Where'd you get your dog from.....breeder or pound?

[Diann62]

I had to put my beloved dog down a couple of weeks ago. He was a golden retriever. He was 10, but became sick. Hardest thing to do. He's our third golden and we've always got them from the same breeder. Tonight we're going to the Humane Society to pick a dog. We looked on line and there were 8 pages of dogs. There were 3 that we're interested in. Hopefully one will be compatible. I've never been there and don't know how I can walk out without taking them all home. I'm also hoping he gets along with our cat. So I'm wondering............of all you dog owners out there, did you aquire your pet from a breeder or the pound?

[Quinn1928]

most of the time people just dont want older dogs like 6 year olds and we seem to find an older one every time we put a dog down we have had a small few from breeders

[dingraha]

Both! I have two dogs. A chocolate lab and an staffordshire terrier (pit bull). I got my lab from a breeder as a puppy and rescued the staff. from a local animal shelter. My lab will be 2 in January and our vet estimates the staff. at about the same age. We have had the staff. for a little over a year.

[jackiomy]

I got my doxie mix walking down the middle of the freeway in the rain! He is 10 now and still going strong. One of the smartest dogs I have ever had. We got the Shih tzu at 18 months old whth papers from my neighbor who went into a resthome. Her daughters were going to take her to the pound! She is our love sponge.

[Sploke]

Both of ours were rescues.

[abi88]

Well both....Right now all 3 dogs that we have were bought from breeders. But the best dog that I ever had was rescued--not from the pound..but a rescue all the same.

Its great as to what you are doing!:) Post pics!:D

[lucy42083]

My dog (see my avatar) is a rescue, as was my favorite dog growing up.

[stephstar]

I got my latest dog at a rescue, he is awesome and the best thing is you do not have to house train!

[StereoKills]

In the past, my family's two dogs and one of our cats just showed up and decided they liked it. We of course put up found posters and called the SPCA to see if they were missing, but we lived in a very rural area and it seemed to be a hot spot for people to drop off unwanted pets :(.

[KIM_TMA]

Growing up I always got to choose a pup from our dogs. My dad and mom raised beagles and border collies. Dad always told me that we couldn't and wouldn't pay for a dog. LOL, yet he charged people for the pups.

Now I have a rescue. I found him dropped off in the middle of nowhere and no houses for miles. I felt so bad for him b/c his previous owners had obvisouly left him for dead. He was a piece of hide thrown over bones. When I approached him I told him that if he behaved then I would take care of him. Well when I picked him up he layed his head on my shoulder. At that moment I knew he was a keeper. Dumb Pup but became a smart, protective handsome Dog. As a pup he was fasinated with beer cans, beer boxes, whiskey bottles anything that the drunks threw out he brought to our yard, left McDonald's bags though. Just alcoholic stuff. I hated it and I never could break him from it, I am thankful that he grew out of it though.

The one and the only...............................TIGER.

[excuzzzeme]

Neither. Got mine from a rescue group.

[stephstar]

In the past, my family's two dogs and one of our cats just showed up and decided they liked it. We of course put up found posters and called the SPCA to see if they were missing, but we lived in a very rural area and it seemed to be a hot spot for people to drop off unwanted pets :(.

I have a friend that lived on a farm, same thing happen to his family all the time! At one time they had 6 dogs and a dozen cats! Stupid rotten people.

[stephstar]

.

The one and the only...............................TIGER.


Tiger! Great name.

Here is my little rescue:
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll127/stephstar_album/arrow/P1010005.jpg

Oh and the place I got him was here (http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/inr.html)! If you want to adopt a Border Collie and you live around the Spokane, WA/Coeur d' Alene, ID areas, check her out!

[Catpicklesdog]

I got both of my dogs and of my cats from rescue centres. Both dogs were the friendliest dogs I've ever known.

[Diann62]

Well we saw 3 that we liked. One is a black lab/retriever and someone is interested in him. They have an interview tomorrow so if that doesn't work out then we'll get him. There's 2 others that I liked very much so we'll be taking one home. I'd love to get both, but we don't have the room because they're both big dogs (both have German Shephard in them) and hubby doesn't want 2......I was lucky to get one out of him...:)

[Lupin]

Breeder and as she is a family friend, we got them at lower prices, one is free.:)

[DAVIDFBT]

I got my first one from a breeder, then my second one from my first one's litter.

[116]

Someone gave me my pitt when he was the size of a hamster.

