Puppy - from 'breeder' or regular home?

[scra]

I think rescues are OK if you don't have small kids in the house, or other considerations like allergies. I've looked quite a bit on petfinder, and they often have "rules" like you must have a fenced in yard, etc. Or you can't have kids under 10, etc.

I adopted from a rescue. It didn't turn out well. Dog was much older than I was told, and was a medical mess that cost us thousands. It also was snippy with young kids. We only ended up having her a few years, then we had to put her down because of her health issues.

I also adopted from a backyard breeder where they owned the two pets. BEST DOG EVER! But did have a lot of health issues after he hit about 8. But he lived to about 15.

Next time I'm much more likely to get a puppy from a breeder I can socialize.

You can also get a "best dog ever" with health issues from a rescue, or a snippy, mean old dog from a back yard breeder. Basically, no matter where you get a dog from, even if you go to a top of the line show breeder who breeds for temperament, it is luck of the draw.

This is why I advocate adoption. If it is such a crapshoot, then why not at least save a dog's life?

 

[bedogged]

[/QUOTE]

The ASPCA of wake county seize dogs from a puppy mills about 6 months ago there was many puppies. By now they all been adopted, when they come by they come quick if she does research and looks in puppy finder she should be able to find some maybe not immediately but within a few months. Most of the dogs where toy breeds and small dogs. This is why I asked the OP why she wanted a pug most rescues and the ASPCA here do not adopt to someone because they want a certain breed, but they fill a survey to make sure that the dog fits their lifestyle.[/QUOTE]

I just looked at the ASPCA of Wake County's web site http://www.spcawake.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Adopt_mainpage and an extremely large percent of the dogs they are offering for adoption are "Staffordshire Terrier crosses",(Pit Bull crosses) Just how many family's lifestyles will these Pit Bull crosses fit into?

 

[scra]

The ASPCA of wake county seize dogs from a puppy mills about 6 months ago there was many puppies. By now they all been adopted, when they come by they come quick if she does research and looks in puppy finder she should be able to find some maybe not immediately but within a few months. Most of the dogs where toy breeds and small dogs. This is why I asked the OP why she wanted a pug most rescues and the ASPCA here do not adopt to someone because they want a certain breed, but they fill a survey to make sure that the dog fits their lifestyle.

I just looked at the ASPCA of Wake County's web site http://www.spcawake.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Adopt_mainpage and an extremely large percent of the dogs they are offering for adoption are "Staffordshire Terrier crosses",(Pit Bull crosses) Just how many family's lifestyles will these Pit Bull crosses fit into?

Probably more than a pug would, honestly. Staffies are very loving, sweet dogs and the fact that they are often forced into fighting rings is NOT a reflection on the breed, but on the owner. In reality, many small dogs that might be on OP's list would be more aggressive than a Staffie, like Chow Chows or Papillons.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

However, I do believe that everyone should have the option to bring a dog into their family that will fit the needs of their family. That might mean grow to a predictable size/weight, have a temperament/activity level suitable to the family's lifestyle, be hypoallergenic, have a reasonable expectation of good health through generations of selective breednig. It also means the option to have an expert that can tell the family if the breed isn't right for them and point them in the right direction to a breed that might be. Or, tell them they'd be better suited with an adult and not a puppy or kindly convince them that they shouldn't own a plant, much less a dog It means the option to have an expert as a resource for ALL of the dog's needs for life. The ONLY way to get this is with a reputable breeder.

I agree with you 100%. It's wonderful to give a rescue dog a second chance at life.... however, not everyone can can entirely what they want/need from a shelter dog. It just doesn't happen.

I want a Schutzhund (the German working dog trials - it has three parts: obedience, tracking, and protection) German Shepherd. We have two rescue German Shepherds and I love them to death.... but one got his CDX obedience title and completely failed at the next stage (Utility Dog) of the competiton - he's just too OCD to do what is required of him at a level beyond 'sit', 'stay' 'heel'. The other Shepherd is sweet but lazy and has no drive at all. We adopted them because they are a good fit to our family, but we got into "dog sports" because of them and now we want more from the next dog that we own.

