Would You Adopt A Dog From A Shelter If You Could Not Get A Purebred D

[Diva]

I have reached the stage were I only seek dogs of a particular breed, and even particular lines within that breed, and may well breed my next dog myself. If I couldn't find what I have come to love in this country I would import. I have not been the same with cats, they have all come from shelters, but I might go for a purebred cat if I get another, not sure yet.

[oakway]

I believe one of the main reasons people dump dogs is because they have a dog which doesn't suit them and their lifestyle. I believe that some people and some families can live with any dog and make adjustments to their lives to accommodate the dog's needs and can live with the dog regardless of its characteristics,traits and management requirements. Many people and many families cant and Im one of them . I want a pure bred of one or two particular breeds and I want it to come into my home as a new baby.

There are less registered purebred dogs dumped than others because there are less bred.

Believe me Ive placed puppies with people who appear to be perfect owners - who couldn't have been given a tighter screening and who couldn't have been given more education or informed on the breed - and they are great owners for a while and then for a myriad of reasons they no longer want the dog.Three in 30 years that I know of have been dumped in rescue and have told lies to avoid honouring their contracts and coming back to me first.

The type of stats we need for anyone to say whether or not one group or another is the bad guy breeders and should be more accountable for dogs being dumped are not kept so any ideas we have of which breeders are possibly creating the problem are at best educated assumptions.

Fact is there is a demand for puppies. I no longer keep a constant waiting list because at any given time I had between 50 and 100 waiting.I dont believe I could ever breed enough to fill the demand for puppies of my two breeds in the foreseeable future. Rescue dont have any trouble at all in finding homes for new puppies and nor do puppy farmers and large scale commercial breeders and pet shops. while ever there is a demand someone will supply it and the less predictable pure bred dogs are bred the higher the demand will be for the next best . Less predictability = higher risk of being homeless.

Until we focus on the choices people make and go after greater education and look at how owners accept the responsibility of dog ownership there will be limited progress - however any push toward pure bred dog ownership which will give greater predictability and a better chance of happily ever after for family and dog the numbers for pure bred dogs and breeders who educate and try to match owners and offer a safety net has to increase and its dropping more and more every year. As the supply decreases for predictable pure bred dogs the demand for second or third best increases. Time we took the focus off who is doing the breeding and look at it from a different perspective.

The only way to do that is if breeders and rescue listen to each other and work together to address the whole problem and not just land on assumed solutions without knowing all of the variables and possible unexpected consequences.

People read this post again........You have been given the truth. +1.

[Little Gifts]

I doubt I will ever own a purebred dog from a breeder only because my door will always be open to any dog in need and I will always be full up! I figure I get the dogs I'm meant to get and I have no complaints about that, even if it means I will never have a beautiful little pied Frenchie!

[nickyp]

This is a question I'm starting to wrap my head around. Our girls are 13 and 14 years old, so there's a fair chance that we'll be looking for another dog in the next few years.

I figure that the next dog is likely to belong mostly to my children. If that's the case, our local pound/shelter will be our first stop. After that, a reputable rescue and then a breeder. If the next dog is just for me, it will depend upon what's happening in my life at the time. We had a Papillon when I was a child and I'd like one again, but then I'd also love to have a GAP greyhound. I had a Bull Terrier cross when I was in my twenties and would love to have that temperament again, but my current girls have also given me a love of herding breeds. So I could be happy with just about any type of dog. If I decide I want a specific breed, I'll go to a breeder or breed-specific rescue, but if I'm after a type/style of dog, then the local shelter or a general rescue will do me.

And I don't think I want a puppy again - it's too much like having a human child. For my kids I'd like a young dog. For me, I don't mind.

[Dory the Doted One]

I didn't quite fit into a single category on the Poll.

If there was no other way but a shelter/pound or rescue group, then I would get one from them. But I would be looking for a pretty specific dog.

When I was looking and got Dory I wrote a list of what I wanted and what I could live with. Looks were important too, particularly size. Dory ticked every box on the list. And she's been fantastic. Except for one thing. Over the last few years my wants in a dog have changed and Dory didn't fit that picture. Dory still fits the picture I wanted her for, and she stays. There is no question she stays. And if I couldn't have gotten another dog, I wouldn't. I would have loved Dory till the end and then got a new dog that fit my new criteria.

