Designer Dogs: The New Mixed Breed?

I've always owned mixed breed dogs. I think they called them mutts back then. Until I got Angus, a Scottish Terrier. No prior dog could hold a candle to my little hero. Angus died at 15 yrs. of age from congestive heart failure. My best friend was gone. I'd made my mind up that I was never was I going to go through that kind of sadness again. There would be no more dogs.

My family felt differently.

Less than a week later my daughter and husband came home with a ball of fur that would knock your socks off. Unable to control the love instinct, I swore I'd never reveal again, our home was blessed with Kasey. My first question upon her arrival was "What is she?" With his head cocked, and a bit apprehensive to respond, my husband began to explain. "You're gonna love this Dee. They are trying out a new breed but they haven't found a name for them yet." Silently my thought whisperer was chiming in my head.

"Oh great, more allergy shots, more genetic problems, interbreeding issues...." The whole nine yards. Being the liberal, laid back passive wife that I pretend to be, I listened further.

"She's part Golden Retriever and part Standard Poodle." The natural response from me was, "' Oh great we have a mutt!" Thee hundred dollars later my husband was adamant that we, indeed, did not have a mutt. I'm not sure about the rest of you but I was always led to believe that when two dogs of opposite breeds mixed they were called mutts. We then spent the next hour or so discussing what this type of dog Kasey would be called when whoever was breeding them figured it out. Goodle, Poogoodle, Goldiepoo, PooDoodle....

A year later my husband was reading an article about "designer dogs. There in black & white, with a price tag that would make Rodeo Drive look like Harriett Carters was Kasey. We had a GoldenDoodle. Suddenly...my thought whisperer kicked in once again. ."Designer Dog? $1,500? New yuppie dogs? A moment of introspect. I don't do name brands. I figure if someone wants me to advertise for them they're going to pay me to do it. I'd never spend that kind of money on myself, just because, never mind a dog. And who are they to call this 60's hippie, non conformist, liberal, stayed at home to raise my kids Mom a Yuppie. Damn...how presumptuous of them.

That was 7 years ago. It didn't take long to get over my bruised ego. Kasey proved every day to be the smartest, most trainable, most lovable dog I'd ever had and she continues to amaze me.

Back to topic. What do we have here..? A "designer Dog" or a mutt?

For those in the upper echelon of life, those that love to brag, those with "I buy nothing but the best" personalities, those that wallow in name brands, you have a "Designer Dog" For those that love their pets as much as they do their kids, those that that don't put a price on quality, those that can't always afford the best but get the best with what they can afford...you have a...mutt. A dog.....a mixed breed... a gentle and loving family member. But, most importantly, a best friend.