I Am Not A Snob -

[Salukifan]

I am heartily sick of the old chestnut of "purebred dog owners are snobs". Sorry rescue folk but its often bandied about within your ranks along with the "buying a purebred pup condemns another pup to death" philosophy.

Frankly I think the basis of this accusation is some kind of misapprehension that all dogs are in essence the same temperament and that all we do is select for cosmetic appearance and origin. It's the same kind of thinking that says socialisation is some kind of magic that can prevent behavioural issues like aggression.

It's a crock and its a myth that needs to be stamped out good and hard every time its trotted out.

I'll tell you why i own purebreds. I'm risk averse. I want the best possible odds that the pup I buy will turn out into the adult dog I want to live with. I want to own pups because I want to raise them in a particular way.

The best way of knowing what you're going to get in an adult dog is to buy that adult from an environment as similar as possible to your home.

IF you don't want to do that then a purebred pup is a best bet. That pup would have ideally been raised in a domestic situation and closely observed for the first 8 weeks of its life. You don't have to guess parentage and you don't have to guess what bite threshold, level of bite inhibition, level of prey drive, level of protectiveness and level of trainability the dog will have. You will have a good idea of the general characteristics the adult will possess, including its size, weight and coat type. You'll be able to predict that with a reasonable degree of certainty.

If you aren't risk averse will that's fine by me. But don't call me a snob because I can't live with any and every dog and want some certainty about the animal I"ll spend the next 15 odd years of my life with.

End of rant. Thoughts??

Edited May 17, 2012 by Haredown Whippets

[SwaY]

I'm a Snob and proud of it.

[tdierikx]

Not all of us are fanatical bleeding hearts HW... I cringe when I see people in rescue carry on like that too.

I personally feel that there is room on this planet for all types of owners (as long as they care for their dogs adequately) and all types of dog (pure or crossed).

You are perfectly entitled to choose your own family pet in whichever way you feel will ensure that you get exactly what you are looking for - and I commend you for your reasons for that selection. An informed decision is always a good thing IMHO.

T.

[raz]

But don't call me a snob because I can't live with any and every dog and want some certainty about the animal I"ll spend the next 15 odd years of my life with.

End of rant. Thoughts??

I'm a snob. I couldnt careless if a mutt owner called me that.

[juice]

I agree with both sides.

I get concerned about the "save anything with a pulse" brigade too.

However i also don't think all breeders do the right thing by their dogs either, we see many in rescue who really couldn't give a shit once they are gone.

I will always own at least one purebred as BT'S are my favorite, and after having several from rescue who had health issue's i decided to get a mature dog from a breeder to fit my family.

She arrived with undisclosed dry eye, and not great bite inhabition.

I think the publics idea that purebreds owners are snobs stems alot from breeders being too unapproachable, i sent 3 emails to breeders when i was looking for a new dog, not one bothered to reply, i only got anywhere due to dol members helping me. Joe public would have given up.

I have had some wonderful dogs through rescue,and i will continue to have a rescue if it fits my pack ( lurcher is on the list).

[Angeluca]

couldn't agree more

[SkySoaringMagpie]

Snobs are everywhere, and some of the snobbiest just follow whatever seems to be the cool thing to do at any point in time, whether it's oodles, or teacups, or rescue crosses or rescue pures, or whatever. Right now it's not cool to have a pure breed, so the snobs aren't drawn to purchasing them - except the sub-class of self-identified snobs we have posting in this thread :laugh:

And there's also a class of people who want everything that HW describes in terms of certainty but they want it from a rescue because it's emotionally comforting to have a rescue and not emotionally comforting to have purchased the dog. You know the "I want a Saluki, and it has to be cat friendly, and respect 4 foot fences, and no separation anxiety, but I want a rescue". Fine, but it means a long wait when well bred pups are available. And there are other ways to support rescue.

I suspect part of the problem is that people have bought the "buy a well bred dog and a pound pup dies" argument, even tho' that is demonstrably not true. My elderly relatives cannot adopt the numerous 6-9 month old lab and stafford cross types that the pounds are littered with because they became too much for their much younger and fitter owners. They need a dog suitable for their resources and physical ability. Brown pound dogs die because some people breed irresponsibly and some owners don't take dog ownership seriously. They do not die because I breed a litter every 4 years of dogs that are only suitable for a niche market. My breed swiftly moves in to deal with dogs that find themselves in the shelter system and we are not a burden on all/mixed breed dog rescue resources. So why not buy a Saluki if that's what you really want? Why let yourself carry the emotional can for other people's shitty choices?

