, but went postal periodically, unexpectedly.

We got a scottish terrier through rescue - about 5 yrs old. Very affectionate, but cowed. Did not know how to play (and scotties love to play - NEED to play). My wife was very patient, worked with her daily, and eventually had her chasing a frisbee with wild abandon.

We only had her three years due to liver cancer, but they were a wonderful three years. So rescue CAN work, but one had better be prepared to work at it.

It may be overstating it to say dogs can have PTSD, but I expect some of the emotional scars are sort of similar.

[frogcycle]

48. Izzy confirms Maggie's story!

Scottish Terrorist ... er... Terriers can be moody. Either Barney was not feeling well (I don't know how old he is, but he was not a puppy when bush took office) or he had just had enough of the mob scene of reporters. When the guy reached at him he triggered a natural defensive reaction. You could see from the video that he snapped and jumped back - pure defense; not an "attack." Pretty much what someone would do if you jumped in their face and yelled "boo" when they were deep in thought. That he actually made tooth-to-finger contact is probably as much coincidence as intent.

Our first Scottie did exactly the same thing at a family gathering when some little kids were too persistent wanting to "pet" her (which was really charging at and slapping on the head). We kept moving her away and saying she didn't feel like it, etc. but one time too many and she expressed her opinion. Same result - bandaid on finger. We learned then to better read such situations.

[Hepburn]

59. I agree on Barney's action ~~ it was not an attack...he was startled and struck back. n/t

[Irishonly]

57. Poor Barney

I am no dog whisperer but I know what a nervous, tense dog looks like. If the reporter had an ounce of sense he wouldn't have pushed himself into Barney's territory.

I have German Shepherd mixes and love them to pieces.

[TahitiNut]

77. "Poor Barney" in more ways than one. Every dog gets one bite ... or so goes the old saying.

Barney's had it. The Bushies are now exposed to lawsuits if there's a repeat ... and Barney's life may come to an abrupt end. There's no 'revisionist history' that can be done on this. Given my opinion of the Bushies ... I don't hold out too much optimism for Barney.

[Codeine]

66. Scotties rule!

:hi: :)

[Hepburn]

81. Absolutely!!!!

Just ask my wee lassie Maggie! :hi:

[Muttocracy]

10. The AKC doesn't consider it a breed, but they're raised and priced like they are

So many of the "designer mutts" especially small breed mixes but also including Labradoodles and Goldendoodles are produced in puppy mills too, or sold by breeders for outrageous costs like they're even more rare than a purebred :crazy:

Someone should buy the Obamas "Mutts: America's Dogs" and "Paws to Consider" - 2 great books about choosing dogs including mutts.

[Motown_Johnny]

11. I think any poodle or poodle mix will meet the hypoallergenic criteria. and I am certain you can

rescue any number of poodles or poodle mixes



http://www.nextdaypets.com/directory/dogs/rescue/1100301/

[jmowreader]

26. The only dog that ever bit me was a poodle cross

Someone named Dr. Robert Oleson studied 27 years of dog-bite reports from the New York metro area, and poodles were number three on the list of dogs that bite the most--after German shepherds and chows.

A poodle may not be the best choice.

A Great Pyrenees might be entertaining, but they're not hypoallergenic...and you'd have to worry about foreign leaders slipping in huge puddles of dog drool.

[Critters2]

28. Hypoallergenic-wise, I'd look for a soft-coated wheaten terrier.

Some parishioners have one of these, and he's a GREAT dog!

[frogcycle]

49. We had one

and I can personally confirm the hypo-allergic part. Ours was a sweetie - but the breed has several traits that require serious training. Overreacting to noises is one. They go berserk, running around and barking like crazy. Even snapping your fingers can set them off. Eating disorders are not uncommon. They are prone to jumping up on people to "greet" them - this can be dealt with through training, but takes work. Ours actually took to turning her back and jumping up looking over her shoulder, but she quit pawing people! Cute, but illustrates how strong the impulse is.

