Should I get a dog from the Humane Society or a breeder? And if from the Humane Society how old should it be?

Answer 1

Reputable breeder, if you are interested in getting something with health guarantees and certain predictability in terms of temperament and size.

Answer 2

By adopting from a Humane Society you rescuing a dog from potentially being put to sleep. Purchasing from a breeder may give you some piece of mind because it might come with a guarantee, but you will spend a lot more money and really, there are no guarantees that it will be any "better" than a mutt from the pound. Decide what size and type of dog will suit your lifestyle, then go out and research. Chances are, you can find it at a humane society or breed rescue. People have strong opinions on this subject, and the choice is ultimately yours, but stop and think and do the right thing. Rescued dogs make amazing pets too. As far as age, that's a question for you... will you be home a lot to train a new puppy? Maybe an older dog would be more your speed, they are often already housebroken and may even know some commands.

Answer 3

Hi,

Depends on what you want really. But I would highly suggest the Humane Society. Don't go in with any preconceived notions either. Just go in and see if you click with any dog in particular. Dogs both older and younger need homes and love. Also, please note that sometimes the ages of the dogs are just an educated guess on the behalf of the Humane Society. So you may thing you are getting a 3 year old dog when in fact it is 5 or 6. Does happen. Doesn't matter if you love the dog.

Reputable breeders do have their place in this world. But if you are not over interested in knowing your dogs lines or having him/her be a show dog then you should for sure head to the pound.

Many people get pups (large breeds in particular) and then realize that they don't have time to give the new pup everything it needs. So, they turn them over the Humane Society. So, often when you go in there you can get a beautiful pure bread anyway.

All the best!

Answer 4

I have many dogs. All came from different places, 2 came from a breeder.

A "pure" dog doen't mean it's better. Pure breeds can be very expensive, depending on the type of dog. And I HIGHLY recomment researching the breeder. Plus, pure dogs can have their own set of health problems which are common for the breed.

My Chow Chow (Pure, but not papered) had entropia. My Irish Setters (Pure and papered) are fine, but the breed is prone to seizures. In mixed breeds (mutts), physical ailments are often seen less than in the pure breeds.

The adoption costs (where I live, anyway) is usually around $60-80. You'll be giving an animal a second chance at life, and most likely get a GREAT dog.

However, and there is ALWAYS a however, you need to take the time to ask questions about the dog. Make a few visits. Spend time with a few different dogs. Don't rush into the decision.

Younger puppies chew. A LOT! When they start to loose their baby teeth (which are VERY sharp) you need to be prepared to loose a sock or shoe... in my case, several baseball caps. And watch out for electrical wires!

Older dogs can be very set in their ways, and not be open to training. That "old dog, new trick" saying... There is a little truth to it. It's not impossible, but it really depends on the relationship you form with the dog.

Potty training is a *****.

Also, keep in mind the amount of space you have, and how often you can get the dog out for exercise. Some dogs are ok with being alone in an apartment, others need a yard. Some are ok with minimal activity, other... well...

I pity the poor soul who lives in a small apartment with a 1 year old Jack Russell that dosen't get out the park on a regular basis.

Good luck.

Answer 5

I believe that you should get it from the Humane Society b/c there are to many animals out here that need a home to be buying from a breeder. It really doesn't matter about the age unless you're wanting something in particular. I adopted a 5 year old Rott from the shelter and she is the best dog you could ask for. I wouldn't trade her for anything. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

Definitely the humane society. There are so many animals in the world already that need good homes. The animal will appreciate you saving it's life and will be a great pet...or so my experience goes. You'll feel good about it too. A lot of pure bred animals have health issues and then there can also be issues about the treatment of some of the animals from breeders. Human society is the best decision.

Answer 7

I don't see anything wrong with getting a dog from the humane society. There are so many dogs/cats that need a home. Just check them out. Spend time with them. I'm sure you could find a lovely dog there. From a breeder,certainly expect to pay much more. A pure breed dog also is more apt to have problems (health) down the road.

Answer 8

I suggest Humane Society. There are millions of animals in shelters being put down everyday. If you want a calmer dog maybe you should get an adult. But if you want a dog to play with and raise I suggest a puppy. But if you really want a dog from a breeder then get it from there. Also puppies can be trained to do what you want whereas adults cannot be trained as easily.

Answer 9

The humane society or any (reputable) rescue groups are great places to adopt from. RESPONSIBLE breeders who screen their animals for hereditary conditions, such as hip displaysia can also be a good choice.

There are dogs of all ages in the humane society. Often adults and seniors are the best bet! Many of these dogs have had obedience and house training.

Answer 10

HUMANE SOCIETY!!!!!!! Don't worry about the age. Once you meet "your" dog, you won't care about the age. You can find the sweetest dogs at shelters. It's like they know you are rescuing them. I got my baby at the Humane Society and couldn't be happier.

And the person that said not to get from a shelter is wrong. Sorry. They won't even put a dog up for adoption at that young of an age. They shouldn't even be away from the mom until 10 weeks. They may not have the pedigree information, but they have done a full vet workup, had them updated on shots and treated for any problems.

Answer 11

Go to a county shelter or Humane Society. At the county shelters you can get very sweet dogs. Most will not be full bred but they are good dogs. Also many of the dogs will be put to sleep if no one adopts them. The humane society will not do this, but county shelters do.

It will make you feel super special when you save a puppy or dog from getting put to sleep. Our puppy was 4 months old when we got her and we are having a blast with her.

Check out petfinder.com and see if you can find something you like.