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This topic can be triggering for many people, and I completely understand why. As a family that loves dogs, we would never wish any cruelty, homelessness or pain for any dog. The passion for this topic can sometimes lead to unproductive anger although with the best of intentions at heart.
This is OUR perspective, and we hope to approach this topic with love and respect. If the question of adopt or shop seems upsetting in the first place, please, keep an open mind as we go through this discussion.
We are available if you would like to send suggestions, or we can answer questions at our email: doodlemountainpuppies@gmail.com
There are some amazing shelters that are very responsible with new owners. They review the application thoroughly and determine if they are a good fit for a specific dog. They can also give an overview of the temperament, behaviors and potential issues, including illnesses. Many will have a decent background and history of the dog.
There are about 3.1 million dogs in shelters nationwide and around 390,000 will be euthanized every year. The biggest reason most of these dogs are surrendered is due to pet problems. Pet problems were defined as problematic behaviors, aggressive behaviors, grew larger than expected, or health problems owner couldn’t handle.
When you adopt, you are able to rescue a dog that might otherwise be euthanized and give them a second chance. You are truly a hero to these dogs in need and to your community.
The upfront cost of a rescue is much lower and will range from $200 - $500. Spay and neuter is typically included!
Most shelters will have a bunch of different dogs in a verity of colors and sizes to choose from and you can meet them all to find the best match.
- Bernedoodles and Bernese Mountain dogs are very rarely surrendered, and rescues will typically have a waiting list to adopt one.
The shelter sometimes have dogs who have had some training by the previous owners who needed to forfeit for personal reasons. With a dog that is already somewhat trained, you can skip over some of the most difficult stages of training.
Adult dogs will have a well-established personality and you can have some idea that it is a personality you prefer. This gives you a really good idea if they will be a good fit for your home but keep in mind there might be some unknown quirks with any dog.
Many ethical breeders with take a puppy back, no matter the age. Many have this as a stipulation in the contact. A puppy from an ethical breeder will almost never end up at a shelter unless the dog is lost.
Breeders will genetically test all of the parent dogs and be able to share this with potential owners. They will also breed for temperament not just for appearance to ensure a lovely dog but also a stable temperament. You will know upfront what type of temperament to expect.
Responsible breeders will allow you to visit and see where the puppies are being kept and have a program they follow or have developed. They will provide a trauma free and enriching environment.
You should be able to see the parent dogs but keep in mind breeding dogs are typically different than a household pet. They should be good natured, but the studs can be very protective of the females and puppies from outsiders.
There are certain dogs that do better in different landscapes, homes and families. You get to find the best breed and have an experienced breeder help guide you to the best choice for your lifestyle.
They will know a ton about the breed they are offering and can walk you through the process of owning and caring for one. They will have a vetting process and let you know if you are a good fit for that breed!
Breeders will be able to walk you through problems if they come up an often have several good solutions. We love to hear from our owners and can have always been able work with our owners to find solutions to any problem they want help with!
Many people require specific breed for therapy services or as working dogs. These dogs need to have specific temperaments, intelligence and capabilities. Breeders can help support this demographic as many times the dogs in a shelter might not be capable of preforming these tasks.
This can lead to getting a unexpected and unwelcome surprise and the dog has some tendances that are not what you anticipated or has genetics that cause illness. This can be very expensive and time consuming in the long run.
Shelter dogs are not damaged goods and are deserving of a loving home but there is a chance of not knowing what trauma they have encountered or what behaviors might occur from these traumas.
Although shelters have several dogs to choose from, they don't always have the breed that might be best from your home and lifestyle. There are shelters that focus on specific breeds, and they will typically have waiting lists and specific requirements for owners.
There are shelters who are trying to push dogs out the door as quickly as possible. They will ask for an application but hardly review it before sending you home with a dog. This leads to a high return rate to the shelter.
There are also shelters labeled as a rescue who are just a front for puppy mills. They will typically have a higher price point for a "quality" rescue but are the puppies they have been unable to sell.
There are breeders who care very little for the puppies or their dogs. There are some who are in the business for the wrong reasons or do not have the best of intentions. This includes puppy mills (most puppies from pet stores are from puppy mills).
The puppies can be kept in horrific conditions and the older puppies can be forfeited to the shelters. The adult dogs are not cared for or shown any type of love. This is simply animal abuse.
Vetting these breeders can be difficult and using websites like gooddog.com allow to see only breeding programs that have been vetted through interview, submission of health records/testing and pictures of dog areas and whelping areas.
Having a conversation with the breeder is a must and visiting in person or using video chat to meet your puppy is highly recommended, if not 100% necessary.
