Don't Buy From Breeders/ Pet Shops

[hers]

Not all breeders are bad. I personally rescued my dog and I wouldnt do it any other way. My bf got his dog from a breeder (he was looking for a particular breed) and we love him just the same. This breeder is great.

 

I will always have boxers, that I know for sure. I will just visit a boxer rescue next time. You can get a specific breed from a rescue and save its life.

[JadedStar]

Not all breeders are bad. I personally rescued my dog and I wouldnt do it any other way. My bf got his dog from a breeder (he was looking for a particular breed) and we love him just the same. This breeder is great.

 

To that i will requote from my former post:

 

Reputable breeders (yes they exist, but honestly and realistically they are far and few in between because good breeders don't make a profit, all of their money they make goes back into their dogs...fewer and fewer people like this exist today - they LOVE the breed of their choice and put a lot of time, effort and money ensuring the dogs they produce are a strong representation of the breed itself) will health test and make sure the dogs they produce are sound and strong representations of the breed.

 

True, not all breeders are bad, but sadly more of them are more irreputable than reputable because in order to make any money of off breeding you have to cut corners, and forego health testing and quality care, thus many breeders end up with dogs that are not very healthy. But i know not "all" are bad because I have met and known a few amazing breeders in my life who were all about the quality of life for their breed of choice and never made a dime. They put every dollar made from the sale of a puppy back into the dogs and only bred one litter every other year.

[JadedStar]

I will always have boxers, that I know for sure. I will just visit a boxer rescue next time. You can get a specific breed from a rescue and save its life.

 

Same here, only with doxies. I will always own one. But i will get them from rescue. I was a member of the Dachshund Rescue Org in my region for years back when i had more time and lived in a rural area where i had a huge fenced yard that the fosters could get out and exercise in. I want to get back into it again.

[Sami Sue]

Being informed about bad breeding and pet store practices is very important. Anyone interested in getting a dog should do their research before setting out.

 

I would just like to point out, that in our area, most shelters WILL NOT allow families with young children to adopt their dogs (unless they are puppies). My husband and I spent weeks combing the shelters for a dog that they would allow us to consider. At the time, we had a 3 year old and I was pregnant. Because the history of these dogs is not always known, and the shelter's resources for re-training are limited, they don't want to deal with the liability of placing a dog with a family with children. Most kennels cards were marked no children under 10 or 14. Some stated no children whatsoever.

 

I'm assuming we aren't the only metro area with these kinds of shelter regulations. We went to 3 county shelters and the humane society. Just a little piece of information. We were very disappointed to find we couldn't adopt a shelter friend. Rescues, however are a great alternative! All dogs deserve happy homes.

[JadedStar]

There is a reason why shelters do that. Small babies and children under the age of five, and small puppies, are not really a good mix and they do everything they can to avoid it. I am not saying that SOME parents are not able to keep the toddlers from abusing the puppy, but so many DO NOT do this that shelters have decided to just prohibit it altogether. They are not mindreaders so they cannot tell which parents of toddlers will keep the puppy out of harm's way and which will not.

 

Most people think babies and puppies are a cute combo but mostly they are not. Toddlers do not know how to interact with a puppy and they don't mean to hurt them but often that is what happens, and if the puppy nips or bites out from being hurt the puppy is often punished by the parents. Puppies will also scratch and bite very rough when playing and toddlers also should not bear the brunt of this rough housing. It is not the baby or puppies fault that they can hurt one another but it does and can happen. That is why shelters will not adopt them out to families with babies under five.

 

If i were a breeder I would also not adopt out my puppies to families with toddlers unless I knew them personally and knew that they were very keen on keeping them separated when they were not able to be watched VERY closely.

[Sami Sue]

Actually, these shelters will place puppies, not older dogs. I used to worked as a vet tech and am incredibly comfortable with dogs and I give a lot of time and attention to parenting, so I was pleased we could acquire a puppy through a friend. We got our puppy when I was 7 months pregnant and my son had just turned 3. Everything has gone incredibly well, but I agree that it is a decision that needs to be made carefully. I wouldn't have made the same decision based on every 3 year old or if I didn't have ample experience with pets.

 

The purpose of my original post was simply, that even with one 9 year old child in your home, many shelters will not place a dog with you, regardless of your child's behavior or demeanor. This is meant to protect the child, not the dog, due to the fact that so often dogs have been abused or neglected and the cost of extensive training is so high.

