Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 5:18 pm Post subject: Puppies vs Rescue Dogs
Since joining LF around 5 months ago and then adopting our beautiful boy Otis in April, I've been saddened by the fact that so many people still buy puppies when there are so many gorgeous rescue dogs looking for homes.
Please don't read this the wrong way - I'm not 'getting at' people who buy puppies. Something just seems to be wrong. I have my own views on why this seems to be happening, just wondered what everyone else thinks?
But if breeders couldn't sell their puppies, because no one wanted them, then many breeds would simply die out. In fact if no one bred pups, dogs would die out completely. And if breeders wanted a litter off their dogs so they could keep one or two pups to their lines going, what would happen to the other pups in the litter?
Apart from that, everyone is different. Some people don't like the puppy stage and so prefer an older rescue dog, but many like myself prefer to bring up a puppy so that it fits in perfectly with the rest of the family/animals and is trained to be the way I want it. I'm not saying I'd never get a rescue dog, but even if I did, I'd want a puppy one, as, heartless as this sounds, dogs don't live long enough as it is and I'm selfish, I want ALL their life with me, not just what's left of it and I don't want to be trying to put right what someone else has got wrong. Maybe that makes me shallow, I don't know, but at least I'm honest with it.
I think if you buy from good responsible breeders, then you aren't adding to those already in rescue. Of course you aren't taking any away from rescue either, but then taking on a rescue dog isn't for everyone, plus rescues, quite rightly, won't allow their dogs to go to just anyone. Many people here have been refused a rescue dog for various reasons (children too young, working hours, etc) and buying a pup has been their only option.
My prevoius thoughts on this [before having a rescue] is if you have always had your dog from puppy it grows into your family, and as Jules says if you already have dogs it may fit in easier with the existing dogs.
This opinion has changed for me since taking on a rescue, if you get that feeling when you meet a grown dog, that it was meant to be with you and fits in with your life and existing dog, it somehow is like love at first site, and you can't imagine it being anywhere else but with you [ bit soppy but true], so my answer is if the bond is there, it doesn't make any difference how old it is.
With what, 40,000+ Lab pups registered with the KC each year, I don't think the Labrador is in danger of disappearing anytime soon
Nannyplum, I think there are various reasons - some people want to breed or show, so that rules out a rescue. Some work their dogs - and for certain things your dog has to be KC registered (though don't ask me what as it's not my "thing" and I don't remember).
For the average pet home, some people don't want a rescue dog, some think they are all two-headed monsters with baggage, some think they're too good for a rescue dog (yes, some do ).
It's a HUGE issue that there are so many irresponsible breeders around - of all sorts of breeds/crosses - and it's a big shame that more people don't adopt from rescue, when thousands of healthy dogs are killed each year.
I do believe that we need to tackle the unwanted dog rate from the irresponsible breeder/dealer/owner end to ever have a chance of resolving the horrific pts rate, but since that shows no sign of improving any time soon, the more good people who adopt, the better.
I would love to see the day in my lifetime, where there are so few dogs in rescue that I could go and buy a puppy from a great breeder. In the meantime - and back to reality - while an unwanted dog is killed every hour in the UK, it's rescues all the way for us.
I do think that perhaps more people are adopting from rescue though. When I think of the dogs I know of locally, quite a few are from rescue these days
Both mine are rescues and I know exactly what you mean by being saddened that there are so many rescues needing homes yet people opt for puppies before even considering looking at a rescue...
However...having the experience of having 2 dogs that have been shipped around the country and had all sorts of experiences before they have arrived with me I have said my next dog will be a puppy, as I do think the first 12 months are so important in their developement and I would like to be a part of that early development.
having said that I wouldn't have a problem getting a rescue puppy at all and when the time comes would seriously look at all the options.
What annoys me is that sometimes rescue dogs are overlooked when there are some cracking dogs there and their potential is never fulfilled.
Lincoln is by far the brighter, keener dog of my 2 yet he cost me a £100 donaton to the Dogs Trust and Lester cost the Home Office a grand to fail his training in 3 months...I'm not complaining mind I have got 2 gorgeous beasties for £100..♥ ...
I guess people want their dogs for different things so I can see all sides, as I'm in my middle age I would like the expereince of a pup in the next few years when I have the time to 'shape' it and train it ..in my dottage I would like a nice oldie rescue to just come on walks with me and potter in the garden..
Just thought of something else. I wanted a Labrador (or two) and my menfolk love Poodles, now knowing I would much prefer a puppy, I would never get one of these from a rescue, as I know badly bred one's *can* suffer from so many horrible genetic conditions and you *can* get some really genetically dodgy temperaments too.
So if I had a rescue pup, then it would have to be a mongrel (which is what I did before when I got my beautiful Lurcher pup from Rescue), but these days (now I'm older and wiser), I like to know roughly what I'm getting. I like to know the temperaments of the parents and know they have had their health tests, as my dogs come everywhere with me, so I can't accomodate something which has a genetically dodgy temperament. Also I do everything I can so I don't have a dog with health problems, which for me means buying a pup from a responsible breeder.
for me, I'd love a rescue but i think I'd be refused due to working hours despite fact i have a lovely friend who checks in on the boys during my working days. My main reason for not getting a rescue though is i compete in gundog competitions, working tests which require the dogs to be kennel club registered. If the rules changed and gundog comps were same as agility etc where you register on an activities register then i might change my mind.
I do my bit by helping with home checks etc and helping re home the rescues
____________ Sam, Coal & Finn
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well I ve always had dogs from being a child and love the training & the way a puppy grows into the family, & the knowledge of health & breeding background.
Then at age 22 I got Fern from a rescue (unplanned & irresistible)she was between 5 & 7 months old so quite young ColliexLab.
I had fern for just under 18yrs she was my everything she fit right in where & whenever, she was fabulous
I would definitely have other rescue dogs but will also have my pedigree puppies
Ar! also we were refused two yrs ago when I lost fern by a rescue centre because we would need to increase our garden fence to 6ft it's now 3/4ft with a low hedge in front of it our garden is nearly an acre?? I still dont see why it wouldn't be any good when it's completely secure, I know they need to be vigilant but ours has always been a dog friendly home
thats my reasons, sorry for the rant
Last edited by helen2003 on Fri Jul 01, 2011 6:57 pm; edited 1 time in total
Although I don't compete in retrieving, I do pick up and that for ms rules out a rescue Labrador. I am no trainer, although I have trained grouse and am training fern but I would not cope training a dog who had lived chasing balls and playing tug of war.
I did rehome Fern privately, from a girl who could not afford to keep her (she herself had rehomed her at just 12 weeks after the person to buy her from the breeder couldn't cope with a puppy!). She was papered and chipped etc and I knew what I was getting as the second owner from who I bought her had bought her as a working lab and started a small amount of training, so I knew little if anything detramental had happened.
In rehoming Fern at 7 months, I have to say, I have not missed the puppy phase! I knew what I was getting, I knew roughly what she would look like, I had an idea of brains and temperament etc.
I had grouse as a puppy, my first dog (other than looking after other people's - my mum has a fur allergy!). I loved having a puppy at the time, I think it is nice to have a puppy at some point.
There are for's and against's both and I wouldn't rehome from a center a lab or dog I wanted to work BUT I would definately look at having a rogue dog one day. I depends where I end up in life.
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and love the training & the way a puppy grows into the family, & the knowledge of health & breeding background.
it's now 3/4ft with a low hedge in front of it 
our garden is nearly an acre?? I still dont see why it wouldn't be any good when it's completely secure, I know they need to be vigilant but ours has always been a dog friendly home 