I can't say in this moment whether or not I would get another rescue dog. What I have fits my current criteria, I have no need for more. I would hazard a guess and say that it would be unlikely. But it wouldn't be out of the question.

[Podengo]

I would adopt from a pound, rescue or shelter, but only a certain type of dog. I have no interest in living with some breeds that are very common in shelters, I wouldn't adopt a dog just for the sake of having one.

[GeckoTree]

Would you adopt a shelter dog if you were unable to get a purebred dog from a responsible breeder

Whilst the dog I have now will possibly be my last for ever or for a very long time after she passes ( knock on wood ) because I have things I want to do in life where having a dog in charge just wont be workable nor appropriate I have no problems in sourcing a dog if or when that may happen in the future from either a shelter, pound, or breeder.

So I voted

Yes, any age or type of dog

Depending on the appropriateness of said dog and my situation at the time.

Edited December 30, 2013 by DaffyDuck

[Steph M]

We have one of each and both are fabulous on their own merits. Ex-pound dog, through a rescue is very sweet, biddable and funny. Super loving but scared of her own farts (literally) and new things like fireworks, marquees at markets and even things like changing the bed sheets throw her off and she sulks for anywhere between two days to twenty minutes. She's also very drivey. More so than I was prepared for (we adjust. No chooks for me though!)

On top of that she panics when left alone and destroys most anything she's left with. None of these things were made known to us on adoption. Her foster carer worked from home, so she was never left alone. Had no other animals and we were told she was only concerned about men (a shorter list what she isn't scared of,!)

If I'd known that all I might have decided against her, but probably not. We have adapted and she is a fab little dog.

Gus is the pb and we know what we are getting and he is amazing. Such a fun dog and a great fit with us.

I can say I probably would go through the pound or rescue again, I'd always love a purebred but sometimes the mutts get you. Even if they pull your washing off the line and kill birds...

[mita]

Before getting on to what dog to get from where... it's necessary to unpick the claim (in the OP) that registered breeders of purebreds are responsible for an 'over-population' of dogs which spills into large numbers of dogs needing adoption from shelters/rescues/pounds.

There's not reliable statistics kept on where dogs dumped actually come from. But there are research findings which can be put together as evidence that dogs coming from registered breeders are less likely to be dumped. If that's so, then dogs being bred & raised by registered breeders, actually helps in preventing dogs being dumped.

There's evidence that registered breeders tend to socialise their dogs/puppies better, so they're less likely to develop the kinds of problems that can get dogs dumped. And that they have more control over litter numbers.

Also there's evidence that dogs coming from breeders who work in a home style way, tend to have less of the problems that lead to dumping. 'Home-style' is the kind of model many 'hobby' registered breeders work in. They do not keep/raise dogs in commercial scale numbers & in a completely non-home style setting. Some may do so, but it's not a significant majority.

So registered breeders are more likely to socialise dogs well... & are more likely to work in a more 'home style' evironment which supports that.

Of course that doesn't apply to every single registered breeder.... but the the behaviours which lead to less dumping are more likely (but not exclusively) to be found with that group.

Which means the generalisation being shunted around that registered breeders, as a group, are mainly responsible for large numbers of dogs in pounds/shelters/rescue groups, doesn't stand up to what evidence we have.

So, as for adoption... BOTH means of adoption can help dogs.

Adopt from a registered breeder who follows the best 'model' for dogs' development.... & you're helping prevent dumping.

Adopt from a shelter/pound/rescue group ... & you're helping those dogs who fall between the cracks or who've had a totally different start to life.

With good research & being doggie-wise, you can find your heart dogs with BOTH.

Edited December 30, 2013 by mita

[Bjelkier]

I've had pound dogs in the past and they've had their good and bad points. At this point in my life I'm not interested in anything other then dogs from registered breeders. I'm after something very specific in look and temperament. In fact I only like a very small number of pure bred dogs as well.

So it's pedigree or nothing for me.

[mixeduppup]

They are also usually not cute, attractive dogs either as they could usually be rehomed easily by the owner.

