Any dog owners/breeders, please read and answer...?

Question

Can someone please explain to me a person's reason for the following:
1) Buying a dog from a pet store after being warned and informed about puppy mills.
2) Buying a dog from a breeder after being told there at 16 million homeless dogs in shelters that are put down every year.
3) Why people downright refuse to spay or neuter their pet?
4) Why people insist on breeding their pet, despite knowing about the overpopulation problem.
5) Why I get a massive amount of negative ratings every time I tell someone they should spay or neuter their pet.

Answer one, answer all, I would appreciate it. Obviously I just don't understand people.

GotNewfs:

I must say this. I have a three and a half year old purebred Border Collie. I adopted her. She is in training to become a competitive disc dog. She has been hit by two cars, broken her back and front right legs, but makes perfect jumps and only occasionally limps. All she wants to do is work. If a dog is in a shelter, is does NOT mean it isn't a worker.

I must share with you the story of Neemo, a gorgeous eleven month old Australian Cattle dog mix I worked with at the CT Humane Society. I am a HS volunteer and therefore see a lot of dogs and even more deaths. We are a low-kill shelter, which means we only put down animals with aggression or health issues.

Neemo was a joy to play with. Full of energy. One of my responsibilities is walking dogs. I walk them to a park the HS has set up outside of the adoption facility. This park has an assortment of training equipment and toys in it, and a small set up of agility equipment. I was absolutely shocked when I saw

Neemo leaping over hurdles and climbing over platforms while playing with another dog. I looked at him and thought, "this dog has talent." He has no prior training with agility equipment.

I am in the shelter dog training program and work with a lot of the problem dogs. As Neemo stayed longer and longer in the shelter, he began to go "kennel crazy". The excitement and lack of socialization in a kennel brings out the worst in some dogs. After a month of being there, Neemo was put on "do not walk" status. Only trainers were allowed to walk him. I worked day in and day out trying to fix his "problem". He bit the lead and tugged when you brought him in and took him out of his kennel.

Neemo was put down two days ago. Apparently he had "bitten" a worker. He was an eleven month old puppy. I knew this dog well. He was nippy, but all play.

Losing Neemo was almost like losing my own dog. He only had eleven months of life. He was a hard worker, but never got a chance to prove it

I never said there should be no breeders. I said people should adopt instead of breed. If every dog in the world had a caring and loving him, then breed away. Until that time, responsibility comes first, and no responsible breeder would create more dogs unless they were doing it for the better of the breed.

Furthermore, I obviously support people having companion animals. I have about five right now and am considering fostering for a sixth.

And PETA is not against companion animals. PETA extremists may be. Are all Catholics against gay marriage? Are all Mormons polygamist? Are republicans hardcore Catholics? Nope. Just the extremists that give the whole group a bad name.

Newfs:

I do understand your want for a purebred conformation Newfoundland, and that is fine. My point is, not EVERYONE needs a conformation level dog. People are often more interested in how their neighbors or friends will react to their dog than they are in the dogs personality. The average Joe does NOT need a conformation level dog.

27% of shelter dogs are purebred. If someone wants a purebred so much, they can find purebred rescues. Those are everywhere.

I am not against people having a conformation level dog from a breeder, as long as their is a point to it. And not all shelter dogs have problems, just as not all breeder dogs are problem-free. If you get a dog, you must be willing to work and spend time with it. That is what owning a canine is all about.

Answer 1

Hey GotNewfs--

It may intrigue you to know that five of my seven purebred dogs are RESCUES, once unwanted and abandoned, now super athletes and performance dogs.
You do not have to buy a purebred puppy to end up with a high-titled dog. So that argument is for crap.
I have a rescued Aussie with a MACh, HTD2, TD, UD, and a Ch in the altered ASCA class, etcetera.
My rescued male Golden has a TD, MH, UDX, etcetera.
So do not tell me rescued dogs cannot have superior titles.
I for one cannot understand supporting any type of breeder while millions of lovable, healthy, adorable dogs and puppies die in local shelters and waste away at rescue groups.

So please stop telling everyone that if you want to have a dog you can put titles on, you MUST buy a puppy.


As for the OP,
I do not understand anyone who supports a pet store. I cannot understand even going in to one. The only thing that comes to mind is that they see that poor dog and fell bad for it. Little do they know that by purchasing that dog, they are only asking the PM's to keep on milling year after year.

