Purebreds & Why People Buy Them

[aly]

Originally posted by mary_jsn

Fourth, I know mutt dogs are harder to train and unfortunately I don't have enough pacience.

Actually, sometimes they are much easier! My Lolly girl is the smartest dog I've ever seen. Sometimes I swear she can understand English!!

But you do have many reasons to go the route you did and I'm glad you're happy with Leika.

[aly]

pssssst Mike... I love your whole crew but my heart sure does go pitter patter when I see pictures of Sox.

[Pam]

I have debated about whether or not to join in here since it has turned into such a hot topic. My childhood dog was a beloved mutt. We had absolutely no clue about his background or what breeds might be in his family tree but he was a sweetie. As an adult, I worked with a girl who had a poodle. She shared with me a lot of their attributes and frankly I really liked what I was hearing. Not surprisingly I got my first pedigree poodle in 1970. I now have my fifth poodle and, although I really do admire all kinds of dogs, I have a very strong love for this breed. If bred responsibly, as with any other breed, they are very intelligent, loving, family dogs and an added bonus is they don't shed. Don't get me wrong, I am not a neat freak (I have two cats who shed plenty) but for some people a non-shedding dog is a must. I really don't think the breeders are the problem here. Too many people are not spaying and neutering their pets and often think it's "cute" for their children to observe their female dog having a litter. Until everyone spays and neuters, the shelters will be full unfortunately. That's just a fact. I guess the bottom line is freedom. Everyone has the freedom to choose the dog they want and hopefully will not be judged for the choices they make.

[Slave of 15 Dogs]

PSSSSTTT...aly....it's Molly incognito...I was too lazy to log out and log in again!!lol

[aly]

psssssssst... oh you already know about my love for Sox!! (I think)

[Presley]

I would like to add this...
I am sorry for losing it there, This topic really bothers me. This topic shouldn't even be a issue. What should be a issue is breeding responsibly. Getting your animals fixed and once you adopt or buy an animal know it is for life and not something you can throw away. These wonderful pure breds is what makes up the wonderful mutts. This topic is really hard for someone who
went and got a pure bred for certin attributes the breed has and has to hear what a shame and how horrible it is that you actually had the nerv to go out and do something like that.
I see nothing wrong with pure breds or mixed. I see a huge problem with people breeding for the wrong reasons.. puppy mills.. people not having their pets fixed.. We as owners of whatever sort of animal should be resonsible and love them and take care of them the best we can.
Now if another dog came along and got into my heart like Presley did i would bring them home in a heart beat....But i am also not looking or even prepard for another dog, I have also turned down getting another puppy from the breeder i got Presley from who was going to give me one for free because of the problems i have had with Presley.

[Karen]

Originally posted by Presley
Actually reading these posts have really turned me off this place..
I am annoyed at how people here look so down on someone for wanting to own a pure bred... Anyways take care all... Sorry i ever brought my beautiful girls pictures and stories and concerns here... I thought this place had open minded people...

Actually. Pet Talk, and the Pet of the Day family of websites, are for people who love all kinds of pets. We love animals, all animals. Some people just particularly love a specific breed, for whatever the reasons. And buying a purebred and being a responsible owner, getting it spayed or being responsible for the pups like Dixieland Damcer does probably does as much in saving the shelters from unwanted dogs as rescuing a dog does. That's one more responsible owners.

We all can only be responsible for ourselves, and those around us we can teach the joys of RESPONSIBLE pet ownership. Not everyone lives near a shelter. My parents don't, and would have to travel several towns over to find a shelter. And the shelters that are closest to them did not even exist when I was a kid. The web has at least made it easier to find out what needy pets are available for those who are looking for pets - but that is only applicable for people who have Internet access in the first place.

A friend of mine, as an example of someone who buys a purebred, loves poodles. She's had them, quite literally, her whole life. They are intelligent dogs, they don't shed, and she loves their personalities. She has never owned a pet that sheds, and so would not want to deal with that issue, but knows if she gets a poodle, she won't have to! She tried for months to find a "rescue poodle." The shelters near her that she called said they almost never get them anyway. She called the area "poodle rescue group." She volunteered to be a foster home. They never returned her calls. Still she persisted, though at one point, after potential dog after potential dog possibilites fell through, she and her husband actually went to a breeder to look at puppies. Eventually they got a "rescue poodle" but they were very patient. They are good dog owners, and know what to expect with a poodle.
That is why they would buy a purebred dog. Does that answer your question?