Still, overall a great dog.

[Motown_Johnny]

64. that is a training issue. Poodles and German Shepherds are accepted as being among the most

intelligent breeds (don't know about chows). I have 2 dogs I took in as strays and have taken in a couple others I didn't keep. I adopted them out through the "Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society"

http://web.mac.com/spardon/GPAAS.org/Home.html


One of the dogs I didn't keep was a beautiful pure breed standard poodle. I had him for about 7 weeks (there were some legal issues trying to bring charges against the woman who abandoned him). Then the first time I took him to be adopted more than one family wanted him. This led to a series of meeting to decide what was best for the animal. This is when I was schooled about the breed from people who do this for a living. Poodles need someone who knows how to handle them and not someone who just wants a dog who can have some silly foo-foo haircut.

It isn't the fault of the dog, or the breed. I have faith that the first family will have someone help them train their dog who are familiar with the breed (whatever it turns out to be).

[gmoney]

67. sounds more like a cross poodle ;)

[Motown_Johnny]

70. LOL .. very puny

[blogslut]

12. Sadly, the shelters are full of designer dogs

As well as mutts and full-breeds. They'll have no trouble finding a hypoallergenic pup.

[Muttocracy]

16. yep, just plug "poodle" and "washington, DC" into Petfinder.com nt

[Critters2]

21. I just did this, and found three cute labradoodle puppies.

I considered e-mailing the link to change.gov

[Fleshdancer]

14. NEW RULE: no more dog breed threads without PICS

:D

Behold the cuteness of the goldendoodle:

[TxBlue]

17. Ok, that is SERIOUSLY cute!!

[stuntcat]

24. I know, right??

I was just about to look that up, thank you! It's totally precious :loveya:

[undeterred]

36. They are cute and have a very nice temperament.

:thumbsup:

[catchnrelease]

41. Yes, very cute

Our next door neighbors have a Goldendoodle that is just 6 months old now. He is adorable, looks much like a Wheaten. BUT, this poor dog is so neurotic he's making everyone around crazy!! Any noise that comes from outside his backyard sets him off into a barking frenzy that literally lasts for hours. On top of that he spins in place. Especially if the owners are gone.

I've gone over and brought him to our backyard to play with our (rescue) Vizsla, so that he will have some exposure to something outside of his yard. But he doesn't seem to have normal dog social skills. He tries to play but is clearly timid and often goes into his spin mode. I've tried taking him for a walk when I take our dog out, but he hasn't been trained on a leash, so that's mostly chaos. Recently, the husband has been taking him out for walks, but I don't think it's consistant enough. The wife has been trying to train him to stop the barking etc, but she's at wits end and is about ready to take him back to the breeders. I don't know if this breeder is a puppy mill type place or what, but they certainly should not have given this dog to a family that has little dog experience. (They actually have an aging Bernese Mtn Dog, but he was easy, and basically just obeyed from day one, so the family never learned how to teach/correct a dog.)

I know that the problems are not this 'doodle's fault, and I assume that being neurotic isn't a "breed" trait, and I'm sure that the Obama family would have lots of help in selecting and training a dog to be a good family member. I just hate it when people that don't know dogs get in over their heads because the puppy is sooo cute, and it's the dogs that end up paying in the end.....Sorry, rant over!!!!

[frogcycle]

50. sadly, a typical case

the dog will probably never be socialized, much less trained. These people might tough it out, but this is the pattern that leads to so many adult dogs dropped off at shelters. "Well, he was cute as a puppy, but now we can't handle him..."

Good for you for trying. I bet he was removed from his mother and litter-mates too soon.

[old mark]

82. What a great looking puppy! Since both Labs and Poodles are very smart,

you would have a great looking, snart dog who is not alergenic.

Yeah, that would be terrible.


mark

[Holly_Hobby]

15. It's good to open up the gene pool,

since so many breeds are afflicted with genetic defects from inbreeding.

