There will always be dog breeders available. Whether reputable, back yard, or the puppy mill variety, puppies are often a dime a dozen—so to speak. Not only are puppies plentiful, they’re down right adorable.
Most potential owners insist on getting a puppy for a variety of reasons; to have an animal their kids will grow up with, they want less “emotional baggage”… the list goes on. But what half of these humans don’t consider is that puppies are work. They need training and guidance, and inevitably that puppy grows up. That cute little bundle of wrinkled flesh will morph into a 100 pound dog that will eat a sizeable amount each day. When these facts are not reflected on before purchase; when a person gets swayed by the cuteness and the magnetic puppy breath; when they realize their little bundle of fur is way too much dog they bargained for, it’s usually off to the pound for Fido.
These are not all the reasons, but when someone tells you they’re looking to buy a puppy, these are some of the things you can tell them about choosing adoption.
1. Concerns
Some people shy away from adopting through shelters or rescues on the assumption that the dogs in there have issues, that’s why they were relinquished in the first place. 85% of dogs who are taken in by shelters are given up due to an issue with the owner. Most shelters have standards in place to take care of any medical concerns or behavioral issues before potential adopters can interact with the dogs.
2. Expense
Adopting a dog from a shelter or a rescue is often less expensive than purchasing a dog from a breeder. In addition to the unwavering loyalty and devotion a dog will share, they usually come up to date on all shots, microchipped, vet checked for health issues, altered (spayed/neutered), and may even have a bit of training under their belt.
Though there are breeders who genuinely care for their pets, there are even more horror stories of people who fell for scams after paying hundreds of dollars. Even more report paying for a pet only to have it become immediately ill, or even die.
3. Training
The larger shelters (and even a few smaller ones) have trainers either on staff or that volunteer their time. Trainers are a valuable asset for targeting behavior issues and getting a dog on the right path to rehabilitation. Most shelters either offer follow up training after adoption or can recommend a decent, reputable trainer. There are quite a few trainers out there who will offer a discount for shelter pups.
4. Personality
While it takes a few days for a dogs true personality to surface in a new home, prospective owners can get a feel for a certain dog by talking to the staff who work with and care for the animals. By taking advantage of this font of knowledge, adopters are better able to determine which pooches would be the best fit for their families, including whether they do well with other pets and children, have anxiety, or have a favorite spot to be scratched.
5. Pure Breed
Shelters house both pure and mixed breeds. If one is looking for a specific breed, there are rescues in almost every state for almost every breed recognized by the American Kennel Club. Most shelters and rescues utilize websites such as Petfinder and Rescue Me!. Both sites allow for specific breed and location searches.
Still locked on wanting a puppy? Shelters and rescues house all ages from newborn to geriatric.
Before Googling local breeders, try looking at some of the area shelters or rescues. The best dog in the world is waiting, hoping to go home with their new human today.
