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Breeder vs Adopting? Hey guys. I have had this serious question/thought come to me constantly.... While I like the idea of buying a purebred dog, and having a dog that has their papers and all in order, comes from a genetically "clean" line(i.e. comes from parents with no genetic issues), and the fact that breeder usually means transparency... I also like and was thinking of the idea of adopting. To give another chance to another animal in need is very good.... But I must confess a few things... The drawback which makes me hesitate about adopting is that all of the dogs backgrounds are pretty obscure, even if they were just surrendered and people told them where they got them-- that doesn't really mean that the dog will not have "mental" issues... By mental issues, I know that you can train a dog to do things you're okay with them doing, or at least train them to -not- do things you're -not- okay with them doing... But would an adoptable dog be less trainable? That's kind of what got to me. I mean as a puppy their minds are kind of like jello-- they're not set yet and they're easily moldable with some effort... but an older pup whose already got a bad behavior will probably present a bigger problem in training? Not sure. I say this, because when I was younger- a lot younger (early highschool days) we had this dog for 2 months that we had adopted... He was this wire haired fox terrier, and I admit I didn't do much research on the breed... but we went on petfinder and found a dog that was "cute" because I at the time was being subjected to someone elses' demands on a dog. At the time I just wanted a dog-- any dog... however one of my parents just wanted a cute dog but she was so specific.... So we went through lots of dogs and saw that this one had on it's page labeled as already potty trained, well-behaved, etc.... but when we got home that wasn't the case.... The dog would howl and bark every night for no apparent reason... He would chew on the sofa legs(the legs still have marks on there from him), he would urinate everywhere-- and when he urinated he lifted his legs so doing that inside... well you know... (this is the "why" to one of the main reasons I never want a male dog anymore) He actually wasn't trained at all. He was supposed to know "sit, stop, stay, come" and other basic things which he never knew. We would walk him 2-3 times a day and each time for at least 2-3 hours as he never even tired... He was already 2 years old and he was really crazy, he was neutered and -still- humped things. A pillow fell to the floor and he kept humping that. He got aggressive with his toys or anything he claimed to be his... We tried everything from the information provided to us, and the information found in books. Nothing seemed to work with him... He was always hyper, and by hyper I mean like jack russel "doped up" if you know what I mean.... Anytime we went outside to walk it he would bark at every dog non-stop even after they left.... We went on to adopt him because my friend at the time had one of her own and her own dog was "balanced".... it was active but it wasn't like a kid on a never ending sugar rush... Needless to say, we ended up giving up after 2 months and a half because it was just too much for us to handle at the time.... Nothing we did ever worked, no amount of training, nothing... I honestly felt inadequate so I thought I'd take it back to see if someone would have better luck. Funny thing is because when we brought it back they mentioned he was brought back a few times... which they failed to mentioned first time around... they also failed to mention there was a fee for bringing it back... So a 350 + fee for adopting + 350 fee for dropping it off.... We sort of felt seriously duped.... I know I am among animal lovers but I wasn't prepared for something like that at the time. We wanted something mid energy that we could have fun but when it's time to go to sleep it wouldnt keep us up all night... After that we never adopted again, and my mothers dog was bought for her from some breeder(probably a byb) and her dog had her "annoying" period but it never even got to 1/10th of how it was with him..... The thing is... I kind of want to adopt.. but I am also afraid of being lied to again-- because clearly that dog was never trained, never calm and was not kid friendly.... I clearly gave up too early; but I was hoping that if I adopt it's either a puppy with an "untouched" mind if that makes sense or if someone screwed up teaching it, it wont be something that I can't change... I am afraid of being told one thing, but then when I get it -- it's completely different than what we were told.. I mean I get it, they wanted to find the dog a good home.. but lying about it when people have clearly different dispositions, and different needs than others won't help anyone... There are people who like active crazy dogs, but there are people who like calm and moderate dogs... I fall into the latter. I first thought out this breed because I distinctly recall my aunt had this yorkie and since the yorkie was a puppy it was always calm, playful, and moderate. It wasn't bouncing off the walls when it was an adult... Can people shed some light on this matter? P.s. I am fully aware that a puppy can turn out either way-- but my point of it was that if it's from a breeder and the parents have a specific disposition, and you take the time to train them-- they wont be like that. I feel that once