Where do I look for a dog?

[ThreeMusketeers]

We want to buy a new puppy.
We don't care if it's mixed breed, but we do know that we want it to be a smaller breed dog.

I have checked the paper, but haven't seen much. Anyone know how to search online for breeders?

I keep typing in searches, but coming up with nothing...

Where did you find your puppy?

 

[ckay87]

If you don't particularly care about the breed, it may not be necessary to find a breeder, do you think? I've seen a lot of puppies on petfinder.org. Did you try there?

 

[Chicago526]

if you're interested in a stray, try petfinders (i'm not sure if it's a .com or a .org, just google it, I'm sure it will come up). They have pictures and descriptions, and you'll be saving a life!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What is your situation?

Have you owned dogs before, do you have kids?

We did rescue but if you have never owned a dog before that may not be the best course. Rescues can be a little "off" and require experienced dog owners. Not all cases, of course, but that is something to keep in mind.

Obviously a good breeder will be able to match you a good dog for your family.

If you buy a puppy in a pet shop you are supporting puppy mills. Also have to be careful with "Pet Finders" with that too. Some are in disguise as "rescues".

 

[lisadr]

If you don't particularly care about the breed, it may not be necessary to find a breeder, do you think? I've seen a lot of puppies on petfinder.org. Did you try there?

Was just gonna suggest the same thing. Or call you local animal shelter. Pure breeds are nice-but it's a multigree for me .

 

[freckles and boo]

The first place I would go is a shelter.

 

[coneeny4]

http://www.helpsaveone.org/urgent-and-available-dogs.html

We just got our new puppy last Sunday from them.

She is a Shepard/Golden Retriever.

 

[CruiserMom]

Please consider giving a home to a shelter or rescue dog. Mixed breeds are just as lovable, and often live longer and are healthier than purebred dogs. You will feel so good about yourself if you rescue a dog!

Judy, owner of 2 rescued dogs, a retriever mix and a setter mix

 

[Ilovemylife]

The last place I'd look is a breeder. I don't give my money to someone that breeds their dogs for money.

All of our animals have been from the humane society and I wouldn't get a pet anywhere else.

 

[james'mommy]

another vote for petfinders. we have a 3 year old rottie mix that we found through petfinder. she was 8 weeks old and was from a very small rottie rescue. we love her and would use petfinder again.

 

[ckay87]

Oh great, now I'm surfing petfinder. Will someone please talk me down before I end up with another mouth to feed? This is why I can't work at a shelter....

 

[MontanaZoo]

If you do go the breeder route instead of a rescue, make sure you do an onsite visit and also ask for vet papers. Backyard breeders can easily fall into puppy mill mode and it can be difficult to find a reputable breeder. We just had a person here who is an english shepherd and pug breeder and sells on the internet get shut down. Her place was disgusting, the newspaper article made me cry, I won't go into details, but there's 180 dogs out at our fairgrounds right now trying to be rehabilitated.

 

[DannysMom]

Have you thought about rescue? Check out PetFinder, http://www.petfinder.com/

You can look for adoption groups in your area, you can search for adoptable dogs (and cats, and horses and bunnies, etc.) within your preffered criteria, age, size, breed, etc. That is how my brother found his last puppy, about 2 years ago, saw her cute little puppy face on petfinder, saw she was in a shelter not far from his home and went and adopted her.

Good luck.

 

[mjkacmom]

Puppies in petstores, or advertised in the paper, are most likely puppy mill dogs. Buying a dog via this route is financially supporting animal cruelty. Check your local shelters.

 

[mamamary]

The last place I'd look is a breeder. I don't give my money to someone that breeds their dogs for money.

All of our animals have been from the humane society and I wouldn't get a pet anywhere else.

Us too!

 

[OrlandoMike]

All of my pets have come from the pound/shelter.

I swear, they know you rescued them, and love you even more because of it!

 

[robinb]

If you buy a puppy in a pet shop you are supporting puppy mills. Also have to be careful with "Pet Finders" with that too. Some are in disguise as "rescues".

Hmmm ... there is a rescue here in Wisconsin that has a lot of rescued puppy mill dogs. I just assumed that they got older pups that the puppy mill couldn't sell. How can you tell if the rescue is real?

 

[kacaju]

At the end of the month (Thursday Jan 29th to Monday Feb 2nd) there is a huge 5 day dog show here
Wildwood Convention Center
4500 Boardwalk
Wildwood, NJ 08260
These are the breeder you would be looking for. They are not in it just to make money. Most breeders barely break even.

 

[DannysMom]

At the end of the month (Thursday Jan 29th to Monday Feb 2nd) there is a huge 5 day dog show here
Wildwood Convention Center
4500 Boardwalk
Wildwood, NJ 08260
These are the breeder you would be looking for. They are not in it just to make money. Most breeders barely break even.

I agree if you are set on a purebred dog, the place to start looking for a breeder is at a dogshow. Talk to owners of the different breeds that might be interested in, if they themselves are not breeding, they can point you in the right direction.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Hmmm ... there is a rescue here in Wisconsin that has a lot of rescued puppy mill dogs. I just assumed that they got older pups that the puppy mill couldn't sell. How can you tell if the rescue is real?

I don't know. But I do know that it is going on. Obviously puppy mills are going to find a way "in". Oprah's show last year was airing the puppy mill horror and mentioned it. They set up a fake rescue and have someone pose as the rescue person.

And there are rescues that do rescue from puppy mills that are legit.

I suppose you have to do some checking up on them. The rescue org will tell you where they rescued the puppy from and some history.
I guess some gut feeling goes into it as well.