Simply, our next dog will be from a breeder that breeds for Schutzhund performance because that is what we want. We have two rescue Shepherds and we love them, but we're looking for a certain temperament and drive with our next dog, and we are willing to pay a breeder top dollar to try to get that. We know that there is no guarantees - we could buy a dog that is the product of two parents with top Schutzhund titles.... and end up with another couch potato. We know that - but we have a greater chance of getting what we want by going with a known breeder that breeds for these traits.

I think as long as you're supporting good breeders, there's nothing wrong with buying a puppy. If everyone carefully researched their purchase and bought from good breeders who are trying to better their breed, there would be a whole lot less dogs in the shelters. We will definitely adopt from rescues in the future, but our next dog will be from a breeder. And there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[jodifla]

You can also get a "best dog ever" with health issues from a rescue, or a snippy, mean old dog from a back yard breeder. Basically, no matter where you get a dog from, even if you go to a top of the line show breeder who breeds for temperament, it is luck of the draw.

This is why I advocate adoption. If it is such a crapshoot, then why not at least save a dog's life?

Good breeders take their dogs back if there is a problem with them. And no, it really isn't so much "luck of the draw" if the breeding is careful. You are getting a dog with a certain size, look and temperament. And if you get them as puppies, you can socialize them yourself, a very important step in a dog's development.

 

[bedogged]

Probably more than a pug would, honestly. Staffies are very loving, sweet dogs and the fact that they are often forced into fighting rings is NOT a reflection on the breed, but on the owner. In reality, many small dogs that might be on OP's list would be more aggressive than a Staffie, like Chow Chows or Papillons.

IMHO, neither Pugs or Papillons are normally an aggressive breed. Pugs are very sweet tempered and Paps are loving and are smart as a whip. Any breed can have an aggressive dog in it. Shelters frequently see these aggressive individuals because owners are more likely to relinquish them.

 

[mikehn]

Of course adoption was our first option, but after scouring the net, we werent able to find what we wanted so we ended up getting two pugs from so called backyard breeders. They are now about 18 months old. They've been socialized around 4-7 year olds and they seem fine.

 

[princessmom29]

Probably more than a pug would, honestly. Staffies are very loving, sweet dogs and the fact that they are often forced into fighting rings is NOT a reflection on the breed, but on the owner. In reality, many small dogs that might be on OP's list would be more aggressive than a Staffie, like Chow Chows or Papillons.

That was true 100 years ago, but is NOT the case now. These dogs have been bred for aggression by those that fight them to such an extent that their temprement has been effected breed wide. Especially in a seizure situation, you simply cannot be sure that the dog you are getting is not from a line bred over and over to slect for the most aggressive fighting dog. It is sad and not the dogs' fault at all, but it is true and something responsible owners NEED to be considering when looking at this breed. You need to be VERY careful that it can be proven that there is NO fighting stock in your dogh's bloodline. Since when are Chow Chows a SMALL dog, and I have never seen an aggressive Papillon. Even if ther were, they aren't capable of killing a child. I have seen the results of pits attacking children. It literally made me sick.

 

[robinb]

Since when are Chow Chows a SMALL dog, and I have never seen an aggressive Papillon. Even if ther were, they aren't capable of killing a child. I have seen the results of pits attacking children.

My sister's Papillon is an aggressive little crap who would happily bite me if I let him get close enough to me. He settles for barking insanely. He certainly could not hurt me as much as a larger dog, but even a little dog can do damage.

ETA: This psychotic little dog is the product of a puppy mill. My sister adopted his mother, an ex-puppy mill breeding dog, from a shelter and found out she was pregnant (how the shelter missed that, I have no clue) with 3 puppies. One puppy died and both remaining puppies were certifiably insane. I dodged a bullet when I said "no" to one of the puppies because of my allergies.

 

[tzolkin]

I know Pit Bull discussions can get very heated... DH and I were even yelled at by a shelter owner because we would not take one when we were looking at adopting a second dog.

Yes, I understand that they can be very sweet and loving pets.

We adopted our dog (Lab/Boston Terrier mix) at 7months. She is a very shy/scared dog and we have been working hard to socialize her. She has never bit anyone however I cannot trust her around other children (or even adults). I am always attentive and must have her with me or in her crate whenever we have guests. She adores my children (5, 7, and 13), but I still know there is a possibility she could bite them and that it would do some damage.

