Help me to understand....

* I really want to know everyone's reasoning for breeding or for buying a pure bred dog....im not attacking, I just want to be educated on what YOU think is going on with full bred dogs and the people breeding them. I'm NOT bashing.. I just want to know. So, if you're mature enough to handle this topic, please, come on in....*


Help me to understand why there are millions, literally millions of dogs out there that need a home (to be rescued) and people then buy from a breeder....

Why? What's the point in having a full bred dog?

Some people show their dogs... why? It's not for the dogs sake...the dog doesn't understand what champion means and then most people whose dog gets to "champion" then gets bred to another "champion" to have "champion" puppies that sell for tons of money. So, it would seem to people that owners are doing it purely for themselves.. they want a champion dog, they want to make bug bucks off their puppies, etc..

Take my aunt for example. Love her to death and absolutely love her dogs. She has two purebred Samoyeds. Beautiful animals... her youngest she is going to breed... she has not yet done the breeding and she already has TWO PUPPIES SOLD. Why?

My husband and I are planning our next adoption. We've decided on a large to giant breed dog and are currently leaning towards Great Danes. There is wonderful rescue in LA that we plan to adopt him/her from, they always have puppies because for whatever reason the dogs weren't good enough and were shoved off to the pound or were taken to the rescue. Why?

I know that everyone and if not everyone, then most people are aware of the millions of dogs that need forever homes... so why do these same people buy dogs? And if you breed dogs, why do you breed? I've seen pictures of many of your dogs and there are indeed beautiful, but why do you do it?


Reminder: I'm not bashing or attacking.... I'd just like to hear what everyone says/thinks/feels and I understand that this is a hot topic...

i am totally with you, i question this a lot as well.

I personally have come to terms with this answer:

when you are getting a purebred, you pretty much know EXACTLY what you are getting into.

With a mutt (i say that in a very loving way, cause ooh i love em soo much!), you really dont. Take my dog...he had like mental issues, so we ended up having to pay 3600 in training since we couldnt handle him (and taking him to a shelter would be an instant death sentence for him )...he also seems to bunny hop on one foot...not sure if this is a sign of future bad hips (ha, cause they are certainly not affecting him right now...he is FAST!), but if it is...lots more $$

Additionally, if you are using your dog for its "real" job...herding, etc...i could see where you would definately want a purebred with a great background in whatever itis you need your dog to do.

You also are a lot more aware of temperment. If you have really little kids, i could see where some people would prefer to bring in a purebred with a known temperment (although i am sure you never really know)...rather than a dog with an unknown history.

That said, i totally see what you mean about ppl just doing all those dog shows and what not. While yes, obviously someone needs to be breeding the dogs, i think there are WAAAAAY too many. and some breeds...and this is a matter that i know little about..i really dont see any purpose, lol

like come on...a poodle? what the heck is that used for? same goes for lhaso apsos, shitzu, bichon's, etc...if there is a "job" for them...what the heck is it...and does anyone actually use them for it???

Also, in a way, i think the publicity (well, if you watch animal planet, lol) is both good and bad. The good side is that it can show people how dogs SHOULD be taken care of...given lots of love, attention, bathed, groomed, etc

the bad would be: ppl dont realize the costs of raising champion purebreds, and when the begin to realize them, they end up becoming more of a puppy mill...and i think from there the bad is obvious, lol


this is just the personal opinion of a fellow rescue dog owner

and i would just like to point out:

Buddy is SOOOOOOO freaking adorable, omg...i am the biggest sucker for that "eye patch" on dogs...what a cutie pie!

You HOPE you know exactly what you are getting into From what I see, purebred dogs don't seem to come with a set of - he will act like this and that - they have all be majorly different within breeds.

Breeding is a hobby (for MOST) - just like trainspotting

And I'm sure a trainspotter will tell you there is more to it too (anticipating responses).

You are either:

a) intersted in a breed, and want to do something with it (hobby)

b) meeting demand (business)

There is no real point to it.. I mean, anymore than there is breeding hamsters..

I am not KNOCKING it, but it is definately for OUR gain, NOT the dogs.

*please by advised this is just MY OWN opinion*

hehe.. thanks, we love him to death. He's super spoiled and def. a momma's boy

I can see the want to have a dog that people "think" will have the best temperment, etc. etc., but that's not always guaranteed.

And thank you for your comments... I'm looking forward to seeing what other people have to share...

Anyone else?

i personally love mutts i love the challenge you have when you get the dog and you don't know what to expect so you take it a day at a time

but for someone with small children or certain lifestyles getting a certain breed of dog would be more of an insurance that they could properly care for the dog and give it everything it needs instead of finding out the dog need more exercise than they can give or more grooming or so on and so on

I'm interested in a breed too.... but I want to rescue one of the millions instead of buying one.

I think you have to understand it this way...

Different people like different cars - performance, looks, status symbol.

Having a dog is NO different to alot of people.

Me? I was just happy to have a DOG - she is a mix of all sorts. What does that say about me? lol!

