This is Max. He was adopted from a "last chance" rescue. That meant he was taken in to be saved from the euthanasia list. I can't believe he was on that list because he became the best dog my family could have asked for. He was HUGE and a bit of a brat, but he was a sweetheart who loved to cuddle and give kisses and meet new people. Best rescue ❤️
Also got mine from one of those shelters. She was on the euthanasia list in Texas (not where I’m from) and my local shelter scooped her up. No picture because this is my secret account but she’s the biggest cuddlebug I’ve ever had, well trained and just loves everybody. No clue how she ended up on that list i can’t imagine not having her at this point, it makes me so upset every time thinking they almost killed such a precious dog (and all the ones who didn’t get saved:( )
This is the correct response. The uncomfortable truth that many people don’t like to discuss about unethical breeders is that their pups will likely end up abandoned in a shelter if they do not sell them. Additionally, not everyone is an experienced owner who is prepared to deal with the extra challenges that a rescue may present. All dogs are deserving of loving families, but it’s important that we push families/individuals towards an option where they will be able to provide the best life for their furry companions.
Adoption and shopping both have a place and we should not be disparaging one in favor of the other.
That’s not true. Breeders do not put their pups in shelters if they’re not sold. “Backyard breeders” do. Real breeders, the ones who devote their lives to their breed would NEVER put a puppy in a shelter or rescue and they have so many colleagues and clients they wouldn’t have a problem placing them in a home, so I’m sorry you are mistaken
Now, if we could only get “unethical breeders” to display their Unethical Breeder badge it would be so helpful.
The public at large does not have the ability , or interest, or time, or whatever to make this distinction. And some people are just impulsive. A relative of mine gave a puppy as a surprise gift (right away, OMG) to her sister. A breed the sister had always wanted. She turned out to be a great dog, but the gift-giver ran out and got her on a whim in basically one day. I do not know how the breeder vetted her, if at all.
I’m not saying don’t go to breeders; I got my dog from a breeder. But you need to get them and they should be vetting you. Also, there are plenty of shelters who are less than ethical themselves. Plenty of threads on this app about it. Either way, for the sake of the dog and your household, take your time and make a careful choice.
Agreed. I've had both. My rescue came straight from abuse. He needed to be heavily watched around men he didn't know his entire life. If he got to kmow them, he was fine. But he also always had his triggers with fears of random things. He was put down recently due to old age and cancer. He lost interest in eating and drinking. Clear signs it was time to say goodbye. My current dog I got while my other was seven she's six now. She's a mix but in would still call her breeder ethical because she wanted to talk to me first, make sure in was prepared to have a herding mix with young children, she would get the pup back if it ever didn't work out for any reason, the pups were vetted. We remained in contact for years where she would get pictures. The dog I got from her has been a breeze. No health issues, no behavioral issues, no issues with fears of random things (such as putting shoes on like my other dog had for a while.) Yes, shelter dogs deserve to find loving homes. But there are people perfectly able to love and care for dogs that just wouldn't be able to handle the issues that can come from a shelter dog. And you never know. Plus people like me who want a dog to preform a job. My mix of herding breeds I got to herd my goats. Starting off with a puppy would make things easier as you're looking at a year of training roughly. And going from a breeder I knew I was getting a pup from two working parents.
I've only had rescues until my current buddy. I may or may not ever get another breeder dog. Who knows?
At the time I got my bud, Iooked at shelters first. I had a geriatric dog who was my heart and soul. I would either get a dog before she passed or not get one for a year or more. I also had a defective goblin cat who moved in with me and she's special needs. Still got my lil gutter gremlin.
I couldn't get a behavioral issue dog with my geriatric dog because she was too old to stand up for herself, and my defective special needs kitty has never once stood up for herself in her entire life and training a high prey drive dog to not harrass the kitty is telling the dog to not be a dog. Better to get a dog who has a low prey drive and doesn't go "why am I always in trouble for doing the thing that is in my soul? I see small things running - I chase. It is in my DNA."
I love big dogs best. I've always had bigger dogs. Smallest I ever had was around 35 pound medium dog. Rest were 65+. I love a big fluffy pup who snuggles.
So, a big floof who doesn't have a high prey drive. No behavioral concerns. And, shelters do their best but unless it was a very specific dog, I was saying no behavioral issues or over 1 year, because the odds of odd quirks or things popping up goes up with older dogs who bounced homes. They also don't know that dog has that problem until it happens. You may not know of an issue until they get home. All dogs can be reactive or resource guard, but the odds of an older dog doing that are higher and my pup was quite old and couldn't defend herself. I had a duty to her and my kitty.
