Adopt? or buy labrador retriever from reputable breeder?

Question

me and my family cannot decide whether we should adopt from the shelter or get a puppy from a realy good breeder. ok, so please help me figure this out.

my parents are worried about the shelter, we think it would be nice to save a dog, but their worried, sometimes these dogs were abused and abused dogs can sometimes be agressive (not there fault, we know that!) but we do have an 8 yr old in the house and we dont want him hurt... well my parents dont. lol. no im kidding none of us do.

and when you adopt, you dont get a health gaurantee like you do at a breeders.

for the people that have went to a decent breeder, can you tell us what the process is? i know there are questions they will ask us, but what about waiting lists? do THEY choose our puppy? do they visit our house? i guess every breeder has different rules.. but can you tell me what you had to do? its just nice to know.

ok. pro's and cons for both please. what do you recomend?

DP, what are you talking about? labrador retrievers are wonderful with Children. I HAVE done research, thanks.

Answer 1

I got the most perfect black lab from the spca for only $85. She was already spayed, chipped, shots. People had dumped her because she chewed too much, but I have spent a lot of time with her and love her to pieces, and she is a GREAT dog. She is 2 y.o. now and the best dog ever in the whole, wide, world! Try finding a lab rescue group, because you would be surprised how many need new homes. Some owners get too elderly to care for a big dog, or they want to travel so they don't have time, or some people just dump their dogs when they tire of them. So lab rescue groups have some great, very adoptable dogs who need homes. Give them a chance before letting someone profit off of their dogs.

Answer 2

If you want health guarantees, get a dog between one and two years old. You can have the dog screened for possible health problems, they can come potty trained, spayed/neutered, etc. If you go through a reputable rescue organization they will screen the dogs with kids and cats and will help you find the best match. There are no guarantees no matter how good the breeder. We adopted five dogs between the ages of 1 and 2 years old. All of those dogs have agility titles, two were reserve national agility champions(trained by kids 13 and 14 years old) and one has the highest titles possible in three different agility organizations. We adopted a puppy about a year and a half ago and he has been a handful! I've vowed never to do a puppy again. Older rescues are much easier!

Answer 3

Pros about adopting:
You are saving an animals life. Most shelters have to put animals to sleep if they can not find a home.
A shelter animal will give you unconditional love and be eternally greatful to you for saving it. You will be able to tell how the animal reacts to you and your family and if it is suitable for your family. If the dog is agressive it will be agressive at the humane society too. A dog from the humane society has a complete check up and is spayed or neurterd before you adopt them. Any medical problems that they may have will be told to you.
When you purchase from a breeder you get a health guarantee for only the first month or so of the dogs life. It is not a life time guarantee. If the breeder has overbred the dogs it could have genetic defects that do not show up to later in life. It could also have problems with hips, back, heart etc that do not show up until later in life. Personality of the puppy is hit and miss. I have a chihuahua that I bought from a breeder. He is from Grand Champions , AKC registered all the wonderful things that breeders tell you to make the sell. I love him unconditionally but he is just plain mean. Not to me or my husband but to other dogs, cats, birds, frogs, and people. I have another chihuahua that I rescued. He was starved, beaten, ran over by a car and burned. He is the most loveable dog that you will ever meet. He has to baby everything. He will literally lick a baby rabbit and play with a kitten. So you see nothing is guaranteed in life. I recommend going to the shelters and seeing what kind of dogs that they have there. Interact with the dogs. You do not have to make a decision right then. If you see one that you like let the shelter know and tell them you will be back with a decision. There are many different ages of dogs at the shelter also. You could get a puppy or a more mature dog, I wish you luck. Oh one more thing. We just think that it is us that chooses our pets it is actually the pet that chooses us. What I mean is when the right dog comes along he/she will let you know that they are the right dog

Answer 4

I would adopt. You can easily go to the shelter and ask the staff about the temperament of the dog and if it is good with children after all they have been looking after the dog! The shelters also insist that you spend one on one time with the dog you want before adopting it to make darn well sure that the dog is the right dog for you after all they want to re home these dogs to permeant families (most shelters will not allow you to adopt a dog with aggression behavious if there is a child in the home). Moreover you will have a greatfull companion and have the satisfaction of saving a life, not only just one life however you will make room in the shelter for another dog that desperately needs it.

Quotes:

“Don’t breed or buy when shelter dogs die!”

“if its just one I can help or save, its still one, I have done my job.”

Answer 5

YEA FOR U ! I LOVE PEOPLE THAT ADOPT, READ MY OTHER QUEESTIONS THAT I ANSWERED IF U WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MYLOVE FOR ADOPTING.

anyways, you are right. animals from a shelter are usually in the shelter for a reason. This does not mean that there are any nice dogs. Go and take a look, many shelters let you take out a dog and spend some time with it. I have met some really sweet dogs that have been rescued, including my current dog. Please give the dogs in the shelter a chance.

a con for the breeder is that you feel guilty about buying a dog when there are so many that need homes and that are unloved.

Answer 6

My lab was born at Purina Farms/Missour. They may be able to advise you on a good breeder if that is what you want.

I have a beautiful blond rescued lab. She is the sweetest dog I have ever know. She is also one of the smartest.
I got her at 7 months. She had been tossed around to 5 homes. Fortunately one of the people that kept her was a great dog trainer.

I took her to classes to learn how to handle such an energetic bread. And she is. Labs need alot, and I mean alot, of excersize. She also requires time to do her job, which is endless time "fetching". I love it, and it can be hard to find the time, yet she is so good and sweet.
I work out of my home. I have had Grace for 5 months now (she was 1 in July) and she greets my clients and lays at the door of my office. This did take work, but she is smart and as soon as she figured out I was the leader, it became much easier. I have 3 little boys around. The youngest is 1. There have been no issues with anger, just her attempt at dominence over the youngest. We have not allowed it and now Grace is very gentle with him.
She follows me everywhere. So be prepared for a great and loving companion.
They also shed ALOT....

Answer 7

I recommend finding a rescue, a pound, or even looking in the newspaper. Most places will tell you about the animals you look at, like their past (if they are aware of it) and their temperaments, and if they are housetrained or whatever. Your best bet is to ask as many questions as possible, even when you are at the breeders. Make a list, and ask away, the more you know about the animal you are thinking of adopting the better. Also, spend a bit of time with your top choices before you finally decide, most places let you have some observation time with your pet, use the observation time to assess the dog's personality, and mannerisms.

Answer 8

I´d go to the shelter and adopt a puppy, if you are worried about a dog being abused before, is more likely that a puppy hasn´t being abused. I don´t know about the process you need to follow.
Now, about the breeds, Labradors and Golden Retrievers are really good with children. Boxers are also great for them.

Answer 9

My aunt is a lab breeder, and I have to tell you, she is extremely picky as to where her puppys go to. They are asked a bunch of questions and she wants refrences, not only from people, but veternarians aswell.

And so you know, she places puppies in many familes with children over the age of 6. Puppies can be rough, any breed mind you. So families with children under the age of 6, she advises to go to the Lab rescue in her state and adopt an older lab, or wait and come back when the children are older.

Most times she tends to place males with families with kids, they tend to be a little more patient.

All in all, excellent family pets. Especially with kids.

Adoption is wonderful too, however.

Answer 10

With an 8 year old in the house, you might find that neither of them will allow you to have a dog. Homes w/ no dog experience.. And kids can sometimes be trouble. You should do some research into the breed and find out if you can handle the energy, the training. Decide if you actually have the time for a dog, the patience.. Kid good with animals?? Etc..