I have officially lost all faith in the human race. I understand that the majority of people that own dogs are relatively ignorant to the most basic needs of their companions and even the most experienced owners have loads to learn (I know I do) but I did not realize just how blind people are or how angry they can get over the simplest thing.
I would like to know if anyone else out there has had a personal encounter with an owner of a mutt labeled as a "designer dog", what that experience was and if it was as ridiculous as mine.
I work at an airline transit kennel. We process between 50-200 dogs per day. Part of the job is to label the crate the dog is shipped in with the run number, description of dog and airway bill number to make sure the dog is returned to the proper crate. We get plenty of mutts, so most of my labels end up saying "poodle cross, lab mix, blk/white mutt" something to that effect.
I had a woman call me at work to "educate" me on her dog breed. She had a "Cockapoo" and apparently took offense to the fact that I had labeled her dog as a poodle mix. She proceeded to tell me the "history" of the breed and threatened to report me to management when I explained that she had a mutt, not a "designer dog". Her final words were "I can't believe what poorly educated children they hire for a kennel, to think you wouldn't even know the proper dog breeds.." and then hung up.
So are all people that get sucked in to this idiotic fad this stupid? Do they really believe that they have a "purebred mutt"? Or did I just get the bottom of the intelligence barrel with this woman?
2009-06-18T17:13:55Z
Ok little one. Look up the definition of hybrid. You just gave a text book example to the ignorance I'm pointing out.
2009-06-18T17:41:45Z
Oh, Chigirl. You make me laugh. Hybrid is a cross between two different SPECIES of plant or animal. You almost got it right. Wolf hybrids, Savannah Cats, Bengals, Mules are hybrids.
•Poppy•2009-06-18T17:17:08Z
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Honestly....there are tons of people who consider purebred owners "snobby".
I cannot think of anything more snobby than someone who not only has purchased a *very* expensive mutt, but someone who also reacts that way and actually believes that their mutt is a breed--and that it is different from a shelter mutt!
The kicker is that I have met several "designer dog" owners who claim purebred owners are snobby--and that's why they don't have/condone "designer dogs".
Some people will never learn. It's amazing that, no matter what she believed, she actually called up and b*tched about the fact that someone mistaked her dog--it happens all the time!
I have two friends with so-called "designers"--I just hold my tongue.
I feel you there. These people think because they paid a lot (too much!) that their dog is special. It is all preying on stupid status seeking people. That woman is CRAZY!
I have a little adopted mutt and since he is quite cute I am often stopped by people while walking. They always ask what breed he is. I always say "mutt" I get really weird reactions to this. People often are like, my sister has a breed just like that dog. Or he is too cute to be a mutt. People just can't seem to call a small cute dog a mutt. When I tell him the suspected mix (pom and chihuahua, though God only knows) they will often re brand my dog a Pom Chi. I tell them he is still a mutt. I live in the slums (apartments) of a very affluent neighborhood with lots of "designer" dogs. These people need the status they think comes with the dumb names.
I have to say I just love the way you label the crates-how fun! Where I work new mutt puppies come in all the time. The overall ignorance is just amazing. I have even heard discussions about the visible differences (that would show a lack of any breed standard) and how cute it is that they are so different. No clue there. This is not the only lack of education we have going on in the world today, and all of it is just frightening. So many seem to not be able to stand on their own and make a good decision, they are so swayed by the popularity of one thing or another. They are too lazy to do any research on their own and just take the word of a neighbor or acqaintance instead of finding out for themselves. Then they defend that bad decision with a passion that defies reason!
My only solace is that I will be dead by the time most of these nuts are in charge of the world.
Next time just write down Cocker Spaniel/Poodle mix. She can't argue with that.
Wait...maybe she can...
She must be the same idiot that insisted I have a "Schnoodle". We were at the dog park within the last week, and a gal asked me if they were both Schnoodles. I said one is a Toy Poodle, and the other is Poodle and Schnauzer from a rescue. She said "that's what Schnoodles are", and I just rolled my eyes.
As far as this lady goes, just understand that she's just upset because no man wants her..in a sexual way. Not that I blame them. Why would they want a 350lb lardo snob?
Thank you for sharing this story. I haven't laughed this hard in a long time. I have to share this with all my educated friends now because I know they will laugh as hard as I did at the "poorly educated" comment. Look, I just think people are inherently stupid. Most of the people in this world are lazy. They don't want to be educated. They don't want to learn. The people who buy designer mutts are selfish. We get so many of them in at the shelter because they are seen as throwaway. Same with the backyard breeder pups. When you pay so little for a dog, you are more likely to get rid of it at the drop of a hat because you can always get another one. The neighborhood that I live is upscale and designer dogs are everywhere. They're poorly bred, not trained, not socialized. It's really very sad. These women all believe that they have "purebred" dogs. When you explain to them that a purebred would be only one breed - a cocker spaniel OR a poodle, they look at you very, very confused. "But the pet store said it was purebred" or "the breeder gave me the papers"...I even had one lady huffily bring me her papers to prove to me her dog is registered AKC. I handed them back and told her to look closer. The papers said ACHC, which I explained was the made up club I had told her about earlier. She just called me a female dog and stormed off, cradling her "teacup purebred cockipoo". They all dump them when they reach 15 pounds. It's so incredibly sad for the dog. It's also sad to me that these women are mothers and breeding stupid children themselves.
EDITED TO ADD: I love the things these mutt breeders come up with to justify their mixes - "all purebred dogs came from mixing lines". You ought to research that instead of just listening to the Backyard Greeder you purchased that mutt from. They LIED to you. Good breeders don't inbreed either. Again. that's a backyard breeder and puppy mill thing. If you did any research, you would know that as well.
If there are truly "designer dogs" now, then we have to start calling ALL the mutts at the shelter designer. They're all mixed as well, half of them from these stupid greeders and their idiotic crosses. We had a Llhasa Cairns come in the other day. The woman paid $3500 for this nightmare. Who crosses those stubborn breeds? It was bought for $3500 and will die for $0 in the back room because it's completely nutso. That's what you get for breeding two dogs that should have been spayed/neutered.