Puppy Mills
Beware of puppy mills, where dogs are kept in poor living conditions. They are bred and kept in cramped spaces then sold without much regard for the well-being of the dog. These breeders can make false claims about the dog’s breed and origin to sell them at a higher price.
Often these dogs will have behavioural and health issues associated with their early development in this kind of environment. If you come across a puppy mill, report it to your local animal control office, bylaw office, or police station.
You may feel the need to buy a dog to “rescue” it from those conditions, but keep in mind you will just be supporting the puppy mill with your business. Boycotting puppy mills and reporting them is the only way to reduce their presence in the future.
Training and behaviours
Shelter
Whether your puppy is adopted or from a breeder, training is an ongoing task for the rest of your dog’s life. However, rescue dogs often have more behavioural issues. Many have come from less than ideal situations and have a lot to overcome.
Although shelters do the best they can, due to lack of resources, volunteers, money, and time, it is hard for them to provide a full life for the animals there. It is very common for shelter dogs’ social skills to deteriorate with humans and dogs while in a shelter, often resulting in worsened behavioural problems.
It is best to talk to the staff before adopting to find out as much as you can about a dog’s past and current issues. Shelters are happy to recommend a trainer that can help you and your new best friend overcome any problems.
Not all shelter dogs have behavioural problems or have experienced abuse or neglect. Some have been rehomed simply because their owner’s living situation has changed and they could no longer afford to keep them.
This means that many dogs will have already been house trained and have basic obedience knowledge. If you don’t have time to train a puppy, adopting is a great way to find a companion that already has basic commands and house training behind them.
Adopting an older dog may be a great option for someone who has never owned a dog before or wants a companion but does not have the physical ability to help a puppy or young dog meet their exercise needs.
Breeder
Getting a dog from a breeder is more like starting with a clean slate. You will have to train your puppy to your liking and meet any unwanted behaviours head-on as they grow and begin to show their own doggy personalities.
This can be a fun and rewarding experience once all of your hard work has paid off. But much like shelter dogs, not all puppies from breeders come from the perfect situation, and it is always best to find yourself a positive reinforcement trainer to help you tackle any issues before they arise.
Dogs Get Returned/Surrendered, Regardless of Where They’re From
Some owners aren’t willing to wait for a new dog which is unfortunately why selling puppies online is big business. Not everyone has the patience to wait for the “right dog,” and that’s where a lot of problems come from. People who decide one day that they want a puppy often buy them online or in pet stores, not from breeders who have waiting lists.
Have I mentioned that Laika was gotten impulsively? After having my application rejected from a rescue on a certain dog I’d fell in love with because I worked full time I was depressed. So that weekend I went out to my local shelter & adopted Laika.
I picked the first young dog I came across and didn’t ask any questions. She bit me that first day when I tried to take away the stupid rawhide she was sent home with. Not the best first day ever, but we eventually for that guarding issue under control.
I don’t regret it for a moment, but if I had kids I don’t know if I’d be saying the same thing. I didn’t know how to manage resource guarding, but I had the luxury of working with her without putting anyone besides myself at risk. Do I blame the shelter? No. I’m the one who decided that I didn’t need to spend any time with her out in the shelter yard or introduce her to my friends & family as they suggested. I had already made up my mind.
The impulsiveness problem with getting a dog isn’t unique to people going through breeders. If I decided I wanted a dog today I could either buy one online, go to a pet store or go to my local shelter. We have a lot of options, and a big part of the problem is how easy they all are, not just where they’re coming from.
So yes where a dog comes from is important, but so is the commitment to that dog regardless of where they came from. Unfortunately just because someone chooses to get a dog from a shelter doesn’t guarantee they have a home forever. Many dogs get returned & surrendered, and it’s not a problem unique to dogs from breeders.
I’ve seen so many conversations go from ‘my dog has this issue, do you have any advice’ to ‘well what did you expect? he’s from a pet store.’ That attitude isn’t helping anyone. When owners are looking for help or advice don’t start playing the blame game. Sure they might be doing something incorrectly, and sure their dog may have come from a pet store, but there are things we can do to help them get decent advice. If the conversation just goes into meltdown mode because people can’t get over where a dog came from the original question gets lost. The owner is left with the same frustration that they came in with.
Dogs have a surprisingly high turnover rate, as in there’s a high percentage of dogs that end up getting returned or surrendered to a shelter. If you want to help with the issue of homeless pets consider being available to offer suggestions to concerned owners – even if you don’t approve of where they got their dog. It may not help keep every dog single in a forever home, but good advice can go a long way to help educate owners about the problems they’re facing.
Adopting An Adult Dog Vs. A Puppy | Which is Right For You?
To help you choose the best dog for your family, here are some pros and cons of adopting an older dog vs. a puppy.