a dog learns a bad habit it's hard to break off. Incidentally, I am rather curious-- why was the dog barking all night long? We left it alone at night in the living room, crated, with blankets, and covered the cage for the most part(it was cold) turned off the lights... We also tried sleeping with it in my room, we tried letting it sleep freely without a crate in the kitchen, we tried that in my room. It ripped up stuff in my room, and it just kept pawing in the crate.... We always made sure it did number 1 and 2 right before we settled it for bed. The other thing is, how can you be sure that say if it says is a yorkie- it actually is a yorkie and not a mutt? Or if they say its healthy, but then its actually not? When I was young we just rescued dogs off the streets and rehomed them- we never actually went to a shelter to adopt except that one time. It's why I am cautious... |
First, I wouldn't adopt a dog off of Petfinder. I would go to the local humane society animal shelter and adopt a dog there. There are usually many to choose from, and they will let you take the dog out for a walk, play time, etc., to make sure that it is the right fit for you. If you are willing to adopt a dog, and the only consideration is how trainable it is, I would adopt a dog from the humane society animal shelter before getting a pure bred from a breeder (unless I was looking for a specific breed). Maybe I'm a little biased, but our local Champaign County Humane Society is top-notch, and they always let you check out a dog thoroughly before adoption. |
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My question is, how do you even know if a local shelter has a dog that you want or not? I hate to say it, but almost anytime I go to a shelter it's usually filled with pit bulls, and other big dogs... which are cute and all but just not my cup of tea. The good thing about adopting is, that I could possibly find a morkie, or a chorkie, or some other mix, and there's probably no shortages of small dogs like chihuahuas if I can't seem to find a yorkie. But I think I prefer a yorkie, and then maybe a chihuahua, brussels griffon, maltese, toy poodle, shih tzu... But my first choice would definitely be the yorkie. How do you know what you're getting in a shelter is a certain age, and stuff? sure you'll be able to see the temperament but probably not the age. Would you think looking through craigslist ads for adopting is bad idea? P.s. what's your take on petfinder? I kind of feel that I see a lot of potential hoarders but that's just probably me imagining things... not really sure. |
Adopting? I agree that adopting can be a good idea if you are able to find the dog you want. I don't believe petfinder is bad, as most good rescues do put their dogs on that site, or in this area it is so. As for shelters, I have found that they are not helpful in selecting new parents nor do they give much info re the history. One good idea is to go to a good breeder and see if they have any pups they have held back for show etc and when they get older they do not work out. Here you can get a dog with history and get a good idea as to temperament and behavior. Good luck, it is a hard task but one has to be patient and ask lots of questions! |
Adopting I forgot to mention a good Yorkie or small dog rescue is a great idea. They usually keep the dog for some time to assess temperament etc and are very careful to screen new parents. Often on petfinder the rescues are busy and also do ask a lot of questions to find the right home. This route worked well for me. |
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Craigslist is a horrible idea for adopting pets. You never know what kind of crazy people are on there, or whether they are being honest. Seriously, your local humane society animal shelter with real dogs that you can visit in person is your best bet. About Petfinder, I have to admit that that's where I found my Bella :D. She came with AKC papers, and she turned out to be very healthy, other than an early problem with luxating patella that we had surgically corrected. The breeder let us visit his kennel and choose Bella from among her other charming siblings. I think I just got lucky. |
I adopted a fantastic 2.5 yo AKC yorkie, a gift from my vet, he was a surrender. I must be one in a thousand that knows the history of my rescue as I keep in contact with the previous owner and I have all his medical and AKC papers that was turned over when he was surrendered . He is 99.9% a perfect boy, the 1% he is not dog friendly lol. Adopting is a crap shoot as far as temperament, personality, trainable. It takes time, devotion, consistency and a lot of patience, but so well worth the work you put into it. Ask your vet about rescues, shelters. Your vet may even work with rescue teams as my vet does, that is how I got my boy, from the rescue team that she works with. Craigs list I would def. stay away from. |
