About "Teacups", "Doodles" and other titles...?

Question

I see the names thrown around a lot to describe various dogs, whether it be too tiny (teacup) or a "designer mutt" (oodles, poos, and so on). I am curious as to how people feel about the free use of these terms, even in a rescue situation?

I feel, that by using these terms, even if the dog was rescued, we are promoting and marketing for the bad breeders who produce these too tiny or mixed breed dogs. I will never use a name like this to ever describe a dog. I just can't imagine doing this. You don't know who might be listening and think it a good "breed" to get as a result of you talking highly of your dog. That person may not realize the whole story, like that your dog was a rescue. Then they may not go in search of one as rescue, but rather look for one of these "for profit" breeders.

So I'm just curious what other think on the idea of us using these names and free marketing for the bad breeders, and puppy mills?

I would not mind if they used the term "tiny" in place of "teacup", as "teacup" is too commonly used as "cute" in order to move the merchandise and make more room for new, poorly bred litters.

If they said "tiny, doesn't meet proper breed standard, not breeding quality" I think I'd like it even more.

Answer 1

I completely agree. Teacup is what I drink out of, not a DOG! A "poo" is something my kids clean up out of the litter box. A "doodle" is something I draw on a piece of paper when I am bored.

If more people would think this way, these designer hybrid "Holly Mills" would no longer be in business!

Answer 2

It really tics me of that people call the very tiny small breed pups teacups. Then want a fortune for them on top of that , They don't know if those pups are going to stay that small. A pup is not done growing until 2 yrs old.

There is no such thing as a teacup chi, teacup pom, teacup Yorkie, teacup poodle or any other breed they want to call a so called teacup pup. Just because someone put a very tiny chi in a teacup one time and took a picture that does not make a breed.
All it is , is a very small pup, imperial, runt or by some kind of genetic make up by being poorly bred.

Any good breeder should know there is no such thing. Call it tiny, call it extra small, call it the runt of the litter or the slowest growing pup. That makes more sense.

Heck what are the new owners of these so called teacups going to do when they pups reach the regular size the breed is suppose to be? Yes some do... Ya think they can go back and sue the breeder for not selling them a teacup when they paid out X amount of dollars for that pup? Just because they start out small does not mean they will stay small all their life.

Oh, and if anyone wants teacups I have a whole cupbopard full! Or you can go to a china shop and get yourself a set.

Answer 3

I sooo agree with you on this!!!!!

My friend and I were talking about this today and she feels the same as me, why give the bybs and pms validity?
Every time someone refers to a "doodle" on here, or any other forum, I cringe. What is wrong with calling them "labrador/poodle mix"??? I'll tell you what's wrong with it, IT DOESN'T SELL PUPPIES! And let's not forget the media's role in this whole mess.
I was in another state at a dog show a few weeks back, and had the tv on a local station. It was covering the show in town, interviews, action shots of the dogs, etc. They finished the piece by stating that some survey somewhere had determined that the most sought after dog nowadays is the "puggle".
I almost puked. Let me tell ya, that tv station caught hell for that comment, especially running it after a segment on a dog show!

Using any of these decriptive terms doesn't change what the dog is: a mixed breed. The danger is that the public buys into this "mixed breeds are healthier than purebred BS", or my personal favorite "labradoodles are going to become AKC recognized"....NOT! NOT! NOT! NEVER!

So, I refuse to give free advertising to the bybs and pms by promoting the cutesy names....and that goes for "tcup" as well!
Nope, I'll not give validity to a practice that KILLS thousands of dogs per year in shelters so some azz hole can make a fast buck!

We (meaning the responsible and knowledgable) have to keep talking and educating......not everyone will listen, but we have to keep at it.

Answer 4

I agree with you to a certain extent. The term "teacup" is not something to be achieved by a breeder. Granted, some try to breed them, putting the dogs in jeopardy of health problems and possibly death with carrying a litter to full term. However, a "teacup" is a genetic mutation and is not going to prevail in every breed that is conceived. Mixed breeds are great dogs. But why can't we just call them "mutts"? Why do they have to be called "cocapoos" or "labradoodles" or the other names that people have come up with? I think people use the designer names because people are drawn by certain breeds. It's kind of dumb.

