Apart from being best companions, dogs’ gentle and loyal nature has always profoundly influenced humanity. Humans and canines have always cherished their interspecies bonding.
Are you considering bringing a canine to your home? Undoubtedly, it’s the best decision one can make as dogs are playing and walking companions and provide emotional support in your hard times.
However, whether to adopt your furry friend or purchase is a long debate. Adopting a pet is amazing as it gives a second chance to animals, but it is not a suitable option for everyone.
We are here to guide you through numerous reasons why purchasing from a reputable breeder is a smart choice. So, let’s dive into it.
Things to Consider When Choosing Adoption or Buying
Although rescuing a pet is the most humane thing to do, here are some things to consider before deciding.
Consider the Money Factor
Most people consider adoption as a cheap and easy option when they want to bring a canine to their home. But that makes no sense, as they are someone’s discarded pets. If dogs are already well-trained and of pure breed, why would they go roaming the streets and be left unclaimed in accidents?
No doubt, millions of dogs are adopted every day worldwide. According to a 2021 study, the number of dogs adopted from shelters or rescues in the United States reached over five hundred thousand.
Although you will save a life by freeing up space in shelters, you can end up with a canine having severe allergies, neurological disorders, hip issues, eye problems, cancer, and whatnot.
Do you think adopting a pet is a walk in the park? What about all the headaches that come along with a pet adoption? Your adopted pet can cost you more money, including medical bills, vaccinations, and dietary requirements, not to forget that if is a young puppy a shelter will not be released for adoption without being castrated as young as possible even at very young age. As new studies have been showing that neutering/ spaying especially at a young age can decrease your dog’s lifespan by over 30%! (You can read more about it here: https://www.danubepoodles.com/spaying-neutering-info
You could also be spending extra bucks on these additional expenses compared to the purchasing option. Higher chances by purchasing from a reputable breeder won’t cost you additional bucks as you will bring a healthy pup to your home.
Pet’s Health and Well-Being
Another important consideration when choosing between adoption and purchasing is your pet’s health and well-being. Adopted pets are more prone to health problems due to roaming in streets or parks or living in overcrowded shelters, inappropriate diet and questionable genetics.
In overpopulated shelters and rescues, proper attention, love, and care are not given to every pet, which makes them susceptible to various behavioral issues. One can’t ignore the heartbreak of seeing their pet suffering or dying way too early, particularly when they are costing additional health expenses.
On the other hand, when considering purchasing from reputable breeders, who always prioritize a pet’s health and well-being, conducting extensive health screening for diseases and genetic disorders common within specific breeds.
This attention to health gives a higher chance and peace of mind to dog owners regarding the dog’s health status and also decreases the risk of hereditary health problems down the line.
Genetics
Dog shelters contain a variety of dogs based on different breeds, ages, sizes, and temperaments. Therefore, through adoption, you can have a broader selection and find a dog according to your lifestyle.
However, if you want to opt for a specific breed with particular characteristics, purchasing from a reputable breeder is the only way to ensure you get the dog you want.
Buying a canine from a breeder provides a level of predictability that is crucial if you are among prospective dog owners. Reputable breeders carefully select and pair dogs depending on specific traits. Doing this results in litters with predictable characteristics.
If you are looking for particular traits in dogs, such as specific sizes, hypoallergenic coats, or temperament qualities, purchasing a dog is the most reliable way to have a pet that perfectly matches those desired attributes.
That’s why understanding genetics is crucial when deciding between adoption or purchasing. Although the American Kennel Club (AKC) contains 218 recognized breeds, puppy buying offers you a choice to go for the pet according to your specific requirements.
For instance, instead of purchasing Doodles (who are mutts not a “designer breed”) buy an intelligent and versatile breed that doesn’t shed hair, such as Poodles. Still want a doodle look? Pick a pure breed poodle and give them a doodle hair cut; you are good to go.
