[addevo]

The OP may not be intending to blur the line, but let me emphasize that not all rescue dogs are automatically "special needs."

There are alot of healthy, well loved, well adjusted dogs that end up at shelters or with rescues. Sometimes people's situations change, and they can no longer take care of their dogs. The previous owner of our current dog developed a brain tumor, was facing surgery, months of recovery and follow up care (chemo,etc) and had no family or support system nearby. She loved her dog enough to turn him over to a rescue because she felt she wasn't going to be able to continue giving him the spoiled, pampered life style he had become accustomed to. He was house trained, healthy and sweet as can be.

Any good rescue or shelter will make potential adopters fully aware of any known health or behavior problems with their "candidates." It does no good to try to hoodwink an adopter into taking a dog that they are not going to be up to the financial or emotional burden of caring for.

So please, don't automatically put all rescue dogs in the same category. They aren't all emaciated, mean, sick and abused basket cases. I'll say it again, there are alot of healthy, friendly, well adjusted dogs out there waiting for you.

And as other posters have pointed out, you can get a well bred puppy from a good breeder and still end up with a special needs dog. Our friends researched breeders, carefully choosing one that was reputable, paid alot of money for an adorable Westie puppy, and still ended up with a dog who went blind before she was 3 years old. There are no guarantees that a dog will NEVER develop a health problem down the road. And all dogs, if they live long enough, become "special needs" near the end of their lives.