Torn between a rescue shelter dog and a puppy from a breeder. Please read for details - have a big dilemma!.?

Question

OK, I currently have 3 dogs: Aly a 9 year old German Shepherd who I rescued when she was 3 years old, Tani a 5 year old Beagle who I rescued when she was 3 1/2 years old and was blind and Zoe a 2 year old Labrador Retriever who is 7 years old and who I also rescued when she was 4 years old.
I have rescued MANY other dogs from the shelter and now I have a dilemma.

I went to a rescue shelter a few days ago and fell in love with a beautiful 6 year old Border Collie named Molly. She is adorable, sweet and affectionate. I brang Tani and Zoe with me to see Molly and they got along with each other really well.
I also went to go see a litter of Portugee Water Dogs a week ago and fell in love with a beautiful little puppy. Obviously, I can't get both as I need a license to have more than 4 dogs and don't really want to have to get that lisence - I think 4 is enough.
The PWD are beutiful and I know all about the breed. Come from Ch. lines, are screaned etc.
Advice on what to do?
Thx

The PWD's cost $1050 each. They are professional breeders and have been breeding for around 30 years so I trust them with the health of the pups completely. I have owned a few pups before but not many.
The thought of getting a cute little puppy who I will love and care for as much as I do my rescue dogs is so enjoyable.

But then I think...; if I don't rescue the dog - he/she may be put to sleep and the huge animal lover than I am, I find it very hard to come to terms with that. I would blame myself for not adopting the dog if it did not find a good, loving home.

I really have no clue what to do. All my dogs are socialized well and have fit into my family really well (of dogs and cats =P ). I owned an Akita once and I had 2 cats at the time - who said Akitas don't get along with cats!?

I'm 70% sure it's NOT a kill shelter. Either way; I would probably still blame myself if it was a kill shelter or she went to a bad home.
The sire and dam of the PWD have excellent temps and are very loving and affectionate; so are the pups!
I feel like I have a close bond with the pup more than Molly (shelter dog) because I have seen her as a pup.
I have nearly always wanted a PWD but have never really had enough money but I work from home and earn enough money to support me and my family of pets so I would be able to afford 'the pet of my dremas'.

However, as an animal lover and as a strong supporter of the saying 'don't buy from pet stores or breeder, adopt at a shelter', I think I'd be contridicting myself if I went against what I tell nearly everyone.

** Excuse the spelling mistakes - am typing fast and am not paying attention to spelling =P

I am a very active person and I walk my dogs for 40 minutes in the morning, 1 hour in the noon and sometimes (if I have time/energy), 20 minutes at night. Either breed would suit my lifestyle and home. I have a medium-large yard, 3 dogs (mentioned in first post) to play with, 2 cats (6 yrs old and 2 yrs old - both rescue cats) to annoy or get annoyed by, walk every day possible, know a fair bit about nearly all dog breeds and research ALL breeds that I consider buying/rescuing.

Answer 1

My 15 year old mixed breed passed away last August. As I have cats, I thought I better not get another dog for a while. That idea changed in less than a month. Now I'm the proud owner of another mixed breed rescued from a shelter. I just saw him there and, knowing that if I didn't get him out of that place soon he'll probably end up dead, I filled the adoption papers immediately. I adore him, and feel very proud about rescuing him. I always knew I was going to adopt, but before going to the shelter I visited a pet shop to see their dogs. I think the less expensive one was around $600. Of course it was a lovely dog, but I couldn't understand why people prefer to spend all that money in getting a dog when there are thousands (maybe millions) strays out there looking for someone to care and feed them for free.

You said your other dogs already met Molly and they got along very well and that's great but, do you think they are going to be OK with a puppy? Won't they get jealous of the constant attention a puppy needs (compared to an adult dog)? I completely understand why you want a puppy, but finding a nice home for them is way easier (especially since they are not in a shelter but under the breeders' care) than for a 6 year old sheltered dog.

If I was in your position, I'll take Molly in a minute. First, you'll be saving another life and you'll feel really good about it. Second, Tani and Zoe already gave their approval and that's very important. Third, you'll be saving over a thousand dollars that you could use in something/someone else and fourth, you'll forever know you gave Molly a second chance and she ended up in the right hands. Who knows? Maybe while you are thinking about it someone else goes to the shelter and decides Molly is just right for him/her, making your decision a bit easier.