I just know so many people who have a dog and say "oh, they're good with kids" and never give it a second thought. My dog is very sweet and loves us, but I would never trust her completely. I would feel the same about any other dog I brought into my home and I'm just not willing to deal with the anxiety of being constantly vigilant with a dog that could kill/disfigure my kids or someone else.

I might consider purchasing a Pit or other large dog as a small puppy from a reputable breeder where I could completely socialize it, but I simply do not feel comfortable adopting one as an older dog. Unfortunately where I live these are the only types of dogs available at the shelters. (We drove 4 hours to adopt our dog and she's still a larger dog.) For now, we have decided to stay a one-dog family.


ETA: We had a Sharpei (another dog bred for fighting) when I was a kid that had to be put down because it attacked two friends (bit one in the face). My best friend also had two Sharpeis. The one had to be put to sleep after it killed their neighbors pets. And the other one would bite anyone who walked through the front door (me included). These are some of the reasons I can never trust dogs (even a loving family pet) that could pose a serious threat. I do not really like small dogs and would not care to own one, but I wouldn't have to worry about them doing as much damage.

 

[Pigeon]

Even if ther were, they aren't capable of killing a child. I have seen the results of pits attacking children.

I'm not attributing this behavior to anyone here, but as an aside, at the rescue where I volunteer, we tend to see dog problems that stem from a lack of adequate training disproportionately in small dogs. People seem to think that behavior that otherwise would be a serious problem in larger dogs is somehow cute or acceptable in small dogs. Until it's not. When Little Widdle Precious bites the wrong child, after a history of biting, or when the lack of proper housebreaking finally gets on somebody's last nerve, we end up with the dog.

 

[Arabelle]

I can picture that. When we bought our mastiff we were given tons of training. We got minimal when we bought our small dog. It is assumed that a little dog should be easy and they can be mean little suckers! I'd take a Doberman over the min pins I've known any day of the week!

 

[princessmom29]

I'm not attributing this behavior to anyone here, but as an aside, at the rescue where I volunteer, we tend to see dog problems that stem from a lack of adequate training disproportionately in small dogs. People seem to think that behavior that otherwise would be a serious problem in larger dogs is somehow cute or acceptable in small dogs. Until it's not. When Little Widdle Precious bites the wrong child, after a history of biting, or when the lack of proper housebreaking finally gets on somebody's last nerve, we end up with the dog.

Another sad but true fact. My little dog (8 lb mini doxie) came to us as a puppy and we worked hard to teach her good manners and proper behavior as well as to establish the the PEOPLE are the alphas. Many do miss doing that with little dogs and end up with a little terror that rules the roost. But, that little terror can do MUCH less damage to the unsupecting neighbor kid than a pit bread for fighting.

 

[lakelandgal70]

Don't get me started on this....so many at home "breeders" are doing it for the $$$. PLEASE look at rescues or the shelter first. If you must have a dog with first rate papers to show not just a pet, then search for a reputable breeder. Both of my labs came from a lab rescue, one was 2 yrs old and the other was 10 months, both were fully house trained and did not chew a thing! The rescue people were also able to tell us how they got along with kids, cats and other dogs. Pups are adorable for a year and then they are dogs...but remember pups need constant attention and a lot of training!

I totally agree with this post. The only way I would go is rescue. There are so many dogs looking for homes. And who knows maybe you could be a foster home first before you make a commitment. Good luck with your decision!

 

[bedogged]

I can picture that. When we bought our mastiff we were given tons of training. We got minimal when we bought our small dog. It is assumed that a little dog should be easy and they can be mean little suckers! I'd take a Doberman over the min pins I've known any day of the week!

Every breed has good and bad things about them. Yorkshire Terriers, my breed, usually are extremely loving and like everybody. When the doorbell rings, they think it is for them. The standard for Yorkies is must not exceed seven pounds and many are much smaller. Yorkies love children, but because of their small size, a young child can accidentally hurt them. Any dog that has been injured can snap. That is why they are not suitable for young children.

Yorkies don't shed at all, but that long hair requires a lot of care. They are great little watch dogs, meaning they bark their fool heads off at the smallest sound, real or imagined. Yorkies love to give kisses. Some people don't like them licking their lips and they love to wait until your mouth is open... Although they are extremely intelligent, understanding a large number of words, housebreaking does not seem to be in their vocabulary. Housebreaking a Yorkie can be a life long adventure that requires a great deal of patience. Failure to housebreak is the number one reason they are relinquished to rescue groups and shelters.

