- September 5, 2022
- No Comment
- 6 minutes read
'Trip to the groomers is more expensive than the hairdressers' – poodle-type designer dogs cost a fortune, vet claims – Independent.ie
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Vet urges people to be careful where they go for pure-breeds
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Vet Garrett Shine has warned people that dogs with a poodle in their breed will cost more to groom than most people spend having their hair done at the hairdressers.
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Elaine Keogh
September 05 2022 02:30 AM
A vet has warned people buying so-called designer dogs that breeds that are part poodle will cost owners “more at the groomers than most people spend at the hairdressers”.
Garrett Shine, veterinary officer with Louth County Council, also urged people to be very careful where they go for either pure-bred or ‘designer’ dogs.
“I am not a fan of designer- bred dogs,” Mr Shine said. “A dog is a companion and should not be seen as an accessory.
“Breeding for very specific traits, often at the expense of general health, is quite unethical in my opinion. I prefer a good, healthy, robust dog.
“If you believe you ‘must have’ one of them, please ensure that both parents are health tested for any health issues that are common in all of the breeds involved in the mix.” Meanwhile, separately he said dog owners with “anything with a poodle in it, need to know that it will cost them more at the groomers than most people spend at the hairdressers.”
He also urged caution with pups coming from large-scale breeding operations as, “they may not have had adequate socialisation during the very short but critical period between three and 12 weeks.”
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Garrett Shine, veterinary officer with Louth County Council. Photo: Aidan Dullaghan/Newspics
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“For dogs who have not been properly socialised, it is frequently not possible to completely undo any damage caused to them.
“So, in those circumstances, you are likely to end up with a dog who has anxiety issues for life, which can be very difficult to cope with,” he said.
Despite these concerns, Mr Shine said, “the overall attitude to responsible dog ownership is generally very good and very much improved over the years.”
He was speaking as he confirmed that a dozen dogs, seized from an alleged puppy farm in Co Louth, will need to be rehabilitated “as they came from poor circumstances and were not properly
socialised”.
He said they are no longer puppies but appear to be slightly older and essentially are young adult dogs.
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The investigation by the local authority is continuing and Mr Shine did not want to comment further on it.
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