Okay.About puppies in the shelters.?

Question

I would love to save a poor puppy's life but I am going to get my first one next summer and I have heard bad things bout them.Like they have problems.It kind of makes me lean on the side of the good reputable breeders a bit.So like for a first time owner,what would you recommend?I would think that a really caring breeder wouldn't even LET me have their puppy since I am a first timer.

Appreciate all answers cept the mean ones.

Answer 1

I'm sure you could find a breeder that would be interested in letting you buy a puppy.  Remember, a good breeder is there for the LIFE of your new dog, has a litter or two a year (not a gazillion puppies!) and is genuinely interested in placing the pups in happy, healthy homes with their support.  My sister got a golden from a nice breeder a couple hours away from her - she had never owned a dog and her husband had dogs growing up (years ago).  The dog is now over a year old and she still keeps in touch with her breeder.  She was given help in her quest to learn about the breed and about raising a puppy, and the breeder cared about the dog and that he was part of a family.

Now on the other hand, my husband and I adopted a 3 and 1/2 month old mixed breed pup from the humane society (and he is the first dog for either of us).  We had a basic idea of the types of breeds we were looking for and our pup is pretty close to what we thought we'd get with his predominant mix.  Also, he is healthy, happy and a total sweetheart.  If you are looking for a really strong likelihood of particular traits, find the breed that is for you and look for a breeder.  If that's less important, get an idea of general breeds (like exercise needs, size, typical temperament and health issues) and take a stroll through your local shelter.  Look for personality and find a pup that resonates with you.  And, frankly, the younger the dog is, the less likely some jerk has already abused it.  Though a lot of dogs at the shelter aren't emotional train wrecks - just dogs that someone didn't have the time or resources for and now it is looking for a home that will give it the chance to just be loved and be a good dog.

Also, if you are fortunate to live somewhere like Boulder where dogs are treated extremely well, your shelter is likely to be a support network for you during the adoption and after.  Ours has training classes, behaviour modification courses and all kinds of resources, plus it's own vet office.  

So, just decide what you want in a dog and how important each facet is, and go from there.

Answer 2

It's impossible to generalize about the millions of shelter dogs. There are some really good ones and some really bad ones, with most falling somewhere in between. You have to find out the dog's background (as much as possible) and trust the employee's judgement. They'll help you pick the best dog for your needs. You can certainly get a great pet from a shelter. If you do want to go to a reputable breeder that's fine too- don't let anyone guilt you into thinking you must go to a shelter. A good breeder will be at least as picky as the shelter, but the fact that you haven't had a dog before won't automatically disqualify you. If you research your chosen breed thoroughly and study how to care for a dog most breeders will be impressed. Also, a breeder is often a great resource and they'll likely want to keep in contact with you. Well bred dogs aren't cheap, but you get what you pay for. Either option is a good way to get a dog. The most important thing is to learn about dogs before you make the choice.

Answer 3

I have been a rescue/shelter volunteer over the years and have also trained dogs for over 15 yrs.  Most concerns about adopting a dog from a shelter is temperament issues.  This is rarely a concern with puppies in a shelter and has to do more with older dogs who MAY have lived a neglectful life and thus developed issues.  

HEAHLTHWISE however, puppies do tend to suffer more in a shelter setting.  Its not uncommon to have a shelter pup come down with Parvo or Kennel Cough.  Hence, it is important that you look at the facility (this is true whether you go thru a shelter, rescue OR breeder, as puppies from reputable breeders CAN still develop these problems) see if its keep reasonably clean.  Look at the overall condition of most of the dogs there.  If you are concerned about health or temperament issues, then consider adopting from a rescue.  

Rescues go in and take puppies and dogs out of the shelters (sometimes they will also take in dogs from private parties but its more on the rare side, and you can specifically ask to adopt a pup thru them that was once a shelter dog if you like).  They make sure the dog is FULLY vetted meaning it has been checked out healthwise, given its shots and been spayed or neutered already.  This is generally not done at shelters and you are required to get it done at your own cost within 6 months usually.  Hence, even tho rescue dogs appear to be more expensive (generally a rescue dog will run you $100-200 and up) in the long run all the "hard stuff" has been done for you and generally cheaper then it would cost to do on your own...plus you have the added benifit of being able to bring your pup home and enjoy it right away.  

In the long run, you will help another homeless shelter puppy because once you free up room at the rescue, they can in turn go and "pull" another dog or puppy from the shelter who would otherwise not have a chance.  

To find a rescue in your area, visit www.petfinder.com

Answer 4

I would try your local SPCA. My local SPCA often sends staff to nearby shelters and they only pick dogs that are healthy and that have passed their temperament test. I used to bring my dog to the SPCA for socialization lessons, and they have some really sweet dogs there that are already trained with basic commands. You may consider adopting a young dog rather than a puppy. A young dog already has a pretty set temperament (what you see is what you get), knows how to potty, and knows some basic obedience commands.

Let me know if you have more questions.

If you want to get from a reputable breeder, I would do a lot of research on the breed you are interested in. Then ask yourself if the breed is appropriate for your household and lifestyle. Also come up with a set of questions for the breeder. If the breeder sees that you have done your homework, she will be more willing to sell you one of her pups. Doing the research will also help you find a puppy that will suit you.

Answer 5

i got a Staffy from a shelter and it is the best thing i have ever done, he follows me everywere and is just so much better than a breeder.

go for a shelter and save a poor puppies life chances are it will love twice as much as you love it. give a dog a second chance. some breeders can be good but they are just making a profit out of pups when there are plenty of cute little pups in a shelter waiting for a new home and a 2nd chance.

Answer 6

Talk to your local shelter and find out if they have behavioral evaluations that they do on puppies.  This can often help you pick the right puppy for your family.  If they don't, then try to find one that does and that will adopt to you even if you don't live in the same city.

If you can, you can also find different fostering rescue programs.  These people often know the dogs intimately from living with them for the last few weeks (sometimes longer) and can help you make a good decision for your home and family.  Unlike shelter dogs, these fostered home dogs rarely come with a problem that they don't know about.  And when you get one from them, you open a place for them to get another from the shelter.

Answer 7

Get a dog that would match your personality. When they are puppies they will chew, pee on the rug whatever, but never give up on them, be patient and work with them. Shelter or Breeder dogs all have there quirks. Get a healthy dog first make sure the shelter has given basic shots and they have been wormed. If they are sick it may be best to stay away from them especially if they have parvo, because they will eventually die. Also if you take a parvo puppy home the disease can live in the soil for a long time and any dog you get after that will be at risk of catching it because it is a very contagious disease. Check up on the health and the cleanliness of the shelter find out all you can about the background of the puppy you are getting first. It can save you a lot of heartache later.

    Pet sit that way you can get the idea what it is like to take care of a dog first. Your life will be a bit different with a dog because it is a responsibility, another life, and you can't just take it back to the shelter on a whim that's not right. Dogs are pack animals and your part of a pack when you get a dog. You are to be a leader, but at the same time be a good friend. If you can do that they will always love you and be there for you.

Answer 8

No they don't.

Before a dog/puppy gets put up for adoption, they need to be put through a series of tests.

The puppies put up for adoption are healthy and well behaved, if they weren't they won't be put up for adoption.

Plus, they are very low cost and include shots so you won't have to take the puppy to the vet after you adopt the dog.

Some shelters even offer them to be mircochipped.

Please adopt!

Hope this helps, good luck!

=)