I have to say...this part bugged me. of my personal 6 dogs, my rescues are the dogs I get the most compliments on how stunning they are, and NON of them were snatched up quickly. Paisley's previous owner spent several months looking for a home for her before giving her to rescue. Gem and Gyp both sat in a high adoption shelter for 2 full months without interest. 2 of my plain boring dogs are from breeders and 1 was an owner re-home. I have a hard time finding anything but the most attractive dogs in shelters and rescues lol

Pound/rescue dogs are so pretty!

And some past pound dogs, now in loving homes.

Now this is personal opinion only but i don't consider any one of the above dogs as unattractive or not cute.

[Perry's Mum]

I got a cattle dog mix 10 week old puppy from the AWL (pound).

I would go to the pound or rescue for the next puppy except for one thing - which I'm still not sure about the data on - the early desex. Ie desex at 8 weeks. So far so good, but if I want to do dog sport and agility maybe better to get a puppy from the breeder and desex later like 18 months old. With agility dog sport - I'm not sure whether it's best to get a dog off a farm with good working history or from a breeder with dog lines that have had good success in my chosen sport. Not an easy find unless I want a border collie.

But surplus working dog pups are so easy to get...

As for oversupply - with an increase in compulsory microchipping and maybe if they start putting the breeder name on the microchip data and keeping the owner history... it might become more obvious who dumps dogs and why.

Koolie Rescue has just taken on a litter of solid colour pure bred Koolie pups which would be ideal for agility and other dog sports. PM me if you are interested.

[Vickie]

I have one direct from the pound as an adult and would do it again, if I didn't want to do sheep work with it. For sheepdogs, I want to know the breeding.

[gwp4me]

mixeduppup, very attractive and talented dogs there. :) I am blown away, too, by what I see turn up in the pounds, so many well bred/purebred working dog breeds there. Look at the little Kelpie beauty I found at Broken Hill Pound, I did not expect so much loyalty and devotion, it is overwhelming.

[mixeduppup]

Maybe (the one with the pink bow) is an amazing yard dog. She'll work cattle, sheep and goats without fuss. Isn't scared of anything, so obedient. She was dumped in the pound with her 3 puppies. I still don't understand but I'm so glad I went that day to pick up a foster dog (that was gone by the time I got there) so instead ended up putting my name down for her. She's the best dog in the world. I'd adopt her 100 times over.

[Salukifan]

Not yet, but I would adopt a mature dog from a shelter when I'm older.

Only a purebred Whippet or Poodle though so I suppose that's not all that helpful.

Clearly those people who think purebred dog breeders are the major source of dogs in pounds don't visit pounds much. A cursory look at the dogs there would put that idea to rest rather quickly.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Not yet, but I would adopt a mature dog from a shelter when I'm older.

Only a purebred Whippet or Poodle though so I suppose that's not all that helpful.

Clearly those people who think purebred dog breeders are the major source of dogs in pounds don't visit pounds much. A cursory look at the dogs there would put that idea to rest rather quickly.

Sadly the Sydney Pounds have plenty of Poodles and the odd Whippet, depending on the breed of choice it can be pretty easy to find an unwanted one.

[mixeduppup]

Quite a few whippets and whippet crosses come through rural pounds. about 80% of those are either sent home or adopted straight from the pound.

[emigremlin]

There are a lot of assumptions in the wording of the question.

One that the choice of a specific breed is all about looks (I think most people here would agree that is not true)

Two that the breeder is the first choice.

I read all the "choosing the right dog" stuff I could find and figured out what I needed. (not a baby puppy, not too big, able to get on with other dogs, able to run but not requiring a sheep station)

Then I spent months combing the RSPCA, AWL, PetRescue to try and find something that fitted. When I couldn't I switched to the Dogz online adult listings which is where I found a dog that suited me.

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

If the people producing these had nowhere to dump them, they might think again before letting another litter be born.

This isn't true. Before there were shelters - unwanted puppies were routinely drowned.

Perry's mum - I'm not sure I'm ready for a new puppy yet. I haven't got the mechanics and timing for training the dog I've got. When she reliably goes around the excellent course without stopping to say hi to the judge, and recalls more reliably then I will get a puppy. Tho one way of dealing with my dog not working - would be to train the puppy instead... But there is an Agility SA facebook page you could post a message there to see if anyone is interested. If the post is not ok - it will get removed.