He's a vicious child eating monster. Good thing I'm part werewolf.. We duke it out all the time.

[MaryPa]

I got him from here -> http://animalrescueinc.org/gen_directions.asp
http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/MaryPa_/th_Rikki1.jpg

[bluejoopy]

I'm a firm believer in rescue dogs. I'm sitting here surrounded by six snoring, warm fuzzy bodies. Rescue groups will typically microchip, spay/neuter, vaccinate, and treat any ailments prior to adopting them out. They also foster them for a period of time to work out the kinks and can typically tell you if the dogs are good with cats, kids, other dogs etc.

[dixienut]

i got my 1st, great pyreneese girl from a older woman that didn't want her anymore, she was 7months old
got my 2nd male from a farm breeder
got my 3rd from my litter of pups,
got my 4th and 5th from a farm auction that no longer wanted their goats so they auctioned off their collars.......for its illegal to auction dogs..
and the male was 10yrs so i knew no one wanted him and the female was 6 and i didn't want her to go to a puppy miller, as they all were not neutered...

so that leaves me with 5------- 90ish pound dogs
i didn't plan on more than 2 but i'm too kind and they are a joy to my life and i couldn't part with any of them, till its time to buy food..lol....

[stephstar]

i didn't plan on more than 2 but ....
You are a bit of a softie eh!? :)

[snoopy65]

Both. I breed labrador retrievers so my original dogs came from a reputable breeder. I also have a rescued Beagle.

[dixienut]

You are a bit of a softie eh!? :)

more than soft sorta like quicksand

[stephstar]

Do not, I repeat, do not look at the links listed for adopting dogs dixienut!

[kjr928]

I got my first dog from a backyard breeder from my town for my 13th birthday. She was so spectacular she could have easily won all the dog shows. We had her spayed though. We had her for 12 years.

Second dog I got from a breeder, he is 4.5 years old.

The next dog I get will be an imported Saarloos Wolfhond from Holland. I will start breeding them within the next 5-7 years as they do not exist in this country. It will be a very exciting time.

I love all dogs.

[Dangerdoll]

I have 3 dogs, 2 came from Mr. Doll... he got them from a breeder and mine comes from the local pound/rescue place. Her story is that another dog had been seeing travelling the city street each afternoon for weeks and one day was seen with this additional dog. A driver followed the dogs to a residence where the driver knocked on the door. The driver told the lady that answered that she would be happy to take the dogs from her if she couldn't provide for them and that allowing them to run at large in the city was extremely dangerous..... the lady refused. Well, sorta. She said that the one dog is hers and that the driver could not take it and that the other dog "just showed up one day" and the driver was free to take her.

Me, I had been going from rescue to kennel to group looking for a dog because I had just lost a puppy a few months earlier (10 wks, another shelter dog) to Parvo. (Parvo is the worst thing to lose a puppy to IMO).... A friend of mine had asked that I go with her to this park that was sponsoring yet another adoption day.... I initially told her no, I had all but given up hope of finding something that I was going to bond with that my other shelter dog (who I lost in divorce) would get along with.... she twisted my arm some and I said fine.... I'll go.... She was the first cage I go to and I asked them to take her out.... I walked her for a bit and knew it almost immediately that there was just something about her....

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/Dangerdoll_album/JennieGirl.jpg

[stephstar]

I walked her for a bit and knew it almost immediately that there was just something about her....

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/Dangerdoll_album/JennieGirl.jpg

Great story Dangerdoll!

[UncaBret]

We got our poooooodle from a friend of a friend. She was moving into an apartment that wouldn't let her have a pet that big so my wife said we would take her.

[excuzzzeme]

Our first dog (part shepherd part chow) we rescued when it was 5 weeks old as the owner was on his way to drown it in the river. We had her for 18 years! The one we have now was from a rescue group. Our cats also came from rescue groups.

[bettagurl]

My white(with spots) pittie was a rescue, the brown staffordshire was a rescue, the german shepherd is a retired breed of my parent's (:irked:) and the Shiranian(lol, I just call her A MUTT, nothing designer about her) came from a backyard breeder, who didn't give her the shots she said she had, and Sparkles almost died so the lady could save a few bucks, asa result from the disease, my little girl has bowed legs. The white Schnauzer came from a puppy mill, my grandmother bought him without having a clue about mills.
He is inbred as crap, and had an unstable temperament. He's with an older couple who spoil him now, without other dogs. The black shepherd was from a man who had his dog Sire him, but sold him to us because he kept fighting his father and catching deer.

