If you just wanted a dog for a pet only, no special purpose, why not a pound dog instead of a pricey AKC dog?

Question

I understand why some one would pay big money for a dog for a specific purpose but why would you pay a large sum of money for a dog that is going to be strictly a pet. If you buy a dog at a petstore all you have is papers but no background beyond what the papers say, if you want a breed known for being docile then study your dog breeds and know what your getting. If you want a dog that fits your image then buy a T-shirt or get a non living accessory because you shouldnt own a dog anyway.

If you just wanted a dog was originally what I was asking. I have nothing against pedigreed dogs my family has responsibly raised and trained Brittanys for over 40 years. We always tell perspective buyers to check the references and history of any breeder (including ourselves) and pedigrees of dogs they are buying as well as the environment they are in. If the breeder you are talking to doesnt tell you the same thing, keep looking. I'm just tired of seeing people pay a large sum for a dog when they could get a dog that can do the same thing for little or no charge. If you want to say you payed $800 or more for a dog, then donate the difference to the shelter you got your dog from. I guess I'm just wishing that if people want a dog for a companion because they love dogs and just want a no conditions friend, they should start by doing what that friend would do. Pick a friend that would love you no matter what, cus that's what they will get in return. Plus a whole lot more.

Answer 1

I totally agree with you. I don't really understand it either, why they choose to get a companion dog from a breeder or pet store rather than a rescue or shelter. PLUS there are SO many pure breed dogs in the shelters. Almost every pure breed dog has it's own rescue groups anyways, like Boxer rescues, Siberian Husky rescues. I can understand buying from a breeder if you need a hunting dog, or show dog, or if you are a reputable breeder. But for companion, mutts are great, and if you want a pure breed dog, there are PLENTY of them in the shelters. i will only get my dog from a shelter because i don't need it for any other pupose than just its company.

Answer 2

The reasons people buy the expensive dog are many and varied. While you can get a "purebred" dog from the shelter, they have history. Some people don't want to deal with the history. They would rather raise their own puppy (yes you can get a puppy from the shelter but even they have history and may not be raised like a good breeder would do).

Others may just want the status symbol that the papers give them. Or be able to tell people proudly "yes s/he is a ...., I have the papers to prove it."

I don't judge people as to how good of an owner they'll be based on whether they rescue the dog or buy the dog. Both can be great owners and both can be horrible owners.

And a lot of people fall for the pet store puppy (impulse buy) or they fall for advertising. And sometimes when some one is looking a particular breed of dog, there just aren't any at the shelter. It can be very difficult to find small dogs for example (they are often the first adopted) so if they are determined to get that breed, they may be feel forced to buy one. Also (I know this a chihuahua owner) some places won't allow some breeds to be adopted by people with young kids, but they can find someone to sell them one. Some people don't want to go through the whole interveiw/ adoption process that many places have set up in recent years (to assure good homes and that the dog won't be returned or shipped off to another shelter later).

You'd have to ask every person who has ever bought an AKC "pet" what their reasons were to get a good idea of why people do it.

Answer 3

I Work In A Shelter and We get in Full Blooded Dogs as well as Mixes...Over the Last Several Years Its Become The "It" Thing to Do to Have a Rescued Dog So Whether It be From Breed Rescues(They Pull From Shelters) Or A Shelter Dog..Adoptions HAVE picked up....We Charge $45 Where can you Get A Dog Full Vetted ,HW- UTD on Shots,Dewormed, Spayed?Neutered..Cat Tested, Temperment Tested For That? $45 Doesnt Cover your First Vet Visit With a New Puppy! All Dogs That are Suppose to be Docile Arent! Thats Why a Shelter is a Good Place, The Staff is With these Dogs Everyday and Know their Temperment.They arent going to lie to you because They want the Dogs to go to a home thats going to Work! I have posted to another Question That I Love Greyhounds, I adopted two Through Rescue But I probably Would have Bought one Even If they werent Dying for Homes Because Of My Love of the Breed! So I understand Somebody Wanting a Specific Breed For No other Reason then The Love of The Breed.And there is nothing wrong with That..My Greyhounds are Used As Pets...If someone cant FindTheir Breed through Rescue or a Shelter I dont Judge them for getting a Pup and Raising It the Way they want it to be..I just Appreciate All the People Who Adopt and Do Rescue!

