Dog experts and lovers i need your advice??!!?

Question

i was thinking about adopting a lap dog from the humane society but im also thinking about buying a dog from a breeder...what are the things you dislike and like about either adoption or buying a dog???

Answer 1

getting a dog from a breeder will insure papers and things, but I like rescues myself. When you rescue a dog you save its life and turn its life around, plus if its a little older it may already be trained for you. ALSO shelter dogs are generally MUCH cheaper than a breeder dog

Answer 2

Basically by buying a dog - a dog in a shelter will die.

Your chances are pretty good that one of the same breeders previous dogs is in a shelter right now. So its the same dog!

Answer 3

shelter dogs can have behavioral problems that you don't see when you are at the shelter. Now a days it is kind of hard to find a good breeder of small dogs. Go with your gut.

Answer 4

A pure bred from a shelter...lucky.

Well you'd be doing the dog at the shelter a favor, it will probably appreciate your kindness. The puppy from the breeder will likely go to a person who didn't know there was a perfectly good purebred peek at the shelter. Shelter dogs are always the best option. You're helping a dog.

Answer 5

There are too many dogs in shelters that need good homes. Thousands are put down daily around the country. Please go to the shelter before you buy a dog. I know certain people want purebred dogs for different reasons, but a shelter dog is so grateful that you adopt them.

Answer 6

Get one from the shelter there are millions of dogs that have to be put down because no one wants them n the shelter! They want a home please adopt one from the shelter!

Answer 7

If you get your dog from a good breeder. You will have it as a puppy, and it will grow up with you. You will know everything about it.

If you get it from a shelter, you are saving a life, but there is a lot of things you won't know. Like his past owners, why hes here, any past sicknesses, where he was born. If you want one from the shelter, make sure you spend time with him before adoption. Watch how he plays, sleeps, and eats. Dogs don't live in the past. So if he was abused, he won't take it out on you. Just make sure he has a good temperament. I got my shih tzu from a breeder, and he is a really good dog. I have a friend who adopted her bichon mix, and he is the sweetest dog. It all depends on the dog at the shelter. After 5 months of searching for a good shelter dog, and you don't find one, i would buy one from a breeder. That's what i did. I was looking for a dog, that doesn't shed because my dad is allergic. And all my humane society had ( Toronto ) were pit bulls, and you can't adopt one unless you are experienced with them. So i couldn't get a dog. Good luck though, and have fun. Remember, it is a lot of work, and research the breed before getting one :)  

Answer 8

If you have a baby on the way, go with the shelter and get the older dog.. Babies and puppies sound like a cute idea, but it's a whole lot of extra work, and many people aren't up to the challenge of having both.

Answer 9

You get get a lab mix at a shelter or you can get a purebred lab at a shelter too.  If you get a dog at a shelter, it will be much cheaper and also you will be saving a life.  There is absolutely nothing that I dislike about my dog (who I got from a shelter).  I love her and have zero regrets!

Edit: Mindy, dogs from breeders can get sick just as easily as shelter dogs.  A friend of mine just got a purebred West Highland Terrier who has kennel cough.  

I'm sorry, but I just can not stand it when people think of shelter dogs as "sick and dirty" because my shelter dog is healthy and beautiful.

here is a picture of the black lab/pitbull/shepherd mix I got from a shelter

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28306932@N0...

Answer 10

The main things I like and dislike...

With a good breeder I can trace back the health of my dog and know if I'm in for any surprises for that line and breed, with a rescue I cannot.

With a good breeder I can check for temperment, which is oh so important in some breeds, with a rescue I cannot.

With a good breeder I can be assured that my puppy will have probably already started basic crate and potty training, with a rescue I cannot.

Now, that being said...

With a rescue I can be assured that I am saving the life of an unwanted dog, well bred dogs have waiting lists and are taken back to the breeders to never touch a pound if they have good breeders to back them.

With a rescue I can get the best of several breed traits instead of just one, with pure breds I just get what I've got.

With a rescue I can have more control over my dog, good breeders often have limiting contracts on what you can and cannot do with their pup.

All in all, it's a personal choice.  Some people know what they want specifically, and they can only get that with a pure bred.  If that's what you want, go for it.  If you don't want a pound dog and get one because someone guilt trips you into it, it's likely to end up in the pound again.  If you want to rescue, then congratulate yourself on a job well done!

If find a good breeder for the breed you want, ask them for a rescue they may have of that breed.  Many good breeders have a hand in the rescue of the very breed they raise.  At the very least you can talk to them about temperment and health issues that may arise, even if you are going to rescue instead.  Who better to ask?

Answer 11

Ahh, go with the doggy at the humane society, he/she needs a home. Plus its exactly the breed of dog you want. A dog  from a breeder will most likely stay with the breeder if it doesn't sell, plus I'm sure if you get the doggy at the humane society it is alot less expensive then the breeder. The lil doggy at the humane society needs a home and would love for you to adopt him/her. They bring you soooo much unconditional love!! All dogs do. good luck!!

Answer 12

If type of dog you want is available at the humane society get it from there. It will save the dog's life.

Answer 13

If you get it from a breeder you need to look into to there profile because you might get a rip off and with the humane society ask them if you can get to know the dog a little before you adopt it.

Answer 14

buying a dog from a breeder is getting harder and harder... a couple reasons why.. its getting hard to find reputable breeders, alot of people call themselves breeders yet they dont do the testing on their dogs to make sure they are even healthy to reproduce, they dont take their dogs to shows, dont know anything about the breed, except they have papers and are "purebred".

really no cons to rescuing a dog, your saving a life. and theres never anything wrong with that. only thing i would say is that you dont know their history on what theyve been through, how they were treated, but thats the point of adopting you dont know and you still love them and give them a great life no matter what.

in the end its up to you, if you can find a reputable breeder and you want a dog with papers, show quality etc. then do that but if you have no intentions on showing and you dont really care about papers, then definitely go to a shelter.

