I actually don’t see a huge difference in how new breeds are being created now with my understanding of how most of the current breeds came into existence in the recent past.

The puppy mill designer dogs are problematic, just as puppy mill traditional dogs are problematic. Cocker Spaniels after Lady and the Tramp, Dalmatians after the 101 movie, etc. Now doodles of all sorts, etc.

My problem isn’t theoretical, it’s practical dealing with the rush to fill a demand leading to low quality producers.

I like what the Shiloh Shepherd breeder is doing, for example. She was smart enough to copyright the name and maintain some level of artistic control in rebuilding the German Shepherd.

As for Borderjacks, I have to give one element of support for them. Sure, they’re mixing the two most dangerous elements of BCs and Terriers, the need for constant stimulation and inalterable hardheadedness. A dangerous combination for sure. Add in some aggression and you’re bound to create the Tasmanian Devil.

But just like I’m not for gun control just because guns are dangerous and stupid people will get their hands on them and do stupid things, I’m not really against Borderjacks either. Because, just like a gun, the Borderjacks exist to fill a defined demand (fast height dogs for flyball) and are being bred for a performance standard that is anathema to the more dangerous elements of fad dogs such as rampant disease.

I don’t think that Borderjacks will really expand in popularity beyond the ranks of people who appreciate them for what they are… Flyball machines. So the only unfortunate consequence of their existence is that any breeding program will always produce excess puppies than what are needed for the goal at hand.

I think you’d have a hard time finding a breeder willing to cull those excess puppies instead of finding pet homes for them… so yes, creating Borderjacks isn’t all fun and games.

I about cried the first time I saw people were crossing herding dogs to create these “designer dogs” (I’m sorry, they’re just mutts). The first I saw were Aussiedoodles and English Shepadoodles and I just thought to myself, “well at least they’re not using Border Collies!”

Ignorance is bliss! When I saw your picture of the Bordernese, it provoked me to go searching for other Border Collie abominations, and I came across the Borderjack.

http://www.pnwbcrescue.org/dogimages/regular/2148/66400010.JPG

I am convinced that this is probably the worst idea that could possibly have been created… a Border Collie’s hyperactivity crossed with MORE hyperactivity of a Jack Russell Terrier PLUS the terrier’s stupidity?? Just seems like a bad idea all around to me…

I understand what the word means, and I also realize that it’s now being used for concepts that are only vaguely reminiscent of its technical definition.

But are we living in 1970s or in the present?

Definitive memes they are not, but hasn’t that word lost some of its strict meaning now that it has joined “paradigm shifts,” “radical,” “awesome,” and other popular phrases?

Who could pass up a me-me-me title for a post? Dulce et decorum est I say.

Consulting the Google define:meme oracle, you can quickly confirm that I am not alone nor original in this current use of the word:

“meme: an idea, project, statement or even a question that is posted by one blog and responded to by other blogs.”

Old fogies like you and Terrierman might scoff at the debasement of the word, but it’s not that good of a word to begin with, so I will hardly mourn its passing, and if my re- or miss-defining helps it on its way into oblivion, all the better.

You should appreciate creativity in word use, with your avantgarde use of apostrophes and all.