Answer 2

Go with what you feel is best. If the breeder is a good reputable breeder, NOT a back yard breeder then theres no reason it would be wrong to buy from them. The shelter dog is probably in more need of finding a home though. If you buy a dog from a good breeder it does not make you a hypocrite, most rescue workers and peopel who are for shelter dogs are not against breeders, they are only againt the bad breeders who are doing nothing to better the breed. It's all going to depend on what is best for your house hold. Will your dogs get along with a frisky puppy even though they are older? Are you able to go through all the training with a puppy instead of getting an already trained adult? If you know your dogs get along with the shelter dog thats a good thing. But if you have your heart set on the breed of the puppy and want it really bad then go with that. It's all up to you and I'm sure you'll make a great decision either way. :)

Answer 3

This is a very good article and a good question for us. I have wondered about them finding a PWD in a shelter in a certain time frame a little like wishful thinking. I know this is not just about the Obama's but their decision will speak volumes to the people. When Biden bought his GS from a breeder for days their were discussions about the breeder and complaints about her kennel. So political correctness has put a Breeder into question for them. So that leaves a shelter or breed rescue. Shelter, I think we all agree is going to be close to impossible to find a PWD. Even with the current economic crisis in this country, most owners of a not so common breed would surrender to a breed rescue if they were unable to care for their dog. The President's family has a unique opportunity to raise awareness of the growing plight of dogs in shelters. If they would just visit shelters with the National Humane Society so that people would realize what is happening. If the President would just make a statement about the horrors of puppy mills, maybe it would kick the states in the **** enough to step up and stop these horrid places. Maybe in one of the many pork spending add on money could be earmarked for the states to have the resources to close them. As for the the dog that they finally find, we all know the breeding, genetics and health of the dog could prove problematic. But I am sure that they can and will give the dog the best and that is all that is all any dog lover can do. The reward for the kids will far outweigh the risk.

Answer 4

Wow that's hard. It sounds like you may have done your homework on the PWD's too. If the breeder is a good one and has health screened and all that good stuff and you also want that puppy, well maybe you should get her. You will have more time to spend with her as she's a baby still. But if you get her, you will always wonder what happened to the BC. Is the shelter she's in a kill shelter? Find that out and if it is, rescue her. If not, then maybe you could help them find a good home for her and still get your Water Dog.

Answer 5

I would personally get the Border Collie as she is 6 years old and will be look over in the shelter because of her age. This poor girl really needs a forever home.

The PWD pups are puppies and as such will have no problem finding a home. Even though they have been screened there are diseases that can not be screened. A lot of PWD are diagnosed with Addison's Disease, that can not be screened for.

Answer 6

The first thing that comes to mind is the cute little puppy from the breeder will most certainly find a home but Molly might not be able to find a forever home that easily.

I would think about how either breed would fit into my lifestyle and home.

Just my opinion, if Molly seems like a good fit I'd have to save her from the possibility of falling into the hands of someone who might neglect or abuse her.

I'd also pray on it a bit until I had peace about my decision.

That's my advice - hope it helps

Answer 7

You are not responsible for all the homeless dogs unless you are one of the people allowing your dog to roam around and get pregnant. You cannot save them all, and being it is a purebred BC, she will probably get adopted.

The question is, which breed will be a better fit for you? The PWD will have a temperment similar to the dogs you already have, BCs tend to be very high energy.

Don't feel guilty if you choose the puppy. YOU are not one of the people responsible for the homeless dogs.


ou812 - Addisons maybe can't be tested for, but it CAN be bred out! Mixed breeds and ALL breeds can and do have immunity disease! It is highly unlikely that the breeders of the BC thought about such things, but I'll bet the PWD breeders DO!

Answer 8

Is there a way that maybe you could pull this Border Collie and Foster the dog until you found her a home ,and still buy your PWD. This way you can pick the home that Mollie goes to and you there wont be feelings of guilt.Maybe then you wont need the license for having a extra dog.Your intentions are extemely honerable.

Answer 9

Of course its hard to chose between to puppies because they are so cute, but what you should take into consideration is that the pure breds have a really high chance of getting a family, but the poor animals at rescue shelters and humane societys have only half that chance. This wouldnt be a hard decision for me, and I hope that you'll consider what I have said. Either way--good luck w/ your choice.

Answer 10

Well it would be a tough decision for me as well. The question really comes down to what you want. If you would like to adopt the pet then adopt, if you want to buy, then buy. Maybe if you feel bad about the dog in the shelter, maybe you could find a friend or relative who would adopt and then you could buy the other dog guilt free