Answer 15

i think both are ok, the only thing that i dont like about shelters is that you dont really know the medical background and that the dog could be sick when you adopt it. and breeder as long as they are real breeder there ok, if there not real breeders there just sellin pups you should be careful i think buyin a dog from a non breeder and adopting are risky, for me atleast

Answer 16

1) Buying usually means you get a fresh from the pack puppy, no problems yet, you train your way. Adoption means you get the problems it already has and yuo have to retrain it for YOU. Sorry to be blunt but pros for and against 2) adopting means you have more love to give and they may be more grateful with love and devotion to you for the rescue. Buying also means you may have to spend more than usual time to train and 3) Adopting from a shelter means the dog has been checked from head to toe and everything complete buying you take a chance with health problems and usually sold AS IS NO REFUNDS. SO, this is as honest as I can get    

Answer 17

Both make great pets.  The only reason, apart from showing dogs, that I can think of for getting a dog from a breeder is that you have a fair degree of certainty about the dog's background, temperament, health, etc.  Of course you pay for that degree of certainty.  If you do decide on a dog from a breeder you still need to do alot of research to ensure that that breeder is a reputable breeder, and then sometimes you can still end up with issues with the dog.

I think that adopting a rescue dog and giving it a great loving forever home would give you a lovely feeling of doing something good for our canine friends.  I can't think of anything more fulfilling than that.

If you are looking for a pet and its background is of no importance to you then, definitely, go for a rescue dog.  Give a condemned dog a second chance at life.

Answer 18

I have experienced both.  When I was growing up and my parents wanted us to have a dog, they would go to the shelter and pick the saddest, most pitiful puppy there.  They wanted one that they felt no one else would pick.  They always ended up being the best dogs.  Shelters have changed so much since then.  Now they give the dogs all their shots, spay/neuter them, and some micro-chip them for you.  They also have mixed breed dogs as well as full-bred dogs.  You may pay more for the adoption, but you know you are getting a healthy animal.  

In March, my husband and I were looking for a dog for him.  We actually happened across a breeder selling cocker spaniels.  She hadn't papered the litter so they weren't registered, but we didn't care because we just wanted a companion for my husband, not a dog to breed or show.  Pepper is a wonderful dog.  He is loving and loyal.  We adore him!!  But we were lied to.  He isn't a cocker spaniel, he is a cockapoo (a hybrid mix between a spaniel and a poodle).  So breeders aren't always on the up and up when it comes to selling dogs.  You would want to find a reputable one and that can be expensive.  

Then in July, we found a lab/pit puppy on the road that was burned all down his back.  We have spent months nursing him back to health and socializing him.  We are having to overcome all the things he has been through in his short life.  He is a good dog though.  He is smart and great for taking walks with.  There is no joy like rescuing a dog and knowing that you are saving his life.  

I hope that this helped you some.

Answer 19

I see no reason to buy from a breeder unless you are going to show the dog or breed it and need the papers.

If you do buy from a breeder, insist on seeing the dog at the breeder's in its environment. If they say no, don't get the dog. It's a bad sign that the breeder is actually a 'puppy mill' and too often those puppies are already sick, or inbred, malnourished, carrying disease etc.

The animal shelters and humane societies are too full and you can save a dogs' life by adopting.

Which gives you more money to care for the dog and buy it lots of toys!

Answer 20

Getting a dog from a breeder will cost more, but you will be able to get a guaranteed pure breed and know the background of the parents. Getting a dog from a humane society is cheaper and it helps prevent euthanasia but they are often mixed breeds. Shelters also aren't the cleanest and the animals can be exposed to viruses (upper respiratory, kennel cough, etc.) that never go away. It is important to talk whichever you choose regarding any concerns you have about their animals.

Answer 21

Shelter Dog

Pros:  Saving a life, if adult can see what it looks like, & temperament,  Dogs usually are grateful they have been saved.  Comes already neutered.

Cons:  Sometimes catches illness from kennels  (usually easily taken care of.)

Breeder:  

Pros:  Pedigree- Family history.  Registered.  (but can get ILP for purebred from shelter also).  Good breeder lifetime support.  (usually can get support from breed clubs if adopt from shelter).

If puppy get to enjoy puppy stage.

Cons;  If getting a puppy vs adult - don't know what it will turn out like,  you have to go thru the puppy stage work.

If getting from a BYB or Puppy mill it is supporting non reputable breeders and dog may be ill or genetically defective.

Edit:  If you are getting the dog for someone else, they need to meet it and pick it out.   for  3  & 5 yr olds.  a peke is not usually a good choice.  I would go for the shelter dog (if it is an adult) and test it to make sure it is good with children.  They are too young for a peke puppy.

Answer 22

The #1 question about breeders is "Can you trust them?"  As a breeder myself, I have been given a dog with heartworms (refusal of AKC papers), paid big bucks for two half breeds and got a 1.5 year old dog with AKC paper that wasn't right on her age.

Stick with the humane society, but the peke is a bit small for a 3 year old.  She'll get kicked around and smashed.  You should try for a larger dog that will be able to handle children better.  Go for a lab, as they make good family pets.  If the kids were older, I would agree, but my 3 year old grandson throws kittens and hurts puppies.

Since you are having a baby, you can't watch the children around the dog all the time.  Pekes will bite if hurt, as do most dogs.

If you really want a breeder, check with your local vet and see if there is anyone he/she can recommend.  I have two vets that give my name out and know my dogs well.  But then, I am just a hobby breeder who breeds for the love of it.  All my new pups are sold and they are only 11 days old.