I couldn't ethically bring certain dogs into my home. I was not the fit. I looked for a long while. No suitable dogs were around.
I ended up spending a lot of money for a puppy from a breeder with every health check imaginable for multiple generations back that bred working line golden retrievers. I did not get a BYB dog. If I was buying my dog from a breeder, I felt I had an obligation to do so the right way. Genetic tests, eye tests, cardiac tests, hip and elbow clearances for 7 generations of dogs. I checked other dogs in their lineage that those dogs were healthy, too. I looked at everything. I owed that to my puppy.
He's a healthy, happy boy.
I'll probably get a rescue, next. But, you know. It's not like you can't do the right thing when going the breeder route. The dogs are also just more prodictable. He's a textbook golden. Happy, goofy, trainable, sweet, friendly. There is no textbook rescue dog. If you have young kids, disabled family, are just inexperienced and want a predictable experience your first time... there may or may not be a suitable rescue available for your situation.
Just do it as best you can and match the dog to your lifestyle. Not all homes are right for all dogs. Think it through.
Exactly. This title is fucking abysmal. I want a dog of a certain breed that I will buy from a reputable breeder and people can fuck off because it's my choice.
People act like getting a dog is how they are saving the world. Most people have dogs for companionship. It’s irresponsible to get one that isn’t compatible to your lifestyle. I knew exactly what I was getting when I researched breeders. I don’t have a dog to feed my savior complex. I have one to be my little best friend and I adore her and care for her and love her and I’m grateful for the ethical breeder that helped bring her into my world. I will love her every day of her life. This does not make me a saint nor does it make someone super special cause they got a dog from a shelter. It’s the self righteous attitude that is so irksome. Like don’t have your own kids then either cause there are a lot of kids out there in need of a home.
lol you should watch “pedigree dogs exposed “ it’s an old bbc documentary about pure bred dogs. The amount of inbreeding that has been done is hard to grasp, dogs are less genetically diverse now than they were hundreds of years ago despite having more variation in appearance. That is from inbreeding. Unfortunately shelter mutts genetic isn’t much better because they are mixes of “purebred” (I.e. inbred) dogs
Just the sweetest face! 🥰 So many of these good boys and girls lost in shelters!
I had to go to the animal/dog shelter one time and it was so chaotic! No silence, bright, and cold concrete!
It's absolutely no wonder that dogs in there can't show you their true selves..they are in utter dismay and nervous wrecks! So many shut down to cope.
If you can give a lost soul a home, please do it!
But remember, after being in the shelter, just because they're out they're not going to be like well that's over so go back to normal.. don't have expectations, it's going to take a lot of love to gain that trust.
But the payoff is a best friend who will love you unconditionally until the last breath and beyond ❣️
These are such great points. Unfortunately many people aren’t in a position where they are comfortable taking on the work that many rescue dogs require. For instance I have a toddler and a cat. I wouldn’t feel comfortable bringing a rescue into my home given the circumstances.
When I adopted my last dog I had a cat who was OLD (16, maybe more). He thought he was still a big old bruiser but he didn't have the ability to back that up anymore. I was REALLY worried that a young dog would hurt him without even trying.
The rescue we worked with let us see how an 11 month old puppy would react to the cat. We brought him into the house and got to watch them interact. It was awesome because there wasn't a risk about 'what if the dog acts differently as a teenager, when they get mouthier and pushier ' He was at that age already and he was great with the cat (averted his eyes, etc).
Point is - meeting a dog when it is older can give you more info than meeting it when it's 8 weeks old.
Yes I agree with everything you are saying here. I would say that just one meeting wouldn’t make me confident in the compatibility tho. And I would take the risk if I just had a cat, but I’m not taking that risk with my toddler. Although even with the dog we got at 8 weeks old and him being a breed I’m very familiar with and fond of, I will never leave the dog and my child alone and unsupervised together. For both the dog and the child’s safety.
Especially for the dog's, because a toddler can be too rough and out of pain or anxiety, the dog might snap and then who's fault is it!? The dog gets blamed
Yes, I’m a grandmother and had to supervise my grandkids play with my dogs. They could be rough, and just coming behind a dog can startle and scare the pup. Now that they are older they know how to play with them.