Mutt or not, it's good for dogs.

[salguine]

18. Patty Bullock sounds like a pompous ass. "The goldendoodle

is not a recognized breed...he knows nothing about dogs," she sniffed.

All the more reason to go with the goldendoodle. A great dog is a great dog. Give it a good home and love it.

[Lochloosa]

20. Wonder who she voted for....hummmm

[mikiturner]

29. Why did Patty Bullock resort to attacking Obama?

:wtf:

[Occam Bandage]

32. ...

[Curtland1015]

33. Has anyone yet suggested calling this whole puppy issue "Doggy Gate"?

Because I think we should.

[tishaLA]

47. I prefer Doggy Style Gate

has a better ring to it

[rdublue]

34. Labradoodles are a crossbreed but the F1B is hypoallergenic. He does not shed.

Why do they have to get a shelter dog? I mean if children weren't involved (or members of the press) I'd agree wholeheartedly. these girls want the puppy of their dreams they should have it. Our 4 month old Chocolate Labradoodle is smart as a whip even the vet is impressed with all he can do in a matter of months. He will sit, shake, give me a kiss, laydown and stay for a loooong time. You can make him sit and wait for his food. He loves posing for the camera. It's a great breed for kids, loyal, plays all the time and snuggles. He loves all people and all dogs and cats. The down side, he is into everything. I threatened to let him go live at the White House for a while. He thought I meant with GWB so he settled down quickly.

I sure am glad we got ours August.

[roody]

45. They have to get a shelter dog to set a good example.

[slampoet]

35. I fukin hate dog people (not dog owners but those who profit from them) .

I just can't stand the arrogance of Dog Breeders and some of the Rescue leagues around Rhode Island and Boston.


We tried to adopt a pug for 3 years and were told that we couldn't get one because we hadn't been together for long enough (6 years), because we rent (same place for 5 years) and were there fore not a stable home like someone who is defaulting on their mortgage.

We were told our jobs weren't appropriate even though at the time one of us worked from HOME.

We were told no because we don't have a yard (for an apartment sized dog) even though we live NEXT DOOR to a Park and within a few blocks of a state park.

We were OUTRIGHT told we couldn't get a rescue pug because we WEREN'T MARRIED (again 6 year relationship).

We were TOLD WE WERE TOO FAT TO OWN DOGS (only 30LBS over due to knee and ankle injuries). BTW at the time i was walking 2 miles a day, I still with all my knee surgeries can out walk the dog until we need to carry her home.

We were told we didn't have enough EXPERIENCE with dogs even though BOTH of us have had 3 or more dogs AND WE GREW UP ON WORKING FARMS!!! My girlfriend actually had 50 head of goats and was a pro cheese maker at age 8.

We were asked What Religion we were and when we said None of Your business, we were told the pug we came to see was suddenly not there and was adopted. We later on found out that the shelter hadn't done a Full vet check and the POOR DOG died of WORMS.



Eventually we gave up Official channels a got a pug from Craigs List. The one we got was 6 months old and had already had three homes and had been sheltered twice. The original person they gave it to had a Hording problem and had collected 40 dogs from local shelters to put in her small house. Apparently the little pug puppy was abused there and so malnourished she is still half normal size as an adult. The couple who got the pug from the shelter AFTER the hording lady, had been in the state Less than a month, Together as a couple only a year and one of them didn't have a job and they were giving up the dog after only a month.


In the End we Have a Wonderful snoring pug who loves us and is a celebrity around the East Side of Providence. The Dog has made it possible to start a new home business and both will be profiled in Paw Prints magazine soon.

But will i EVER donate a dollar to the RI Pug Rescue again?

Fucking hell no. The RI chapter is a scam and the person in charge (who doesn't even live in RI) should be in jail.

[Fleshdancer]

39. are you serious or is this a joke??

