Designer Dogs KEY
Original Document: Designer Dogs
A designer dog is a cross between
two purebred dogs. A breeder can take a poodle and cross it with a yorkie
to create offspring called "Yorkie-poos". Other breeds are popular
to cross as well. Designer dogs have become popular because owners would
like to have dogs with the best of both breeds. Poodles are popular to
cross because their hair does not shed, and not everyone likes the way
the poodle looks.
Designer dogs may have fewer health problems than their purebred parents. After selective breeding over many generations, the purebred dogs can inherit specific genetic disorders. For instance, Dalmations are prone to deafness, and many large breeds have problems with their hips. Breeders hope to profit from crossing two breeds to create designer puppies without the health problems but with the temperament and appearance of their purebred parents.
Opponents to breeding designer dogs contend that the puppies produced are simply glorified mutts. A person that wants a "designer dog" should just go to his or her local shelter and adopt a dog that has the characteristics they are looking for. Adopting from a shelter instead of breeding new pets will help reduce pet overpopulation.
Another argument against buying a designer dog is that many of their parents are housed in "puppy mills". Puppy mills are factory like kennels where dogs are kept in cages for breeding purposes their entire lives. These dogs do not have human contact and are often kept outdoors even in extreme weather.
For those wishing to own a designer dog, you should consider the cost of buying one over adopting one from a shelter. Shelter dogs are spayed and neutered, kept in humane conditions and will often be a mixed breed of the variety you are looking for. Sites like petfinder.com can make your search simple. Adoption fees are often comparable to buying a dog from a breeder
| Dog Type | Photo | Average Cost from Breeder (data taken from nextdaypets.com, does not include transport fees) | Average Cost from Shelter (includes spay/neuter, first shots, and support s homeless dogs) |  |
||
| Morkie (yorkie x maltese) |  |
$700.00 | $300.00 | |||
| Bich-Poo |  |
$600.00 | $250.00 | |||
| Golden Doodle |  |
$1500.00 | $400.00 |
|
||
| Puggle |  |
$750.00 | $350.00 |
Create a Bar Graph that Compares the Costs of Dogs
Create a graph by making a bar that compares the costs of all four dogs above, both through a breeder and from a shelter. Answer the following questions.
1. What are some of the arguments AGAINST designer dogs?
no need to breed new dogs when many are already waiting for homes; may come from puppy mills
2. What are the advantages of adopting a pet from a shelter?
cheaper, dog has already been spayed/neutered and has shots; they are cared for better than puppy mill dogs
3. Design a dog…. Pick two breeds you are familiar with and either describe or sketch what a puppy would look like.
answers vary
How Well Do You Know Movies About Dogs?
Scooby Doo
Beethoven
Air Bud
Eight Below
Lady and the Tramp
Homeward Bound
Turner and Hooch
Old Yeller
Dog Breed Word Search
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