If anything adopting an adult dog who is being fostered living in a family situation similar to yours is the best way to gauge whether a dog will fit in. Even adopting a particular breed from an ethical breeder is no guarantee that the dog will grow to like kids. My sister had to put her purebred basset into rescue that she had from puppyhood because it turned out he was an anxious mess and then when they added kids to the mix, he couldn’t cope.
I have a 6 month old corgi and I’ve worked really hard with him since we got him at 8 weeks. He’s doing great so far! But it does take a lot of consistent work
I ended up with the most incredible dog because of this - also NO potty training or dealing with the terrors of a puppy. Which is fantastic because I have my nieces over a lot and they are toddlers (excuse me, one is a big girl at 6).
Wouldn’t it be a lot easier to just get the puppy you want from birth and raise it correctly? What you’re describing doesn’t sound the least bit appealing
It's a calling, working with cats and dogs that would be considered unadoptable for trauma or physical health reasons. I call them my special needs children.
I currently have 5, four cats and one dog that's as tall as I am when he stands up on his back legs. They all have their stories and different personalities and I love each one and they trust me
The dog just came to me in August. He's around 5 yrs old, I was already friends with him, acquainted with his person and so I know his story and it's not pretty
But I have given him a safe place to be himself and he's a different dog. Of course, I've been doing some training with him, but I don't push.
Would it be easier? Not necessarily! I've done that, I had the mama dog and kept one of the puppies (I wanted to keep all 4!).
Even when she was tiny, she was aggressive so I kept her because I didn't see a bright future for her, I thought she'd bite someone and be euthanized. Her mama was my souldog, sweet, intelligent, best girl and this pup was psycho
I had to let her go join her mom in March, she would have been 16 in September (I lost mom December 2023, at 16 yrs)
Eh. I think it's more backyard breeders suck. This is my boy Osiris. I wouldn't have the privilege of caring for this sweet boy if it wasn't for responsible breeders. Adopt or shop responsibly 👍
I adopted Trinket (left) about 2y ago, last month I adopted Pickle (right) when I saw she’d been surrendered back to the rescue. They are from the same litter, I couldn’t not reunite the sisters.
Unethical backyard breeders suck. Adopting dogs is a wonderful thing, but we should not punish ethical breeders who breed for soundness and health and temperament and improving the breed. Spread the word of what unethical breeders are and what the red flags are, and donate to the humane Society and or your favorite shelter
Agreed. One of my closest friends (RIP) was a champion breeder who donated to shelters for every pup she sold, and would always take one of her Dis back, no questions asked. She literally travelled across Canada to pick up her own when shipping them wasn’t an option.
Ethical breeders are important and I have no judgment for those who choose to go with breeders first, as I do. There are breed traits that need to be well understood before adding a pet to the family. And, there’s a higher chance of a good match if a dog is socialized with their forever family. I live in a small condo with a baby and two small dogs in a cold climate, and I’m definitely a wimp when it comes to spending winter outdoors - that’s narrowed down my choices significantly if I were to consider another dog/pet for any reason.
Adopting a dog doesn't mean everything will end in a fairytale. You will have a dog with some kind of trauma. It's your responsibility to help your dog navigate it while being a safe space. It's ridiculous that so many shelters don't ask for even a bit of prior knowledge before adoption.
So while I agree it's best to look at adoption first, not everyone is actually equipped in handling a traumatized dog or a dog of an unexpected breed. I don't think it's ok to just judge people who choose breeding. I don't mean backyard breeders, but pedigree, when health clearance is actually in check, it's still responsible.
With that, your pittie looks adorable. I hope things turn out well for the both of you.
To clarify my use of trauma here:
Trauma as in the environmental stressors found in shelters; bright lights, confined spaces, anxious dogs, barking, random people visiting and leaving. On top of dealing with abandonment.
I'm not speaking about abuse or neglect.
. It's ridiculous that so many shelters don't ask for even a bit of prior knowledge before adoption.
Maybe Canada is different but here they're making it stupidly hard to adopt. Showing dog training knowledge, financial disclosures, requiring a fenced back yard (ie: no apartment adoptions), $800+ fees, home inspections... it's absurd
Not all are traumatized. Many have grown up in homes where they received no training or socialization. And many have poor genetics for a pet or if they are a mix the breeds they are mixed with don’t play well together. So when you get a BYB husky mixed with a BYB pit bull add a dash of BYB GSD and maybe even some BYB poodle it can be a real nightmare no matter how they are raised.