Breeders’ Support and Guidance
Getting a dog home may seem easy, but it is challenging. After bringing a dog from a shelter or street, you must look after him alone. However, that’s not true in the case of puppy buying.
Purchasing a puppy from any reputable and responsible breeder means you will get unlimited support and guidance. They provide all the valuable information regarding a dog’s training, care, and health maintenance.
In this way, you will get to know your dog’s breed and lineage, and you will understand what to expect from your dog in terms of behavior and can plan accordingly. This ongoing support will be helpful for new dog owners and those who are not familiar with a particular breed’s requirements.
Early Training and Socialization
Although adoption comes with the peace of mind and satisfaction of saving a life, you can’t expect an appropriately trained and social dog after picking him up from a shelter or a parking lot. A well-socialized dog can only be purchased through a well-known breeder.
Reputable breeders start puppies, as young as 4-5 days old, with Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) that helps stimulate the neurological system which improves the growth and development of the pup’s immune system, cardiovascular system, and stress tolerance. Also implementing Puppy Culture mindset that is based on the latest scientific research and focuses on providing puppies with a wide range of early learning experiences and socialization opportunities. Puppy culture aims to provide puppies with a foundation of experiences and skills that will help them grow into confident, well-adjusted adult dogs.
Purchasing a puppy from a reputable breeder is also best for people who want to raise a puppy from a very young age and prefer their puppy’s training and development right from the start to serve as therapy dogs or hunting or herding, protection jobs or be part of Canine Assistants Program by assisting people with epilepsy: those that recognize and warn of an impending or ongoing seizure, called seizure alert dogs. Or those that remain with the person to assist with the aftermath of a seizure activity, called seizure response dogs.
In addition, some people have particular experiences or preferences that make adoption less suitable in such circumstances. For instance, if you are a dog owner with allergies, your only choice is to opt for hypoallergenic breeds. And guess what? Hypoallergenic breeds are more readily available through reputable breeders.
Through purchasing, you choose a puppy that is the right fit for your family. That’s also helpful in case you have children at your home. Selecting the right, well-mannered dog breed with whom you can leave your children unattended is possible through puppy buying.
How to Avoid Backyard Breeders When Purchasing?
It’s crucial to research and know the importance of responsible breeding practices. Not all breeders are reputable or ethical. That’s so true when it comes to backyard breeders who prefer profit over the health and well-being of their animals.
This leads to various health issues and prolonged genetic problems within certain breeds. That’s why complete research and vetting of breeders are crucial to ensure the ethical treatment of animals.
Here are some careful steps that will help you identify and avoid backyard breeders during dog purchasing:
Research
Learning about the breed you are interested in is crucial. This helps you to understand the breed’s typical characteristics, specific requirements, and health problems. This knowledge will help you ask informed questions during puppy buying.
Visit Reputable Sources
Look for breeders known for their reputation and experts in the specific breed. For ease, you can also look for recommendations from AKC refer breeder program, authentic online communities, and various breed clubs.
Inquire for Documentation
Reputable breeders can provide a pet’s history records, registration papers, and health clearances. They should be willing to show the documentation required and discuss the parents’ health history and the litter.
Opportunity to meet the parents: Meeting the parent animals also provides insight about their lifestyle and temperament.
Remember, the healthy puppy comes from healthy parents fed a raw diet and tested through titer tests to ensure immunity against diseases. The mother dog’s antibodies (nomograph titers) are measured to ensure the puppies get adequate maternal immunity before weaning.
This level of attention to caring for the health and immunity of parent dogs and their puppies is what every reputable breeder should practice. It also shows the strong commitment of breeders to ensuring the best possible health for the puppies from birth.
Ask Queries
Ask questions regarding the breeder’s experience, breeding practices, socialization efforts for dogs, and their policy of returning pets in the case of health issues.
While looking for a new pet, ensure that the breeder is involved in any competing areas such as conformation, agility, obedience, hunting etc and they are always looking to better the breed. Backyard breeders don’t invest much in dog training as it needs money and dedication to do so, and that’s not their purpose.
