Adopting a Dog vs Buying From a Breeder: What’s Right for Me?
It’s an age-old debate in the world of dogs, adoption vs breeders. Is one option better than the other? The truth is that each has its place in the world of dogs. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of adopting a dog vs buying from a breeder and how to identify which option is best for YOU.
You’ve decided that it’s time to expand your family and adopt a new furry best friend.
Congratulations!
This is an exciting time, but also one that can feel a little overwhelming.
What breed(s) are you interested in? Do you want to adopt a puppy or an older dog? Have you done everything necessary to puppy proof your house?
The questions just keep coming…
While I could go on and on about the preparation for a new puppy, that would turn this post quickly into a novel.
Instead, I want to focus on the first step. Where are you going to get your new family member?
If you’re on the fence about adopting a dog vs buying from a breeder, this is for you.
Related: ‘How Early Should You Start Leash Training A Puppy?‘
Before I get started, you should know that most people in the pet space are firmly on one side of this debate or the other.
As for me? I find that I fall somewhere in the middle. I can see value in both options.
Personally, I have always owned rescues (dogs and cats) and will continue to rescue my pets for the foreseeable future.
However, what’s right for my family may not be what’s right for yours.
I believe that it’s important to educate yourself on all options before making a decision.
With that in mind, I’m going to break down the pros and cons of adopting a dog vs buying from a breeder.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Before I get started, I want to point out the importance of open communication with rescue organizations, shelters and breeders.
Whatever you decide, it is important to keep in mind that every dog is different.
Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions. More importantly, don’t be afraid to say ‘no’ if you aren’t feeling right about a situation.
This is, after all, a long-term commitment and should be approached as such.
Adopting a Dog From a Shelter or Rescue Organization
If you’ve spent much time here on Shed Happens, you likely already know that I am a huge advocate for animal rescue.
In most cases, a family can find the perfect dog by searching shelters and rescue organizations.
This isn’t to say that there aren’t good reasons to consider going to a breeder (we’ll cover that later), but don’t write off adoption right away.
Why is this important? There are thousands of dogs currently waiting in shelters and rescue organizations for their forever home.
These dogs aren’t ‘damaged’ or ‘less than’, they simply found themselves in a difficult situation.
Each dog has their own story. While some have been through horrific situations, others find their way into a shelter due to a decline in the health of their owner or a rough financial situation.
Whatever brought them to that spot, each of these incredible dogs deserves a second chance!
Pros
- By Adopting, You Are Helping to Save 2 Lives: When you adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue organization, you are helping to save 2 dogs – the one that you have adopted and the one that they are able to rescue due to the fact that you’ve now opened up that space.
- You Have More Age Options: If you’re not ready to take on all the responsibility that comes with a young puppy, an older dog may be the right choice for you. Adult dogs are often potty trained and may even have basic obedience skills already. Senior dogs are also a great option for those looking for a calmer friend.
- Adopting a Dog is Lower Cost: Adoption fees are most shelters and rescue organizations are lower than the cost of purchasing a puppy from a breeder. In addition to the lower upfront cost, dogs generally come sterilized (if old enough), microchipped, and vaccinated. If you adopt a puppy, some shelters/rescues will even offer a voucher to help with the cost of sterilization.
- Better Idea of Temperament/Size/Appearance in Adult Dogs: This only applies if you are looking at adopting an adult or senior dog. However, if you do, you will have a better overall understanding of your dog. This will allow you to select a dog that you know will fit your family and your lifestyle.
- Mixed Breed Dogs are Statistically Less Likely to Struggle with Certain Genetic Health Concerns: While adopting a mixed breed dog doesn’t mean that you will avoid all health issues, there is research saying that it can make a difference. In fact, a 2015 study found that purebred dogs had a 42% higher incidence of 10 genetic disorders including bloat, allergic dermatitis and dilated cardiomyopathy.
Related: ‘Top 10 Reasons to Adopt A Senior Dog‘
Cons
- You May Have to Work Through Emotional Scars: Many dogs that find themselves in shelters or rescue organizations have been through some form of trauma. This could come from abuse, neglect, having to care for themselves on the streets or even the feelings of abandonment that come with being given up by their former owners. These emotional scars can manifest in a number of different ways including physical and behavioural issues that you will have to be prepared to help your dog work through. This won’t happen with all dogs, but you should be prepared for the fact that it may.