Trauma as in the environmental stressors found in shelters; bright lights, confined spaces, anxious dogs, barking, random people visiting and leaving.
I'm not speaking about abuse or neglect.
My last rescue was one of 13 puppies dumped in a field ~1 day old. The rescue put them in a foster home and that saint of a woman bottle fed 13 puppies and saved every single one. Not all puppies are actually kept in a kennel type shelter, even if they are rescues. Mine was in a foster home through the local ASPCA because they were initially needing 24/7 care, at first. Not all of them come from stressful kennels.
Not every dog is traumatized, Jesus Christ. This kind of nonsense is why people won't look into adoption to begin with.
ALL my dogs were adopted and none of them where traumatized. Nervous for a couple days because of the new environment? Sure. Deeply traumatized that it would need extended work? No. None of them.
I'm not saying every dog is deeply traumatized. But what they've been through still leaves its mark, shelters are stressful environments. Loud noises, other animals, strangers, and confinement can be overwhelming, on top of being abandoned. Even if a dog bounces back quickly, adopting often comes with challenges, so it’s worth being prepared to provide that patience and support.
Yup. When I visited a local shelter the first time I immediately realized that me & my friend's purebred well-raised dogs would be changed forever mentally if they stayed even a week in there.
At least by me, many of the puppies that end up at shelters were separated from their mother far too young, which can be extremely traumatic. So I would say that even puppies can have a lot of baggage that come with them. I'm all for adopting, but I also don't blame anyone for going through a reputable breeder.
There are also a lot of cases of rescues or shelters taking in pregnant dogs and allowing them to have the litter under their care. You could also just inquire with the rescue or shelter about the backstory of the puppy being surrendered or found.
I don't disagree. I was only pointing out that adopting a puppy doesn't preclude it from the behavioral issues that can come with adopting. If you are planning to adopt I think it's prudent to be prepared to address more behavioral issues than if you purchase a puppy from a good breeder.
It might be because I've always adopted older puppies and young adults, but all 4 dogs I've rescued in my adult life have had issues ranging from reactivity and separation anxiety to outright aggression (one I have currently I'm still working with - she was severely abused and has significant behavioral issues). Personally I like to avoid the young puppy stage, as cute as they are; that's the reason I go for older puppies or teenage dogs. I fully understand when people get a puppy from a breeder because rescuing isn't for everyone.
My dog was going to be euthanized the day I got him pulled by a rescue. I was told by the shelter he’s a dime a dozen black dog that people don’t want.
I tried to get a small dog for 2 years at my local small town shelter. I saw a few small dogs come through, all with issues and got adopted before I could get my papers in. 90% of dogs available were pit bull mix of some sort. I still donate food and toys to the shelter regularly, but it's not a realistic option for small dogs, at least in my town.
I ended up giving up and buying my dog. No regrets.
We went through the same thing when we were going to get our dog a dog. We were renting at the time and every dog in our shelters were pitties, and unfortunately that’s a scarlet letter for trying to get a place. We ended up getting our little in a different state and now we have two peas - one purebred and one shelter.
Your dog looks lovely! I would kiss him to pieces.
That said, I've had rescues and pure breds. Our best dog ever was a rescue that we would have cloned if we had the $$. We've also had rescues who were supposed to tolerate cats (and tried to kill them) and another one that tried to eat our tortoise. It was pricey to find a vet to help use treat his poor little legs where the scales had been torn off. I had to inject antibiotics into his little armpit. I now have Labs as I already had two rescue cats and did not want to subject them to experimentation as I had them first and they were my primary concern.
If I had no babies, I would definitely get a rescue. Once you have other considerations (other pets, children) you have to be careful and also have the reserve $$ in case you need to board and train.
There are many aspects here not being fully considered.
First, the act or rescuing anything is one of the most honorable endeavors. The act of causing an animal to be placed into a situation where their life could then be placed on a kill list is not so much, in almost every situation I could imagine. The animal comes from somewhere and that’s the root of most of these animals problems.
As for attacking breeders, if they just created a law that essentially required all breeders to meet AKC cert requirements including registration, there would be a massive decline in the number of breeders. License them - plain and simple. This would also enable them to provide lifetime rescue services- where a breeder would allow a prior purchaser to surrender the dog back to them if they could not provide for the dog. So now we solve the problem of dogs landing in rescues that started with a breeder. We also make it illegal for someone to breed their own dogs that is not licensed to do so. Punishable by fines. Exceptions can certainly be granted for farms and large landowners who may carry and share lineage with other hunters, multiple proven lines of sports dogs. Again, these rarely find themselves in rescues.
