Choosing the Right Place to Find Your Dog | Dog & Cat Health, Wellness, Products and Breed Information

Choosing the Right Place to Find Your Dog
| Print | By Caroline Coile | April 27, 2009 4:27 PM

You have a lot of choices when it comes to your where to get your new dog, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

Shelters: Local shelters have pure and mixed breed dogs that have been relinquished to them, picked up running loose, or seized from bad situations. No-kill shelters refuse to euthanize unadopted animals, and tend to have more adoptable (young, healthy, cute) dogs than kill shelters because many no-kill shelters don't accept dogs with a low probability of adoption.

Most shelters require a fee ranging from $40 to $100, depending on whether spaying and neutering is included. Spaying or neutering is usually a requirement of adoption. Puppies from shelters are usually given vaccinations, tested for heartworms, and tested for aggression.

Pounds: Pounds tend to be financed by local government and focus on animal control rather than adoption. They may have very little capacity to keep dogs beyond a minimal time period, and usually do not provide vaccinations, heartworm testing, aggression testing, or spaying and neutering. Their adoption fees tend to be very low.

Breed Rescue: Like any dog, purebreds can end up in rescue shelters. Most national breed clubs have one or more organizations that foster dogs of that breed that are homeless. For a list of breed rescue groups, go to http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm.

Rescue dogs are typically adults, but some may be puppies. They may have been cherished companions that have lost their home, discarded puppy mill producers who have never been in a home, or simply from unknown backgrounds. They may have been given up because of behavior problems, health problems, or simply because their owner tired of them or couldn't afford them.

Most rescue groups neuter or spay their dogs, evaluate their temperament, and treat them for any health problems. Some also offer basic training and behavior consultation. Rescue groups are very picky about who adopts their dogs, so be prepared for a home visit or phone interview. Expect to pay a fee ranging from $150 to $450 for a rescue, to compensate the group for health care, upkeep and other expenses.

Pet stores: Pet stores have the appeal of instant gratification, but the disadvantage of very high prices for a very poor quality puppy. Most pet stores get their puppies from large scale breeding operations called puppy mills, which are notorious for keeping hundreds of dogs in small cages and pumping out litter after litter from them, without health testing or socialization. While you may think you are saving a puppy by purchasing a puppy mill dog, this keeps the demand for these puppies up and helps keep the mills in business. Puppies raised on wire (in wire cages), as these usually are, are also more difficult to housetrain.

Backyard breeders: Newspaper ads will usually lead you to backyard breeders, typically families with one or two dogs they in turn bought from a similar source. The puppies aren't great quality, but they are generally good companions and may luck into being fairly healthy despite lack of health testing.

Internet ads: Ads on the internet can be from responsible breeders or thinly disguised puppy mills. Be sure to check credentials carefully.

Hobby breeders: Hobby breeders breed dogs for competition, but often have puppies available as companions. They don't breed very often, so you may be put on a waiting list for a puppy. The puppies are usually higher quality, with health- tested parents. Their ads emphasize the achievements of the adults, not the cuteness of their puppies. You can locate such breeders through the national club for their particular breed. To find your breed's club go to http://www.akc.org/breederinfo/breeder_search.cfm.

Companion breeders: The companion breeder breeds with health and temperament foremost in mind. Their goal is to provide the market health-tested and well-socialized puppies as companions, rather than as competition dogs.

Wherever you get your dog from, make sure to have a vet fully examine your pup to ensure a happy and healthy start for you both.

Comments (3)

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Julia June 1, 2009 5:54 PM

This was extremely helpful!
I'm glad I could find such great info, since we're adopting our first pup soon!
YAY

Barbara June 19, 2009 10:48 PM

I also found this to be very helpful. I just lost my precious Bichon Frese' after 12 years. She was such a Joy and Snuggle Buddy. I'm going to find another one very soon.I'm widowed and miss my little pal, and unconditional Love...Thanks for such good info....