How do you justify buying from a breeder instead of rescuing a mutt?

[Anonymous]

Apparently no one is allowed to post any opinions against buying from a breeder on the labradoodle thread, so I'm starting a new thread here. I'm seriously interested in hearing how anyone can justify buying a designer dog when so many beautiful dogs are available for adoption in shelters. How do you sleep at night?

[Anonymous]

The people who do this convince themselves that 1) rescues are all dangerous and unpredictable, and 2) puppies from breeders are safe and predictable. This way they make it into a safety issue, and the money is "worth it" in a way that saying "I want the same dog my friend Larlo has because it's trendy and cute" would not be.

[Anonymous]

How do I sleep at night? That's a pretty extreme perspective on this issue.

Are ALL rescues dangerous and unpredictable? No, of course not. Nor are ALL puppies from breeders safe and predictable. But we have three small kids and are not going to expose them to unnecessary risk by bringing a rescue home. Adopting a rescue can present safety issues (and many rescue organizations won't place dogs into families with small kids for this very reason).

If we didn't have little kids, things would be different. But we do, so there it is.

Also, I sleep just fine at night, thanks, in part because I'm not judging the heck out of people over an issue that, in the grand scheme of our dumpster fire of a country, is small potatoes.

[Anonymous]

1) Because the rescue market has created some strange incentives, and it’s not as straightforward a transaction as it may seem.

2). Because I prefer to minimize the variables by getting a breed of dog I’ve selected after doing research on what’s best for our family.

[Anonymous]

I feel like I paid my dues growing up, during which time my family rescued a total of six dogs from the shelter. Most were great, but two had to be euthanized after developing rage syndrome and viciously biting in totally unprovoked situations.

We took a break from dogs for a while as adults, and when we finally decided to get one, we wanted sweet and predictable and, since the standards of dog care have risen so much and dogs are expected to be indoors all the time now, non-shedding. So we bought what we wanted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apparently no one is allowed to post any opinions against buying from a breeder on the labradoodle thread, so I'm starting a new thread here. I'm seriously interested in hearing how anyone can justify buying a designer dog when so many beautiful dogs are available for adoption in shelters. How do you sleep at night?

After we had more than two kids and moved to a large new house in the suburbs zoned for top-ranked schools, buying a dog from a breeder was a piece of cake. Have a great day!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently no one is allowed to post any opinions against buying from a breeder on the labradoodle thread, so I'm starting a new thread here. I'm seriously interested in hearing how anyone can justify buying a designer dog when so many beautiful dogs are available for adoption in shelters. How do you sleep at night?

After we had more than two kids and moved to a large new house in the suburbs zoned for top-ranked schools, buying a dog from a breeder was a piece of cake. Have a great day!

What kind of SUV do you drive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do I sleep at night? That's a pretty extreme perspective on this issue.

Are ALL rescues dangerous and unpredictable? No, of course not. Nor are ALL puppies from breeders safe and predictable. But we have three small kids and are not going to expose them to unnecessary risk by bringing a rescue home. Adopting a rescue can present safety issues (and many rescue organizations won't place dogs into families with small kids for this very reason).

If we didn't have little kids, things would be different. But we do, so there it is.

Also, I sleep just fine at night, thanks, in part because I'm not judging the heck out of people over an issue that, in the grand scheme of our dumpster fire of a country, is small potatoes.

Ha ha 2:39 was spot on then! This IS how you justify it! Pathetic. If you truly feel this way, the safer option is not to get a dog at all when you have kids. But keep making your excuses . . .

[Anonymous]

I don’t know. I have a beautiful, healthy beagle mix I got as a puppy from a shelter for $250. But I never wanted a “designer” dog (which is silly as a labradoodle is just a mutt) though and didn’t even look at any breeders. I definitely think people should rescue but I’m not going to judge anyone who feels it’s not the right decision for whatever reason. Just own it and don’t make disingenuous excuses like some rescue wouldn’t approve you. Shelters approve almost anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like I paid my dues growing up, during which time my family rescued a total of six dogs from the shelter. Most were great, but two had to be euthanized after developing rage syndrome and viciously biting in totally unprovoked situations.

We took a break from dogs for a while as adults, and when we finally decided to get one, we wanted sweet and predictable and, since the standards of dog care have risen so much and dogs are expected to be indoors all the time now, non-shedding. So we bought what we wanted.

How selfless of you.

[Anonymous]

I wanted what I wanted and paid for it. Simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do I sleep at night? That's a pretty extreme perspective on this issue.

Are ALL rescues dangerous and unpredictable? No, of course not. Nor are ALL puppies from breeders safe and predictable. But we have three small kids and are not going to expose them to unnecessary risk by bringing a rescue home. Adopting a rescue can present safety issues (and many rescue organizations won't place dogs into families with small kids for this very reason).

If we didn't have little kids, things would be different. But we do, so there it is.

Also, I sleep just fine at night, thanks, in part because I'm not judging the heck out of people over an issue that, in the grand scheme of our dumpster fire of a country, is small potatoes.

Ha ha 2:39 was spot on then! This IS how you justify it! Pathetic. If you truly feel this way, the safer option is not to get a dog at all when you have kids. But keep making your excuses . . .

Uh, okay. And you keep being angry at strangers for no reason?

[Anonymous]

I don't justify it at all. I did some research, contacted the breeder, and bought the dog I wanted. Easy day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) Because the rescue market has created some strange incentives, and it’s not as straightforward a transaction as it may seem.

2). Because I prefer to minimize the variables by getting a breed of dog I’ve selected after doing research on what’s best for our family.

This. I also research the heck out of breeders. There is no guarantee with any dog, but you have a lot more knowledge with a puppy from a reputable breeder about the likely temperament, its genetic history, what its earliest life was like, and so on.

[Anonymous]

1 word:

Pitbulls.

It is hard to trust shelters who try to pass off obvious pitbulls or pitbull mixes as "mixes", "labs", "lab mixes" "terrier mix"

Avoiding a pitbull in the bloodline makes a breeder super appealing.

I used to be pro mutt back in the day, but with the number of rescued pitbulls appearing in my child filled, suburban neighborhood has made me very anti rescue.