Speaking of personal attacks

[pixy0stix]

I was having a "discussion" about designer dogs and "breeders" with one of my friends (trying to talk her out of it), and she kept wanting to distract with an argument that I'm ruining my daughter for life because we go to the drive in movies on the weekend. (For which she watches ~15 min of the movie and then falls asleep.)

As part of the argument she posted this (in relation to kids who get even a short amount of screen time [under 30 min] a week):

No. They are just doomed to a life of intellectual challenges with a higher potential to be low income and reproduce without being able to afford the offspring, draining the social welfare system and contributing to the acceptance of mediocrity and the collective dumbing down of society. I certainly don't think that is insignificant.

Say whut now?

[Deleted]

jeeze. what kind of movies are you going to see?

[wrathofkuus]

I watched a helluva lot of television and movies as a kid, and here I am, in my cushy scientist job able to chat with you fine folks.

[pixy0stix]

Jun 12, 2012 16:02:48 GMT -5 @missusbee said:

jeeze. what kind of movies are you going to see?

Hard core porn, torture and snuff films... you know, the regular things people see at the drive in theatre.

[Deleted]

lolol wut?

Is she not a child of the 80's?

[UMaineTeach]

makes total sense.



I am reminded that Misoangry says her favorite hobbies include lots of TV, she is a lawyer, makes very good money, lives in a nice house, and can hold intelligent conversations.

[EloiseWeenie]

Your friend is full of it.

[pixy0stix]

Jun 12, 2012 16:09:25 GMT -5 EloiseWeenie said:

Your friend is full of it.

Yeah, I disengaged pretty quickly. I was going to counter with anecdotes (which she was flinging pretty hot and heavy with the designer dog argument).

I just couldn't believe she was really telling me that my child was doomed to a life of welfare and popping out children because of occasionally going to the drive in with her parents and having a ton of fun interacting with them. ESPECIALLY since I grew up in the cycle of poverty that she was blithely saying that no one escapes from.

[bugandbibs]

Dude. I'm screwed. Both of my girls love going to the movies. We even bought headphones to protect DD2s hearing we go to the movies so much.

[pixy0stix]

Jun 12, 2012 16:14:51 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

What do you mean by designer dog? I'm assuming that's one of the named mutts like Labradoodle or something? Isn't that better than more inbreeding of purebreds?

Yes, a lab/poodle mix, and no its not.

Short answer: No, because you have a bunch of breeders who "love their dogs" and have "the parents on site" but do not do the necessary genetic testing, nor do they conform to any standards of the breed. You end up with really expensive mutts who contribute to the overpopulation problem where 7 million animals are killed yearly in the US alone. It's not the puppymills that are the problem, its the people who breed and buy dogs from backyard breeders.

Not only that, but there is no way lab/poodles will ever be considered a "breed" as the breeding breaks down genetically somewhere along the 4th or 5th generation. They can't get the lines to "breed true."

[msmerymac]

Jun 12, 2012 16:14:51 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

What do you mean by designer dog? I'm assuming that's one of the named mutts like Labradoodle or something? Isn't that better than more inbreeding of purebreds?

No. But buying poorly-bred purebreeds isn't a good idea, either (BYBs for short, known as back yard breeders - i.e. people who breed because they think they'll make money, or to give their pets the "experience" of being parents, rather than to actually further the breed and create genetically sound specimens. The former is how you end up with tons of dogs with hip displaysia, not the latter. )

Mixed breeds are just as susceptible to inheriting the diseases their parents are susceptible to.

[pixy0stix]

Clearly, my child is screwed. We've been going since she was itty bitty:



To now:

[Deleted]

Are the pjs in the bottom pic flannel?

Because pinky totally had that pair when she was about two.

[pixy0stix]

Jun 12, 2012 16:27:49 GMT -5 @habbsies said:

Are the pjs in the bottom pic flannel?

Because pinky totally had that pair when she was about two.

Yes they are! They've been passed around from family to family since they've held up well. It's ZB's turn to wear them. As it turns out, they were too hot and she had to strip out of it before she went to sleep. So not only am I ruining her mind, I'm teaching her that being topless in public is not a bad thing.

[pixy0stix]

Jun 12, 2012 16:27:12 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

OK, but the issue is with random people breeding, not about the "designer dogs" specifically?

Read this: sites.google.com/site/petsboardfaqs/home/all-about-designer-dogs

It goes through just about every statement you said, plus more you haven't even thought of if you read all the links and information.

[dev22]

Jun 12, 2012 16:14:51 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

What do you mean by designer dog? I'm assuming that's one of the named mutts like Labradoodle or something? Isn't that better than more inbreeding of purebreds?

Any breeding by a backyard breeder is bad. All breeders of designer dogs are backyard breeders or puppy mills. No good breeder would ever breed to create a designer dog.

[redheadbaker]

Pixy, your daughter is ADORABLE.

[msmerymac]

Jun 12, 2012 16:27:12 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

Jun 12, 2012 16:19:49 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Yes, a lab/poodle mix, and no its not.

Short answer: No, because you have a bunch of breeders who "love their dogs" and have "the parents on site" but do not do the necessary genetic testing, nor do they conform to any standards of the breed. You end up with really expensive mutts who contribute to the overpopulation problem where 7 million animals are killed yearly in the US alone. It's not the puppymills that are the problem, its the people who breed and buy dogs from backyard breeders.