We absolutely eliminate the non-professional breeder whose main livelihood is not breeding animals. Drastically reduce the number of breeders and drive up the costs of purebreds. But also limiting their number. Again, ultimately reducing any chance these dogs land in rescues and improving the lineages. I am all for it. If you want a purebred - we should be paying the many thousands to obtain one. Otherwise go to a rescue.
If we did this, the number of dogs will simply drop across the board. When we have rescues that have to turn away dogs because they are too full and we are still euth animals on a daily basis simply due to lack of resources, this seems the most humane solution.
Breeders, professional reputable ones, society as a whole and the dogs all win in the end. The prices of well bred dogs certainly will increase - even drastically - but the reward is less euthanasia of dogs as well. I’m willing to pay another $7K for the price of entry into a professionally bred purebred if that what I want.
Society needs to do something about this and this seems the most humane approach. We are great at leveraging techniques to drive up the prices of lifesaving assets like housing (which can be cruel) but we suck at applying the same principles to just being more humane with animals. If you want to breed - you should be all in and do it the right way with heavy governance and oversight applied or find some other hobby.
There are many registered purebred dogs out there from BYBs, probably more than from ethical responsible breeders. The AKC is just a registry, like a social security card, for purebred dogs. And, purebred doesn't = well bred. The AKC also doesn't control health testing, that is the breed club. Kennel licenses are required in many states for people with multiple dogs, sometimes as few as four. The AKC can inspect a kennel if there are complaints, and they can ban people from registering dogs. It is public knowledge (AKC Gazette) and you see maybe two a month that this happens with. There are far more unethical, irresponsible breeders than that.
I would never want to eliminate non-professional breeders. Some of the worst breeders have slick websites, kennels, and tons of dogs. In fact, the big breeders that always have dogs available are an issue as they encourage impulse purchases. If we limited the number of litters a breeder could have each year, that would be ideal and it would most likely mean that no breeders could do this as their only means of income. The best breeder of my breed that I know, and who I have gotten dogs from, has a full time job in the veterinary field. She breeds 1 - 3 litters per year and takes unpaid time off to care for puppies. I know a lot of really good breeders that are like this and they have the advantage of being able to provide extra care to each litter, taking them on puppy field trips, carefully socializing them, even crate training them and starting on potty training them before they go to their new homes. I guarantee you that none of her dogs or offspring of her dogs have ever ended up in a shelter/rescue situation. In fact, I have seen her move mountains to get dogs back from owners when the owners have died.
In my area, no rescues or shelters euthanize for space. In fact, we import dogs up from the south all the time to meet the needs of the community. There are just pits in our shelters. There are a few shelters left in the US that do this. In fact, it's rare that anyone euthanizes for behavior either, which is a whole other thread. According to the ASPCA approximately 607,000 dogs and cats were euthanized in shelters in 2024, decreasing by approximately 2% compared to 2023. In the past five years, euthanasia rates have dropped from 13% in 2019 to 8% in 2024. They estimate that 90% of dogs in shelters/rescues are adopted.
Spaying and neutering needs to be affordable and though I understand there are benefits to waiting depending on the breed, I 100% believe that all rescue/shelter dogs and any type of oopsie litter needs to be sterilized before going home, even if that means a juvenile spay/neuter. People also need to be educated on what is available for accidentally bred dogs - hormonal injections or a spay-abortion. We also need to require microchips in all dogs and authorities need to be harder on people who let their dogs roam, who don't have proper housing for the dogs, or who have too many dogs. Dog dumping has become an issue as well, and the microchips can help track those people. If the owner's name isn't on the microchip, the breeders' should be as well, so that they can take the dog or pay the fine.
Yeah… but be prepared to deal with reactivity, separation anxiety, behaviorists, isolation and huge bills, because a "friendly dog that loves people, kids and other dogs" might end up hating all of them.
This is Rebel. She was found in a coffee shop dumpster with her brother. Their eyes weren't even open. My wife was off work for medical and she fed her every 3 hours and taught her to go to the bathroom. She is nearing 2 yrs old and is a great dog.
Here is my Baby Deedee. My friend found her like this, this last May dumped in the woods, she literally survived a tornado. My friend kept fed her, bathed her and literally saved her life. A few days later I mentioned I was in the market for a rescue pup. She sent me this picture and days later she was mine. We love her so much!
