Shelter vs. Breeder: Do you believe one is better than the other?

Question

I recently saw a PETA video (http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/video.asp?video=abc_buy_one_kill_one_psa&Player=wm ) about choosing to adopt a shelter dog over buying a puppy from a breeder (with the result of the shelter dog dying if one buys from a breeder).

I'm not very fond of PETA at all, and believe that is a very harsh "platform" for them to stand on. And after seeing that video, I was curious on what other people think:

Do you believe adopting a dog from a shelter is better than buying from a breeder? Under what circumstances?

Or, do you believe buying from a breeder instead of adopting a shelter dog is better? Again, under what circumstances?

Personally, I believe the circumstance is very important when deciding to buy a dog. If you want a puppy, or a certain characteristic, exercise need, grooming need, allergy need, etc etc, I would find a responsible and knowledgeable breeder (or go to a breed rescue). With both of my dogs, I was looking for a certain size and exercise need (at the time), so I found a good breeder of the breed I was interested in in both cases.

Currently if I were to choose to get another dog, I would seek to adopt instead of buy from a breeder because of my circumstances.

So, shelter vs. Breeder: Do you believe one is better than the other?

Answer 1

There is only one person responsible for each and every shelter dog on the planet - the owner of that dog. Not me, not responsible breeders, and certainly not people who buy from responsible breeders.



PETA wants ALL domesticated animals to die off - dogs, cats, horses, cows, chickens, etc. So their opinion of where anyone chooses to get a dog from is moot, since they believe no one should have a dog in the first place.



In my local shelter at the moment, there are 12 dogs up for adoption - and 8 of them have been imported from Louisiana, which is in a foreign country over 2000 miles away. Why should I be forced to adopt a shepherd-mix or lab-mix (which all those dogs are) when those dogs aren't right for me? Isn't it better for me to get the dog that suits me (and thus will not ever be surrendered) then to be forced into getting one that doesn't, increasing the chances of it being surrendered again??



Which is better? It totally depends on what you want in a dog. Anyone who gets a dog either from a good breeder or a shelter/rescue/pound has made a great decision, in my opinion. It's the ones that get dogs from bad breeders and pet stores that are doing the wrong thing.

Answer 2

For the purpose of this answer, I will assume you mean Reputable Breeder and not puppy mill breeder or backyard breeder.



Neither is better. It depends upon what your needs are. I have done both. I also believe (and have done so myself) that you can find that dog with the characteristics, exercise needs, grooming needs, allergy needs ect ect from a shelter or rescue. You just have to know what you are looking for. I do feel that if you have special needs such as children that a rescue may be better than a shelter that does not test for child friendliness or take a dog expert with you to test the dog.



It is a personal choice and I have done all, Breeder, Rescue and Shelter. And have been perfectly satisfied with each dog.



I hate PETA's hypocritical bull***. It is a Known fact that when PETA "rescues" an animal it has a 97% chance of being euthanized, because they do not care to spend the time or money rehome perfectly adoptable animals. If they really cared about rescue dogs being killed, they would never do it themselves.

Answer 3

I don't think one is better than the other. I think it depends on what each family needs and wants. I've had three dogs in my life. Two from a responsible breeder and one from a shelter. I love one certain breed and I made the choice that this is the breed I will open my home and heart to. My rescue took 9 months to find and she was not from a breed rescue, but from an SPCA center that specialized in Pits. She was a lady's loved pet and the lady died. I have no idea where my dog came from, but I don't think she had very good breeding. Now this was my heart dog, so it hurts to say these things, but she had so many more health issues than my well-bred dog from a responsible breeder. Her death at 11 devastated me. Her health care her final year was tremendous. It didn't matter because I loved her and was committed to her. I gave her the best life she could have.



When we decided to bring another dog into our home, I tried rescue. There are no rescues for Scotties in my state. The majority of rescues will not adopt out of state. I wanted a purebred Scot female, age 6 or under. I would consider a dog with health issues. I could not find a dog. I called/emailed rescues to even check about waiting lists, etc. It wasn't going to happen. So I turned to the breeder I got my healthy 13-year-old dog from. Of course, as a responsible breeder, she had no puppies, but she did have a young adult female that she had decided was not breeding quality. We got her under a spay agreement.



Rescues are great; shelters are great. There is a sense of the unknown however. I would never get a dog from a pet store, or purchase from a miller/BYB. The two dogs I have come from very healthy lines, their breeder has nearly 25 years experience breeding only this breed. My dogs meet my needs. I would consider a rescue again, but we didn't meet their rules for where we live. Realize, I was willing to drive cross country for a dog. Finding my breed in a shelter is rare.

Answer 4

You would be very surprised to see how many dogs in shelters are purebreds that were given up by owners who realized how much work they were or can't afford them anymore. In fact, 50% of shelter dogs are given up and the rest are strays. It is those people who 'buy' dogs without thinking about it that have created this overpopulation of dogs. I at least wish people would check out the shelters first and realize that they aren't 'broken' dogs.



With millions of dogs being put to sleep every year, it is true that buying a dog from a breeder means there is one less dog in the shelter that finds his 'forever home'. When you buy from a breeder, that doesn't create another person who will adopt a dog. Whatever you do, don't buy from a puppy mill or online.