I'm honestly not trying to be snarky, but your post shocks the hell out of me. Did people truly tell you all of those things? I only ask because I'm a HUGE pug fan and the only thing required to get a pug where I'm from is money (crass but true).

Unless you're being sarcastic, I would be willing to do what I can to help you rescue a pug (or any other type of pet) from my region.

[slampoet]

40. Thanks for the offer but one Pug is enough for us.

We made sure not to buy in a way that gave money to an exploitive breeder and this REALLY is what we had to go through around Rhode Island.

I know it is hard to believe but I'm even holding back a couple stores that aren't that interesting.


We could have adopted a Pug from Some other area, and did consider on from Florida but the problem with Pugs is that they often can't fly on airplanes and since the anthrax scare Amtrak won't allow pets. (maybe they changed that). So as you can see getting a pug from out of our area was a problem.



In my area we just may have a case of amazing corruption in the animal rescue industry. We also had a person who was in charge of the Salvation Army here who had her workers steal the good antiques and sell them at her antiques shop. That went on for over ten years.


I am not saying that all pet rescues are like this.

What i am saying is that most things are like this in Rhode Island.


PS - Wanna see our happy Cute Dog (this does after all have happy ending)

?v=0

[frogcycle]

51. clearly you were dealing with a fundie

don't "hate dog people" just because a bigoted nutcase is one.

[slampoet]

55. This was Five different charities involving 10-12 different individuals.

Maybe you should read more than the headline please.

[frogcycle]

I read the whole thing

I accept your clarification, but it was not in the original post. So it is a whole group of assholes. Granted.

The fact is, there are VERY reasonable rescue groups run by VERY reasonable and caring "dog people."

If anything, most don't do enough to "qualify" adopters. You encountered the other extreme.

[JPettus]

54. First wife and I had cockers

I came home one day to find a big black English cocker spaniel in the living room. He was staring out the window, glanced at me as I came in and then looked away again. My wife called to me and said "Honey, I hope you don't mind, Max is going to be staying with us for a while." I asked, "I don't know, how long is a while?" She responded with "I don't know, how long do they live?"

We took him to the vet to be checked out and the vet looked over his medical records, looked at us and asked us if we knew that we were his fourth family in the past year? We announced it didn't matter since we were his last family.

We kept that dog for 8 years before he had to be put down for a health reason.

However, I've been told by our family vet that cockers are on the list of breeds that bite mostly because they have long hair, and as they get older they get grouchy and don't like their hair to be pulled and have no patience with small children.

Current wife and I have Labradors (black and chocolate and a Lab/Husky mix) and a cairn terrier. All of them are gentle as can be. The Cairn is our "Holy Terrier" as she thinks she owns everything, including the other dogs.

But the dog that got to me most was our Great Dane. Gentlest, most loving and intuitive in dealing with "his people." They aren't for everyone, but they are exceptional pets for the dog lover whose dogs are family members.

[TwilightGardener]

80. When my dachshund died last month, I looked into getting a new wiener dog from

a national dachshund rescue organization that happened to be conveniently located about 40 miles from where I live. I went to their website, chock full of wieners rescued from bad situations and puppy mills (BIG in this area, I live near the puppy mill epicenter of the nation). I read their terms where they flatly state that they will NOT adopt out to homes that do not have a fenced yard. I have a very big yard, a nice home, I'm an experienced doxie owner, a responsible pet owner, but they didn't want me because I hadn't invested in some ugly-ass chain link fence (and I never will--I take my dogs out on a leash, or I supervise them). That's the problem--these rescue groups and shelters get WAYYYY too picky and fussy with their "requirements", and end up eliminating people who would make wonderful and loving owners. I ended up getting a wiener pup from a breeder.

[Blondiegrrl]

42. Who gives a shit. A dog is a dog. It's just as capable of love and devotion

as the next one.