Buddy -
If I were to ever to purchase a pure bred dog it'd be one of the lesser known breeds. If my boyfriend and I stay together for a long time -- like over 2 or 3 or 4 years -- we have takled about getting a dog for him. He specifically wants a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and while they are becoming more available now he knows I will not allow him to buy anything from a breeder that I don't pre approve first. This will be true even if we break up.

The reason he wants a Cavalier is because he knows very little about dogs, and he thinks that a Cavalier is the best fit for his life style.

Myself, personally, for all that there are pure bred dogs I'd like to own (tibetan terriers being top of the list), I will probably always end up adopting myself. I am already thinking about a second dog, and I'm personally leaning towards a retired female Greyhound for the second dog. Or maybe I will get another kind of terrier mix, so I can be driven all kinds of crazy?

I think there will always be a overpopulation of dogs, as long as people are irresponsible and/or stupid.* I do my best to take a dog/cat off the streets at a time... I've been adopting mutt dogs and mutt cats out of the shelter system since i was 10. I'm expectnig that when i get my first rabbit it will be from a shelter as well.

ETA: * this is not a knock on the responsible breeders on this board... I approve of responsible breeding - a litter every couple of years to improve the original breed..

I guess (again) it similar to having babies!

Why have a baby, when you can adopt one that has no family?

Because in this materialistic day and age - people want something NEW and SHINEY - not one that is second hand.

I have purebred dogs because I love my particular breed.

Pure bred dogs have certain traits of appearance and behavior that are generally predictable in carefully bred animals.

Some people want dogs for a SPECIFIC purpose.

Those of us who have purebred dogs and breed responsibly care very much about our chosen breed. We do research. We educate ourselves. We compete and see other good specimens of our breed.

It is not WE, the responsible purebred dog hobbyists and breeders, who are filling the shelters.

You should point your guns elsewhere. Good breeders ALWAYS have puppies spoken for BEFORE a breeding, else we don't DO it.

Good breeders track ALL their puppies, and the BREEDER decides what dogs will and will not be bred.

It is NOT a bad thing to breed dogs, IF it's properly and responsibly done. Nor is it a bad thing to have showing dogs as a hobby.

When Casey is no longer with me in years to come, I will get a shelter dog. The reason we chose to get a Golden retriever and a puppy was because we needed a dog that would be great with kids (mums a childminder) and that we could socialise with kids.
The reason why we chose a Golden is obvios really , we were looking at a dog at the RSPCA but decided against her, we 100% needed the dog to be great with kids so we decided a Golden puppy was our best chance of achieving that (I know nothing's certain). In the end she's perfect.

there are so many variations among the dog breeds and good breeders keep

their animals true to type. the specific look and temperment of that breed. A

border collie and a bloodhound are very different animals without breeders to

maintain the breed type the qualities that are valued in a breed would

soon be lost. I don't think it's about getting something thats "new and shiny"

it's about wanting a dog that has a specific set of traits your looking for

along with the socialization and health gaurantees that come with buying a

puppy from a good breeder.

I am still trying to talk the wife into adopting instead of actually having a kid. she thinks that she needs "our" genetics to be carried on, but I rather feel like adopting one would serve better. Give a kid without a chance a chance, and not have to go through the pregnancy. She is still a hold out, though

Red- I specifically stated that I wasn't attacking or bashing. I asked a simple question. And I didn't say it was bad to show. I just want to know why.

I still feel people have not answered my questions.. is it perhaps because there is no answer?

We too will look into adopting a child... good luck!

I'm sorry my answer wasn't good enough .








jk, I can't really add anymore than that. We needed a certain characteristic and getting a Golden was our best chance of achieving that.

Hahha.. Kase.. I think I'm looking more towards breeders and the why aspect. I can perfectly understand wanting a dog that is good with children, etc...
My husband and I have our reasons for wanting a larger dog and for looking specifically at Great Danes.. but if there were some other dog to "speak" to me... I would get that one.

I understand what you are staying, I will be moving out in a few years and I won't 'need' the dog to be 100% perfect with kids so I will get a dog that 'feels' right from a shelter.

i'm an adopted asian kid

adopt a kid it's fun!

I love my purebreds, I had specific reasons for getting purebreds. One reason, I know what the temperament will be with children, that has always been of utmost importance to me. I also know how they will react to other dogs in the family.

Getting a purebred, you basically know what you are getting. The heritage is there in black and white as well as the characteristics of the breed. The main reason I got a puppy when I got Brutus, Roxie is an older dog, bringing in another adult dog would not have been a responsible decision on my part. Roxie would have been very unhappy.

The reason for the overpopulation of dogs, is the irresponsible people of this world. Not keeping dogs properly confined, spaying or neutering. Breeding their dog to another because they think they are cute. It isn't the responsible purebred breeders that breed to keep the bloodlines perfect.

I have nothing against mixed breeds, it isn't their fault their not purebreds...it doesn't make them less of a dog, just a little more unpredictable, and many are more adorable than some of the purebreds. Maggie is a mix, I don't think less of her because of that.