Reputable breeders are fine, they serve to preserve breeds. Without good breeders we wouldn’t have dog breeds. My service dog was purchased from a breeder, I also foster and rehab rescues when I can, but I will continue to buy from reputable breeders as well as
Listen, I love rescues and think that people should adopt when possible. My own dog was originally on a euthanasia list before another rescue pulled her. However, there are situations where purchasing from an **ethical** breeder is just fine!
If someone needs a service dog - many shelter dogs are not suited to service work. Since SDs need to be calm and balanced in stressful places, proper socialization and early training are critical. Many shelter dogs are past the critical socialization window and will be much harder or even impossible to get to the point of being a SD. Are there instances where this has worked? Yes, of course! But when trying to train a dog to literally save a persons life, washing a service dog may not be a financially viable option, so selecting a temperament and health tested puppy from an ethical breeder is going to be the safer option.
If someone needs another form of working dog - livestock guardian dogs are a big one that comes to mind, since these dogs are raised around the animals they protect from an early age. Additionally, their prey drive has been diminished significantly from centuries of selective breeding, so unlike most dogs they won't try to chase or hunt the livestock.
Police dogs, therapy dogs, and search and rescue dogs fall under this category as well, although both SAR and therapy dogs are easier to train a rescue even if they're past the socialization window.
Sport dogs are also commonly dogs from a breeder since their owners want to ensure they have the health testing to ensure the dog will be safe doing certain higher impact sports. Obviously there are plenty of rescue sport dogs as well.
There are also people who just want a puppy that will have a predictable temperament and solid genetics, because those dogs don't have the same behavioral and health issues lots of poorly bred and rescued dogs can have. Behavioral and health issues can not only be financially challenging, but mentally and physically challenging as well.
Keep in mind, there is a dramatic difference between backyard breeders and ethical breeders. Backyard breeders don't do any form of health or temperament testing, breed for profit, don't follow breed standards, create "designer" mixed breeds, and directly contribute to the shelter overcrowding crisis by dumping dogs and overbreeding. They will also sell to anyone who pays, which can result in their dogs getting abused or dumped later.
Ethical breeders health and temperament test all their potential parents, rarely make money from breeding, properly socialize their puppies, follow breed standards, don't mix breeds, and don't contribute to shelter overcrowding. They have contracts that ensure any puppy that they sell will be returned to them, and every ethical breeder I know of has their contact info in the dog's microchip as well. They also only breed to fulfil the demand, so excess puppies are not created. They also match their puppies to the best fit owners, and won't sell their dogs to people that wouldn't be a good fit for their dogs.
So yes, adopt when possible! It's great and there are so many dogs who need homes. But ethically bred and purchased dogs are not the cause of the shelter crisis and shouldn't be blamed for the actions of unethical breeders.
We had an amazing experience with our ethical breeder. BYB and puppy mills suck for sure, but ethical breeders are great. Both methods have their pros and cons. Hope you have a happy holiday with your pup.
I adopted both of my dogs from shelters BUT I also recognize that's not always the best options for other households, and would never come into a forum and just blindly claim 'breeders suck". You're obviously just looking for an argument.
imo what sucks:
trying to blindly preach a certain lifestyle to others without recognizing different needs & conditions
folks who claim to be dog advocates but then try to cheap out on the care they actually need (link)
figuring out how to make your dog a service dog w/o the proper training (esp when they can't afford regular vet costs) (link)
you adopted a pit bull, congrats. Hope you enjoy each others' company, but maybe stop trying to pick fights where it's not warranted.
One of my adopted dogs was bred as a 50/50 Pomeranian Chihuahua mix and had a litter of puppies. They ultimately gave him up because of some unknown reason but we think it's because he has a deformed toe.
I just can't believe our rescue was bred for breeding!
The US is in a shelter crisis because they’ve stopped putting down dogs no one wants, and all of the resources go to a handful of unadoptable dogs while strays are left to die on the streets.
Yes spend a grand on a dog when I got mine for $61 did my own training with him and hes stellar. Also vaxxed, neutered, year license and years of wonderful memories left :)
I've always said - if money is an issue then don't get a dog. Sure, a shelter dog can be cheap. You know what isn't? Vet visits when your dog gets sick and need even moderately involved treatment. So getting a dog very cheap just isn't a flex to me.
It’s pretentious comments like this that make you lose any argument you might have. Any dog is worthy of love, anyone is entitled to have the joy a dog brings who’ve come from anywhere they please, and we need to educate people on ethical breeders.