- The Exact Breed of Your Dog May Be Unknown: If the breed of dog is important to you, this could be a little challenging when adopting. That being said, unless you’re showing, the breed of dog may not be a concern. Mixed breed dogs are just as incredible as purebred dogs in every way (trust me, I have two that I love dearly).
Buying a Dog From a Breeder
If you are looking for a specific purebred dog or a dog that is registered with organizations like the AKC, you may struggle to find the perfect dog through the rescue network.
That isn’t to say that they don’t exist…
However, you may be better off getting your new puppy from a responsible breeder.
The key phrase here is a responsible breeder.
This means someone that truly cares about the animal and their impact on the breed, not someone that is just in it for the money.
A great place to start in your search for a responsible breeder is to consult the lists provided by both the American Kennel Club (AKC) and Canadian Kennel Club (CKC).
The breeders on this list are members of these organizations and, as such, are held to a specific standard.
That being said, if you are speaking with a breeder and get a bad gut feeling, trust your instincts and keep searching for the right fit.
Pros
- Know Your Dog’s Lineage/History: When you purchase from a breeder, you are able to access information about your dog’s lineage that may not be otherwise available. This includes not only having an idea of the likely size, appearance, and temperament of the dog, but also a deeper insight into their genetic health.
- Get the Exact Breed You’re Searching For: You may be able to find the breed you’re looking for in a rescue, or you may not. Alternatively, if you’re contacting a breeder you will know with 100% certainty what breed you are adopting. This can be important in some situations. For example, if you’re looking for a specific breed due to their hypoallergenic nature.
- AKC/CKC Registration: If you are adopting your dog for a purpose like showing, having a registered dog with all the correct documentation will be high on your list of importance.
- Connect with a Breed Expert: A responsible breeder will be there for you long after you’ve brought your new puppy home. This means that you have someone knowledgeable specifically about the breed on call if you have questions that you need to ask.
Related: ‘How to Puppy Proof Your Home: What You Need to Know‘
Cons
- You are Taking on A Puppy and All the Work That Comes with It: Unless there is a unique situation in which the breeder is looking to rehome an older dog (for example, someone has been unable to keep their dog), you are going to be taking on the responsibility of a puppy. This includes potty training, basic obedience, etc.
- Breeders Generally Cost More: While there are cases where this isn’t true, more often than not a puppy purchased from a breeder is going to cost you more than adopting from a shelter or rescue organization.
- It Can Be Difficult to Weed Out Backyard Breeders and Puppy Mills: If you’re in a hurry to find that perfect puppy, you better take a step back! When purchasing a puppy from a breeder, it’s important to do your research. Backyard breeders and puppy mills are more worried about money than the dogs, often leading to unhealthy dogs, genetic issues, behavioural problems and more.
So, we come back to the original question. Adopting a dog vs buying from a breeder, which is the right choice?
Only you can decide which is right for you and your family.
At the end of the day, it’s not about being pro-rescue or pro-breeder. It’s about being pro-dog!
Did you adopt your dog or purchase him/her from a breeder? What factors influenced your decision?
I’m somewhere in the middle as well. We have two from a breeder, one from a friend who had an oopsie, two rescues, and one who was dumped in our backyard. Everyone has their issues. My frustration with the last rescue was how long it took and applying to so many and being ignored. They are understaffed and there is so much need! Great post and balanced approach to the topic.
They are definitely understaffed and in some cases, that means that they aren’t quick to get back to someone else they can see that they are a good fit for a particular dog. I think the most important thing that people need to keep in mind regarding rescues and rescue applications is that not being chosen does NOT mean they think that you’ll be a bad owner. It simply means that they didn’t think you were a good match with the particular dog in question and that dog’s needs.
Excellent post! The same criteria you stated also applies to cats. I’ve had both rescue cats and purebred cats from a reputable breeder. Because of the health issues that can be associated with Persian Cats, I chose to go to a reputable breeder where the parents are tested for diseases and you can trace their history.