 

Anyone considering adding a dog to their home should think it through carefully, to avoid any more dogs finding themselves in shelters. But I certainly believe that kids and dogs can be a wonderful combination.

[JadedStar]

IT is also to protect the dog. Absoultely these orgs are considering the dog as well. Many kids are abusive to dogs even tho they don't intend to be. Rescue orgs are very leary about placing dogs with homes with kids and it depends on the actual org on how lenient they may or may not be. In the dachshund org i was in for example, no homing to kids under ten because doxies and kids are not usually a great combination. And even tho you are comfortable with your level of caring for a dog and a child, the shelters and rescue folks can't always know that so they err on the side of too conservative vs less. The goal isn't to keep familes from getting pets but it is just to make sure the dogs go to homes that are the least likely to put them back in the system. Unfortunately some of those decisions may not have been good ones but they stay ultra conservative in the interest of the animal. Of course they care about families too, but people in rescue orgs are typically unpaid and have a high compassion for the animals they are re-homing so they always make the best decision for the dog. (or cat).

 

I agree with you that people should think long and hard before adopting to avoid the poor thing being a part of the system - whether they get it from a shelter or a breeder. I also don't mean to suggest kids and dogs are always a bad pairing. My kids were great with dogs because I made sure that they learned to respect them and their boundaries.

[Sky-Cherries]

My 2 year old rescue-group adopted dog turned out to be severely child-aggressive once taken outside the property.

 

My breeder-bought Great Dane was raised by me since a mere pup, and she's temperamentally perfect.

 

Some people get lucky and get a rescue dog with minimal or no issues.

Most of them are in there for a reason, though.

[JadedStar]

One might say you got lucky getting a dog from a run of the mill breeder with no issues.

 

And yep, they are there for a reason alright. Owners who go out and purchase a dog without doing any type of research on what breed is right for them and not training them properly. Yeah they are there for a reason.

 

Rarely are dogs in shelters or rescue because they are real problem dogs. Just real problem owners who jump into dog ownership without putting enough thought into if their lifestyle is in sync with it or too lax to do proper training.

[lost1607307474]

My 2 year old rescue-group adopted dog turned out to be severely child-aggressive once taken outside the property.

 

My breeder-bought Great Dane was raised by me since a mere pup, and she's temperamentally perfect.

 

Some people get lucky and get a rescue dog with minimal or no issues.

Most of them are in there for a reason, though.

 

Unfortunately wherever you get a dog you may encounter the possibility of aggression problems - whether you get it from a shelter, a breeder, or pet shop. I know you didn't suggest this, but I'd just like to point out that this is not something that only shelter dogs have - I've known plenty of people with breeder/ pet shop dogs who have turned out to be aggressive in certain situations. This is just something you risk happening when you buy/ adopt a dog as they are instinctual animals.

 

I've adopted several dogs from rescue shelters over the years, and so have many of my family members, and we have never had a problem with aggression or bad personality traits. Most dogs at shelters are personality-tested and unfortunately put down if they exhibit signs of aggression. For me personally, I think adoption is the way to go

[hers]

Here in Atlanta, as far as I know, the dogs brought in are not examined by any vets or behaviourial specialists to see what their temperment is. Only if they get pulled by a rescue or put in a no-kill shelter is that done. The shelters (the dog pound) here are so overflowing that they don't have the capacity or time or money to look at each dog's personality and health. They go right from the truck to the cage to the gas chamber if not adopted.

[lost1607307474]

Here in Atlanta, as far as I know, the dogs brought in are not examined by any vets or behaviourial specialists to see what their temperment is. Only if they get pulled by a rescue or put in a no-kill shelter is that done. The shelters (the dog pound) here are so overflowing that they don't have the capacity or time or money to look at each dog's personality and health. They go right from the truck to the cage to the gas chamber if not adopted.

 

This is so sad The pet shelters over here are definitely overflowing, but not nearly that bad. For the past decade or so the RSPCA Australia and other local organisations have been running stacks of campaigns and I think people have become more educated on the topic and it's helped lots.

[hers]

Rescues are a dime a dozen here. They're everywhere. Some just keep pulling dogs from shelters & put them in foster while trying to look for jomes while others focus on adoption but mostly fundraising & education. Some focus strictly on strays, some are vigilante groups who steal dogs from people's yards in the middle of the night if they're chained up or neglected. With as many as there are, the problem is barely getting smaller b/c people just don't care about their pets' situations.

