Adopt or Shop?
First, let’s be honest. Whether you’re acquiring your dog from a breeder, a shelter, or after endless scrolling through rescues on the internet, you are shopping. As you should be! Acquiring a new dog is not something to be done lightly. Everyone *should* be discerning and “shop” for the perfect fit, regardless of where that lucky pooch is from.
There is an unfortunate stigma attached to working with a breeder. The extreme “ADOPT DON’T SHOP” mentality vilifies breeders and shames anyone who isn’t “rescuing” their new pup. Let’s break this down a bit.
Not all breeders are equal. Preservation breeders produce healthy, stable dogs. They are categorically NOT contributing to a pet overpopulation issue.
They speak honestly and openly about their breed when people inquire. Rather than trying to “sell” their breed (or their puppies), they try to give a fair overview of the breed to help a prospective owner determine if this is the right fit for their home and lifestyle.
They meticulously screen homes to ensure their beloved pups are going to a home where they will be beloved. They ensure the home is prepared to deal with the energy level, grooming, and general care that comes with their breed. They strive to make matches that result in both pup and people thriving and having a life-long relationship.
They do extensive health testing and choose mindful pairings to produce healthy, stable puppies and minimize the risk of any genetic conditions.
They provide a lifetime of support. Great preservation breeders are there for advice, support, and mentoring.
Almost all preservation breeders have a strict contract ensuring any dog they produce comes back to them if they are ever in the position of not being able to stay with their owner - any reason. any time.
IF the worst scenario happens and a well-bred dog lands in a shelter/rescue, their breeder will move heaven and earth to get them back and either keep them or find them an appropriate home.
Reputable preservation breeders are NOT contributing to shelter populations.
What if the breeder isn’t doing all of the above? WALK AWAY! There are a myriad of bad breeders out there. Breeders who aren’t doing health testing, who aren’t paying attention to temperament, who aren’t making mindful pairings, who aren’t providing support….you and your family deserve the *perfect* dog. Don’t settle for a breeder providing anything less.
It probably goes without saying, but just in case, never buy a puppy from a pet store. Pet store puppies are sourced from a range of breeders, from the worst of the puppy mills to well-run commercial operations. Although one end of the spectrum is much better, it still isn’t where I would choose to source a puppy.
In a pet store, a puppy is just another piece of inventory to be sold to anyone with enough money. No counselling on appropriate breed, no breeder support, no fail safe plan if it doesn’t work out (nothing to stop the pup from landing in a shelter), no knowledge of temperament of sire and dam…..nothing other than a sale.
Purebred or Mixed Breed?
All dogs deserve a loving and wonderful home. I am a huge advocate for shelters and rescues, I support the mindful and responsible breeding of purpose-bred mixes, and I believe in the value of preservation purebred breeders.
(What is a purpose-bred mix? There are people who are doing everything you would expect from a reputable breeder - choosing mindful pairings with clear goals using dogs that have been proven in sports/events, thorough health testing, enhanced puppy rearing, strict contracts, lifetime support, etc - but are breeding mixes designed for a purpose. The purpose may be the next top flyball dog who is a BorderWhippet, or an outstanding ratter like a Linty Lurcher/Bedlington Whippet mix, or the next Iditarod mushing dog Greyster/Greyhound GSP mix)
For my own life, I have had wonderful mixed breed dogs in the past. I now own purebreds and am unlikely to stray far from my current breed (the immeasurable Dalmatian).
Predictability
I know what dog size, energy level, coat maintenance suits my lifestyle. A well-bred purebred provides predictability in temperament, size, and energy. I have been privileged to own multiple amazing dogs in a variety of breeds over my lifetime and I know what suits me (and what doesn’t).
A mixed breed pup from a shelter or rescue can be a GREAT fit - but there are some unknowns. If you absolutely can’t have a dog over 40lb because of housing regulations, gambling on a cute puppy may end in a situation of having to move.
If your household thrives on peace and quiet, choosing an unknown mixed breed could result in a dog with an energy level more suited to an active family.
Breeder or Shelter?
For the record, I am a HUGE fan of reputable rescues and shelters. I started my career in animal health at the local humane society. It was (and still is!) a well-run organization dedicated to helping animals in need, educating the general public, and adopting dogs and cats (and occasionally other critters) into new homes.
