spending money on dogs?...please read details?

Question

hi all!...i was just wondering why some people spend hundreds of dollars on a pure bred dog when there are hundreds of dogs young and old in puppy pounds all over the world?...i understand that they may be mutts but still mutts do live longer and for the usual $50.00 fee you would be getting a dog thats all ready fixed and up to code on their rabies shots And the money would go to help the other animals at the shelters?...please no rude remarks...im not trying to pick on any one im just curious...thanks...love daisy

as i said again BRIDETOBE or any one else that has takin' offince i am NOT picking on or comeing down on any one here...i simply have never owned a pure bred dog and was wondering what all the hype was over them....thanks

i just wonted ta say thank you to all that have answerd so far...you have really givin' me a lot of insite to the pro's and con's of mutts and pure breds alike....keep those answers comeing....love daisy

Answer 1

Its a great thing when someone adopts a needy animal, but that doesn't work for everyone.

People seek out purebed dogs because they are looking for specific qualities and characteristics in a dog. Many shelter dogs are mixed breeds. This doesn't mean they can't be good pets but you certainly don't have any idea about what their personality might end up being.

Purebred dogs fit a certain breed standard so if you buy a nice one (meaning from a reputable breeder) you pretty much know exactly how big the dog will be, what the personality will be like, what they will look like, the type of coat care that is required etc.

Also, shelter dogs are often in the shelter for some reason. There are of course the ones that some irresponsible person has just abandoned. But many are there because they have specific behaviours or medical problems that their previous owners could simply not deal with.

I give big kudos to people who are willing to take on these dogs but can certainly understand why others would opt for a purebred dog.

Answer 2

I used to feel the same way you do. I always adopted animals from the humane society or the rescue aid. I cannot tell you how many dogs and cats we have rescued.
I started getting upset when the animals had one medical problem after another that I had to pay for. Yes, I know purebred animals can get sick too. With VERY single animal there were more problems than not.......I adopted a Pit that became my best friend. He was a puppy and I loved that dog like a child....He ended up attacking my grandkids. I don't want to get into the discussion of the pros/cons of Pits here. I had to put him to sleep and at that point I decided if I ever got another animal it would be purebred and I would check the breeder back to the beginning of time before I purchased a dog. I had cats too from aid that were sick.
My daughter has a dog she adopted. He is very unpredictable. When we have company he has to be put in her bedroom. He's been like that since we got him. He's a big 94 pound dog so you can't take the chance on what he might do to someone. He was a pup when she got him. I'm sure he was abused to make him that way. We have no control over who had the animal before you adopted it or what the pups parents were like or where they came from. The poor dog doesn't understand why he can't be near people.

You have a better chance with a purebred because if you do your homework and are aware of the breed and the breeder, you know what you are getting. You also have a health guarantee.
You can expect a certain personality, size, etc.

I will never get attached to another dog that I have to put down or give back. I don't have the money to spend hundreds of dollars on Vet bills either. I now have a purebred dog and I did my research. I also keep in touch with the breeder. She likes to know what is going on with her "kids" after they leave home.............

The answer to the problem is there should be a federal law passed that every dog and cat be neutered or spayed by the age the law provides or you cannot have an animal. It's the idiot humans that keep breeding and breeding the animals. Or owners that let their animals run and have no idea if they are pregnant or by which dog. Males are the same. People are disgusting and I guess I am tired of paying for it.........The laws should be much stricter and be enforced.............................

Answer 3

I've had three dogs. All have been purebreds - And all have been shelter dogs also.
They're not mutually exclusive. People abandon and mistreat purebreds too.

As for why... my first dog was a German shepherd. They're fantastic dogs. Truly amazing breed. As stated somewhere above, with a breed, you get a personality within certain boundaries.

MY first dog was a one of a kind. We didn't know that. Unusually intelligent, patient, and sweet. He would take turns getting treats with the cat - counting up to at least 4 between times - and had many... many... endearing habits.

We were then given another Dog because had one. My mother had a habit of taking in animals that people didn't want. They'd show up at the door and ask if she wanted them. She would always take them or else they'd end up on the street.
(one thing she got out of this was a boa - the snake - and also a tarantula.)... anyway, this other dog happened to be a German shepherd.
You get used to the breed. You really do. They have a way of being. It's quite amazing and strange. They're just... different.
Mutts aren't like that. Mutts don't have a way. Yes, they have an individual way, but when you meet another dog the reminder isn't so sharp of your own. Each is unique.
Dogs die. Before we do.
My first dog died this year. He was a very good dog. I dug his grave myself. Mostly alone. Despite no longer living with him or my parents.
If I had to get another dog - I'd want one like him. With a mutt, I wouldn't be able to. It's not possible. They're too unique.
I would, instead, try to find another neglected shepherd. Just because it was like him.
People form attachments to breeds. Strong emotional ones, because the animals are like each other. And you never forget your first Dog.

I suppose some get them for status, some for breeding and shows.... But I'm guessing a large number just get them because it hurts less.
Truly, I know that mutts are healthier - hence I would NEVER buy one from a puppy farm - but the attachment is still strong.