[lost1607307474]

I agree with every single one of you. I think another answer to the problem would be mandatory spaying/ neutering laws. I'm pretty sure we have this in Australia (unless you are a licensed breeder you have to spay/ neuter your pet) but it needs to become more prevalent in other areas and other countries.

[EQD]

there are also BREED SPECIFIC rescues and shelters in the USA if you are looking for a particular breed. link removed is a great resource.

And i agree with JS, not all breeders are bad, but the ones who will go through pet stores are!

They are in it for the money and not to place good dogs in loving homes.

[lost1607307474]

Lost, I agree with that, too (the spay/neuter law), but it would be hard to monitor and enforce. There are more and more free spay/neuter services becoming available, and most counties will do it for free (although there are wait lists).

 

Over here you have to register your pet with your local council, and if you are caught with an unregistered pet then you will be charged a VERY hefty fine. Not many people here want to risk that, and everybody I know has registered their pets. And, in order to register your pet with the council, you need to show proof that your pet has been spayed/ neutered. I'm pretty sure this is how it works anyway. Registering your pet with your local council is also a good thing for the owner, as if your pet gets lost it will have its council tag on its collar, which will contain a number which tracks back to the owner's name and address.

 

I always assumed this would be the same in other places, as it is a really good system and works really well.

[JadedStar]

Pet overpopulation is a serious problem. I also agree w/OP that the conditions in most true "puppy mills" are deplorable. Where I live, they are getting shut down constantly.

The shelter issue becomes a complicated one - sure, no one wants critters put down, but there is not enough money and space to house them all.

The answer lies in responsible pet ownership and education.

 

I am so glad to hear they are getting shutdown in your area. I attest that to the awareness that people have been getting out there and educating people.....more people today know about these ills than they did five or ten years ago. I am seeing more puppy mills getting exposed on the nightly local news and that is very good to see. I never saw this on the news five or ten yeras ago.

[JadedStar]

Another sign of a bad breeder is the registry they use. If they are not using AKC there is likely VERY good reason! I am not going to imply that ALL breeders using AKC registry are GOOD, but i am saying those who don't are 99% likely to be BAD!

 

If you get kicked out of AKC you are really guilty of poor breeding practices. In the US, the Continental Kennel Club (CKC but NOT to be confused with the Canadian Kennel Club which also goes by CKC and is legit) is notoriously popular with the puppy millers.

 

The papers that come with a dog are worth about as much money as the paper they are printed on, however, if a breeder can't use AKC there is likely very good reason and to be avoided. Some people think a dog with "papers' makes that dog higher quality than one without them. It isn't true. Anyone can get a dog registered these days, it is much harder wtih AKC but a dog even with AKC papers is not proof that you have a champion or a properly bred dog.

[woahisme13]

There are many rescues accross the country that specialize in different breeds. This is always an otion if you have a certain breed in mind. I got my Staffy from a rescue like this out of NYC. He was scheduled to be put down before the lady who runs the program got him out of the shelter he was in. I couldn't ask for a better dog. He came fully housetrained, vaccinated, chipped, and altered.

 

This is a great option because you get to save a life and still get the breed you are looking for. Everyone wins. Plus the adoption fee is way less than the cost of altering, purchasing the dog, shots...

[JadedStar]

There are many rescues accross the country that specialize in different breeds. This is always an otion if you have a certain breed in mind. I got my Staffy from a rescue like this out of NYC. He was scheduled to be put down before the lady who runs the program got him out of the shelter he was in. I couldn't ask for a better dog. He came fully housetrained, vaccinated, chipped, and altered.

 

This is a great option because you get to save a life and still get the breed you are looking for. Everyone wins. Plus the adoption fee is way less than the cost of altering, purchasing the dog, shots...

 

Absolutely. These orgs are fantastic. I was a member (well still a member but due to some issues with living in a townhome I can no longer foster) of Dachshund Rescue. Very rewarding as I love this breed. I love all dogs, but unfortunately even animal lovers can't be everywhere in every org so you have to pick one or two and do your best to make a difference.

 

These are people who work free and give their time for the pure reason of helping out an animal. It is perhaps the only business transaction you will ever make in your life where you are 100% certain the motivation to put something in your hands is not driven by money or greed.