I do not care if you are talking about a backyard breeder, hobby breeder, show breeder, or puppy mill, I cannot understand supporting ANY breeder while there are millions of unwanted dogs in America. Regardless of "type" of breeder, if they bring in MORE dogs to an already over-populated dog world, they ARE contributing to the problem. We need more adoptions, LESS breeding.
Show breeders think that just because they title their dogs and do "everything" right, they HAVE to breed their dog. Well I disagree. I think if you fancy a breed that is already overbred, you need to reconsider what you are doing.


People refuse to alter their dogs because:
They think it will do their dog damage.
They believe their dog SHOULD be bred.
They want their male dog to remain "tough-looking".
Someone forwarded them the propaganda-filled, faulty-written pdf of "longtermhealtheffectsofspay".....blahblahblah.

Hint: All of these are stupid reasons.


People insist on breeding their dog because:
They think it will do their dog good.
They want copies of their dog.
They show their dog and therefore believe that automatically means the dog SHOULD be bred.
They have never set one damn foot in a shelter.

I too get lots of negative feedback and thumbs-down from those who hate to hear "spay your dog" or, you shouldn't breed".

There is one member here who is obviously involved in dog showing and must be really against dog spaying, and probably loves the fact that we have millions of dogs in animal shelters. That person is who we in dog rescue despise.


Disclaimer:
SOME dog breeding is permissible, for those with rare breeds, or those with a breed that is fairly common whose dog is just above and beyond all the others in standard, coat, temperament, instinct, and every other requirement. But for the most part, I am against dog breeding for the most part.

Answer 2

1. I don't know why people would do that.
2. Well i guess if people didn't take from breeders and only from shelters then i guess the breeders puppy's would end up in shelters. Also sometimes you can't get a puppy in a shelter only a fully grown dog and a lot of people want puppies so that they can raise them the way they want them to be.
3. Like someone else said on here. Everyone thinks in their mind that they know best. Just like you think that getting them spayed and neutered is best. Some people don't think that it's a good thing to do. Some people don't believe what you do and that is all there is to it.
4. Some people do it cause they know that others want pure breeds. Some do it for the money. Some do it cause they love animals and they want others to fill that love as well.
5. I would never give you a thumbs down for telling someone to spay or neuter their pets cause i believe that is what you believe is best. It's your opinion. You have a right to it and i don't believe that you should get a thumbs down for that. I would give you a thumbs down if you was rude about it cause it is up to them what they do cause they have a right to have there own opinions the same as you do. Like some one else said maybe answer their question properly first then just say please spay or neuter your dog. Maybe post it at the end of your answer.

Answer 3

1.) Not all puppies at pet stores are from puppy mills. You just need to know where you dog truly came from.
2.) Not all breeders are bad. Some people also like pure breeds better than mutts because they know what to expect. Pure breeds are not always available in shelters, I can't count how many times I have been to bring in donations to mine and I have only seen 1 pure breed.
3.) It is there choice to spay or neuter. I think that most dogs should be; however, as long as that person wants to breed responsibly that is their choice.
4.) Once again it is there choice, some breed for the right reasons, some breed for the wrong reasons, but just because someone decides to breed it doesn't make them a bad person.
5.) Probably for the same reason I will for saying what I said. If someone doesn't agree they will say your answer is bad. I don't think anyone has a bad answer if they are trying to answer the question but if they are being rude that's a different story.

Answer 4

1. I really don't understand why people do that.

2. I see nothing wrong with buying from a breeder, if the breeder is only breeding for the betterment of the breed and limits the number of litters per year.

3. They are uneducated on the over population of pets and uneducated on the health benefits of spaying and neutering.

4. Just because they can breed does not mean they should breed, (again only for the betterment of the breed). Most think they can make some fast money from a litter, not true if they do things correctly, vet visits, vaccinations, fecals and dewormings, heartworm & flea prevention, etc, etc, etc......

5. I always add at the end of my answers to remember to spay and neuter your pets. I am not talking to breeders that want to improve the breeds, but the averger day to day people, I will never understand that one either.