The same could be true of many people - just change the breed, and the desired characteristics.

Everyone is different. We, at Pet Talk, should respect that. This is Pet Talk, not Mutt Talk or Pug Talk - all pets and their owners are welcome here, and always should be.

Love and respect - remember that, everyone!

[Slave of 15 Dogs]

Maybe everyone on both sides just need to lighten up a little and enjoy everyone else's posts and sharing. Being different and having different likes and dislikes are what makes this world an interesting place to live.

[Sara luvs her Tinky]

If I can just take a shot at helping to answer your question Power Lunger.....
I think the reason that people may go a breeder instead of a shelter to get a pure bred dog is that they want the experience of raising a puppy.... Many people choose a pure breed based on color, personality, etc. and the chances of a shelter having that specific puppy I'm sure is slim to none... I can't imagine too many breeders dropping off a litter of puppies at a shelter although I very well could be wrong I don't work at a shelter..... I also have a bleeding heart for shelter animals... but like everyone else has said I believe the problem is because of irresponsable owners not people who buy from breeders...

[Presley]

Karen thank you and i am sorry i flipped but this topic wears very thin after awhile.
This is a wonderful place and it is actually the First pet type of forum i found. I do enjoy it here and the people. But i wish this topic would go away.

anyways thank you all..
Melissa

[Sudilar]

Confession time.
My first GSD was pure-bred of German lineage. Wonderful personality, my dog of a lifetime. He had hip dysplasia and died of a heart attack at the age of 10. He took my heart with him.

My second was a Great Pyrenees (pure-bred) from a Pet Shop. I could NOT leave her there in that little cage. She was a huge puppy and this was the early 80's, not even I knew what kind of dog she was. I quickly got info on the breed and in my mind, saved her from the pet shop. Who would have bought such an expensive dog with long long hair that was to grow up to 100-150lbs.? She had leg problems because of her leg conformation, but she lived to the ripe old age of 12 1/2 (life expectancy 8-10 yrs.). Great dog, I loved her dearly.

Third and fourth dogs are kill shelter rescues. Pure-bred. I chose Killian because he was in such terrible shape. I could not let him die. I would get him all the help in the world. Shiloh is very healthy. Both are wonderful dogs.

I have done it all. I don't regret any of it. I've been blessed with the best of all worlds.

If a pure-bred is desired and you want to rescue, go to a breed specific rescue. You can have both.

Sue

[pupper-lover]

When I first responded to this thread, I thought I was innocently adding my input to a question asked. I had no idea things would get this heated. I was upset, at first. I felt as if I was being attacked and demeaned for falling in love with a Golden Retriever. I think PowerLounger, like many others here, was posting out of frustration, not hatred or disrespect. He/she has already apologized. We all love our pets dearly, no one is questioning that. Everyone that I have met in Pet Talk, including Powerlounger, have been wonderful, loving, responsible people that happen to have one thing in commom. We love to talk about animals!

I started the responses to this thread and I would appreciate, if you all would let me end it. Please. Let's all move on to more positive things.

Animals are great and so are people that care about them, lets talk about that

We are are having a pet contest and need your imput! It's gonna be fun! Look for the posts!

Peace all!

[Dixieland Dancer]

I do believe I answered why some of us want to own purebred dogs in my last post. That is what and why this post was started. I also believe others have posted why they want a purebred dog. I do not think that some of you choose to understand that response. And that is sad!

I realize there are many quality pets in a shelter. I do not think just because a animal comes from a shelter you are asking for a death wish. I also do not believe that they are all sickly. In fact, I would believe that the majority are healthy and very promising adoptees. But to make a blanket statement that they are healthier than the best breeders champions is derogatory and unproven. Responsible breeders breed for the betterment of the breed. That includes breeding for healthier animals. I am involved in Golden rescue and do support my local shelter. I was very involved in helping that shelter to become a no kill shelter.

I do not want to feel like I am being judged because I prefer to own a purebred dog and do not have a rescue dog in my house. This thread is not the first time on Pet Talk that I have felt like someone takes the opportunity to slam purebred dog owners. We need to all realize we have an important role in the dog world. And that is doing what is necessary to make the public aware of what is involved in responsible dog ownership!

