Some will say that adopting a dog or puppy is the only option you should consider when it comes to bringing a new dog into your life (for various reasons).
However, upon closer inspection of buying a dog as a comparison, each option has some real pros and cons to consider.
In this guide, we try to take an objective look at each option.
(NOTE: this is a general information guide only, and is not professional advice, or a substitute for professional advice. A qualified vet or animal expert is the only person qualified to give you expert advice in regards to your pet/s)
Dog/Puppy Adoption vs Buying From A Breeder: Which Is Better, & Factors To Consider
Summary
Which option is better might depend on the person looking to bring a dog into their life
Not all breeders are the same, and not all rescue centres and animal shelters are the same – some are far better than others
Ultimately, potential owners should know exactly what they are looking for in an individual dog they can make a lifelong commitment to, and they should put time in to find a quality adopting/rescue organisation or breeder that is thorough and competent in caring for their dogs, and matching dogs to owners
Adopting Or Rescuing A Dog From A Shelter Or Rescue Centre
Pros
You are giving a dog another chance at life and at a relationship with a loving and caring owner
You are easing the burden on the shelter and rescue system and it’s resources
Some adoption and rescue centres are fantastic with screening for mental and physical conditions, getting health check ups, and overall quality assurance for their pets and eventual owners
Rescue or shelter dogs still might cost a hundred or two hundred dollars (to cover some bills and to make sure the new owner is serious about making a commitment), but they are generally cheaper than dogs from breeders
For some people, buying an adult dog from a shelter might be advantageous as they don’t have to train a puppy, or deal with potentially having household items chewed on by a teething puppy.
Some rescue dogs come from specialized programs such as rescuing retired greyhounds
Cons
Some adoption and rescue centres might not have extensive quality assurance of the mental or physical well being and behavior of the incoming dogs
Even with quality assurance of incoming dogs – there is still a risk that some behaviors and physical or mental defects and conditions don’t show themselves until after the dog adopted and living with the owner a few months or a year or more afterwards
Finding a reputable and quality shelter or rescue centre might be time consuming or require effort
Buying an adult dog means you don’t get experience having a puppy
Buying A Dog From A Breeder
Pros
A quality breeder can provide you with a range of guarantees, as well as information on pedigree, lineage, health defects and conditions, etc. that an adoption centre or rescue centre might not (because a breeder can trace these things back through the parents for example)
You can go see your dog as a puppy with their parents at the home or facility where they were bred by the breeder – you can see how they behave as a puppy, and see their surroundings and upbringing
You can pick the exact dog you want – breed, appearance, personality, and so on
You get to have a dog as a puppy i.e. you don’t miss out on the puppy experience
Cons
Some dogs from breeders can cost close to or in excess of a thousand dollars – even thousands of dollars
Some breeders are in it for the money primarily, and either don’t genuinely care for their dogs, or don’t understand how to assure the quality of the parents and the puppies
Some breeders are backyard or puppy mill breeders
Breeders overall help contribute to stray animals, and animals going into shelters and rescue centres by increasing the numbers of dogs that might eventually be abandoned
Even with dogs from breeders, the health and quality of the dog can’t be guaranteed in all instances – issues may arise after purchasing the dog
Finding a reputable and quality breeder might be time consuming or require effort
What About Re-Homed Dogs?
Rehomed dogs are essentially family dogs or dogs that are already pets in a home, that haven’t been sent to or found by an animal shelter yet, but will need a new home soon as their current owner can no longer take care of them.
These dogs obviously don’t have to deal with the pain of being left on their own, or the anxiety of dealing with the surroundings of a shelter or rescue centre, but they may or may not experience some issues in adapting to their new surroundings and new owner/s.
Some Sources Used For This Article
1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/07/17/why-id-never-adopt-a-shelter-dog-again/
2. https://www.rspcasa.org.au/misconceptions-rescue-dogs/
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