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As for breeder vs. adoption ... both options can be both great or horrible. It really depends on a lot of things. You CAN end up with a dog riddled with health & behavioral problems from a breeder and you can also end up with a perfect sweet dog from a shelter and vice versa. I think a lot of times what happens is really people just don't know how to pick a dog that fits them. You hear the saddest story or see the cutest dog and say "I want that one" and that's when people end up with issues many times. I know of trainers who will go WITH a person picking a new dog from a shelter and help them in their decision by knowing their major wants and needs and accessing the dog. And yes many dogs wind up in a shelter because of behavioral problems, often creating by the human who was unwilling or unable to train them properly, therefore they do sometimes come with slightly more 'baggage' I suppose. If you go to a good breeder, they will be able to assist you in this too. Many breeders don't even let you choose a specific dog -- they will choose for you based upon your wants and needs in a dog since they know the pups best. But puppies are hard work too. There are benefits to adopting an adult dog -- usually already "programmed" to who they are going to be (kind of.. let me explain....) such as things like dog aggression, reactivity, barking, etc. What you see is what you get in a way. You can tweak behaviors you do not like through training and bonding of course. Whereas when you get a puppy, things could develop over time (through no fault of your own) and you wouldn't have been able to foresee it as a young puppy. Anyway, between my 2 dogs... so I got Jackson (my giant Yorkie lol) from a not-so-great breeder. Just posted in a classifieds ad in the paper. She was definitely what you would call a backyard breeder. Got him at 9 weeks old. He's been an absolutely *amazing* dog. However it took a lot to get him there. I socialized the hell out of him and I've given him top notch care in general and lots of training etc. We got Lola (family dog who turned into mine, kind of) from a really good breeder IMO. She is a mix (cockapoo) so some would question that but that's beside the point. Anyway. Night and day. She just came... good. No socialization was really needed (but I do it anyway of course), she loves kids, people, dogs, other animals, she has a great off switch but also a great play drive. She's kind of the perfect dog for most people honestly and it required very minimal effort. I do attribute some of that to her early stages of life. Go with your gut. Don't be guilted into anything one way or another. Search for adoptable dogs and if you find and meet the right way - you are doing a GREAT thing! Many amazing dogs are in shelters. But there is nothing wrong with knowing what you want and finding the right breeder for you either. |
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That makes sense, I kind of dont like how they put sob stories to them. I mean I get it, they're trying to rehome them and appeal to peoples pity and stuff... but it kind of creates an "impulse buy" situation... where you're not really sure if it's right for you but you take it because you felt sorry for it. Some people are able to give those dogs better homes. It's all about finding the appropriate home for each one. A better patience individual would work wonders with a dog that's got a plethora of issues. Things can develop over time, but they usually can be fixed before it becomes bad. That's kind of why I liked puppies. To be honest the idea of raising it as a baby and being with it till its final days sounds appealing to me. It builds a stronger bond imho. I just didn't want to get a dog that has no history and people say is 2 years old and it turns out it's actually 10 years old or 12 and somehow within a few months it becomes really sick on its own and has to be put down. It'd be too soon if that makes sense. |
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My vet? The only one who gets to see the vet is my mother because its her dog and she likes doing things solo. To be honest, I thought about broadening my search after I stumbled upon this dog https://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/37758664 I normally search for just yorkies and chis but that day I was looking up a broad search and saw her photo and she just looked so sweet, friendly, submissive and docile personality. That's kind of what I like. The calm, friendly, submissive, docile that just likes to cuddle with you. I actually looked up another breed of dog by accident and stumbled onto something called a "brussels griffon" and when I read about them, apparently they're velcro dogs. They like to stay by their owners constantly. I actually would enjoy that. I found some breeders, but majority of those breeders are out of business. Apparently a rather rare breed, another dog breed I looked up was something called a chinese crested, another type of velcro dog... but they're even rarer to find. Stilll I remain loyal to the yorkie, just that one dog in particular got my interest. Except kind of wary because of the condition that she has, they say it wont get worse.. But that's what they said about the other adoptable dog I had before... I would love the idea to take her in. But kind of wondering if that condition just makes her a little "denser" in the head. Kind of thought of a nickname for her. "Scruffy" (it's a reference to a show called futurama because of her stache' ). Just not sure if thats her actual age and stuff... or if she has any other serious underlying issues they never mentioned... |
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I was thinking of Gypsy but I wasn't so sure as if that was the only problem she had (health wise). |
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If your aunt had a calm, submissive, docile yorkie she had a one of a kind yorkie lol, they do mellow out, calm down around 9 to 10 years old. My 4 girls slowed down at 10 years old, but were still mischievous, teasing little imps with a high prey drive. If your looking for calm, docile breeds I think you should stay away from the terrier breed. |