There are so many scammers out there who want a deposit on a non-excitant puppy. Never go off of video or pictures alone. Let the breeders know that you will need to see the puppy on a live video chat!
The breeder should also have a website and typically social media. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true... it typically is.
If you are using a quality breeder, the fees will be high. It takes an enormous amount of time, energy and money to dog breed. Most people have no clue that most breeders are lucky if they break even financially. It is a job of passion.
Hello there, my name is Heather and as you can probably tell, I love dogs! I personally feel that no dogs should be abused or treated with cruelty. That being said, I would like to share my experiences.
RESCUE DOG SPUNKY:
The dog's name was Spunky and I was 8 years old. He was the sweetest and funniest dog. He was well mannered; house broken and had showed no signs of being aggressive until... I pet him while he was eating. My sweet puppy turned around in blind rage and removed a chunk of my lip. My brother also experienced the wrath of Spunky when he took a large bite out of his cheek while my brother was eating lunch. Luckly, both of us healed with stiches but the rehoming of Spunky in our home was unsuccessful and he was sent back to the shelter.
Would we have done things differently if we had known Spunky was food aggressive? Absolutely but it was an unknown factor. That is until it was too late. My heart still mourns for that little dog and wish it could have gone differently for him. He had hidden trauma that was not his fault nor is it the fault of any rescue, but it is a reality.
RESCUE DOG LUIE:
It was my first time living on my own and wanted a companion, a dog. I had other friends who had adopted dogs with great success. It was suggested by those around me that you should only ever adopt and never get a puppy from a breeder so as to help a dog out of a shelter. It seemed like the right thing to do. I would go almost weekly for months to my local shelter and look at all the dogs (this is before you could see them online!)
Finally, I thought I found the perfect dog. He was a little black lab mix with the most adorable face and goofy smile. I filled out the paperwork and the shelter sent me on my way.
He was a wonderfully sweet dog who was always kind and loving. However, there were issues...
I bought several training books but never did the research on the breed or think about how much the breed would play apart in his natural tendances. I didn't know and thought a dog was just a dog. There had never been anyone in my family or friend group with any clue on the differences between dog breeds and I was simply unaware.
This led to a complete learning curve as my dog tore apart and ate almost literally.... my whole apartment. I was walking him 4-6 times a day and he still had energy to spare. My life had been completely turned upside down. After one year of having Luie, my whole world revolved around his behaviors and was unable to control this now very large dog in a small apartment.
I was able to find and rehome him to another owner who had a home with a large backyard, but it broke my heart and I felt like such a failure. This would be my last dog for a long time. There was such a yearning to have a dog but felt intimidated by dog ownership.
BREEDER SHOPPED, LUCKY:
I wouldn't get another dog until my children were two years and four years old. This time, I had been researching for about three years about temperament, genetics and training. This time I really wanted to avoid putting myself or my family through the heartbreak of needing to remove or rehome a dog.
My husband loved the Bernese Mountain Dog breed, and I loved the Poodle but after talking with some very experienced breeders, determined a Bernese Mountain Dog would be a better option as I learned the maintenance and grooming of the Poodle coat requires a lot of work.
We looked at several breeders and found Lucky, a 12-week-old puppy. He is everything I had been searching for. The most wonderful temperament, far beyond what I was ever expecting. So gentle, calm and seriously, the best dog. He is a wonderful addition to our family.
For me, adoption would have been a good option if I had done any sort of research. My experience with shopping was only better because I did the research and knew exactly what I wanted. That alone is half the solution when finding your perfect addition to your family.
Both adoption from a shelter and shopping from a breeder are valuable options depending on your needs.
It is wonderful to adopt a dog and open your heart and home to a dog that needs you. It really is an amazing feeling to know you helped that dog lives their best life and see them reach their full potential.
This can be done responsibly and can be the best experience but always do your research on shelters and breeds before getting any dog ensuring that you will be set up for success.
Having a breed and temperament that will fit your lifestyle with less unknowns will increase your chances of success. A breeder that will be available and support you through the process of puppy ownership and beyond. Assisting you with making the best choice for your lifestyle and ensuring you get exactly what you are looking for.
This can be such a wonderful bonding experience to have a younger puppy. You can train them specifically for your lifestyle and know that your puppy will have the desired qualities you are looking for.
Many times, people want to adopt a rescue but cannot for many very specific reasons.
Many families have both depending on the season of life they are in. So many of my owners have gotten rescue dogs and also decided to get a puppy from a breeder with specific reasons in mind. I believe either a rescue or a puppy from a breeder are valuable options and we can all bond over our shared love of dogs.
As a breeder I do advocate for adoption and will always take a puppy back or find it a more suitable home if needed, this is very rare as I spend time getting through each application and speaking with each family to ensure the best home for each puppy.