what are pros and cons of getting a dog from a shelter versus getting a dog from a breeder?

Question

i would like to get her as a puppy and would prefer a small dog... if you get a dog from a shelter is it hard or easy to get a puppy that is well behaved? can they tell how big the puppy will be when she grows up?

my mom says one of her problems with getting a dog from a breeder is that when people give up their dogs to a shelter its usually because there's a problem with them... do shelters tell you why they were given up or where they found them and any information they have about the dog?

Answer 1

In my opinion and from my experience I will compare the two.
Shelter pros:
*You are saving a life.
*If you adopt a puppy, you can start training at a young age and have a good dog regardless of its background.
*Mixed breed dogs are generally healthy and adaptable.
*However, if you're looking for a purebred, you can often find lovely, well-behaved purebreds in shelters as well. (If you're looking for a specific breed, contact a rescue organization).
*Shelter adoption fees are inexpensive and usually cover spay/neuter and vaccinations, depending on the shelter.

Shelter cons:
*Puppies are adopted quickly. If you are looking for a specific size/type of dog you may have to wait a while and check back often. (Again, contact a rescue organization if you want to adopt a specific breed.)
*A dog will have an unknown background. There is no way to know how it was treated, etc.
*With puppies, although they can make some good guesses, there is no way to tell for certain how big the puppy will grow, or what its temperament might be (although that depends a lot on how it is raised).

Breeder pros:
*Good breeders offer health guarantees for their puppies.
*You can get the exact breed you are looking for. You can even find a breeder that has the exact type/temperament/etc. that you want.

Breeder cons:
*A purebred dog from a good breeder is not cheap.
*You must really do some research to find a good, responsible breeder.

To sum up, it just depends on what you're looking for. If you're willing to take a bit of a gamble, save a life and adopt a shelter dog. If you know exactly what you want, do a little research and find a breed that matches your lifestyle, then find a good, responsible breeder.
Of course, even the best of breeders can produce pups that aren't what they or you expected. A lot depends on how the pup is raised--that's your territory.
I have 3 dogs (and 3 cats) and all of them were rescued. They're all mixed breeds and all are smart, fun, good-natured dogs.
Regardless what you choose, good luck and enjoy your pup!

Added: The shelter can tell you if the pet was voluntarily given up and what, if any, reason the family gave, or if it was abandoned, etc. They only know what they were told, however. From what I've seen, the majority of dogs are given up because the owners were not prepared to own a dog. They didn't realize that dogs shed, bark, mess on the carpet, and most importantly, need to be trained! When the dog gets big and unruly and is no longer a cute puppy, they don't want to deal with it anymore and dump it at the shelter, or abandon it somewhere. A large percentage of shelter pups are around a year of age...and this is why.

Answer 2

Shelter: Pros: You save a life and give a dog that may not have had a chance to live if not for his/her adoption. You can find some of the best dogs in shelters. They are adopted vaccinated, health-checked and neutered/spayed (if it's a dog old enough for the surgery). You're helping the shelter make enough space to rescue another dog. Your adoption fee goes towards the shelter in order to maintain it, and or feed the other dogs. Therefore saving more lives. Cons: Really the only con here is that you most likely won't find a completely PROVEN pedigree if you're looking for a "cheap" AKC registered breed. You also don't know the background, or circumstances of a dog, whether it's been abused, been through trauma the shelter is unaware of, or has any background health problems such as genetic diseases. Breeder: (and I'm going via a REPUTABLE breeder scenario here, not some crap backyard breeder or some moron selling puppies in the paper) Pros: Puppies are registered, vaccinated, and bred for quality and health. The parents, grandparents, great-grandparents etc are ALL tested for any genetic problems that could be passed down to the puppies, if anything is amiss, they will not breed. They have proof of all clearances such as OFA, CERF, heart, and other needed testing for the breed being prone to. You know where they come from, and you know that you sign a contract that guarantees you have lifelong support throughout the puppies lives with the breeder, and if anything ever happens and you cannot keep the puppy/dog or it just doesn't work out you are REQUIRED to take it back to the puppy's breeder so it can be re-homed. Breeders also EXTENSIVELY screen potential puppy buyers. Financially, personally, and whatever else they feel the need to make absolute SURE that the puppy will go to a good home. In fact, most reputable breeders will turn away people a LOT more than they accept them based on the fact that the criteria is VERY strict on where the puppy will be going. Cons: It can be more expensive than what MOST people looks for in a "puppy price" but in my opinion, the price is worth it knowing how much they really care for the puppies and their parents in order to STAY involved, give support for 12+ years and the fact that none of that money even makes a profit, proves that they do NOT do it for the money. They PAY out of the nose to get all the testing and necessities done...and they don't even get half of that back to cover the costs. THAT'S love and dedication in my opinion.