If purebred and mixed breed enthusiasts work together to educate the average uneducated dog owner then we are all further ahead of the game. I love my purebred dogs and will always love my Goldens. To me they are everything I want and need in a dog. I am sure that each of us feels the same about their dogs. So let's just agree to respect each other for our desires, needs and beliefs.

Aly, you know I respect you for your involvement in rescue. I have also admitted that it is a role I could not fill. And while you write that most breeders are not like me, I also believe that most people who adopt a dog from a shelter are not like you. We are the extremes and need to help those we come in contact with to realize why we have such strong passions about our furry friends and work towards making it better from both ends. I think all the dogs (purebred and mixed) need advocates to help speak up for them! I thank you for your passion and also thank the others on this board who realize it takes all of us to make it better! We all have one major common denominator and that is WE ALL LOVE DOGS!!! No matter where we get them from!

[Aspen and Misty]

I also felt like my dog Teddy was being attacked. We love Teddy and just because he is a purebred and from a breeder makes him no less of a dog then that of a shelter dog. I agree with Presley, I also thought pet talk was about loving all animals and it is sad when some one says they hate purebreds because people breed them for certain traits. I was discouraged to get a dog from the pound because he would be a mutt and we didn’t know his history. We didn't know what we were getting. He could have been abused as a puppy and afraid of people. Or when he was little he could have been aloud to bite and he might bite now that he is older. With a pure-bred you know what you are getting, the temperament and you can talk to the breeder weeks in advance, visit the dogs regularly and know that your dog will be exactly what you want.

Proud owner of a PUR-BRED dog and a shelter rescue..both loved equally treated equally and I am glad we bought Teddy from a breeder, I have never met a dog so well trained before, the second you say sit he sits the second you say down he lies down. He knows hand signals and everything. I have had Chewy for 2 weeks, we started training 4 days ago and he already knows lie down and sit. They both are smart. Neither one if more important to me and I would risk my life for either. I agree with buying a dog from the breeder and rescuing a dog from the pound, as long as you are willing to train the dog and love it.

I agee with my profile......

[shais_mom]

In my adult life that I have lived by myself I have/had 2 dogs and 1 cat. Both dogs have been purebred. The cat is a barn cat mix with maybe a little maine coon along the lines. I 'rescued' her from a friend from work when her boyfriend/now fiance' who didn't like her b/c of her long white hair threw her into the wall. I couldn't have asked for a nicer, more loving cat. I wouldn't change it for the world. And I sure as heck wouldn't give her back.
Now my dogs:
Almost 3 years ago I went to the humane society looking for a small scruffy Benji like dog that I could have in my small house with medium sized yard. I didn't take into account that I would be looking into the warm, fawnlike eyes of a breed I have never seen before. Greyhound. Looking into those eyes stole my heart never to get it back.
Looking into her face, I had no choice but to take her home. Shaianne was my dog of a lifetime my first love, she made me the person I am now. When God decided to call her home to help him 9-13-02, I was devastated. I wanted to die and go with her. I just wanted her back. I miss her everyday and think of her everyday.
When one of my sweet friends told me they had a litter of golden retriever's on the way and I could have their puppy b/c they didn't have anyone to give it too. I essentially 'rescued' her. Or so I like to think. I guess it makes me feel better. I would have never, ever paid money like that for a dog. I had every intention of going to the shelter and looking again for another 'dog'.
But I figger I saved Keegan from ending up in the shelter.
When I went to the shelter 3 years ago there were more purebreed dogs there then mutts/mixes. I never would have thought I would have a purebreed dog let alone a greyhound or a golden.
I agree with responsible breeding. People don't think these days. Nor do they care too. When I made the comment about getting Keegan spayed a lady from work says "oh you shouldn't do that, let her have some puppies, it will make them better dogs. Our dog is so old now her last litter only had one puppy." Like this is a good thing? hello?!
duh!
I argued about the risk of cancer, etc having a dog in heat in the house etc. And she ignored me. Whatever. Obviously she with 4-5 kids and an outside dog doesn't look at her dog like I look at mine!
I think there are good breeders and bad breeders. You can find a pure breed at the shelter but it may not be what you want. If you want to know the bloodlines and health or want a rare or hard to find breed then go for it. The fact of the matter is you are getting a friend for life and that is what matter's.
Presley, Thank God you didn't leave. I would miss seeing Presley's precious face! I think you did everything exactly right and with the seizures that Presley has had it is a good thing you got her when you did!
Power Lounger, welcome! We are a wonderful group of people that I wouldn't change for the world!