I don't consider myself a snob despite the fact that my breed has a rep for having a snobby fancy. They are the only dogs for me, but I respect equally people's choices to do what really suits them and their lifestyle. When those choices become about suiting others, and their barely concealed agendas, then I get cranky.

Edit - and to address Juice's point, I'll talk to anyone who approaches me for a companion. Only inquiries I don't respond to are hunting inquiries and that is partly (tho' not the only reason) because I think that pigger/roo breeders are a burden on dog rescue resources.

Edited May 17, 2012 by SkySoaringMagpie

[Staffyluv]

I have been a purebred dog owner all my life and now I rescue...

I don't think that anyone who wants to own a purebred dog is a snob..

Some prefer to own purebred and some not.

Then you get the others like me, I just sort of fell into rescue when Ollie died... At the pound one day I met and fell in love with our current dog, Ziggy... Ziggy is a staffy cross.. To me he is as perfect as any purebred dog I have owned over the years..

I don't agree with the old argument that if you buy a purebred pup, you are condemning another to death... Not everyone is cut out to rescue (you honestly never know what you are going to get with these dogs, some have been so mistreated it takes ages to bring them around)...

With the purebred dogs you can be pretty sure of what you are buying, temperament, looks, trainability etc...

No matter what you choose, it is still a lifetime commitment for the dogs involved...

[Maxiewolf]

I think I'm a little bit of a snob. Lol. Our family has had pure-bred/pedigree dogs from day dot, I've still got papers for the first family Dachshund from over 30 years ago. The dog is long gone but the connection is still there, I don't believe myself a snob because I like to know what I'm getting - Im no more of a snob than someone who insists on buying the same brand of TV, or car or food because i like consistancy. I like to know what Im getting.

Sure each dog has its own quirky traits, but a Dachshund is a Dachshund. A Dobermann Is a Dobermann. etc etc. I know that in 10-15 years time that if i Dicide i want another dog of a particular type, ive only got to go back to my papers collection and start looking for a breeder who is currently breeding from the same or similar stock. I feel sorry for the dogs in the shelters, but each of those dogs has their perfect human out there, just like every human has a perfect dog out there... My perfect dog just happens to be the breed I choose, from a breeder I choose that I raise when and how I want.

Besides....Me a Snob? Im not the one trying to cart my little crossbreedoodle around in a hand bag because my dog is too good to walk on the ground. I think the DD people are the snobs these days.

[Steve]

Time we all just stopped and realised we are all different , we all have different needs and desires and for each group to get on with what they have to do to ensure their dogs are well loved and well looked after.

I cant live with just any dog and for me being responsible is ensuring any dog I bring into my home is going to have minimal negative impact on me my lifestyle and my family - that way everyone and the dog is more likely to be happy. So Im fussy about its needs and characteristics.If someone else doesn't see this as an issue and they believe they can live with any dog regardless of its needs [and I know some people can] and management issues - all power to them but I'm not prepared to take that risk for me , the dog or my family. If that's being a snob who cares? I also happen to believe that if I bring it in as a puppy I am more easily able to have it quickly knowing what the rules are and how we shall all live together happily ever after. If someone else wants to bring in some adult mutt and they think they have the energy, time and motivation to do it all form there all power to them. But a girl has to know her limitations before the dog comes in - if not she has to live with the consequences for a decade and a half .One of my dogs lived with me longer than my kids did - she lived to 22. That's a long time to have to compromise on how you really want to live for the sake of the dog. Nup not me. Im too selfish.

[wuffles]

Not all of us are fanatical bleeding hearts HW... I cringe when I see people in rescue carry on like that too.

I personally feel that there is room on this planet for all types of owners (as long as they care for their dogs adequately) and all types of dog (pure or crossed).

You are perfectly entitled to choose your own family pet in whichever way you feel will ensure that you get exactly what you are looking for - and I commend you for your reasons for that selection. An informed decision is always a good thing IMHO.

T.

I agree!

I have a rescue and a purebreed and am proud of both of them.

[raineth]

I dunno, maybe I don't move in the right circles but I've never heard anyone from rescue talk about people who own purebreds as snobs

I am happy with the decisions I've made about the dogs I've chosen to own.

If other people aren't then that's their problem :)

[Panto]

Not all of us are fanatical bleeding hearts HW... I cringe when I see people in rescue carry on like that too.

I personally feel that there is room on this planet for all types of owners (as long as they care for their dogs adequately) and all types of dog (pure or crossed).

You are perfectly entitled to choose your own family pet in whichever way you feel will ensure that you get exactly what you are looking for - and I commend you for your reasons for that selection. An informed decision is always a good thing IMHO.