Answer 5

I agree with not buying from a pet store or a BYB that does not breed healthy animals.
But not everyone has to feel that they are bad because they do not get a dog from a shelter.
For some of us, a dog is MORE than a furry thing that hangs around our house. Some if us ACTUALLY DO THINGS with our dogs. I just titled a draft dog. I do water work, conformation, and rally. My dogs work and love it. I need a certain kind of dog to do those things. It goes beyond the fact that I like a large, hairy, mush of a dog....I want one that can pull things, and swim, and likes the cold. I do NOT want a shelter dog.
People should not be made to feel bad because they want a dog that really DOES something.
If someone wants to adopt from a shelter, great. That is a choice someone can make. If they want a certain breed for certain reasons, that is another choice.
Most of us who breed quality dogs are also very active in the breeds rescue. We clean up dogs of our breed that are put out there by BYB and Puppymills. I am not responsible for the dogs in the shelters, and I cannot take care of them all. Nor will I feel guilty for wanting a dog that works.
I also work for a non-profit cat shelter and spend a ton of time dealing with abandoned cats. So I do my part.
"Pets" should not be bred, but in order to keep the breeds that there are, we breed. Bottom line. Each breed was developed for a purpose, and some people really use them for that and enjoy it!!!!

Added:

Just because you can get a dog at a shelter that you can train to do what you want, should that EXCLUDE people from breeding good examples of breeds??? I cannot take a Newf from the shelter and show it. I can probably do some work with one, and have with rescue Newfs. But Newfs are not common in shelters. Newf MIXES are all over petfinder, though most look like Lab mixes or Chow mixes. A real Newf is hard to find. And I do not want another breed. So why should I adopt from a shelter?? I do have a 14 year old mixed breed that was a shelter dog. She is great, but has had issues galore since we got her.
I do not see why the number of shelter dogs should prevent good breeders from breeding. Why should it prevent puppy buyers from getting a puppy of the breed that they want?
It is great when a shelter dog can be found a great home and do the things it was bred to do. But that is not the rule, that is the exception. Good breeders should be able to breed without hearing about the number of dogs that are in the shelters. We are aware. We do our part.

ADDED again:

TwiztedD: Do not put yourself in the same catagory as GOOD breeders. If you have a male/female pair and breed 1-2 litter per year, you are a BYB!!!!!!!! You breed the girl at LEAST once yearly, and twice yearly would be every heat cycle. THAT is pure BYB!!!!!!!!! I have a male and three females and the last litter was in 2005. YOU are doing it for the money, not for the betterment of the breed. Breeding the SAME male and female that many times does nothing for the breed. Call a spade a spade.

Added again:

Hey Spay and Neuter...it does NOT intrigue me at all!!!! It is great and all, but lets look at NOVICE owners OK. Many have little experience with getting a dog. They may have had one as a kid, but now are looking for the "first dog". They like a breed and are interested in doing working things with the dog. Would they have a better bet with a puppy that they raise and start training form the start, or get a rescue and HOPE they can handle it and train it to do what they want?? When I got my first Newf, I knew nothing about training, except from what I read in books. I would have had a hard time with an older dog. That is just the way it is. Some people WANT a puppy. Newf puppies, through rescue are HARD to come by. Very hard. What are people to do? Should they be told SORRY, you have to get and older dog, or get another breed?

And another thought. Yes, even a great pup from a breeder can have problems. But a good breeder will help with those problems and help with questions down the road and for the rest of the dogs life. If the family ever has to give up the dog....it goes back to the breeder.
A shelter offers no real support down the road. They know little about many breeds and sometimes can barely identify a breed. If a family adopts a dog from the shelter and has to part with it years later, where does it go??? Back to the shelter to take a spot from another dog?? How is that a good thing??

I support everyones right to choose where they want to get a dog. I am sick of people preaching that it is shelters or nothing. That breeding must stop. If that was the case tomorrow, there would STILL be the same number of dogs in shelter becauce many people, like me, would just not have a dog. You cannot make people get a dog that they do not want. If you do, it increases the chances that the dog will be dumped!!!!!

Answer 6

I buy my dogs from a responsible breeder that cares about their breed - I want a breed for specific characteristics and leaving the breeding of dogs to the ignorant back yard greeders and puppy mills would simply produce more poor quality animals to be added to the overpopulation that are poorly placed and put in shelters.

