What are the advantages of a dog from the pound over a purebred puppy from a breeder???

Question

Contemplating whether to get a dog from the pound or a puppy from a breeder. Any advice greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

There are many advantages:

They will cost less
Mutts (or mixed-breeds) generally have less health problems than even champion-bred pure breeds
If you get a shelter dog, you are saving the life of one in addition to the space you've opened for others
Mutts have less temperament issues

I could go on and on. The benefits are unsurmountable.

Answer 2

Here is another good question. As a trainer for the last 27 years I highly recommend a dog from the RIGHT breeder. Getting a dog from the pound, you have no idea what you are getting into. Regardless of what anyone here tell you, mutts are NOT healthier then pure bred dogs, are not any smarter or any thing better. Regardless of what anyone here says, also, a lot of dogs at the pound have issues that I am not willing to deal with. They are there because of a reason and I do not know what that reason is. I am not interested in having a dog with fears or hangups about anything and I am especially NOt interested in having a dog like that around my kids. Call me weird, but, I want to know, down to the last detail, what i am bringing home. I deal with several breeders from Europe and I have been for over 25 years now. I know what I want and i ALWAYS get it because these people have been breeding for a long time A breeder will get you a dog that you will be able to know everything about. What that dog will be like, why, how, when, etc. You cannot get that from the pound. Yes, dogs from a good breeder cost good money, but then again, I am making an investment in my family and my work and I want health and hip guarantees and everything that comes from a good breeder. I know that some people here will tell you that by getting a dog from the pound you will save a life, but, the cold hard facts are that you are bringing a carnivorous, pack animal home. Don't you want to know everything about it before?

Answer 3

Good question. Honestly, I have done both.

I have adopted some amazing dogs from shelters. Two were mixes and one was a purebred golden. Some advantages are you are saving a life, the dog usually comes spayed or neutered already and with all of its vaccinations and the cost is much lower. Some dogs come fully trained (one of mine was), others will need training - it just depends. Since you don't know the background of the dog, you might not know if it has any genetic diseases in its background.

If you want a specific purebred dog and are concerned about bloodlines and possible genetic defects or health conditions, you might consider getting a dog from a breeder. Be sure the parents are registered by AKC and the puppy's parents have had all appropriate health checks for that breed. Any good breeder will provide a health guarantee and the puppy will be at least 8 weeks old when you get him and should have his first round of puppy shots. If possible, you should see the puppy's parents to be able to assess their temperments, at minimum you should see the mother. You will pay a lot more for all this and you will need to spay or neuter your dog at you own cost, but you have more knowledge of what you are going to get. Honestly, without the health checks, AKC registration and puppy health guarantee, you may as well get a shelter dog.

Of course whatever you do, don't get a puppy from a pet shop. These are often puppy mill dogs. There is also a new trend of so-called breeders importing dogs from Mexico that are taken from their mothers too early and they are sickly and often die. Be sure and see the mother on-site and get a health guarantee.

Answer 4

With a purebred you know exactly what you are getting and the breeder will help you if you ever have any problems with your dog and if there is ever a reason you cannot keep the dog the breeder will take it back. Plus they are healthy dogs.

Adopting a dog from a pound is always a gamble. You do not know anything about the dogs background or how it was raised. You do not know if your dog will have bad health problems later on in its life

BUT if you adopt you will save a life and there are LOTS of great dogs at the pounds! Plus a lot of dogs at pounds are purebrerds. The puppies at breeders are not in danger of being killed, the pound dogs are!

Answer 5

Well purebreds from a breeder you will have to get all shots and having to spay/neuter on your own. Most dogs from shelters over six months have all this done for you. Two you are saving a dog from the needle in some cases and providing a loving home for him that otherwise he wouldn't get. (There are a lot of "purebred" shelters out there if you are looking for a specific dog.) Breeders are better if you are looking for specific champ lines and are looking to show the dog or if you are into a rarer dog that cannot be found in a shelter. A good breeder will want to improve the line of the breed so most cases you will get an exceptional dog. But there are some aspects as well to getting a purebred such as some breeders will ask you to sign a contract that you will not breed the dog and so on. I guess there are different aspects to every situation when getting a new furry friend.

Good Luck.....

Answer 6

Very different prospects but they both have big rewards. You'll need to think about what's important to you, but here are the considerations.

For a purebred puppy from a breeder, you're buying "predictability." Obviously, this is a living being and thus not completely predictable, but purebred dogs are bred to have generally consistent personality traits, behaviors and needs. You'll have a good idea about how large your puppy will get, what kind of personality it will have, how much exercise it will need, how much training it will need, how much socialization it will need, etc. You will also be getting a puppy, so it in a more formative stage of development and less likely to be traumatized by past experiences.