T.

I agree!

I have a rescue and a purebreed and am proud of both of them.

Nicely said td :)

I am heartily sick of the old chestnut of "purebred dog owners are snobs". Sorry rescue folk but its often bandied about within your ranks along with the "buying a purebred pup condemns another pup to death" philosophy.

I take this as you recognising that not all rescue attend to said philosphy above and I commend that.

I hope whichever camp your foot is in, whether it be both in one camp or one in each, that the main thing is we're all in it for responsible dog ownership and abhorr irresponsible breeding regardless of pure or 'designer' breed, and the mistreatment of animals, and respect responsible owners for their choices - there are other fish to fry.

[Weasels]

Not all of us are fanatical bleeding hearts HW... I cringe when I see people in rescue carry on like that too.

I personally feel that there is room on this planet for all types of owners (as long as they care for their dogs adequately) and all types of dog (pure or crossed).

You are perfectly entitled to choose your own family pet in whichever way you feel will ensure that you get exactly what you are looking for - and I commend you for your reasons for that selection. An informed decision is always a good thing IMHO.

T.

I agree!

I have a rescue and a purebreed and am proud of both of them.

Double I could reach out to rescue today and find multiple wonderful kelpies who were only abandoned because their owners weren't able to meet their exercise and training requirements. And as long as they have the kelpie brains/work ethic and have passed their temp tests I am quite happy to work with them to overcome issues they may have. BUT that's just me, I have the time & inclination to do that. If my preferred breed was something not so overrepresented in shelters or I didn't like training I would find a good breeder, and advise others to do the same if asked.

Also say what you will about me, but god help anyone who calls my dogs inferior :laugh: A good dog is a good dog, and there's nothing better really :)

Edit: and as long as puppy farms exist and pet shops sell dogs, arguments between rescue and reg. breeders is a huge waste of energy. Rescue need to focus on where the real problems are (which the good ones already do).

Edited May 17, 2012 by Weasels

[Dame Aussie]

Not all of us are fanatical bleeding hearts HW... I cringe when I see people in rescue carry on like that too.

I personally feel that there is room on this planet for all types of owners (as long as they care for their dogs adequately) and all types of dog (pure or crossed).

You are perfectly entitled to choose your own family pet in whichever way you feel will ensure that you get exactly what you are looking for - and I commend you for your reasons for that selection. An informed decision is always a good thing IMHO.

T.

I agree!

I have a rescue and a purebreed and am proud of both of them.

Me too. :)

I have been criticised for having a purebred when I was working at a shelter. My response...."Yeah, and I care what you think why?" :D

[MavericksMission]

Not all of us are fanatical bleeding hearts HW... I cringe when I see people in rescue carry on like that too.

I personally feel that there is room on this planet for all types of owners (as long as they care for their dogs adequately) and all types of dog (pure or crossed).

You are perfectly entitled to choose your own family pet in whichever way you feel will ensure that you get exactly what you are looking for - and I commend you for your reasons for that selection. An informed decision is always a good thing IMHO.

T.

Couldn't have said it better

[Salukifan]

Of course rescues and purebreds aren't always two distinct groups. And the "dog snob" label isn't limited to rescue circles.

I find it ironic that crossbred owners who think a purebred dog is somehow to be sneered at are often the same folk very keen to describe their dog in exactly those terms. They just use more than one breed to do it and sometimes the breeds used are a bit of a stretch.

I dont think my dogs pedigree makes ME superior. As pets it doesn't make them superior to a crossbred either. What that pedigree does makecthem is responsibly bred and a better fit for my home.

[Pretty Miss Emma]

I rescued and then found out afterwards (2 years later) that she was a show winning pure-bred!!! Then I went pure-bred because I like having some level of predictability (and it's all because of the first rescue girl!!!). If I were to find another like my first girl in a shelter it would come home in a flash, but they're few and far between. I just got lucky that time (she only came home with me because I fell completely in love, she was old and she was perfect!!)!

[~*Shell*~]

Am I sometimes snobbish?

The Z-man is a rescue (yes he's purebred but I didn't know that when I got him and I don't often tell people that) and Veikko is from an awesome breeder. I plan on having both again in the future. There are a lot of sibes in rescue so for me, that's a bit of a no-brainer. I'm friends with plenty of sibe owners who have never rescued. I don't think that makes them any better or worse than me - they don't rescue for different reasons and that's fair enough.

I know terranik had 2 purebred dogs before she rescued. I'm sure she'll have more of both in the future too. A rescue was what suited her at the time.

[greytpets]

I own 3 pure bred rescue dogs & 2 mutts. I love them all.