Dog adoption/rescue vs. buying

[Rumrunner6900]

The wife has talked forever about getting a dog and it seems like now she finally wants to pull the trigger and get one!

She saw an ad in the paper for Border Collies for $300. She seemed hellbent on getting one, but I've been trying to talk her into adoption/rescue.

My old roommates rescued a Dalmatian and she turned out to be a sweet dog. In the process of my searching I found a dog I would like to adopt.

Here she is:



Of course I need to actually meet the dog and go through all that process first, but I guess the question is, has anyone dealt with adoption/rescue?

Is there anything I should look out for? Potential cons of getting a rescued dog? Any pros, other than helping to save a dogs life?

I think this will help me convince my wife we don't and probably shouldn't buy a dog.

[DGreenistheBest]

Dogs for sale will get bought by someone else if you don't buy them. Dogs for rescue die if you don't adopt them.

[Slacky McSlackAss]

When my parents bought our current dog, I was all for getting a rescue, but my mom fell in love with an American Eskimo puppy. We ended up getting her and shes a wonderful dog, but i still wouldve gone for a rescue instead.

[Stophovr6]

The wife has talked forever about getting a dog and it seems like now she finally wants to pull the trigger and get one!

She saw an ad in the paper for Border Collies for $300. She seemed hellbent on getting one, but I've been trying to talk her into adoption/rescue.

My old roommates rescued a Dalmatian and she turned out to be a sweet dog. In the process of my searching I found a dog I would like to adopt.

Here she is:



Of course I need to actually meet the dog and go through all that process first, but I guess the question is, has anyone dealt with adoption/rescue?

Is there anything I should look out for? Potential cons of getting a rescued dog? Any pros, other than helping to save a dogs life?

I think this will help me convince my wife we don't and probably shouldn't buy a dog.

The only con of getting a rescued dog is that often they have been rescued from abusive owners. Or they were not taken care of all and have a hard time around humans either way. All that is to say they might take extra deligence to train and it's harder to gain their confidence. Other than that i see no downside. If you are willing to put in the time, that pup looks awesome.

And agree with another poster who said puppies bred to be bought will eventualy be bought, pound puppies get the gas.

[Rumrunner6900]

The only con of getting a rescued dog is that often they have been rescued from abusive owners. Or they were not taken care of all and have a hard time around humans either way. All that is to say they might take extra deligence to train and it's harder to gain their confidence. Other than that i see no downside. If you are willing to put in the time, that pup looks awesome.

And agree with another poster who said puppies bred to be bought will eventualy be bought, pound puppies get the gas.

I was trying to explain that to my wife, but she seems to be against mutts. The best dog I ever had was a mutt and most of the nicest dogs I've met are mutts.

Yeah...I was reading somewhere to really think and not use just your heart when you are going to adopt, but I must admit, the picture of that dog just kinda "spoke" to me I guess.

Oh yeah...on a good note, in the description for the dog, it mentions the dog was adandoned and there was no mention of abuse, so hopefully that will turn out to be a good thing.

If I am even allowed to get the dog!

[Stophovr6]

I was trying to explain that to my wife, but she seems to be against mutts. The best dog I ever had was a mutt and most of the nicest dogs I've met are mutts.

Yeah...I was reading somewhere to really think and not use just your heart when you are going to adopt, but I must admit, the picture of that dog just kinda "spoke" to me I guess.

Oh yeah...on a good note, in the description for the dog, it mentions the dog was adandoned and there was no mention of abuse, so hopefully that will turn out to be a good thing.

If I am even allowed to get the dog!

The other thing you can tell you wife is that pure breds can often have inherent genetic diseases that mutts are les likely to have. Obviously good breeding can amke chances better for a dog but that's what you get when you keep breeding cousins. And that's what pure breds are, cousins to eachother.

From wiki:

Health

Hip dysplasia, Collie eye anomaly (CEA), and epilepsy are considered the primary genetic diseases of concern in the breed at this time.

[Stophovr6]

And also rumrunner. Does your wife know how much excercise Border Collies need? It's an insane amount, and if they don't get it, they will make your life hell. They are working dogs and need to be worked.

Then again that mutt might have some in him.