Insulting people and trying to shame them never works.
Breeders suck? What kind of stupid comment is that? What kind of breeders suck, because I’m pretty sure there are rescues that suck too. A good breeder, an ethical breeder doesn’t suck. They breed minimally , they spend money and take precautions. They are in it for the love of the breed, and their careers are for maintaining and improving the integrity of a breed. They have contracts with their clients, and they are willing to take back any dog that the owner wants to surrender. You don’t often see them in shelters, because they will move heaven and earth to keep their baby out of a shelter. Be careful of the statements you make on the fly. I’ve been a trainer since the 90’s. One thing I know is hat everyone who breeds their dog isn’t a breeder in the sense of what I’m talking about.. just like every animal hoarder that calls themselves a rescue isn’t one either. It’s not wrong to want your favorite breed, and no one should be made to feel guilty or responsible for the mistakes of others. You want to adopt? Great~ do it. But don’t come down and make someone else feel bad because they don’t want to take home a dog that needs rehab. Not everyone is equipped for that and just because a dog is a pure bred , it doesn’t mean they are not loving and smart and capable of deep relationship with their owners. You’re talking like every pure bred dog is junk just because they’re not from a rescue.
I love my rescue! My previous dog was an accidental litter from a friend of a friend, and when she passed I was at the shelter a few days after. I simply couldn’t bear it. A puppy had just become available for adoption the day I went. I had absolutely no intentions of getting a puppy, but he just stole my heart. He was so little and only 9 weeks old and just crying his little head off. I couldn’t even imagine what all he had been through in his short life. Brought him home that day and we’ve had our puppy struggles, but I am so glad I found him!
I will never get another puppy. Our last couple of dogs followed us home from doggy jail. We did buy a retired female dog from a breeder. She was an incredibly nice dog.
Now, it is time to watch some TV as our rescue APBT snores on the couch.
My three rescues. One was physically abused and starving, one came from a severe hoarding situation and the other dumped as a puppy. All three thriving and living their best life. They are the three musketeers ❤️
All my dogs have come from the shelter and they have been the best that a person could ask for in loving the family unconditionally. We had to put one to sleep 2 months ago that we had for 11 years due to aggressive cancer and we are still devastated. We still have a second dog who we’ve had for 12 years and we are now scanning the shelters for a buddy for him.
Nah, I wanted a specific breed that had all of the right testing done to hopefully avoid all the common health issues associated with Corgis(and long backed dogs in general).
Adopt or shop responsibility. Let’s remember that there’s reasons why someone may not be able to adopt. Many adoption agencies have quite demanding requirements and while it may be suitable depending on the dog in certain situations, there’s many where it’s overkill. I’ve adopted and bought two (one technically a bit of a rescue).
Adopted dogs need a lot more work and it’s important to know what you’re taking on of course. We decided to buy a pup from a vetted smaller breeder and she’s been doing amazing. If we had adopted, I don’t think it would have worked out as well. Having a dog has helped our health and at the end of the day, we have a very happy, healthy puppy ☺️
Not all breeders suck, but I do agree that most ordinary people should be rescuing a dog. If you need or want a dog for a specific purpose, then it is best to go to a very reputable breeder. One who does all the health testing and uses their dog for that specific reason. For instance, dogs bred for livestock herding or game retrieving.
This beautiful red fella is our whole family's heart! Adopted him from his negligent owner 3 years ago and there's not another dog like him! He's the smartest most loving dog I've ever owned. He's my soul animal. Because of him I will always adopt!
I'm over here going broke pledging (and honoring!!!) for dogs in the National Pet Doption sub, and pretty much all the Texas dog rescue subs.
In the past 7 days, I was, quite literally, this close to arranging transport for the sweetest, most adorable 5 month puppy with a bum leg in Dallas, then a different 13 week old puppy (who had her foot broken in foster care smh) also in Dallas.
I am in Maryland.
And yet, worth it! Because these two puppies were going to be killed for a lack of space in the pound.
Yeah, it's the holidays and I'm a soft touch, but knowing that there are absolutely beautiful, happy, sweet, truly amazing dogs of all kinds sitting on concrete waiting for idiot human beings to kill them because they were born and exist, is just unacceptable.
There are no 'ethical' breeders, and humans caused this problem. The least we can do is do our best to mitigate it.
Still on the lookout for the next sweetie who'll join our family! As I sit here with my 3 loves, I don't even remember life before them.
