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WellersBo
member
Buying from a breeder vs. adopting from a shelter
WellersBo
member
I know this can be a controversial topic, and I'm not trying to start any drama, but this was a topic of discussion between some coworkers & I today. It seems to be something that people either feel one way or the other about, with not much gray area.
I can see where both sides come from, I guess, but I would not buy from a breeder. We adopted our dog from our local shelter four years ago, and she is an absolutely wonderful member of our family. She is a boxer/pit bull mix & I couldn't imagine our little family without her. It breaks my heart to think of her being put to sleep if she hadn't been adopted.
What do you think? Which is the better option for your family?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Buying from a breeder vs. adopting from a shelter
I'm on the fence about it. I think it's awesome that so many people adopt from shelters. There a certain breeds I would adopt, and certain ones I would not.
For example, we have a Doberman. Dobermans are an amazing breed. However, they are very sensative and if not trained properly they become very rebellious and it's almost impossible to trust them. I've grown up around Dobermans, among other high energy, high maintenance dogs, and have owned 3 myself, and I would not adopt one from a shelter. That being said, we did adopt our Doberman, Czar, but we adopted him from a breeder who could not sell him.
Having a child now, it makes me a little more nervous to adopt a dog who had a difficult up-bringing. I can't 100% trust a dog I raised from 8wks, so how am I going to trust a dog that I adopted at the age of 5 who was abused by people? It just makes me nervous. If I didn't have children and owned a lot of land, I would definitely adopt more dogs.
There are pros and cons to each side.
Adopting- you are saving the life of a little animal who has the potential of being your next family member that you cant live without. however, you do not know where that animal was rescued from, and how the previous owners treated the animal. Said animal could have aggression/temperment problems, that even with behavioral therapy cant help.
Breeder- you know where your dog came from. you know exactly what breed/bloodline it is, and how the previous generation of the dog temperments were. However, you usually pay a lot of money to a breeder, especially if the dog already comes with shots and registration papers. And, you dont get to save a dog's life that is destin to be put down in a shelter.
A Frog, A Monkey and a Ladybug
I could honestly care less where a dog/cat comes from as long as it's a good pet. Our dog is a rescue and is a very good dog.
My mom runs a cattery of what I like to lovingly call "mutants". she breeds snow bobcats and desert mountain lynx. They have no tails and have extra toes and tend to be about 20 lbs. Even though I have mixed feelings about the cattery, they are extremely awesome well behaved cool as sh!t looking cats.
All of this. I completely support adopting from a shelter, and would love to. We got both of our dogs from the same breeder. My boyfriend got the older one before we were dating, because he has wanted this breed since he was a kid.
We bought our first pug from a breeder. We then foster and volunteered with the pug rescue and eventually adopted our foster, Maya. I am very pro-adopting now.
I will say that you don't always know what you are getting with a breeder puppy. A lot of pugs were reliquished because they turned out not as the family pictured them to be. Some puppies even of the same breed can grow up to have different personalities. If you get a rescue you already know what the personality of the dog will be and not all of them were abused or neglected (esp. in this economy).
Both of our dogs came from breeders. We have papers on them and we were able to spend time with their parents before we bought them. SD was 5 when we bought Cam and I was 6 months pregnant with DD when we got Ollie. I wanted to be able to train them from a young age and I needed to know their family history before I brought them home around my children.
I do not regret my decision at all. Going to a breeder was the best decision for us. DH really wants another dog in the next few years. If so, maybe we will consider going to a shelter since you ladies have given some valid reasons to.
You mean a mutt? lol, im not picking on you, by any means...i just think these terms like puggle, dorkie, and labradoodle are hilarious. If we did this to all dogs, my Sam (GSD/Collie would be a Germollie. LMBO.
You can def find a lab/poodle mutt at the pound. My sister got her pug/beagle mutt from a resuce, it might just take a little longer to find. Good Luck, My friend has a lab/poodle, and boy is that a hyper dog with some some floofy hair!!
Lurker butting in here...
A labradoodle isn't a breed. It's a labrador/poodle mix. Anyone who claims to "breed" these animals is not a legitimate breeder. If you want a lab/poodle mix, go to Petfinder.com. There are THOUSANDS of animals (mixes & pure breds) in need of adoption.
Actually, the "Labradoodle" IS in fact a breed...specifically a hybrid breed. Read up on it. There has been wayyyyy too much selective breeding now to just simply classify it at a "mix"
I have read up on it quite a bit actually. 'Hybrid' is just a fancy word for a mix; it's the backyard breeder's attempt to rationalize and legitimize what they do. They're not in it for the betterment of any one breed, which is what legitimate breeders do. Hybrids are nothing but designer dogs, but in the end they're mixes, plain and simple. The AKC does not recognize the Labradoodle as a breed, nor does the Westminster Kennel Club. I realize that selective breeding does occur and that over a long period of time a new breed may be the result. However, until the Labradoodle is recognized in full as a breed, there shouldn't be any "breeders" out there selling them.
I found this very interesting, and it's only the conclusion of an article written by an expert in the field of dog breeding (link at bottom):
Two conclusions can be drawn from this discussion. The first is that cross bred dogs should always be known for what they are - mongrels or mixed breeds. When breeders refer to them by their pseudo name i.e., ?Labradoodle, or Cocka-Poo?, they legitimize the ef-forts of the mongrel breeders and en-courage them to create markets for their puppies. The second is that the history of breed de-velopment is filled with failure and disappointment. Creating a new breed is not for the timid or those lacking in time, resources and adequate kennel space. The more than 160 AKC-recognized breeds each took decades to develop. It is folly for breeders to think they can create, in a few years, what it took others a lifetime to accomplish. For these reasons, creating a new breed should be left to those with the necessary skills, time, resources and determination.
https://www.caninechronicle.com/Features/Battaglia_07/battaglia_207.html
I haven't read anybody's responses but.... I vote shelter all the way.
If you're picky about the breed you can be patient and find what you're looking for thru rescues or shelters. Every animal I've ever had came from some sort of adoption and they've all been awesome.
You will LOVE having a whippet! We have a sighthound mix we adopted (I think she's Italian Greyhound/Border Collie) and she is so amazing. Gentle, delicate, and loving. I would get another sighthound in an instant. They are the best!
I will NEVER buy a dog from a breeder. I refuse to support it at a time when there are so many homeless pets in shelters and people just keep breeding. We're putting dogs to sleep every day and some people just keep breeding more and adding to the problem. It's sad. You can find any breed you want if you search for them. I'm from a pretty small town, but had my heart set on a bassett hound. A few months later, the sweetest female bassett appeared in the local shelter and I adopted her. She is a typical hound, stubborn & doesn't listen, but we love her! If you are diligent you can find whatever breed or mix you want and you will be helping to solve the overpopulation problem instead of adding to it.
Just my two cents...