That is a really great point. While I LOVE German Shepherds, I have stuck with mixed breeds from shelters and rescues to date. This is partially due to availability but, on a larger scale, it is due to the fact that they are far less likely to struggle with the health concerns associated with pure bred GSDs and their hips.
I believe in both, and my mom and I have done both. Both definitely require some research and looking into, but at the end of the day, to me, it’s all about giving a cute doggie a home!
Honestly, that’s the point that I’m hoping most people take away from this post… Research is SO important!
I totally see the pros and cons for each and I probably would go rescue as well…as a school counselor I’m always rooting for the the underdog lol
At this point in my life, I don’t believe that I will ever stray from my love of rescues. There are so many incredible dogs looking for a home. We have been lucky to live a lifestyle that allows us to take in some that are struggling with behavioural issues that may otherwise prevent them from finding a forever home. I know that’s not necessarily feasible for everyone, so we do our best to make that happen.
Fantastic post and the amount of solid advice here is immense. I respect that you do not dismiss proper breeders of pedigree dogs but advise people to do their research and not rush into things. PURE GOLD! There is nothing wrng with a oure breed dog if you want to take total responsibility. I had also not realised that many breeds have their own ‘breed specific rescues’ because people can’t cope with some dogs (I could NEVER cope with a Pyrenean Mountain Dog!!)
It’s the only way I could ever get a Siamese cat * sigh * They are SO expensive!
A lot of people in the world of rescue (which is one that I’m highly involved in) are quick to villainize those who choose to go to a breeder for their pets. However, there are very valid reasons to consider getting a purebred dog in that way. Every situation is different and, at the end of the day, the most important thing is to ensure that it’s the best situation for both the dog and the family. That being said, if the only reason someone is writing off rescue is the fact they want a purebred, I highly recommend that they research breed-specific rescues. I have been following a couple of different German Shepherd rescues recently and we plan to adopt from one of them when we’re ready for another dog in our family.
This is a really informative post. My current dog, we took from a friend of a friend (took – that makes it sound like we stole him hahaha!) because he wasn’t getting on with his previous owners other dog and was being kept on a farm until he found a home. So we didn’t really do either of these options. But I’d definitely love to get another dog in the future with my partner so this is helpful!
The fact that you were able to take him in and give him the loving home that he deserves is beautiful. I’m sure that he shows you love every day in return for all that you have given him.
I want several dogs when I have the space for them, and I think it will depend on the specific dog when it comes to breeder or shelter. I want a pit bull, and I think a shelter would be a great place to find one because there is certainly no shortage of them there. I also want a solid black German Shepard. That will likely be extremely hard to find without going to a breeder. I also plan to train the sherpard much like law enforcement officers do and use it as a means of home defense/self protection. So raising it from a puppy on up would be preferable in that regard as well. I can’t remember the breed my husband wants offhand, but the breeder versus shelter debate will certainly need to be looked at for that one too, and I will refer back to this post when that time comes.
There is definitely no shortage of great Pitbulls waiting in shelters for their forever home, unfortunately. Their reputation combined with the breed-specific legislation preventing the adoption of Pitbulls and pitbull mixes makes it difficult to find homes for all of them.
I’d still buy a dog if I had the option. I wonder though, would you change the dog’s name if you adopt?
We did change the name of both of our current dogs. They learn their new name pretty quickly, and neither had their old names for long (they were the names given to them when the arrived at the shelter/rescue). Daviana used to be Copper and Indiana was Junior.
Fantastic post! My husband and kids really want a dog, we are working on getting our backyard into shape (at the moment it is mostly just weeds and dirt) and then we are going to go look around at the pound for a dog to adopt. This post helped give a lot of great info on both sides of buying a new dog.
That’s great! There are so many incredible pups waiting to find their forever homes.
I suggest you check out this list of tips to find the perfect rescue dog for your family: https://shedhappens.net/find-the-best-shelter-dog-for-your-family-by-following-this-advice/
I love this post! We will be getting a dog and weren’t sure it we should adopt or buy, but after reading your post, we will definitely be adopting. So many dogs out there that need a loving home.
It’s so true! There are a lot of myths and misconceptions regarding rescue pets – like they are ‘damaged’ or will be problematic. Honestly, we have 2 dogs that were found to have behavioural problems and with a little love and hard work, they are INCREDIBLE pups today.