Answer 3

Where you get your dog from will depend on what your end goals are for the dog.

The one place I would respectfully suggest that you avoid when purchasing a puppy is a retail pet store. Every pup you see in a pet store has come from a puppy mill (commercial breeder) or a backyard breeder. I feel confident saying this as no responsible breeder would allow one of their dogs to be marketed like all the other merchandise in the store to whom ever appears with the right amount of money.

A shelter can be a great place to find a companion. Another place to look is a breed specific rescue. If there is a particular type of dog that interests you, contact their national parent club and find out if there is a rescue program. Unlikely that the mixed breed dog at the pound will come with guarantees and they probably can’t tell you completely about the adult size or background of the parents, but that doesn’t make the dogs looking for homes any less lovable. You may want to have a dog trainer go with you to select a new companion if you chose this route as there are lots of factors to consider in getting the right match for your life. If this route still seems like a good alternative for you, look at www.PetFinder.com to find potential additions to your life.

Here are my thoughts on a responsible breeder. They know where they pups are going to live. They have a great deal of information about the pup’s new home including who lives there, past dog experience and far more. Good dog breeders will also have a contract and most will be there to mentor you through the entire life of your dog. A responsible breeder will also take their dog back if there is some reason you can’t keep it. Responsible breeders also do their best to keep their dogs out of the shelter. Your dog’s breeder should also be performing screening tests specific to the potential genetic concerns in the dog’s breed. These are just some of the basics of dealing with a responsible breeder.

Answer 4

all 3 of my dogs are shelter dogs. When you see the puppies at the shelter, you can usually tell which ones are going to grow up to be big dogs versus small dogs. If you can't tell yourself, see if a shelter employee can help you.

Of if there is a specific breed you are interested in..search the internet. There are breed rescue organizations for just about every breed out there. You can adopt a dog from them that has been in a foster home so you will get more information about the dog. You may also find a young adult dog that is already house broken.

Answer 5

Shelters:

Pros -
save a life
affordable

Cons -
you may not know what breed it is (shelters will sometimes say anything...I've seen labs listed as german shepherds when I volunteered)
SOMETIMES health issues are a problem, at the shelter I volunteered at kennel cough & parvo were big issues with pups
Older dogs may have temperment issues, but with a puppy you should be fine on this part.


REPUTABLE Breeders: (not back yard breeders or mills)

Pros -
Known breed (thus u know size & temperment)
healthy & usually come with health guarentee
well socialized

Cons -
Expensive
Risk of running into bad breeders


In the end, I think it depends on what your looking for in a dog. If your just wanting a furry pal to spend your life with, a shelter pup would be a great option. If you have a specific breed in mind, I'd first check shelters & rescues.....and then consider breeders if you don't find the perfect dog. But make sure you do your research if you go that route.

Answer 6

The pros and cons really depend on your personal needs.

There are definitely reasons why in some cases going to a reputable breeder for a carefully selected specific breed is the best choice. For example, we needed a dog that was small, hypo-allergenic, travelled well, was great with other animals and good with young children. That's a tall order, but we found a few breeds that fit the bill and bought a wonderful Havanese who fits in perfectly with our family.

On the other hand, my sister has no young children, no allergies in her family, and has a great back-yard for big dogs. Adopting a mutt puppy with uncertain lineage posed no problem for her. She adopted five puppies over the years from shelters and had good luck with four of them. (one was a pit-bull mix...he was a sweet puppy but turned psychotic around three; he repeatedly attacked people, it was awful).

