Dogs: Buy or Adopt?

If you intend to breed or show your dog there is no alternative but to buy your dog from a reputable AKC-REGISTERED breeder. Should you be in a position where nothing but the best satisfies you, then buying a registered, pedigreed dog is also your best choice.

Another alternative for those wanting to acquire a fine pet is cross bred dogs. They are not for breeding or show but some of the handsomest dogs I have ever seen were mixed breeds. But, buying a mixed pup is chancy. A cute pup can mature into an ugly adult

For the rest of us ordinary people who have financial constraints, but nevertheless would like to have a pet dog there is a better choice. That is Adoption, which is not only less expensive, it sometimes permits you to have a purebred dog that you ordinarily could not afford. Not only that you generally get a pet that is housebroken and frequently at least partially obedience trained.

Adopting a young dog past puppy hood has a number of advantages, one of which is that you avoid teething problems. A puppy can be very destructive. You also know, when you choose it, what your dog's appearance will be when mature.

Another advantage to adoption is that arrangements are made or neutering at greatly reduced prices.

I have done both, bought and adopted. I had a show dog that I never showed and had several not too great experiences with breeding.

Over my lifetime I've had numerous breeds, Mutts, cross-breeds, German Shepherds, Irish setters, Cairn Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Springer Spaniels, Long Haired Dachshunds, Lhasa Apsos and Shi-Tzus and a Bijon Frise. Some were AKC registered, some obviously were not.

Size and Breed are individual choices based on your own taste and your home situation. Often your kids have a strong influence on a decision to buy a pet, which does not always lead to the best conclusion.

We live in an area thatin the summer is highly populated by tourists and people with second homes. Some of these people buy their children puppies and when they leave in the fall they abandon these animals. The animal shelters become so overloaded with these pets that many have to be put to sleep.

Our dog " Suzy " is one of those dogs. We had just lost our beloved " Rina "who we had for sixteen happy years. We advertised for a small dog in a local classified ad magazine and as a result adopted "Suzy " a purebred Shi-Tzu. " Rina " was part Shi-Tzu so we were pleased to get the type dog we wanted.

"Suzy " was found abandoned, injured and suffering from malnutrition. The shelter nursed her back to health and in February 1999 we adopted her. She was approximately one year old and weighed seven pounds when we took her home. She obviously had been abused and was terrified of people, most especially men. Although she is now six and has had a happy life with us she is still nervous with strangers.

When we first got her she was an ugly duckling because she was so scrawny. In less than six months she blossomed into a gorgeous animal; she had more than doubled her weight. She is by far the best dog we have ever had the pleasure of owning, and we have had some wonderful dogs.

She's super intelligent, housebroken, has no bad habits. Some of our dogs have been destructive. Unfortunately she hates cars so she doesn't accompany my wife wherever she goes, which " Rina " always did.

Of course "Suzy " has taken over the house and as we don't restrict her she goes wherever she wants to. We have to protect our white furniture because she doesn't know when she's wet and scruffy.

She's a fussy eater and is quite bossy so we cook her food specially for her If you want to own animals these are things you have to contend with and you should consider them before you adopt or buy a pet.

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Written by: George W. Cannata, author and publisher of the web site http://www.caveatemptorus.com July 29, 2005. You may copy this article in it's entirety so long as you include credit to the author and links to my web site.