Not all people want pedigreed dogs just so they can act snooty to their neighbors. Some of us PREFER our mutts. (See mine below: Spitz mix. His name is Luka, and he's prettier than any purebred I've seen. Healthier, too.)

[roody]

44. I am an athiest, but I am going to pray that they get a POODLE!!!

Of any size. POODLES rule.

[LisaL]

46. Hey, Barney isn't "disgraced."

If press was hounding you, you might start biting too.

[Moochy]

75. Barney is a fierce critic of Bush's handling of him.

We all remember the news footage of Bush dropping Barney after leaving Airforce One.

[KitSileya]

52. Anyone who's seen an authorized, KC or AKC dog show,

knows that the only thing most dog breeders care about is getting the "perfect" dog according to regulations, regardless of how that destroys their health and genetics. I saw the BBC documentary on the Kennel Club, and saw the pictures of the different dog breeds before and after they'd been bred to ridiculousness by the breeders, and saw how resistant the breeders were to take heed of such things as syringamyelia in CKC dogs, breathing problems in pugs, spina bifida in Rhodesian ridgebacks. After that, I realized that dog breeding for shows is nothing more than eugenics, straight out of the 1930s. And I say that as someone who has show judges and breeders in my nearest family - tho' thankfully they had stopped doing both before they became family with me.

[slampoet]

56. Exactly. Great post.

[KitSileya]

58. Thanks. One caveat, tho'

I am not a dog person, so I'm perhaps a bit more negative than someone who has dogs, whether purebred or not. I can't claim to be objective, as I am afraid of dogs - the only one I'm not afraid of is my landlord's 12 year old sheltie. Usually I get a cold feeling of fear in my stomach when I see I have to walk past a dog, so I cannot understand why people want to have dogs at all. I do know most of it is about upbringing, tho. If their owners can't raise them properly, the dog is usually blamed. However, I have no doubt that President-elect Obama and his wife will be good parents to any puppy they may acquire.

[frogcycle]

53. HERE IT IS!!!

Wheaten/Standard Poodle mix puppies, eight weeks old, in Plainfield, Il (suburban Chicago)


BOTH parents are hypo-allergenic breeds.




http://www.terrificpets.com/dogs_for_sale/viewad.asp?adid=74126

[demo dutch]

60. As long as it a goldendoodle rescued from a shelter!

[mitchum]

65. My labradoodle says,"Never mind the Bullocks...hail the mixed breeds!"

[frickaline]

69. So silly, there really is no such thing as a pure breed

It is just stuffy people like Patty that get together and decide they like a certain mix and give it a name, AKC recognition and proceed to destroy the breed by indirectly advocating inbreeding. Just because they don't 'recognize' a certain mix doesn't mean the rest of us don't. In fact, I was rather fond of the fact that Jack Russell Terriers were not recognized for a while.

[ibegurpard]

73. Is this real?

Who gives a flying fuck?

[Pharlo]

74. There are two young children who are going to pick out their first puppy.

What breed, or mix, of breeds they choose is THEIR business and their choice. Yes, their parents should guide them on their choice concerning medical issues. Whether the dog is a rescue, purchased from a breeder, or an 'accident' that was born in a barn (personally, I've gotten a lot of these - a ten dollar mutt that would have wound up in a rescue within a year or two anyways).

It's THEIR choice. These girls have waited their entire lives for a puppy and now all of a sudden their choice is a 'political statement'.

The only things they need to consider when making their choice is 1) a true friend never asks for bloodlines and parentage - whether it's a canine or human friend; and 2) whatever dog they chose will, in their eyes, be the BEST dog in the world.

[Midlodemocrat]

78. Your humor bone broken? Or don't you recognize a funny OP?

[Ishoutandscream2]

79. And that, ladies and gentlemen, should be the last word

Exactly right.

[Honeycombe8]

83. Great choice!!!!! Mixed breeds are better, IMO. And goldendoodles are soooo cute! nt