buy a puppy or adopt?

Question

do you suggest adopting a dog like an Akita from a rescue or raising one from a puppy? Most random people I asked in "real life" said they are mean unless you raise them from a puppy yourself.

Answer 1

While some Akitas can have aggression issues if not properly socialized, many are pretty devoted to their people regardless. I was once given an Akita to show when the dog was about 2 years old, and he fit right into our household without any trouble. He was a doll! :)

Your best bet would be to contact an Akita Rescue group and get "first-hand" information on adopting an adult Akita (pros and cons). There are always adult dogs out there needing homes, and if you're willing to take one in, both the dogs and the rescues crowded with them are eternally grateful for your kindness.

Good luck!

ADDED: Some links I found:
These may be good places to start --
http://www.akitarescue.com/
http://www.akitaclub.org/rescue/resgroups.html

Looks like there are also plenty of Akita rescue groups with websites -- hopefully one near you:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=akita+rescue

Answer 2

The only purpose I can see for buying a dog is if you want to be sure you are getting a purebred, say for the show ring or as a stud dog. It's much better to adopt a dog from a shelter if you can- there are about 10 million homeless dogs and cats who are euthanized each year because there is no place to put them and no way to keep them alive. All of the dogs I have owned in my life were shelter dogs- and these animals are usually so glad to have a home that they make wonderful pets. Go online to get the names of shelters and rescue organizations in your area- and contact one or two of them. They will be happy to help you with information on adoption and raising a puppy. Cost is another factor- adopting is much less expensive than buying. When I get my next dog, I will adopt him from the local SPCA. Hope that helps.

Answer 3

I don't know what Akitas are, but I think by adopting you do a good deed. And dogs know that and are grateful to you. Of course, you have to get informations on the dog you are adopting(if it is mean or friendly) and also spend some time with it before you adopt it to see his attitude towards you and the chemistry between you. I took a dog directly from the street ( I rescued him on the motorway). He is a large german shepherd, for all I know he could be mean and attack me when I got him into the car. But from the moment our eyes crossed, I knew he would never do that! Indeed, when I got him into the car, he wouldn't stop kissing me and crying from joy until we got home.
Oh, and even if the dog isn't a puppy it can be trained, my dog was. Find a good positive trainer. Adopting a puppy is also an option.

Answer 4

The best people to talk to would be people with Akita rescue. They'll be honest with you about how the dogs generally adapt and if a particular dog is 'mean'.

Sure, you can mold a lot when you have a puppy, but you also know little to nothing about the dog's inherent personality. They could just be a little nippy for 8 months and then turn into a nightmare.

One key factor is time. If you have the time to put into the dog, it will be less liely to be mean. *Any* dog that's left outside to rot, left home 8+ hours a day, or ignored/yelled at is more likely to have issues. Whether that's meanness, spearation anxiety, timidness, or "going psycho", it's up to the breed and the individual dog. A responsible available owner is key - at ANY age.

Rescue isn't going to place a "mean" dog with you. They will be clear about the dog, his history (if known), and any 'special needs' he might have.

I love breed rescue groups. They clean up all the messes from Backyard Breeders (like Y!A member China) and find forever homes for animals. The decrease the kill rate for shelter dogs and care about the dog more than the owner.

Talk to an Akita rescue rep in your area. Address your concerns. If it doesn't seem like it will work out, ask for a reference to a responsible breeder. Good luck to you in your search.

Helpful links:

Akita Breed Rescue: http://www.akitanetwork.com/Rescue/rescues.htm

Getting a dog info: http://dogplay.com/GettingDog/index.html

Where to buy a dog: http://www.geocities.com/bluegracepwd/wheretobuy.html

Are Akitas right for you? (Akita Club of America): http://www.akitaclub.org/info/breedinfo.html

Answer 5

It depends were you would get the puppy. If you get it from the pet store in the mall, NO WAY. Most of those dogs are from puppy mills, and half of them dye on the trip to the store, and others can dye really quickly after bought. I would say a shelter dog would be the best because you would save a life. Also, shelter dogs are known to have a better temperment sometimes. THere are plenty of homeless animals out there that would love you, and at the same time you love them.

I hope I helped!

Answer 6

Please pay a visit to your local animal shelter. While it is true that some of the animals from the shelter may have been abused before, some of them come from puppy mills. However, most responsible shelters will provide you with plenty of information about the animal, and if it's aggressive, or not suitable for adoption, it will most likely be PTS.

But if you decide to buy, please buy from a REPUTABLE breeder, not from a back yard breeder. (Back yard breeders typically list ads in local internet classified, or your newspaper)
Seek out the reputable ones, go visit their facility and inspect the dog's living conditions. If they're filthy, avoid. A good breeder will give you a three year warantee, sometimes even lifetime warantee, health certificate of both parents, registration papers, health records etc. A good breeder will be very passionate about their puppies, and will tell you everything about them, and are very keen to know about your home and how their puppies will be treated. A bad breeder will want to get rid of the dog ASAP and is more interested in the money

Answer 7

If you look enough you can adopt a puppy. Both of my dogs are rescue dogs and I have raised them from when they were pups. I didn't have a specific breed in mind...but I have seen plenty of pure breeds at the pounds and shelters. If you choose to buy a dog, which I advise against, make sure you really investigate the breeder...they can have hosts of problems that occur form inbreeding and you may also be unknowingly supporting a puppy mill. There are good breeders in the world, but the shelter dogs really, really need good homes.

Answer 8

Adopt

Answer 9

It really depends. There are lots of great rescue dogs out there whose owners give them up for various reasons, but there are also dogs that have been abused or neglected that may need some additional work.

When you bring up a puppy, you have to deal with all the training issues, housebreaking, the sharp puppy teeth.

It reallly depends on what you are looking for. When I looked for my dog, I persued both routes. It just so happened that I was more successful in getting a puppy. The rescue I contacted never got back to me after I sent my application in. (They finally called after I had my puppy for 6 months.)

Answer 10

I adopted and it was the best choice I ever made! You are saving the life of a dog that may never find a home. It's a great feeling.