This is exactly the type of information a person looking for a puppy or adopting a rescue dog should be getting from the breeder or rescue official. If they are not this frank or they try to sell you on the breed, in my opinion, there is potential for a big problem!

 

[adventure_woman]

One other question (which might be very strange/silly/obvious). If we decide to go with a breeder, are you supposed to negotiate a price with them, or is it just the price they name? (I am assuming that you just go with the price they give you, but I wanted to make sure). Again - I mean no disrespect to fellow breeders out there, and I AM assuming that the price is non-negotiable, I just wanted to make sure!

 

[RMAMom]

If the breeder starts negotiating prices run quickly in the other direction! Several of us have mentioned through this thread that you should probably get on the forums for the breed your interested in and learn the good bad and the ugly of the breed your interested in. They can also steer you to a reputable breeder. Please don't be fooled by websites, even BYB and puppy mills can have a slick website.

Good luck on your research and I hope you find the perfect companion for your family.

 

[adventure_woman]

If the breeder starts negotiating prices run quickly in the other direction!

That's what I was thinking - I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something!!!

 

[angwill]

I posted a while ago about advice getting a puppy (we are looking at getting a pug). Now I have another question. I'm researching getting a puppy and where from and it seems like there are 2 very distinct places to get one from.

1. Looking out of the newspaper for a home that has had their dog bred.
2. A professional show breeder that charges what seems to be at least twice what others charge.

(I am NOT looking in pet stores/etc.)

Can someone explain to me the difference? Are the professional breeders puppies less prone to medical problems? Or is just because of their lineage that they charge twice as much?

I can only tell you from experience of buying from a home and from a breeder. I would pay double and go with the breeder. A good breeder breeds out the medical problems. The home breeders doing it on the side usually are not really educated about problems that could crop up or what medical issues are in the lineage. My pro breeder dog didn't have issues till she was nine and got allergies. Her hair is even better and her health has been excellent till the last year and her allergies. I don't think a breeder can breed out allergies that can be caused by different products, grass etc.. The home breed dog has had constant problems since age 2. I don't think her breeders had any clue if there were health issues with the dogs they mated.

 

[ilovejack02]

Every breed has good and bad things about them. Yorkshire Terriers, my breed, usually are extremely loving and like everybody. When the doorbell rings, they think it is for them. The standard for Yorkies is must not exceed seven pounds and many are much smaller. Yorkies love children, but because of their small size, a young child can accidentally hurt them. Any dog that has been injured can snap. That is why they are not suitable for young children.

Yorkies don't shed at all, but that long hair requires a lot of care. They are great little watch dogs, meaning they bark their fool heads off at the smallest sound, real or imagined. Yorkies love to give kisses. Some people don't like them licking their lips and they love to wait until your mouth is open... Although they are extremely intelligent, understanding a large number of words, housebreaking does not seem to be in their vocabulary. Housebreaking a Yorkie can be a life long adventure that requires a great deal of patience. Failure to housebreak is the number one reason they are relinquished to rescue groups and shelters.

This is exactly the type of information a person looking for a puppy or adopting a rescue dog should be getting from the breeder or rescue official. If they are not this frank or they try to sell you on the breed, in my opinion, there is potential for a big problem!

My best friend put her Yorkie down on Monday due to the fact that a year ago she was dropped by a small child , she just never recovered even after therapy, surgery , meds etc. Another close friend's DD5 killed her tiny little dog. It was an accident, but she should have never been left alone in her room with a 4lb dog. UGHH.

I foster dogs for a local rescue , my best behaved pups are the mutts . They are easy to train and have the best personalities . The full breed tiny pups I foster are the most trouble.. seem to think they rule the world lol. We also get lots of older breeder females. They hit about 5 and have been breed the hell out of , stuck in a kennel their whole lives and then thrown in a kill shelter once the back yard breeder is done with them . : ( They are lots of work, but turn out to be better pets than the little dogs that have been allowed to run a house and then thrown away because the owners didn't take the time to teach them any manners . My sweet "old lady" breeder dogs are so appreciative to be in a home with love that they do just about anything we ask of them, just takes time and effort to gain their trust.