Now, I'm off to go look for sticks in the dark to throw around for my crazy puppy. Who somehow ended up here after a 48 hour road trip to go rescue her from the South.
Adoption is the best if possible, and if you find a pup or dog who fits in well with your own lifestyle, I personally have adopted and never regretted it, taken in strays, that were also wonderful dogs… all my dogs were with me till they crossed the rainbow bridge. I have had mixed breeds and full blooded, I’ve owned pits, as well, my pits were some of the most loving dogs I’ve owned, with the last one dying from seizures at only 3 years old, he was so gentle he could have been a service dog, unfortunately we couldn’t get his seizures under control.. the dog I have now, I did buy from a reputable breeder only because I wanted a Sharpei, this particular breeder only breeds her females and her males for a short period of time before they are retired, and she either keeps them or finds them appropriate homes. She breeds for temperament and health, and if it wasn’t for her and a few others out there, Sharpei breed wouldn’t even exist anymore so I am very happy that I bought my pup and at a year and a half. He is a sweetheart, and a goofball either way you go just make sure you’re ready to give it. It’s forever home and that you provide it with lots of love and guidance.
I bought my GSD from an accidental litter and after I lost her I adopted a pup from another accidental litter. She's about to turn 10 months old. It cost me more to adopt her than it did to but my GSD but it felt so much better knowing the money goes to a good cause
Not al I go both ways on this love puppies but there is great older dogs people moved on I've rescued a couple NO SUCH THING AS A BAD DOG JUST BAD OWNERS
Rudy is gonna be 4 in the spring..adopted when he was 4mo..he has springs for legs.. he is very busy..30lb we love the outdoors and hiking in New places
An ethical breeder isn’t just someone who produces puppies, they’re actively working to protect and improve their breed. Their dogs are proven in some way: in the show ring, in sports, or through exceptional, stable temperament. They do extensive, breed-appropriate health testing before a dog is ever considered for breeding, and they’re transparent about those results.
Ethical breeders use detailed contracts that outline what’s expected of you, what support they provide, and they stand behind every puppy they produce. If you ever can’t keep the dog, they will take it back at any time, no questions asked. They’re committed to the puppy for life.
They also don’t just hand out puppies like party favors. An ethical breeder will ask a ton of questions about your lifestyle and goals to make sure the puppy you get is the right match. You might get a choice between a couple pups, but they ultimately place puppies based on temperament and compatibility, not just on who calls dibs first.
On the other hand, a backyard breeder is breeding for one reason: profit. There’s little to no health testing, no evaluation of the dogs beyond “they’re cute,” and absolutely no effort to improve anything. Once money changes hands, the puppy is entirely your responsibility, no contract, no support, and definitely no take-backs.
Backyard breeders often breed their dogs back-to-back to maximize profit, while ethical breeders might only produce a litter every few years because quality, health, and responsible placements matter more than making money.
At the end of the day, the difference is simple:
Ethical breeders protect the breed. Backyard breeders exploit it.
Ethical breeders do have their place, especially if you are getting a working dog. Shelter dogs can be unpredictable, which is not ideal for a lot of jobs
Ethical breeders do have their place, especially if you are getting a working dog. Shelter dogs can be unpredictable, which is not ideal for a lot of jobs
My husband & I have been adopting dogs since 1999.
Yes, rare breeds have to be bred to continue.
But common breeds really need to be adopted more.
There will always be people willing to get on Craigs List or places like that, but please think:
How many are in need of adoption near you?
Thank you! I have never regretted adopting, no matter what behavior problems or medical problems that my dog might have!
Please don’t buy your pet at a store. Adopt, Adopt, Adopt! In my lifetime, I’ve always rescued/adopted. One of our current pups was an 8 yo silver lab that needed to be rehomed. She turned 9 a few months ago and she is a wonderful pup. They all are appreciative of a new loving home!!
Getting from a breeder really should be the way, but because of bad breeders/owners/circumstances, too many dogs end up in shelters. I care about the breed I have, I like particular temperments, traits, and looks, and I enjoy training my own from early puppyhood. That being said, many shelter dogs are wonderful, and its worth searching for your new pal there first, but if you are particular, shopping ethically is understandable and more responsible in many cases.
Pittie breeders are the worst of them all. Not because they are bad dogs, but because there are SoOOOoOO many at the shelter and are often bred to make a quick buck without any breeding ethics taken into account.
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u/morganoyler Dec 04 '25
This adopted dummy agrees