[BigMike619]

I exclusively adopt. I work for a major pet corporation and they encourage it so much. The local animal shelter will sell you a dog that is fixed, microchipped, all shots and registered for alot cheaper then any other place.

www.petfinder.com

thats the site I used to get my coonhound.

[renaissance]

The other thing you can tell you wife is that pure breds can often have inherent genetic diseases that mutts are les likely to have. Obviously good breeding can amke chances better for a dog but that's what you get when you keep breeding cousins. And that's what pure breds are, cousins to eachother.

Yea purebred = inbred. That can lead to all sorts of problems.

EDIT: Also I know some rescue centers will do a lot in terms of making sure their dogs have the right shots, etc, and will sometimes cover expenses for any pre-existing medical conditions that arise.

[DGreenistheBest]

IMO the only reason to get a purebred is if you are into breeding yourself or you want to try to make some bucks off of dog shows. If it's just a pet, why waste the cash? Sweeter dogs are out there waiting for you to adopt them and their lives hang in the balance.

[FedexFieldInsider]

The only con of getting a rescued dog is that often they have been rescued from abusive owners. Or they were not taken care of all and have a hard time around humans either way. All that is to say they might take extra deligence to train and it's harder to gain their confidence. Other than that i see no downside. If you are willing to put in the time, that pup looks awesome.

And agree with another poster who said puppies bred to be bought will eventualy be bought, pound puppies get the gas.

Couldn't have said it better. The only thing that I would add is, from my experience, adopted dogs who you've worked with over time to adjust the quirks from their previous life seem to be much more thankful and seem to really appreciate you. (Not to say that an animal that wasn't adpoted doesn't.)

[SkinsOrlando]

I've got two adopted pugs and two adopted cats, all are great animals, most rescues just want love and they give a lot back in return. There may be a feeling out period while they get used to you but I've rescued 5 dogs now and all of them have just moved right in. The one pug I have I purchased is as lovable as can be as well.

[Special K]

My family has done both, rescued dogs and bought purebreds, we've never had problems with either.

As a chick though, I say let your wife have what she wants...you will be rewarded in the end

[Lady Brave]

We had to put down our cocker spaniel last September and I really didn't want to get another dog. My husband really wanted another one and spent the next few months giving me big sad eyes until I caved. I knew I didn't want to go the puppy route again and started looking at adoption. We tried three different times to adopt a beagle and everytime someone beat us to them within hours. I was ready to give up at that point, but in January, we finally found a female beagle at our local shelter. She had been surrendered by her owner with a litter of puppies. Once the puppies were adopted, she was the last to go. She had no health problems other than whips and a tapeworm she picked up in the shelter, which have been treated.

Adopting "Sadie" is the best decision I ever made. She is the smartest, sweetest, most loving dog and has been a joy to train. Her only problem is that she is very timid around men and spooks easily at loud noises. We're hoping she'll get out of that eventually. We have seen some progress over the last few weeks, as more of her personality begins to show through.

Based on our experience so far, I would advocate rescue over purchasing a puppy in a heartbeat. Just give your wife those sad eyes like my husband did me. It worked for him.

[Boss_Hogg]

I adopted my first dog ("Minnie") from a kill shelter in Frederick, MD. She was a 9-year old Beagle-mix, no one would take her, in fact she was due for "execution" on September 7th, 2006 I got her on the 6th. She is ill-tempered, teritorial, emotional, and anxious...it was obvious that she was abused by her previous owner. It took her 6 months to warm up to me. She now sleeps in our bed and gives me lots of attention when I come home. She is also starting to obey my commands. Thanks Cesar Millan!

My vet. prescribed "doggy prozac" and it has worked wonders with Minnie. She still gets anxious around other dogs and people, but it is not nearly as bad.

This past summer I made an impulse buy and got a male pug puppy ("Rocky") from a breeder. I still feel slightly guilty for buying him because I told myself that I would only rescue shelter dogs in a kill shelter, but my whole life I wanted a male pug named Rocky. He is a great companion and freind. He is even helping me with Minnie's therapy, she has now grown to love him when at first I really thought she was going to tear his head off.

In short I love both of my dogs, PLEASE give the shelter dogs a chance, 4 million are put down every year.

If you need any tips, please PM me.

~ Boss Hogg