Reputable breeders raise puppies with a puppy culture mindset that involves early socialization, positive experiences, and structured development during their initial weeks.
It’s a proactive approach in which mental and physical stimulation is provided to puppies through puzzles, toys, and activities for their psychological and physical well-being.
Contract and Guarantees
Reputable breeders don’t hesitate to provide contracts outlining responsibilities, return policies etc. Read this thoroughly and ensure you understand and agree with their terms and policies.
Red Flags
Be aware of those breeders who are more interested in financial transactions than in the welfare of animals. Their aim is only money; they don’t care about their animals’ health. Here are some warning signs that you should consider while identifying such breeders:
· The availability of multiple liters at the same time
· Constant breeding
· Lack of concern for the animal’s well-being
• A breeder who allows pups to leave their mothers earlier than 10-12 weeks.
• You are not permitted to meet the parents of the pups.
• The breeder does not ask you any questions about your home.
• Sells the puppy with an open registration (meaning to have the right to breed) by not caring about the future of the breed and genetic lineage.
• The breeder has more than one type of dog with the intention to cross- breed.
• The breeder does not know much about the breed.
• The breeder is hesitant to answer questions you have/dodges and avoids questions by changing the subject.
• No contract.
• No registration or membership in local dog clubs.
References and Reviews
Another thing you can do is to check the breeder’s reviews online or ask for references from past buyers. Positive experiences from others can help you identify a trustworthy breeder.
Avoid Pet Stores and Online Classified
Some backyard breeders keep two dogs for breeding continuously to earn money. Such breeders possess a puppy mill mindset set, although at a smaller scale.
Puppy or kitten mills are factory-style breeding facilities that prefer profit instead of the welfare of their animals. The animals raised in such mills lived in poor conditions with improper medical care.
These animals suffer from behavior and health problems because of a lack of human companionship and inbreeding. Mill animals are sold to naive customers through the Internet, classified ads, and pet stores.
Therefore, instead of buying dogs from pet stores or through online classified ads, focus on direct interactions with reputable breeders to get healthy and social canine friends.
Trust your Instincts
If the breeder avoids answering questions or something feels off, consider looking for other options.
Natural Rearing Philosophy and Holistic Veterinary Care
Holistic dog breeding might sound scary to some dog owners, but that’s not the case. It’s a philosophy based on dogs conforming to a natural way of living.
Natural Reared breeders avoid unnecessary vaccines, but they opt to titer test instead to measure immunity level before getting vaccinated, unnatural supplements, and commercial dog food for their canines. Instead, they opt for a natural, raw diet, holistic supplements, and herbal treatments so the dogs live a long, healthy lifestyle just like nature intended.
Feeding a raw diet to puppies provides them with all essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. In addition, natural reared breeders use various supplements to fulfill the nutritional requirements of specific dog breeds.
Reputable dog breeders who believe in natural rearing always prefer holistic veterinarians for their puppies’ care. Although it’s not the only way of rearing dogs, it’s an optimal method that maintains their overall good health and vitality.
On the other hand, backyard breeders focus only on profit instead of their animal’s health and well-being, regardless of whatever approach they use for their pets.
Final Thoughts- Adopt or Purchase?
Before you start being defensive, please don’t misunderstand my message. I don’t suggest not to adopt. There are wonderful dogs and also purebred dogs and cats who absolutely are wonderful pets with very sad and unfortunate situations that also deserve a wonderful home and family. But please understand that adoption comes with much consideration and understanding that takes time, patience, education and money to rehabilitate deprived animal or wrong genetics.
Adopting from a rescue or shelter or buying from a breeder is a personal choice. However, purchasing responsibly from a reputable breeder comes with many benefits; what matters the most is you will get a healthy and adequately socialized pet.
If you choose to purchase, avoid backyard breeders and look for reputable breeders who prefer animal welfare over anything.
Leave a Reply