Dog Breeders

Question: Why do people use dog breeders?

(Posted by: Avocado on 2010-02-27 23:20:51)

I've always wondered why people shell out the extra bucks for "purebred " dogs. There are so many puppies and dogs in shelters that desperately need homes, and if you adopt them young enough, they don't even have that anxiety (I'm thinking specifically of puppies). So even though there's an over- population problem with dogs, and millions are euthanized each year, why do people still insist of having a dog bred for them instead of adopting a needy dog? To Ladystang, and any others: Do looks really matter all that much when there are dogs being euthanized every day? It just seems a little shallow and uncaring is all. I just can't understand why ethically someone would go to a breeder in order to get a certain "look " when there are so many dogs that need homes already.

Posted by: anne b on 2010-02-28, 01:35:38

It is a wonderful thing to adopt a dog from the shelter. My dogs are shelter dogs, and always will be. However, folks who are looking for a specific breed for a specific purpose will only find this with a reputable breeder. There are also people who need to have the guarantee that the pup they purchased will have certain traits and temperament. Many shelter dogs are just a crap shoot. For instance, if I wanted my ACD to be a guaranteed herder with a great temperament, I would certainly not be looking in a shelter. People who breed for this kind of quality would make sure none of their dogs ever ended up there. As far as anxiety, that can be inherited, and a shelter pup is certainly capable of having this problem right from the beginning. As a matter of fact, I just had a customer in the other day with a 7 week old Huskie mix that is already exhibiting the symptoms. He is ill-equipped to deal with something like this, and may not be able t keep the pup. If he had purchased what he wantedfrom a good breeder, he would have no cause for this kind of heartache. Actaully, if more people bought their pups from good breeders, the shelters would not be as full as they are. The problem is not these people, it is the people who buy from pet stores, and bybs, then dump their dogs, because there is no guarantee, and no breeding standards. The problem is these breeders who don't care where the pups they produce end up as long as the money changes hands.

Posted by: Om Nom nom! on 2010-02-27, 23:30:03

They want a specific breed for a specific purpose. they want to know the dogs history. they want to know the dog is healthy (assuming they went through a reputable breeder)

Posted by: Jennifer M on 2010-02-27, 23:43:26

I think people who recuse dogs or adopt from a pound or shelter are awesome, I really do, but I think it's not for everyone. I currently have 3 dogs. 2 are purebreds, purchased from reputable breeders who provided health certs on the parents and the parents parents. The parents were available for us to interact with and we saw the living conditions of the dogs. I knew what I was getting. While a clear health cert of the parents doesn't mean my dog will have no health problems, it is a nice bit of reassurance. Now before I say this next part, let me tell you I have adopted or rescued more than 6 dogs, adults and puppies in my life. I have one who lives with me now and she is fabulous, but wasn't always that way. She is a German Shorthair Pointer and in addition to having been abused severely and underfed by her previous owners (she was 35 lbs when I got her at about 2 and now approx 65 at 13) she has problems which I can only assume stem from bad breeding. She has lupus, joint and knee problems, eye problems, and what the vet thinks is wobbler's syndrome. Do I think all shelter dogs have problems...nope. I've owned several who were FANTASTIC dogs and lived healthy lives of 15+ years. I also had a few like my current dog who were "broken " and in need of "fixing ". So bottom line for me. I respect people who adopt shelter dogs immensely but I am not against people buying dogs from reputable, responsible breeders who know what they are doing. Puppy mills, novice backyard breeders and the like are all bad bad things, but not all dogs who are purchased come from and promote terrible places like that.

Posted by: mira ♥ on 2010-02-27, 23:43:34

Well I guess they want a specific kind of dog for whatever reason. They will know what the dog will look like and how big its likely to be when its older. And although every dog is an individual you can basically expect a general way of being for each specific breed. Such as health issues to expect, food intake, life expectancy and all that stuff. Like if its likely to be a lap dog or hyper. Fo these reasons I dont blame them I wanted a chihuahua I didnt get him from a breeder but I did get a dog that looks like a chihuahua weather 100% or not. Unfortunatelry I dont think its fair for someone who WILL care for their pets to feel guilty for other peoples irresponsible behavior and not be able to enjoy the type of dog they desire. What I do think is unforgivable is getting rid of the dog for any stupid reason or giving up on it when the going gets tough. You should treat them as family and with the respect they deserve. When you love a person you go through the rough times together and even forgive. It should be the same with your pets.

Posted by: TK on 2010-02-27, 23:43:55

There are several reasons to seek out an ethical breeder for a certain dog: enjoys conformation shows, competes or trials, has a specific need requiring a specific instinct or character trait. Many people who compete with their purebreds also have a rescued mutt or two at home, so don't think it's an either / or situation. I challenge your assumption that there is an "overpopulation " problem. It is instead a retention / responsibility problem and a distribution problem. There was just an airlift of Chihuahuas from California to New York to distribute the dogs to where they aren't as plentiful. In several areas, Nathan Winograd has proven that we don't need to kill massive amounts of animals but we do need to do a better job of keeping them in the home and then rehoming them when necessary.

Posted by: Shannon B on 2010-02-27, 23:45:26

I got mine from a breeder because he was cheaper as they aren't papered. I just wanted husky puppies, I am not all into testing them 6 ways to Sunday as some people are, I am not against it in any way it just wasn't in my own checklist. He is not a puppy mill but breeds his dogs when he needs a new member for his dog team and the rest of the profits go back into the sled dog team. He also takes back any dogs people decide they can't handle, which does happen with Sibes because people don't always know what they are getting into and he rescues the odd one. As you saw in my other post, I am also working on fostering Sibes from Taiwan so someone can have a great dog like mine but without having to buy from a breeder but instead saving an existing dog.

Posted by: frostfire on 2010-02-28, 00:28:52

I have both bought dogs from breeders and rescued dogs. I prefer to get a dog from an ethical breeder than a shelter, because I pretty much know what I am going to get. My dogs' parents were fully health testing including OFA, Cerf, and genetic tests for common disorders for their breed. This isn't completly foolproof, but the odds are better of my dogs not developing health problems like hip displasya and PRA than those of a dog in a shelter, with unknown parents. I know how my dogs were raised before they came to me, and I was able to meet the parents, and have a good idea of how my dog's temperment will turn out. shelter dogs have alot of unknowns about them, I prefer to know what I am getting into. I do support local shelters, and I do support rescue, but purebreds are right for me and my situation.

Posted by: beyondimagination on 2010-02-28, 01:25:46

Well, I have gotten several dogs from shelters/ rescues. Unfortunately these places are starting to lie more and more about their dogs they are re-homing. They also have dogs from unknown genetic backgrounds. I got a golden retriever from the shelter who grew up to be a corgi mix. All of my dogs have several issues from poor genetics/ abuse. A few of them have aggression and one has very bad separation anxiety. He was abused as a pup before I adopted him. He also has compulsive drinking where he drinks until he throws up from being starved/ not given water. He doesn't put on weight and always looks sick. He was infested with fleas and worms. My other dog was sick when i got him from the shelter. And my last dog has severe aggression. I have gotten one other dog, about 2 years ago, a lab from an AKC show breeder. He is sound in temperament and health. I have never had any problems with him and he is by far the healthiest and well rounded dog I have ever had. some people want to know they are getting a dog from good genetics and know the temperament of the parents/ other pups in past litters.

Posted by: ladystang on 2010-02-28, 03:42:30

They want to know what they are getting in looks.