I’ve always been a breed specific owner as well as did breed for a while. I’m a strong believer in breeding srong, secure, lines true to a breed’s purpose. Breeding was always a dream.
Flash forward a few years and at my husband’s incessant urging, we are looking into puppy #3 to add to the crew (we’ve had three before, loads of work!) This time I’m leaning towards shelter. This time we are looking to be just pet owners, not breed or show.. 90% of the best pets I’ve met have been shelter dogs. I am looking forward to a less stressful choice of furbabies this time around.
That is exactly what I was hoping to get across with this post! There are definitely situations where a breeder makes sense – the world of dog shows is one that I’m not overly familiar with but it’s the first situation that comes to mind. However, there are so many GREAT dogs waiting in shelters for those who are simply looking for a loving family pet.
I absolutely loved reading this article – you’ve highlighted the pros and cons of both options so clearly here. Memories of bringing home our fur baby will forever be etched on my mind and I too feel that both options of adopting as well buying from the breeder have their own place. While it is understandable that one would want to bring home a puppy as soon as possible once they make up their mind, it is so important to do all the research beforehand.
Exactly. I can’t stress the importance of doing the research enough. Far too often, people bring home that ‘cute puppy’ only to find that they don’t fit their lifestyle, they are larger than expected, they require more work/exercise than they were prepared for, etc. A little leg work before bringing your pup home will greatly increase your chance of a long, happy life together where both the owner AND the pup are happy!
We do not have much options of adopting a dog here in the place we stay and hence buying from a breeder is the only option for those interested. It was a good insight though looking at the comparison
There are definitely some areas of the world where the availability is different.
I believe in both too. we actually breed dogs too but we also were able to adopt one before. I think however it is, we have to take care of them and put in the effort for these dogs.
That’s the most important part! Know what you’re signing up for so that you’re sure that you’re able to provide everything that particular dog will need throughout their lives. Some dogs need more exercise, others don’t do as well being home alone, etc. Not to mention the potential of breed-specific health concerns..
I am not currently in the market for buying a pupper but I think if we were, we’d go for adoption!
Rosie
We have adopted all of our pets, and I wouldn’t trade them for the world! There are so many incredible animals waiting in shelters and rescues to be discovered by their forever homes.
We got our Ted from a British Kennel Club breeder back in Feb 2019, but mere hours before we saw him, we viewed some other puppies at what was obviously a dodgy situation. The breeder tried to pressure us to take ‘8 week old’ pups home with us THAT DAY, whereas the KC breeders had a long waiting list, interviewed us, and showed us pregnant mum and her 13 other Cavalier King Charles roomies (they all lived in one house). Dad was also a KC dog, whose owner was someone we’d actually spoken to about getting a puppy. We didn’t adopt because Ted is my first dog, and we thought it better for me to learn how to look after a dog from puppy to adult. We definitely wouldn’t rule out adoption in the future.
There are definitely some big red flags in the situation that you’re describing. Breeders like that make me SO angry – it’s the pets that end up paying the price for their greed.
What a great post! I too believe that there is room in the world for both rescued and responsibly bred dogs. I have always had rescue or stray dogs and cats in my life until 2009 when I got my first purebred dog, a Siberian Husky. We wanted a puppy at the time and we were looking for a Husky. I tried the shelters (including the one I volunteered at) but only found a couple of Huskies and they were older. I now know that there’s a rescue organization for nearly every breed of dog and have found 2 Siberian Husky rescues that I like. Going forward, I’d reach out to one of them for another Husky, and I would probably be open to an older dog, even a senior.
There are so many older dogs that are overlooked simply because they aren’t ‘cute little puppies’ any longer. We almost brought an older girl home a few months ago. Luckily, she was able to find the perfect forever home before we pulled the trigger… I just couldn’t leave her in a shelter, even if we didn’t really need another dog in the house. She looked so scared and alone. Her follow up pictures from her new family are like night and day!
I really enjoyed your post! You are so right when we adopt we are rescuing two dogs. I highly advocate rescue as well.
xo Erica
I can’t wait to hear all about those lucky dogs when the time comes!