Not only that, but there is no way lab/poodles will ever be considered a "breed" as the breeding breaks down genetically somewhere along the 4th or 5th generation. They can't get the lines to "breed true."

OK, but the issue is with random people breeding, not about the "designer dogs" specifically?

I don't see why they should conform to genetic standards of the breed if there isn't a breed. Is she trying to create a breed? I had fantasies of starting an Ashgabat Harrier because of my awesome little dog. We just spayed her, so that dream is dead.

Eh, I can't get upset about this. Backyard breeders may contribute to the overpopulation problem, but people stuck on breeds have caused a lot of genetic problems just for looks, so I don't necessarily think a "real" breeder is much better.

I understand your point, but if given the option between a legitimate breeder who breeds for the breed and shows dogs, and a BYB, I'm going legit. There are NO legitimate breeders of mixed breeds, because you are not breeding "for the breed," given that... there IS no breed. You can't show your dogs in legitimate competition. There's no set of standards you're supposed to aim for. It's all willy-nilly. Plus, dog breeds were all created for a purpose - even if, as in the case of the Pekingese, that purpose was to sit on the laps of royalty. I won't deny there are issues with certain breeds, especially brachycephallic dogs and cats with major breathing issues, but that doesn't have to be bred for, and honestly, good breeders are shying away from extremes. I also do not support cosmetic surgery (ears and tails) for dog competition.

(*says someone who has had pure-bred pets and has never bought one from a breeder - but currently has 2 Persian cats with a likely terminal genetic condition due to poor breeding*)

[ttt]

I had a feeling saturday morning cartoons were the reason our government is running such a huge deficit.

[pixy0stix]

Jun 12, 2012 16:40:00 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Pixy, your daughter is ADORABLE.

Thank you!

[Deleted]

Jun 12, 2012 16:30:16 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Yes they are! They've been passed around from family to family since they've held up well. It's ZB's turn to wear them. As it turns out, they were too hot and she had to strip out of it before she went to sleep. So not only am I ruining her mind, I'm teaching her that being topless in public is not a bad thing.

Well that explains why your kid is wearing six year old pajamas lol.

And she is uber, uber cute.

[laurenpetro]

I lurve my drive in. We bring the kids at least 3x a year.

And really, if me seeing The Avengers = poor parenting then that's fine.

[dev22]

Jun 12, 2012 16:58:20 GMT -5 @soudesafinado said:

Pound puppies are the bestest. That is all.

I concur

[pixy0stix]

I love that this is turning into a puppy thread.

[msmerymac]

Jun 12, 2012 17:18:20 GMT -5 @mrdobalina said:

If I were to get a dog, and surely now is not the time, but when I do, I"m a pound hound all the way! But show breeders and "legit" breeders have a TON to answer for. Especially with bulldogs, pugs, and shar-peis. These dogs can't even breathe anymore, but their "genetic code" is supposedly up to snuff. Wasn't there a show dog judge that through a champion out last year because the dog was such a freak of nature? yeah, that.

Yeah, a Pekingese was eliminated from Westminster? Or Crufts? I believe. Which was in the same line as the last Peke who won a major show.

In Britain, it's a little better. Cosmetic surgery is usually optional, so Dobermans and Boxers can have natural ears. Doll-faced persian cats (as opposed to pansy-faced persians) are also becoming more popular in shows in the UK, which is much better for the cat, eliminating major breathing problems.

ETA: And I totally agree that shelters and rescues are the way to go. But BYBs create animals that END UP in shelters. If only legitimate breeders were breeding, there would not be a pet overpopulation problem in the US, end of story.

And legit breeders CAN eliminate genetic illness, such as Polycystic Kidney Disease, which my cats have. Because they have it, one of their parents had it. Had the breeder paid about $300 for an abdominal ultrasound and then not used PCK positive cats for breeding stock, he or she would not have created more cats with the disease. But the point is that people who breed because their pets are really cute, or, like my old coworker, want their animals to "earn their keep" (because if you don't spend money on genetic tests, research, showing, and medical care, I guess you can make a profit), are absolutely not able to breed for any kind of trait, good or bad, even if they wanted to.

Another example is the fine paragon of reality television, Ice Loves Coco, where they bred their English Bulldog, Spartacus, based on a playdate at a park. English Bulldogs are super prone to all kinds of problems - hip problems, skin problems, breathing problems. And yet, possibly hundreds of people () see this on TV and think, "Yeah, nothing wrong with that."

[JLN]

You have drive-in movies? I'm jealous!

[pixy0stix]

Jun 12, 2012 17:35:05 GMT -5 JLN said:

You have drive-in movies? I'm jealous!

YES! It's the best thing ever. Double feature for $7 per person. We go all.the.time. in the summer.

[pescalita]

I am SO GLAD I came to this thread. I hadn't even thought about the drive in. :::runs off to find the Avengers:::

[heyjude]

Is your friend from Dec 11?

I've been telling my husband we need to do this for months now.

[zelda25]

Jun 12, 2012 17:35:05 GMT -5 JLN said:

You have drive-in movies? I'm jealous!

No need to be jealous, Jeni--there's one in Newberg!