That would be my personal, and no doubt highly nonsensical, reasoning behind preference to a breed.

p.s. only once payed for a dog. And it was more than $50. It was £50.

p.p.s. I got my cat from a VERY reputable re-homing place - batesea dog home - and he came with cat flu. Unusual, but sometimes they do pick things up.
(odd thing of note: I like the Dog breed German shepherd, but for some reason my cats tend to be moggies. Maybe because I've had far more cats than Dogs. 2-3 at a time. And the boy-racers in the area tended to hit things. Cats, Dogs, Kids. Or maybe because cats personalities are less predictable by breed/appearance? I don't know. It could well be, since we've had two tourties, one bought when the other died, and their personalities were complete polar opposites. The Dogs were all similar. Both females DAMN STUPID, and I have to say I don't like them though they like/d me, but with the same kind of personality. The same overwhelming Dogginess :P)


Oh yes, and for those of you that think a rescue dog is more trouble than it's worth: It's not.
They've taken no extra time nor anything else. Treat the dog well and unless he;s one of the really special cases - which no shelter will give you if they don't think you're capable of dealing with - he'll be fine. Dogs get used to routine. If there's no pain in the routine, the dog will get over it.
Shelters vet YOU. They'll tell you if a dog's no good for you beforehand.
They are not a problem.

Answer 4

Some people do fall in love with a particular breed. I know, I have my favorite breeed, as well. Some people look at having an expensive dog as a "status symbol"...the "look at me, look at me" types.

I have a pure lab, that I RESCUED from Animal Control for $95. I have a red heeler, for free. And I have 2 mixed breeds (I detest the word "mutt", I find it degrading and offensive.)

If people really want a pure, then go for it. But chances are, they will have more health issues than a mixed breed.

If I really want, I can go out tomorrow and spend $800 on a dog, or I could adopt one for $100 or two for $200 and donate the balance to the shelter.

There are so many unwanted dogs and cats. The first place I would ever consider getting another dog would be the shelter. At this stage in my life, it's more important to make them healthy and happy, than for me to say "look at me, look at me, look how much money I just spent."

Answer 5

First, I don't think it's necessarily true that all mutts live longer than all purebred dogs. Sure, I think that purebred dogs from irresponsible breeders or puppy mills are going to have problems from inbreeding. But a dog in the shelter could just as easily have resulted from inbreeding or from one unhealthy dog breeding another unhealthy dog. I don't think it's fair to generalize like that...although I do think it's TOTALLY fair to say that dogs that come from backyard breeders or puppymills are more likely to have health problems due to inbreeding.

I think it's great when people choose to get a dog from the shelter, however, if you're looking for a dog for a specific purpose you're better off getting a purebred dog from a reputable breeder. Say, for example, that you compete in field trials and you want a dog to that can be competitive in the field AND be a well behaved family dog. Well, you'd be better off buying a dog from a breeder than getting one from the shelter. Say you've identified the breed you want, for example weimaraner or german shorthaired pointer. Sure, there are breed rescues and these dogs do occasionally end up shelters...but you don't know anything about their background. In this case, there is more quality control gained from getting the puppy from a breeder because you'll know it's in the puppies genetics to be a good hunter and you can evaluate the puppies parents as to their temperaments. It's all a crap shoot when you get a dog from the shelter.

On the other hand, if someone is just looking for a family pet and nothing more, i would definitely recommend giving a shelter dog a chance.

Answer 6

I think the above applies regarding pure-breds, but also requirements are different at different times of people's lives. I currently have a Red Short-haired North American SPCA. If I didn't have a dog and had a young family, I would probably look at the pure-bred labrador retrievers or golden retrievers. The main reason is that they're bred for temperament and if you have small kids or something that would be a primary concern.

I don't think it's just for status, but sometimes, you need to have some 'guarantee' as to what you're getting because of other circumstances in life.

Answer 7

This is a sticky subject in my family...We got a pure breed golden retreiver. I researched different breeds and temperments. And the golden seemed like what we needed, I have 3 boys. The reason I didn't go to the shelter for a golden was that with 3 kids (we are also the "neighborhood house") I didn't want someone elses problem or previously abused dog. I'm not saying this to sound mean but I couldn't afford a dog with hidden "triggers." If the previous owner had beat the dog with a stick and one of the kids was chasing the dog with a stick or they were"sword fighting" with sticks I couldn't afford to have to dog go insane. Same with pulling ears or grabbing tails. I wanted a dog we had raised from a puppy and knew the whole history of.

Answer 8

I can understand your point entirely: but as a lover of GSD's & Akitas, I can also see the other side to!!

What gets to me, is not owning a pure breed (which at present sadly I don't): it's the price you have to pay to own one!! I know many will disagree with me, and have me hung, drawn, and quartered... but at the end of the day... whether a GSD… Akita… Collie… Dalmatian... or a mutt... a DOG is a Dog, is a dog!!

Over here in the UK, a pure breed GSD, with all its vaccinations and papers will cost you the best part of £500+ ($932+ USD)… At the local RSPCA re-homing centre, you can get one with a donation of £75.00 ($139.85), fully vaccinated, neutered, chipped, and support… the only difference? No papers, so you can’t register it with the kennel, club or show it in any prestige show!!

That is one hell of a big difference for the same breed of animal!!

David Beckham £25,000,000,000 … John Doe £5,000, 000 … both footballers: both Human::: Can we still win the World Cup!!!

I know at least Daisy will see my point... lmao!!!

Answer 9

When i bought my dogs i went across arizona looking for the dog i wanted, i visited 23 breeders t otal for my purebred rottweilers, reason i didnt chose a mutt at the pound because, 1. i dont know its temperment 2. i dont know its bloodlines, or pedigree 3. never see the parents 4. the mutt probally doesnt have any ofa/akc/state papers.

Answer 10

Ya I would rather buy a mutt any day. Mutts are friendlier and are better pets. I had one purebred that I got from the pound and he died about two years ago when he was eight. Iloved him, but he was really grumpy and had so many problems, eventually he couldn't get up and we had to put him down. He was too inbred, that's another problem with purebreds. But mutts are less likely to be inbred.