So, some general pros and cons:

Shelter
-Very reasonable
-Inexpensive neutering
-You're saving a life
-Dog may have hidden health problems that cost you a fortune to fix (this has happened to my sister)

Breeder (Only a really good one, folks!)
-Much more expensive
-Dog's history is known
-Dog's pedigree is known
-Knowledge of the breed's characteristics leaves fewer unpleasant surprises

Good Luck!

Answer 7

Getting a puppy from a shelter is by far the geater good. They are checked out by a vet before you adopt to ensure you are getting a healthy pet and they don't seem to have as many medical problems as some pure breds. You also would be investing a lot of money in a pure bred when you can get a puppy just as lovable and loyal as any purebred. As for behavior, well, you can pretty much train a puppy to be the pet you want. The shelter will be able to inform you of the approx. size of the puppy when full grown. I tend to look at the feet. If the paws are large, generally it will grow into a pretty large dog. Hope this helps

Answer 8

Pros of shelter:
-You are saving a life
-You are making room in the shelter to possibly save another life.
-You can find a Large variety of dog breeds, and all kinds of unique mixes.
-The adoption fee is cheaper.
-Shelters keep all of their dogs/puppies up to date.
-If you adopt an older dog it is usually already spayed/neutered. And most are housetrained, and at least know sit/stay.

Cons of shelter:
-You don't know where the puppy came from. You don't get to meet the puppies parents, so You don't know if they are going to have good genetics. But I still think saving a life is worth it. Most shelters dogs are pretty healthy.

Pros of breeder:
**You want to make sure it is a reputable breeder, otherwise none of this applies.
-You can see the parents of the puppy, and make sure you like their size and personality.
-You will know that the parents have been health and temperament tested.
-You will know that the parents are up to date on routine care.
-You can see the conditions the puppies are kept in.

Cons of Breeder:
-Someone will buy those pure breed puppies from a breeder. But over 1/2 that dogs at shelters get euthanized.
-Breeders charge more for puppies.
-They usually don't have their shots.
-You could get conned by a breeder, they could be a backyard breeder or puppy mill. And sometimes 'breeders' will sell you a puppy that they say is a pure breed, but once it grows up you realize it is a mix, and something you were not expecting.


I have adopted all of my animals, and they are the best pets I could ever ask for. I got one cat as an adult, and one as a kitten, both are equally as healthy and loving. I adopted my dog from the shelter as an adult. She was already spayed and up to date on all routine care, her adoption fee was $110, and I didn't have to pay for any veterinary care when I got her. She is the perfect dog for us, and she is very bonded to us. I hope my answer helped you. Good Luck finding your new companion!!

***Yes, most shelters will tell you why the dog is there, but that isn't always accurate either, because people will lie about why they are bringing the dog into the shelter. The usual reasons a dog ends up in an animal shelter is because it was found as a stray, it was a puppy from an unwanted litter, people are 'moving', the dog was just not the right fit for that family, or the family is just irrisponsible and didn't want the dog anymore. Some of the dogs are animal abuse cases that were confiscated from their previous home. Just because a dog is in an animal shelter that Does Not mean it is 'damaged goods' There are TONS of good dogs who end up in animal shelters through no fault of their own. You and your mom should just go down and visit your local animal shelter to see what dogs they have. The shelter will also be able to give you more information.

Answer 9

IRRESPONSIBLE BREEDERS / BYB and PUPPYMILLS are the reasons that shelters are full of dogs looking for homes. You aren't going to find a well bred purebred in the shelters.. They are taken back by their breeders and put into new good homes..

So if your choice is to buy from a breeder from the newspaper, some joker that bred their dog and are selling the puppies to get rid of them, or someone who breeds several breeds at a time with no regards to anything but money, not taking health / temperament into consideration at all.. or little kids who breed fluffy just for the heck of it.. You should go to the shelter.. Those are the dogs that you are going to be saving.. They had nothing before they left the homes from these irresponsible breeders, but the shelter sometimes spays/neuters, microchips, vaccinates etc.. helps you find the right dog for your home.. So bypass those BAD so called breeders and go straight to the shelter..