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll24/bettagul/DCP_3063.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll24/bettagul/DCP_3149.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll24/bettagul/DCP_3041.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll24/bettagul/DCP_3040.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll24/bettagul/000_1049.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll24/bettagul/000_6494.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll24/bettagul/000_6489.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll24/bettagul/000_4974.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll24/bettagul/l_4c1cd27ae007a0a06f9e02de407a7f43.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll24/bettagul/000_0165.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll24/bettagul/tinkyop.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll24/bettagul/000_0171.jpg

[bettagurl]

My 2c, I will never buy from a breeder, and can't find any reason to buy from a breeder unless it is a rare breed like an english bulldog(though there are many in shelters and rescues), northern inuit ect. or if you had your heart set on showing.
There are dogs of every age and just about every breed in shelters.

I could not buy from a breeder and leave with a good conscience, knowing had I chose to adopt instead of buy, I wouldn't have sentenced an animal to die.

Hmm, that would make a good siggy..

[Mgamer20o0]

pound

[zzyzx85]

"shelter"

[MaryPa]

Oh my gosh !!!!! I love that dog. My son used to raise Rotties and they were the most gentle dogs ever. Much kinder than my little ankle biter.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/Dangerdoll_album/JennieGirl.jpg[/quote]

[wataugachicken]

I got my first one from a breeder, then my second one from my first one's litter.


i got my 1st, great pyreneese girl from a older woman that didn't want her anymore, she was 7months old
got my 2nd male from a farm breeder
got my 3rd from my litter of pups,
got my 4th and 5th from a farm auction that no longer wanted their goats so they auctioned off their collars.......for its illegal to auction dogs..
and the male was 10yrs so i knew no one wanted him and the female was 6 and i didn't want her to go to a puppy miller, as they all were not neutered...

so that leaves me with 5------- 90ish pound dogs
i didn't plan on more than 2 but i'm too kind and they are a joy to my life and i couldn't part with any of them, till its time to buy food..lol....


Both. I breed labrador retrievers so my original dogs came from a reputable breeder. I also have a rescued Beagle.


I got my first dog from a backyard breeder from my town for my 13th birthday. She was so spectacular she could have easily won all the dog shows. We had her spayed though. We had her for 12 years.

Second dog I got from a breeder, he is 4.5 years old.

The next dog I get will be an imported Saarloos Wolfhond from Holland. I will start breeding them within the next 5-7 years as they do not exist in this country. It will be a very exciting time.

I love all dogs.


Why are you all breeding dogs? I just don't get it. . . . is there really money in dogs? Is it worth it? When there are so many good quality mixed and purebred dogs available for free or for small adoption fees that are going to be put down every day, why make more? Do you all know where your puppies are now? Do you have arrangements made to take your dogs back if the buyers can no longer keep them? Loving dogs = making less of them.

[bettagurl]

Why are you all breeding dogs? I just don't get it. . . . is there really money in dogs? Is it worth it? When there are so many good quality mixed and purebred dogs available for free or for small adoption fees that are going to be put down every day, why make more? Do you all know where your puppies are now? Do you have arrangements made to take your dogs back if the buyers can no longer keep them? Loving dogs = making less of them.

Actually, unless you have a very rare expensive breed, any good breeder loses money. All the preparing to breed, Special care of the dam, kennels, registering, getting Xrays(of certain breeds) to make sure their hips are perfect for breeding, and won't pass any bad genes to the pups, taking care and getting all of the needed vet care for every puppy until they are about 2.5 months old, ECT. ECT.
But most just get 2 dogs and put them together, then sell the pups without shots or anything, no special care for mom, ect.
My parents bred our 2 shepherds(which I still strongly disagree about them doing, even with her great pedigree), and rarely broke even, since they also took puppies(no matter what age) back from whoever they sold them too if they could no longer keep them. One had a rare problem, his tummy was in his chest, and after many 1000's of dollars trying to save him, he still died.
Also having a vet give all sets of shots and exams to 6 dogs at a time is very expensive.
So a good breeder won't make much $$.

I would love to have a pregnant dog and raise the pups, and the only way I'm going to do that is by adopting a pregnant mom, since I have seen about 10 moms with unborn or newborn pups get gassed in a shelter in NC, I shouldn't have a problem finding one.
And these were no mutts, one was a female Shiloh shepherd(labled as a GSD) who was mated with a german shepherd, then dumped at a shelter when the owners decided they couldn't care for the pups anyway. She was put ing a gas chamber 5 days from her due date with 12 other dogs on top of each other and gassed to death before the rescue could get her.