Answer 4

I do a lot of fostering and own three rescues but I have also owned some purebreds. I really like German Shepherd Dogs, probably because I grew up around one that was a great big clown. I loved his personality. It isn't about being an accessory that some people buy a certain breed. I don't have a problem with people doing that because I know it is not usually for "accessory" purposes.
Different breeds have distinct characteristics. I'd love to have a purebred shepherd again but would have a very difficult time finding a place to have it due to current home owner restrictions. So I have my three adorable mutts.
Though my German Shepherd was from breeding stock, I had her spayed because I look at my pets as family members.
I understand your frustration with knowing how many animals are put down on a daily basis. Picketing purebreds will not stop that though.
Purebred dogs aren't the problem either. Irresponsible pet owners are the problem.

Answer 5

I think there is nothing wrong with a pound puppy. That's where i got one of my three dogs. I think the best place to really get a puppy or dog though is from a breeder. As long as you make sure you can trust the breeder, then there is no reason why that would be a bad deal. They are mostly about the same price as the pound, maybe a little more expensive, and a lot less then the fancy dogs from the stores and AKC.

Answer 6

I purchased an English Mastiff show dog and paid 4 figures for him. I didn't do it as a status symbol or anything else. The reason a paid a lot of money for him was because English Mastiffs are very large dogs (200lbs +) and if you don't purchase one from a responsible breeder that does all the appropriate health testing you will end up spending A LOT more down the road in vet bills. Anytime a 200lb dog has to go to the vet it is going to be EXPENSIVE! Any breeder that goes through all the expense of proper testing is going to charge more for their dogs because they have invested more into that litter.

I bought him as a pet/family member and that is exactly what he is. He brings more joy to my wife and I than I could ever imagine. However, we found out later he is a VERY conformationally correct dog. We started showing him in dog shows as a hobby and he loves it! He does very well and it has turned into a hobby for my wife and I. What better way to spend time together with your family and dog than doing something you all enjoy!

The reason we got an AKC full-blooded English Mastiff is because we love the breed. They are huge dogs and have huge personalities. My wife and I have owned mixes, full-blooded rescues, and other full-blooded breeds and we can honestly say that English Mastiffs have more personality than any other dog we have owned.

Some people think it is ridiculous when they find out how much we spent on our dog. I say first and foremost it doesn't matter because it isn't your money it is ours. But, second of all I say it is more ridiculous to spend $30,000+ on a car that will drop in value like a rock than it is to spend several hundred or thousand dollars on a dog that will give you many years of love, happiness, comfort, and enjoyment.

Jeremy

P.S. I tell people all the time that it is better to get a full-blooded rescue or a pound puppy than it is to get a full blooded dog from a back yard breeder that is not a professional. Back yard breeders are the major cause of poor health problems in full blooded dogs. Just because you have a male and a female dog does not mean that they should be bred. Before you breed any dog get help and advice from a professional that knows what they are doing.

Answer 7

You can get a good dog at the pound. I have done so before and we loved her. She was very smart and a great pet. That being said, I have to add that we were lucky. You don't really know what you're getting in a 'mutt'. Whereas, most purebreds have certain known temperaments. I know someone who was heartbroken because she got a sick dog from the pound too. By the time she discovered this she already loved the dog. I also might add that not all of these so called 'good breeders' will have good dogs either. I had another purebred dog from one of these 'good breeders' (not a 'backyard breeder')and he had everything wrong with him. Oh, yes. They can be very uppity but, not always on the 'up and up'. So, think about all these things before you make a choice.

Answer 8

When you're dealing with a mixed breed, you have no idea what's in the mix and you can't determine what the dog is actually going to be like as an adult.

With a purebred dog, you can read up on the breed, characteristics and people can actually know what they are getting into by consulting a reputable breeder.

Answer 9

The best dog I've ever had cost four dollars at a flea market. (and countless hundreds in vet bill trying to cure a frequently fatal disease)

Currently I have one $200.00 purebred and one mixed breed from the pound. The mixed breed is smarter, healthier, and doesn't require a haircut every couple of months.

The only advantage I can see for a purebred is visual and personality to a small extent. (generally a schnauzer will look like a schnauzer should, and a jack russel will usually be carefree and hyper)

Answer 10

petfriendz.org in Michigan adopts pets specifically with people that are adaptable to them, whether they be a puppy, or an older dog. Due to circumstances the previous owner could not keep them.

It's a great program, just as it the humane society.

My friend had to give up a Maltese (because of a new baby crawling~did not agree with the dog) and was placed in a great
home.