Answer 5

I am not completely against taking home from a breeder if thats is what you want then that is fine.....



but then again the shelter has its place also those dogs need homes and you are helping out society when you take one home



they both have there place and peta is just a bunch of under educated idiots with a one sided view that is no better and some times much worse then a terrorist

Answer 6

One is not better than the other, it's a question of which one is better for an individual or family. PETA is sensationalist, I give them the attention they deserve, none.



For the foreseeable future I will buy my dogs from a responsible breeder with extensive knowledge of the breed. I want a pup bred with health, stability, temperament & the breed standard in mind [function & form].



In the future I would consider *adopting* [a word used by rescues to help engender sympathy for the dogs in their care] a Dobermann from a breed rescue.



For purebred breeds rescue is more of a gamble as the sire & dam of the dog are less likely to have been rigorously health tested & may not be able to fulfil the function for the breed was originally bred.



Rescue dogs can make good companion dogs if you don't have exacting standards & you are prepared to gamle on tempermanet & health.

Answer 7

I believe that adopting a dog from the shelter is best because you have to have the animal fixed. The adoption fee also includes its vaccinations. Their are so many unwanted pets that would make someone very happy all they need is a chance. Look at Pet Finder. Com and you see many breeds small and large. Some are even Purebred most are Mix. But they all need one thing (Love). Breeders are also good if you want a specific type of dog. But I would go with the shelter.

Answer 8

If it is a responsible breeder than as for knowing the dogs back ground,history and breeding and possible genetic issues is better..but as for shelters and rescues..i fully support them and also have 2 adopted dogs along with my show/breeding dogs. as for a BYB....absolutely not and I feel sorry for the pups and dogs living and born into a byb hands. I ignore PETA 9 times out of 10..they do have some good points sometimes..but go about them the WRONG way almost ALL THE TIME!!!!

Answer 9

I am all for adopting from shelters if you simply dont care. If you don't mind getting a gamble health and temperament wise; if you don't have a specific breed in mind anyway; if you don't need the breed for work. Basically, if you want a nice family dog.



If you know what you want, but again, don't care so much about health/temperament, breed-specific rescues all the way.



I understand, of course, that people want to know what they are getting sometimes. They have a breed they absolutely adore, and would rather have predictability instead of going through a rescue/shelter. Or, they need the dog for work. That's fine. As long as they go to a reputable breeder.



So, neither is really "better"~~but backyard breeders and puppy mills: scum of the earth.

Answer 10

Good breeders breed better dogs that don't wind up in shelters.

Bad breeders sell bad dogs to bad puppy people who often surrender their dogs to shelters.

If good puppy people only purchased their dogs at good breeders, and there were no bad puppy people, and if bad breeders went out of business, there would be a minuscule pet population at all shelters.

PETA is nothing more than a pet terrorist organization. I give them no credibility whatsoever.

Answer 11

Neither is better than the other as long as you are purchasing from a reputable breeder who screens their breeding stock for genetic defects, and chooses exemplary animals for breeding either based on conformation or working ability and based on temperament.



If you are looking for a family pet and have no preconceived notions about what breed you want, you should adopt from a shelter and choose a dog that suits your lifestyle. If you want a specific breed for working ability or showing, the breeder is your choice. Breed-specific rescues are also an option for those who want to own a specific breed and not pay breeder prices.



My particular breed of choice does not show up in shelters frequently and when it does, it doesn't stick around long (this is from personal experience). There are no rescues that adopt this breed in my area. So if I want to own this breed, I need to look to breeders.



I have adopted shelter dogs and bought from breeders. I have no problem with doing either.



People pay way too much attention to PETA's tirades. The less attention they get, the better.

Answer 12

well a dog or puppy is at the shelter because it was treated badly or cant learn something animals at breeders have most likely had a good family and can start fresh sure its nice to get a dog from the shelter and all but think about it.

Answer 13

i would say Shelter all the way. it works for almost every one and they are bound to have the dog you are looking for. and you save a life.

BUT i myself did not get a shelter dog, sadly. i could not. like you said, there are certain circumstances that just did not allow me to do so.

i have TERRIBLE allergies to dog fur. so i had to look hard and long to find i breed that i was not allergic to and fit with what i needed in a dog. and i found a responsible breeder who bred Pekingese. i am very grateful to this breeder because this dog is such a great thing in my life and makes me so happy every day!

Answer 14

I hate to agree with PETA about anything but they might have something there, for some people. We've had both plus one from a rescue organization. If you want a purebred of an uncommon breed, you may have to go to either a breeder or a rescue group. If you want a companion dog, it's hard to beat the shelter. The cost is low and spaying/neutering is usually free. Just select a dog that is friendly enough to come over to you and appears healthy, well-balanced (mentally).

Answer 15

If your not looking for a show dog...why go to a breeder? if the breed doesnt matter or if you can have a dog that "kinda" looks like the one you want, why not go to a shelter? they are on death row basicly and need a home. shelters do aggression tests and spay/neuter them along with shots/deworming ect. i am a HUGE advocate of shelters!!!!!

Answer 16

shelter! there are so many dogs that need to be adopted. not all dogs from shelters have problems. the puppies get adopted quickly but if you are fast enough you can get a puppy from the shelter