This is why I think breeding is awful, and shouldn't be done.
I will not get angry at someone(at least show it) for breeding their dog... I tried to tell Woofy this about her min pin, said I know of over 30 in a minpin rescue just around here, and at least 1 in every other shelter.
Done ranting, breeding dogs and cats just gets my hackles up.
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll24/bettagul/l_f97b27a8ec0baf3530f21076a2a3fb88.jpg

[Dangerdoll]

Oh my gosh !!!!! I love that dog. My son used to raise Rotties and they were the most gentle dogs ever. Much kinder than my little ankle biter.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/Dangerdoll_album/JennieGirl.jpg
thanks! Actually, I think she may be more of a doberman that rott..... my best guess is that she was a junkyard dog that was released to the streets to fend for herself after not being mean enough.... she's as sweet as she can be and her training is phenomenal.... best dog I've ever met. I would be completely envious if someone else had her and not me after seeing her in action.... guard dog, she's good at it if she feels there is danger but remains calm until she gets that feeling..... I have seen her a little cautious once and there was one time in al the people I've known where she forbade to let the man in the house.... but down the line, knowing now what I didn't know then, she had a good instinct on him... She is a great dog.

[bettagurl]

thanks! Actually, I think she may be more of a doberman that rott..... my best guess is that she was a junkyard dog that was released to the streets to fend for herself after not being mean enough.... she's as sweet as she can be and her training is phenomenal.... best dog I've ever met. I would be completely envious if someone else had her and not me after seeing her in action.... guard dog, she's good at it if she feels there is danger but remains calm until she gets that feeling..... I have seen her a little cautious once and there was one time in al the people I've known where she forbade to let the man in the house.... but down the line, knowing now what I didn't know then, she had a good instinct on him... She is a great dog.

She also looks very intelligent.. Great 'find' for you. Not many people have the chance to share their life with such an animal.

[bettagurl]

Mary, if you like rotties you ought to see this big(BIG) baby.. she's a friend's do, but I wish she was mine, she's such a sweet heart, if clumsy, she doesn't know her own strength.

[Dangerdoll]

She also looks very intelligent.. Great 'find' for you. Not many people have the chance to share their life with such an animal.
ah yes, she is and yes, I do feel very fortunate to have this chance to spend this part of my life with such a magnificent animal.

[Diann62]

Well we picked him! He's a 1 1/2 yr. old Great Pyranese/Lab. Fantastic dog! He got hit by a car earlier this year and the owner did not treat it, so his left hip is dislocated. He limps but doesn't seem to cause him pain. I'm taking him to an orthopedic surgeon to see if we can fix this. If not treated, he'll run into problems down the line. He's also very thin, but he's eating everything in sight so he'll fatten up in no time. His name is Sammie and he's so freakin cute. He's had 3 owners, been in a foster family, been in a shelter and stayed 2 weeks at a vet. He is here to stay, but I have no idea why someone would give him back. He has no aggression and he's the most loveable dog you could every want. He doesn't chew stuff......the only thing is he sleeps on the couch. None of our dogs have ever slept on the couch. We have a nice big fluffy bed for him and he goes there, but prefers the couch. He's there right now and I've taken him off 8 times already this morning, but he looks so adorable that I'm leaving him. I personally don't care but I know hubby will. I know I need to be consistent with him so this'll be the last time up there...:)

[faun]

I tried to adopt a dog from a rescue centre but they would not let me as my youngest child was under 5 at the time and they do not let you adopt any pet cat or dog if you have young children. So rather then waiting 3 years we got her privately not from a breeder but from a farmer who's dog had got pregnant he picked the most suitable ones out to be gun dogs and we got Meg (a very bouncy Springer Spaniel) to have as a pet and she is great.

[judgemax]

Why are you all breeding dogs? I just don't get it. . . . is there really money in dogs? Is it worth it? When there are so many good quality mixed and purebred dogs available for free or for small adoption fees that are going to be put down every day, why make more? Do you all know where your puppies are now? Do you have arrangements made to take your dogs back if the buyers can no longer keep them? Loving dogs = making less of them.


I breed dogs, and yes. I have all of those things plus more in place. each dog left with a contract. Each dog visits me, and I visit them to make sure their home is stable and proper.

I can tell you, that only three dogs were ever switched. one, ran away, and when i went to check on it, the owners just didn't seem to care. he was re homed with a new family, with a new breeders contract, and is absolutely happy.

