Anti-Breeder Attitudes?

[kady05]

Originally Posted by Emily

But you know, saying you need a specific kind of dog or needing to know the dog's history or background means you're saying rescue dogs aren't good enough for you. Duh.

Or that you don't love dogs. Yup. I hate dogs.

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by yoko

If we were talking chazzers I might agree a bit more but when you talk all dog owners you just can't hold normal people to our standards.

My in-laws just got a dog. My mother-in-law was absolutely 100% positive she wanted a 25 lb or below, low shedding, blonde, female pup around 6 months old.

She came home with an 8 week old male lab/beagle mix and absolutely loves him to death now, because what she really wanted was a dog (any dog), not a super specific set of criteria.

I think that is far more representative of 95% of dog owners in this country than anyone on this board!

[monkeys23]

Originally Posted by AdrianneIsabel

I totally want a shelter dogs are a gamble shirt. lol

Me too. I can wear it when I'm walking Scout and tell people about how umprepared her first two owners were. All they wanted was to save the pretty fluffy! Yeah that panned out well for 'em!

[smkie]

My best advice is to anyone, petfinder. com. Look until your heart goes gathump and you KNOW that it is the one. IT took me weeks before I found Victor. I had a chance for any puppy I wanted. A man that I was dating at the time would by me the puppy of my choice. I am so glad I didn't take him up on it. Every breed imaginable can be found there from baby to senior. IF you for sure you want a specific, and you want a baby, contact the rescues. IF your willing to wait, the right one will come. Your a thousand times better off than buying a pup who's parents are in hell and no one cares about the health or socialization of what your willing to spend your money on. In other words, don't feed the puppy miller. I personally have decided that if I live long enough to have another dog, much as I would want a puppy, i think I will go for the seniors.

[Shai]

Originally Posted by AdrianneIsabel

I totally want a shelter dogs are a gamble shirt. lol

I'm thinking I need a tshirt that says "I have a shelter mutt gambling problem" to wear while competing from now on.

And I'm changing Mira's name to "Rehab"

[Barbara!]

Originally Posted by kady05

IMO, no, breeders shouldn't strive to breed for pet quality dogs. Of course there WILL be pet quality pups in every litter (any breeder that tells someone otherwise is lying), but they should ultimately be breeding for show quality dogs that meet the breed standard (to better the breed).

Again, JMO.

I agree with this. Not just show quality dogs though... Working dogs and sport dogs, too. (I'm sure you meant all of it.)

There are plenty of PETS dying in shelters. No reputable breeder should intentionally breed for the purpose of making more pets.

[yoko]

Originally Posted by Shai

I'm thinking I need a tshirt that says "I have a shelter mutt gambling problem" to wear while competing from now on.

And I'm changing Mira's name to "Rehab"

I'd be fine with a shirt with all of yoshis vet bills from bloat printed on it.

[monkeys23]

Seriously though, I turned down a couple real nice dogs before taking Scout. She sorta is what I wanted in the sense that she's a nice GSD, but omg has she driven home how important good foundation and genetics are!! I love her dearly, but hoo boy!

So I've put off getting a well bred dog since I took her in. Sure don't regret it since its made me a much better trainer than I would be otherwise, but I don't want to do it again either.

And before I got Scout I went to the shelter to look at a nice female Sibe/GSD mix. Did the pre-adoption interview and everything because I liked her so much. They were like you can't adopt her because you have cats, which you know is fine! But then they proceeded to pressure me to adopt SOMETHING, ANYTHING from them. Erm, guys I don't want just anything so no thanks!!!

There are some really insane requirements with rescues. Like the you must have a specific type of fencing if you want to adopt a husky crap. Erm guys my dogs get plenty of exercise and are never loose unsupervised even in fenced areas... so uh yeah.

[Barbara!]

I hate it when rescues require fencing or that all of your current animals must be S/N. They are really limiting the potential homes for their adoptable dogs.

[Lyzelle]

One malamute rescue I went through required 5000sqf housing. Some rescues are definitely ridiculous.