There are wonderful shelters and rescues across the country that could be excellent resources for your next pet.
Whether you choose to shop at a shelter or through a rescue, or shop with a breeder, do so responsibly.
I personally choose to go to great breeders for my dogs because:
Health
I am looking for healthy animals that will have a long life with me.
Am I saying that rescue dogs aren’t healthy? NO.
What I am saying is that my puppy from a breeder who is doing all the relevant health testing to help prevent issues and produce healthy puppies is giving me the best chance at a healthy pup, minimizing the risk for breed predispositions, and giving me a demonstrable reasonable expectation for a long-lived dog.
Temperament
I am looking for a stable, sound temperament dog that will enjoy traveling with me, have no issues being around other dogs, comfortably manage crowds, and have an appropriate temperament to train and compete in a variety of sports and events.
Am I saying rescue dogs have inherently unstable temperaments? NO.
There are many wonderful dogs in rescue that will make wonderful pets. However, not knowing the temperament of their sire and dam (and many other relatives), not knowing how they were raised and whether they benefited from early enrichment programs, and not knowing how they react to different situations and stresses makes it harder to know they will be the right fit for my lifestyle.
One of the benefits of working with a Preservation breeder is the solid start they are giving your puppy. Before the pups heads home, dedicated breeders are spending TONS of time exposing them to new experiences, doing early neurological stimulation to help make them more resilient, giving them a head start with socialization and exposing them (safely) to a wide range of people, teaching them the beginnings of good puppy behaviour, and setting them up for success.
Your breeder also knows each puppy SO well that they can place them in the absolute perfect home.
When you bring your new bundle of joy home, you’re bringing home a piece of that breeder’s legacy (and their heart). You’re bringing home a piece of the entire pedigree, so every lovingly, carefully planned litter behind your new furry best friend. You’re bringing home a puppy that was so deeply loved already that they have a great start in life.
Structure and Conformation
I am looking for dogs that conform to their standard who could grow into conformation show prospects.
Am I saying that rescue dogs/out-of-standard dogs are less deserving of homes? NO.
All dogs deserve a loving home where they will be cherished. For my personal goals, I choose dogs with a future in the show ring.
Where should you find your next best friend? First, be really honest about your needs/your household needs and decide what breed/type of dog is the right fit. Be honest about your goals and what you need in a new addition to be the right fit.
When my brother decided he wanted a dog, he had two young children. He was planning to go to his local shelter. We talked about what his household needed. He needed a dog with a stable temperament who could be a safe and wonderful companion for his kids (with appropriate supervision and training). He needed a healthy dog who could join his active family on hikes and adventures. He needed a dog who could get along with other dogs in his neighbourhood and at the schoolyard when he picked up and dropped off his kids. Ultimately, we decided a well-bred purebred would fit and found a fantastic breeder. His dog is the absolute perfect dog for him.
Shelters and Rescues (Your new best friend might be waiting for you!)
Just like breeders, there are a myriad of different shelters and rescues. There are well run shelters and rescues and poorly run organizations. No different than finding the right breeder, be discerning about who you work with.
There are many wonderful dogs in shelters and rescues. Working with a great rescue group could definitely find you your perfect dog. Great shelters/rescues spend time getting to know the dogs in their care. Some work with foster homes where dogs can go to learn basic skills and work on their socialization.
While in a foster home, the wonderful people caring for the dog are able to observe whether the dog interacts well with other dogs, how they are with cats, how they respond to different people. The shelter/rescue can then use this information to determine what the best fit would be for this dog.
If you choose to adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue, be prepared that they may come with baggage. They may have missed out on key socialization periods. They may have been treated poorly. You may need to work harder to get to the “perfect” dog, but it will be so rewarding. Again, be honest about your abilities and your resources and don’t take on more than you can handle. Rescue dogs deserve to land in a home that can give them what they need to thrive.
Of course - ALL dogs need training, effort, and consistency. The benefit of a well-bred pup from a preservation breeder is they have the proper foundations in training and socialization that their new owner can build on to help them become a wonderful family member.
We all deserve to have our perfect dog.
What do dogs cost? Everything. All of it. And they’re worth so much more.
