Originally posted by aly


I completely understand where you're coming from. I just don't think anyone here could answer that. Its awful, isn't it? I often ask myself those very same questions.

By the way, welcome to Pet Talk

I will attempt to answer that question! But first I need to clarify that RESPONSIBLE owners of purebred dogs are not responsible for the overpopulations in shelters. Realizing why this problem exists is part of the answer to your question.

Unfortunately, many people purchase a puppy on impulse, without pausing to consider its eventual size, appearance and personality—traits that are well-established and largely predetermined by breed. We can all agree that a cute little puppy (purebred or mixed) is irrestable. So they take fido home and he becomes too active or requires too much time to train and keeps piddling on the good carpet, or grows to big for their lifestyle, or sheds too much, etc. etc. etc.. So in our disposable society, we have a way to "correct" that problem. We will just take Fido to the shelter and dispose of him. After all, someone else WILL adopt them and make a loving home for them. And that is only part of the problem!

You also have the same impulsive buyer (purebred or mixed) that never gives Fido love or attention. He is left to wonder or be chained up in the yard day in and day out. He never gets any routine vet care and is never fixed. Girl dogs are even worse because the males come from miles away when she is in season to have their way with her. Litter after litter of puppies are born but Mr. Irresponsible doesn't worry. After all he has the shelter to drop the pups off at or to sell them and then not care what happens to them after he collects his money.

Don't get me wrong. I support rescue and shelters on a regular basis. I realize the problem but don't blame it on people who want a purebred dog. I blame it on Mr. Irresponsible who doesn't take the time to figure out what kind of dog will work for him.

NOW, why would anyone want a purebred dog??? Purebred dogs are found in an impressive variety of sizes, shapes, colors and personalties. All these breeds have been molded over time to serve humanity in some capacity. Thus we have hunters, guards, trackers, shepherds, sled dogs, and above all, companions. We have energetic dogs, sedate dogs, extroverted dogs and those that prefer the fellowship of one or a few familiar faces.

Choosing the dog that's right for you requires some work. There is no substitute for making a careful study of each breed's characteristics and narrowing down the field until you are left with the one that best suits your temperament, lifestyle, accommodations and taste. Will the adult dog be large and/or require extensive grooming? Is it likely to need lots of outdoor exercise? Don't forget to ask yourself whether its temperament will be appropriate for your family, especially younger members. This is critical in considering a mixed breed as well since all mixed breeds have purebred traits in them. Example... someone may have a doberman/lab mix. Now you need to understand if two different breeds will work for you and what personality traits this combination will produce.

Now that you have considered what you want, you now need to know what breeds exhibit that behavior. You can check the web for 100's of varieties of dogs. You determine you are interested in Labrador Retrievers. You can determine the standard of the breed to verify YES this works for me or NO it does not!

WHY do I own purebred Golden Retrievers? I am a hobbiest. I don't just have my dogs for companions although that is the foremost reason I have dogs. I train and show them competitively in various venues such as obedience, agility, field and soon conformation. I can pretty much already know the basic characteristics of my dogs because they are purebred. I know they are strong athletic dogs with high drive and outgoing personalities. They are excellent hunters with a strong sense of smell and they love water. They are happy and trusting and very loyal. They learn quick and are very gentle. This makes them excellent guide dogs or household companions for families with small children. I know they are going to be around 60 - 75 pounds and eat around three to four cups of food a day. I can go on but I think you get the idea.

I want a GOLDEN RETRIEVER. I want to know the pedigree of the dog to determine the working or showing ability of the dog and more importantly it's personality potential. I want to be able to see the parents and say ok, that is the personality trait I am looking for. I want to be able to look at a litter and know what puppy will match my needs in field, obedience, etc. I can love any dog but I choose to own a GOLDEN because it fits all of my wants, expectations, and desires in a dog. And I AM a responsible dog owner and am not a part of the problem with over flowing shelters.

One last thought.... Did you know that by owning a Golden Retriever, I actually do own a mixed breed? The development of this retriever is attributed to Lord Tweedsmuir in Scotland, just north of the English border, along the Tweed River. He was said to be breeding to produce the ultimate gun dog. In 1952 a descendant published documents of his breeding from 1835 until about 1890. In 1865, he acquired his first Yellow Retriever, named Nous, who was bred to a type of dog called the Tweed Water Spaniel (now extinct), commonly found in the Border country, whose traits and qualities, subsequently influenced the development of the Golden Retriever dog. Nous and Belle produced 4 yellow puppies in 1868, Crocus, Cowslip, Primrose and Ada. From the four, followed additional crosses to the Water Dogs, an Irish Setter and sandy colored Bloodhounds. Then followed some line-breeding, unusual for those days, and Nous and Cowslip appear several times in pedigrees. This line breeding eventually created the Yellow or Golden Retriever dog, later becoming popular in Britain towards the end of the 1800s. First shown in 1908, they were granted breed status by the Kennel Club in 1913, and became known as the Retriever (Golden and Yellow). In 1920 the name was changed to Golden Retriever.

I think we need to all concentrate on promoting responsible dog ownership, be it purebred or mixed. Through educating the unkowledgeable about proper considerations when aquiring a dog, be it a shelter worker or a responsible breeder, we will all be doing our furry friends a service. We all need each other to succeed.