I think your other questions are likely based on the fact that most people are ignorant and you pointing that out to them brings with it negative ratings. Not EVERY dog should be spayed/neutered - that is what PETA wants and the elimination of all companion animals. Is that what you want too? I don't - I want to be able to responsibly own and care for and perpetuate a great breed of dog and hope and pray that other responsible breeders of their breeds will do the same so that we have the choice to get dogs produced for health, temperament and sound structural.

Of course no one should support puppy mills by purchasing from pet stores nor should they support the millions of cast off, poorly placed pets by purchasing from ignorant and money motivated back yard greeders but to generalize that there should be no breeders is silly on face and feeds into PETA and other AR's agendas.

Answer 7

1) People who buy pets from pet stores are doing people everywhere a disservice, but if you enter a pet store and see one of those sickly puppies looking up at you---you realize you need this animal (or so the pet store hopes). In reality, must animals bought from pet stores are impulse buys, and they never consider the fact that they are only putting more money in those puppy mill owner's hands.
2) People may buy from a breeder because they want a predictable dog. I bought two Portuguese Water Dogs (and i love them to death) and I am in the process of finding a great shelter dog. Many people do buy dogs from breeders because they are "purebreds" but shelter dogs can be just as pretty and sweet as the dogs that cost 2000 dollars. Shelter dogs also have the potential of having emotional trauma that some dog owners are not experienced enough to handle.
3) People who do not spay or neuter their pets are just stupid. Unless these dogs are going to be bred to better the breed, they should be fixed. I dont have a real answer to this question because it is hard to understand someone who is so stupid as to not fix their dogs!
4) As I said before, people may breed their dogs to help their particular breed. Portuguese Water Dogs are bred with a long waiting list (they are not common dogs)---so these dogs are never in shelters, but backyard breeders simply breed for the profit. If there was ever the thought of breeding your dog in your mind you should first think about who is going to buy these dogs, and if this would be healthy for your dog.
5) As i said in response to question three, it is simply impossible to rationalize the unrational (is that a word?). I would tell everyone the same exact things. Dont get down on yourself with those negative reviews--you are spreading the word about fixing animals and that in itself should be rewarded.

I hope these answers satisfy your thirst for knowledge.

Answer 8

1) Because for the most part people will do what that want to do regardless. You have to understand that people who aren't into dogs the way we are haven't got a clue what goes on in puppy mills and if they do it's a vague notion that maybe dogs are bred too often;
2) I've bought most of my dogs from breeders because that's what I wanted, end of story. I don't have to explain my reasons. My pups stay with me until the end of their lives, I take good care of them, love them, and don't ask anyone to pay their vets bills. So I would suggest that it's my right to get a pup from a breeder if I want one;
3) Not an issue, all my pets are spayed/neutered, I wouldn't have it any other way;
4) Haven't got a clue other than pure ignorance;
5) Because adults don't appreciate being told to what to do. You can nag spay/neuter until your blue in the face, and I happen to agree with you, but don't try to impose my will on anyone. My neighbor has an unneutered male and I wouldn't dream of lecturing him.

Answer 9

1) Buying a dog from a pet store after being warned and informed about puppy mills. - they think its the cheapest option

2) Buying a dog from a breeder after being told there at 16 million homeless dogs in shelters that are put down every year. - they want a cute little puppy, they dont want to get involved with a dogs troubled past, they cant see its parents at a shelter, they dont want to go to a shelter as they may get upet

3) Why people downright refuse to spay or neuter their pet?
cant afford it, dont get round to it, dont trust their vet, simply cant be bothered, dont want their dog to be "In pain"

4) Why people insist on breeding their pet, despite knowing about the overpopulation problem.
they want money & cute puppies. they dont have to do much work. easy money basically

5) Why I get a massive amount of negative ratings every time I tell someone they should spay or neuter their pet.
maybe your saying it too much. maybe answer their question properly first then just say "but please spey your dog"
and theres too many thumbs down for really good answers in the section

i answered :)

Answer 10

I agree with you. I think you should have a license before you can breed a dog or cat and that altering your animal should be mandatory unless it is for breeding purposes by someone with a license.

I don't understand people not wanting to spay/neuter their pet?? Its not that expensive and its less of a hassle then dealing with unwanted puppies/kittens...

I do see why people want to buy from a breeder if they have a love for a certain breed. But I feel breeding should be limited and more reputable breeders do not do more than one or two litter a year...