OR you can do your research and find a good reputible breeder who breeds for health and temperament, microchips / tattoos, registers their dogs because they can and they know the background of their dogs, why the dogs in the pedigree died, what problems they might have had,, and have tried to breed away from those problems.. They will get you to sign a contract saying that you should return your dog to them if you cannot keep him, they will want to hear from you so that they can keep tabs on their puppies, they are a wealth of information and are there for you no matter what kind of dog problem you might have or what kind of question. They produce quality dogs with consistency and a dog that you can count on to live a good long life.. I might also add that many provide a good health guarantee.. Not necessarily guaranteeing that the dog won't die, but that they will replace a dog should it develop problems. The dogs are health tested and they know what problems might be there and have removed problem dogs from their breeding program.. REAL breeders breed using knowledge and experience.. They don't just do it to see puppies. Yeah you will pay more, but you also get a whole lot more..

So it's up to you.. Forget the newspaper, BYBers, people with flyers up at the grocery store, people who have them at the flea market, all those cheap type advertising places.. Check into real quality breeders, or save a life and get yourself a rescue.
Don't support puppymills, petstores, backyard breeders, and children breeding their puppies for the fun of it!

Answer 10

In 1978 I got my first dog from a Shelter. He was three months old and a German Shepherd. I found out TOO LATE he had heartworm! I wasn't informed. He didn't live to four months. Shelters are a place to sell dogs and cats from irresponsible OWNERS NOT breeders. Owners who buy a dog whose kids lose interest, owners who don't research and give up the dog, owners who expect the dog to train themselves and find problems, owners who'd never give up their kids but WILL give up their pets when they're inconveniences. Would you give up your human kids if your landlord said no kids? No. You'd find another place who DOES accept kids. I've NEVER lived anywhere where no pets were allowed. Do you think a Shelter will tell you if the dog has a problem with personality? Heck no!

Ok let's get to puppy mills. YOU demand more puppies, YOU get them. Puppy mills are NO different than your neighborhood backyard breeder who does it for the money and nothing more. I got my Chihuahua from a pet shop. Was she a puppy mill dog? Of course. She has crooked back feet that turn inward and her back sometimes goes out. I've had her for 12 years and she's SAVED my life several times. NO ONE at the pet shop would touch her who visited. She had just come in that day from Oklahoma and she had Kennel Cough that the pet shop vet refused to even start treatment. I BEGGED to take my girl home. A week later she was fine. Two weeks of self training and I had her litter box trained that we do during the winter. My girl has a great personality with me. Know where the problem came from? A so-called trainer that screwed her up. I learned that if you have a trainer who expects you to leave your dog there a week, train then train with you? RUN! You need a trainer, you train WITH the dog. Don't leave them. My dog's 'trainers' no longer are in business. They were cruel.

Don't lecture me, folks, about pet shop animals, puppy and kitten mills. Maybe if YOU would spay and neuter, we wouldn't have unwanted puppies and kittens. Maybe if YOU didn't breed dogs just for the money, maybe if you got a dog or cat because you wanted one and researched it instead of satisifying kids you know you didn't teach responsibility to, or cosidered your dog and cat an accessory rather than a companion you DON'T give up when times are hard, maybe if Shelters didn't profit off irresponsible owners, we wouldn't need shelters or rescues.

Shelters are NOT all that great. You've got DUMPED animals. If the animal doesn't suit you what do you do? RE DUMP them again in a Shelter are so cruel as to euthanize a Pit Bull just because he is one, or put to sleep an animal because they don't sell.

My Chihuahua is a puppy mill dog. But let me tell you. She was love at first sight. She's saved my live several times. We've both gone through hard times along with my cat got from a breeder. I love my Chihuahua. So what she's from a puppy mill. I TOOK HER when no one else wanted her. She looked right at me no one else and who can resist a Chihuahua's eyes.