Disadvantages to a purebred: Although generally healthy, purebreds also tend to be prone to more health problems, such as hip displasia, bone disease, mange, etc. A good breeding program can eliminate a lot of these risks, but that means you'll have to do a lot of research and fine a reputable breeder.

Adopting a dog from the pound or Humane Society -- This has a huge reward in that you're rescuing a dog who might otherwise be put to sleep. Most of these dogs are good, healthy dogs who just need a new home. They were either lost, or had owners who didn't appreciate the obligations that come with a new dog (or who discovered they were allergic). I volunteer for a rescue program and we've brought some really sweet, smart and loving dogs out of shelters that were happily rehomed with new families. Rescuing a dog is also less expensive in terms of adoption fees (not free or cheap, but less expensive). If you get a mixed-breed, you'll also get a dog that is less likely to have genetic problems.

Disadvantages to a rescue dog: Less predictability in terms of long-term needs and behaviors. The puppy may have been emotionally traumatized and you could wind up with a charity case that takes a LOT of time and money to turn into a good canine citizen. (This can also be hugely rewarding and satisfying, but it is a risk that I feel is too often discounted.)

Good luck.

Answer 7

Adopting will cost less, the dog will already be fixed, and will most likely will come microchiped. But, at the same time you never know how the dogs going to adapt. Also, i tried to adopt 4 times before just getting my puppy. The adoption process is very down hearting when several people go for the same animal. Keep in mind if youre adopting, you may not get the first, second, third, or even fourth dog you pick out. But when it does work out, you're saving a life.

Raising a puppy takes a lot of time, and cost a lot of money. If you're buying a purebred you can spend well over a thousand just for the dog itself. Then, you have two sets of shots to get after that, and then the cost of getting the animal fixed. Then the cost of a microchip, which i suggest. But honestly, raising a puppy is the best way of assuring your dog fits you and your life style.

Answer 8

What you are looking for in a dog must be a big part of your decision. Are you looking to compete in dog shows and breed your dog. Then you should get a purebred. If you are looking for a companion dog then the pound is the way to go.
I have both, a registered St. Bernard and a mastiff/german shepard mix. Both are great dogs.
Purebred dogs many times offer you the opportunity to see where your dog came from i.e., temperment, size, markings etc. which is nice. Showing dogs can be tremendous fun you get to meet a bunch of other dog lovers and breeding you know you are contributing to better the breed. However, purebreds are prone to more genetic issues such as hip dysplasia, allergies etc.
Pound dogs or mixed breeds offer you a dog that is grateful for the rescue, the feeling of knowing you saved and improved a life. They tend to have stronger immune systems than that of pure breds and less genetic problems. However, mixed breeds are kind of like throwing a whole bunch of ingredients together in a pot it's a crap shoot you could get a great dog with a wonderful personality, the size you are looking for or not.
Another option you could consider if you have a certain breed you like would be to contact a local breed rescue. Then you have the benefit of knowing what breed and issues you could be facing plus they usually do temperment testing and it's a lot less costly than a breeder plus you've rescued a dog.
Either way you go, you are sure to have lots of love in the future. Good luck with your new addition.

Answer 9

It depends on what you want in a dog and what kind of breeder you are dealing with.

If you are dealing with a *reputable* breeder, the advantages are that you have a pup whose parents have been carefully selected for good health and temperament, who has been given the best of care and diet from conception, who will have fairly predictable appearance and temperament, and who had a breeder that will stand behind the pup and try to help you when you have problems for the life of the pup.

If you are getting a dog from the shelter, you are usually adopting an adult so you can see what you are getting. The initial cost is lower (maintenance is the same). You get the good feeling that comes with knowing you have saved a life.

Answer 10

Lets clear up some myths.
The ONLY reason that people have the perception that pure bred dogs have more health problems than mutts is because purebred dogs are TESTED for genetic faults and mutts are not.
More often than not both parents of a mutt live in the same neighborhood, and ARE closely related. So a mutt is just as likely to be inbred as any other dog.
Yes when you get a dog from a shelter, you are saving a life. But, WHY is the dog in a shelter?? Is it because it's owners moved and couldn't take the dog with them?? OR,,,, is it because the dog has a problem that they were unable or unwilling to deal with????
Ask your selves this,,,,, where do the dogs that have bitten a child go??????

Answer 11

well, price for one. A lot of people will say that the attitude of a pound dog is much more loving. I have a pure bred boxer, and a mutt from the pound and both of them are the best caring dogs anyone could ask for. Pure bred dogs are usually better as far as health goes, but not always. Just go to the pound and look around and see what you like, but if you want a pure bred pup, which i sometimes think is over rated unless you plan on showing them, then look for reputable breeders. and if you are going to go as far as to buy from a breeder you may as well get an akc registered pup. there really is no one that is better besides the fact that pound pups are pretty much on their last leg if you will, a bred pup will always have someone to buy it. From an ethical point pound pups are better, but from personal experience, both are just fine.