Answer 5

You know, I never thought of this. I have done a lot of work with rescue organizations and animal shelters, and they do sometimes list a mixed breed dog as a designer name, like 'puggle' or 'golden doodle.' It would be nice if they would just list them as pug/beagle mix. That way it will help people realize that these dogs are not a whole new breed, they are just a mixed breed. But then, I also think rescue's may be doing it to market the dog as more adoptable. They want SO badly for all of these wonderful dogs to find homes. And I have also heard people who have rescued a mixed breed dog make up a name for their dog, just for fun. I never use designer breed names, because I think that purposly breeding mixed breed dogs for no other purpose than to make money, or because they are cute, is WRONG.As for 'tea cup', I have only ever heard back yard breeders, puppy mills, and pet stores use this term, and also people who bought their puppy from them. But I have never heard rescue groups use the term 'tea cup.'

But I do think you are right that it would be best if rescue groups stayed away from these terms to help educate people.


***To iluvtorofl: The reason people shouldn't breed dogs to their own standards is because when we breed two dogs together to get one cute puppy that we want, we don't get just ONE puppy, we get a WHOLE litter of puppies. So you want to keep one or two of the puppies, but what happens to all the others? You have to find homes for them too, and someone who is interested in the same exact thing you are. If you don't find homes, these puppies end up in an animal shelter. Or if they do end up in a home, taking the place of a puppy who Could have been adopted from an animal shelter. There aren't enough homes for the dogs we have now, WHY are we intentionally creating more, just to satisfy our own needs?? I don't think it is fair to the dogs.

Answer 6

We rescued our little 'runt' from an over breeder earlier this
year. She would be termed a 'toy' by the average onlooker.
It took alot of bartering to this individual in order for us to get
her. She'd already had her first litter. One standard size and
another runt, like herself. Since it can be tricky for a small dog
like her to have a litter, it concerned us, that she'd been made
to have a litter at all. And would soon have another if she
stayed in her surroundings. It wasn't that he didn't love his
dogs. He was ignorant of their proper health care, and he
also couldn't afford it. He didn't feed his dogs but once a day.
And that was when he had the money to spare. The runt we
now have, in addition to a full sized dog of the same breed,
now wants as much food as she can get, and will rob her
step sisters plate if she can. We have to worry about her
being overweight, as she is just plain greedy. She's also
proven to be the Alpha dog between the two.
Let people call her what they want. We don't care. She
melts everyones' heart who she meets. And soon call her
by name.

Answer 7

Funny you ask this...I cringe when people use these terms...I have always wondered if it urked others as much as it did me. If I am in a conversation and someone uses those terms...I try not to burst into saying "you mean mixed breed?" or "you mean small?" ....I try to mention the words small or mixed breed to try to get my point across when joining the conversation. Many times people will notice my difference in words and ask why I use those words instead of the ones they use. I will try to politely explain why.....not sure if they really feel the same way as I do.....but I've put a bug in their ear. I try not to be too rude or defensive about it because I realize many people don't have the experience I have had with dogs all my life and they probably won't understand. I'm sure people who know something else about something I don't roll their eyes when I use terminology they don't like either. I try to look at it that way and it helps me be more open minded about that sort of thing.

Answer 8

I look at it for what it is; descriptive narrative, and go on from there. I only become testy about its used in an attempt to try to identify a 'Breed' of dog.

Not much test to it, though, I get out my AKC Breed Standards book and then my Guide to Dogs Standards book (listing 320 breed standards from around the world) to show that there is no officially recognized breed standard for 'Labradoodle' or 'Doodledor,' and go on from there.

It really does come down to: Let the buyer beware.

Tony A-

Answer 9

We at the shelter do not use these terms. We have cocker spaniel mixes (poos) , we have beagle/pug mixes, (puggles) we have German Shepherd/Lab mixes. (German shep x lab)

Everything is called a 'mix.' We don't believe in endorsing these 'cutesy' terms, although when people come in the door looking for a cockapoo, we take them to the run and say, "This is Sammy, he's a cocker spaniel poodle mix." So hopefully the people learn that it is just a mix, and are therefore delighted to find out they can adopt Sammy for only $200 and he's already vetted, neutered, and microchipped. Sammy's brother probably sold in a pet store for $1000.

I despise the current trend of producing these mixes and I hate the fact that shelter dogs die while ignorant or uncaring people drop thousands on poorly bred and sickly puppy mill or backyard dogs.

I joke with you folks and with friends about having a 'Splab', but when people see my beautiful dog- and she is, no modesty here- and ooh and aah and want to know what she is, my answer is rote:

"She is a Labrador/Brittney Spaniel mixed breed and you can find a beautiful dog like this in any shelter in America."

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9119830@N04/572943626/in/photostream/

Thank you for the post.

Answer 10

I think if we could use them more in rescue it would promote more people to go to rescues. However; since its difficult for the rest of us that see a brown, grey mutt to use these terms less people realize they are available in rescue. The problem I have is even rescues that do get this will want to charge an adoption fee as much as the breeder.