The next, was returned because the owners husband died, and she couldn't handle 3 dogs. That dog now lives with a disabled man who adores her. she also went with a new contract.

The last was just recent. The owner needed to move and straighten his life out after a split with his fiance, The dog came back here for 6 months, and was returned a week ago. His owner called every other day to check on him. I have never seen a dog happier to see his family. I was glad to be able to hold onto him, so he could go home again.


The issue is, even if every owner brought back their dogs, I would take them. Although, you'd be hard pressed to find an owner in my ( current) group who would ever return their dog.


I also rescued my male, and female. I No longer breed. I can honestly tell you I never made a cent from my dogs. They all left with their shots, at the new owners cost. They all were also contracted to be fixed,( or limited number of litters, no more than two, 3 years apart.) non docked, and several other things.

I also rescued my cats, and have rescued snakes, birds and many other animals. ( including fish) lol.

Breeding is not always about the money.

[msouth468]

I went to get a dog from a shelter once and the price for adoption was way too much I thought. A quick search in the local paper showed a bunch of free dogs. And they cost about half to get the proper neuter/spade and general Vet care than the adoption placed charged. I prefer mutts to anything; since each litter is different the variety is much better IMO. Plus, with my experience the mutts generally lived longer and were healthier than purebred dogs were. They tended not to have the common problems associated with each specific breed.

[rosita]

All of my dogs and cats have been either pound, rescue, or foundling. One was even an expensive, registered Tibetan Terrier the owners were going to place in just the right home or put down (circumstances). I was the lucky one!

My cats were feral, 10 now and very laid back. My 2 dogs are AmStaff mix rescues from the same couple, and the previous (died from a stroke, almost killed me) was an AmStaffie mix rescue, too.
Rescued critters have often known abuse (mine bear the scars), and when they find a loving home it's not that they are "grateful," but are enjoying life to the fullest with us.

Yes, it may seem less expensive to get a cheaper or free dog or cat out of the classifieds, but A) not all things free are really free (my best friend was given an 18 yo mare a year ago and has since spent almost $2,000 in med bills--way way more than I've spent on my 3 in the past 10 years, and B) owners will say anything to get rid of the four-legged, whereas rescues and shelters often have waiting periods and extensive forms, even home visits, to ensure the critter will have a great, loving and caring home.

[The Zigman]

he just showed up one day...
I dont know where he came from...


hey wait... I dont even have a dog!!

[rosita]

he just showed up one day...
I dont know where he came from...


hey wait... I dont even have a dog!!

LOL Zigman, too funny! But you never know when one will show up---my dad The Colonel, a real hard tail fighter pilot, moved up here to the middle of nowhere when he and my mom split up. There he was, all of a sudden in the middle of his 40 acres, realizing how unimportant he really was, and this little rat terrier showed up out of thin air. She is obnoxious, runs deer all night if she gets off her leash, barks constantly if she's not by his side, but he DOTES on her. It is the most bizarre yet heartwarming thing I've ever seen. Dunno what to do when she leaves this world--he'll just suck it up and move on!!!
But, he has had 2 more show up, and he'll tend to them. Not house dogs, though.

[Pogiebate]

I got my first dog from someone who was taking the litter to the pound.
That would be Wilma...About 10 yrs old
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/Pogiebate/Wilma.jpg

My second dog I got from a friend a rotten JRT.
His name is Travis. He is about 3
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/Pogiebate/Picture019-2.jpg


Then there is Muttly Mutt Man. I found him on the side of the road as a tiny puppy. He didn't stay tiny!
Muttly is about 1 1/2 now.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/Pogiebate/Muttface.jpg
Oh and all my dogs are indoor doggies :)

[Woofy]

my three min pins are from breeders, and my 60lbs puppy is a rescue. Who knew that 4month old 30lbs puppy was going to weigh 60lbs a month later and still growing. Hes such a lug. I do have to agree with the above poster, im a breeder too and all of our litter is going to family members, if not i wouldnt have bred my dog. I dont see the point in breeding for profit i only bred so my dogs persnality and temperment which i think is unique and perfect for the breed would be carried on to his son which i am keeping and his daughter which the female's owner is keeping and the other 3 are going to our family. Dont assume all breeders are irresposnsible , some of us do have contacts and very strict guidelines for the puppies that are backed legally and all signed before a lawyer. I rather let my famiy keep a puppy for free than try to make profit.