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Usually I look for healthy, sturdy, etc. but I wasn't sure if her disease was bad enough. To be honest, I'm sort of a couch potato, but I do enjoy short walks, and occasional time outdoors(hiking, fishing, easy paced stuff). I thought of a small breed because I was reading that walking them for a few short walks 2x daily(30min - 1 hour per walk) + playing with them indoors and backyard rigorously would be enough to satisfy them. Sometimes I like going for 1 and half or 2-3 hours but it's not as common. It's why I wanted to avoid -other- terriers like the notorious jack russel... I would enjoy a bulldog but they're neither foofy, and they're exercise level is way too low. I.e. their form of exercise is walking from the couch to the fridge from what I read(well not that literal but you get what I mean). To be honest, I wanted a dog that would be close to me a lot, would enjoy short walks and some play. Though cuddling is fine. Non-slobbery (like not a basset hound- although they are beautiful they drool like crazy and it's a bit off putting). Something that's just happy go lucky and a bit mellow. That's how my aunts dog was. It was like that since it was a puppy, she got it from some breeder after much research. Her dog much like my mothers dog followed her everywhere. The only reason I didn't want to go for another cockapoo(what my mother has) is that after 3 days of bathing she reeks of this strange smell(I sadly have sensory issues). I found out that it's probably the cocker spaniel in her, because cocker spaniels tend to produce more skin oils and that it can smell weird after some time. That, and I've never had that issue with any other dog before-- even that wire haired fox terrier didn't smell weird. But when you said I should go for something sturdy and healthy, I kind of agree because my brother has a daughter and she is rather young (about a year or two) and while they wont come into contact- I'd rather be careful in both cases. We only see them 2x a month though. She had another yorkie before that apparently and the dog was like hers now. But it may have just taken cues from her. Heard that dogs sometimes take after(copy- behaviorally) their owners. So would it be prudent to compare a yorkie with say a fox terrier or worse... a jack russel? I've seen my neighbors jack(he has 2) and they're rather obnoxious and hyper... Yipping, running around, "popcorning", etc without ceasing-- even after I go back inside for sometime. His dogs also bark at night, and sometimes howl. This is rather heart breaking as yorkies are rather beautiful. |
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Yorkies are a beautiful breed and very smart, they are like Velcro, they must have their human in their sight at all times, including the bath room lol. They are by no means docile, timid or submissive. All yorkies although have the same traits, they all have different personalities. Owning a yorkie is like having a toddle for it's life time,Yorkies are very child like, charming, entertaining, mischief makers lol. They can be very stubborn at times and before you know it, you are owned by a yorkie. You cannot base a yorkie on the two your aunt had. I suggest you do a lot of reading on the breed, and a lot of reading on terriers to see if any terrier would be right for you. Getting a yorkie from a rescue, an older one, say 2 or 3 years old chances are they could be more calmer. I read your concerns about rescues, as I stated it's a crap shoot. Like a box of chocolates ya never know what you're gonna get. My perfect boy had some issues when I got him, I worked with him, trained him to be what I expected out of him, he was eager to please and learned fast, he did not come from an abusive owner, he was loved much and spoiled rotten lol. Take your time, even tho it's your mothers vet, you can still call them and ask about shelters, rescues. |
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Like what I don't want is me just trying to change its water bowl and it tries to bite me. lol or if I am playing with it and throwing toys(frisbees and rubber bones) I dont want him to get aggressive when he brings it. We had a short problem with our dog when she was young but she passed it within a month... Though that other dog I had was pretty bad- it wouldn't get over that. Or like if I am sitting down, and the more submissive dog comes by my legs(she always does that) I don't want them to fight-- by this I mean... I dont want the dog I brought to instigate. I just dont want to see bullying or aggression like that. Submissive is kind of a clear cut to avoid that. There are other concerns like it randomly marking territory- more so than other dog breeds, or chewing up the sofa... This sofa kind of doesnt matter as we're getting rid of it(very old). But the new one, we want to pad so that we can keep it safe until its trained. What do you mean by a kid? Kids are highly destructive.. at least the ones I've seen are-- without reason. I know a dog is unpredictable and stuff, but I was hoping that once it's trained it stays trained. Like our current. |
If you're concerned about marking then get a female. My boy was neutered about 8 months old, he was house broken when I got him. He came with a bag of belongings, in that bag was a pee pad so I knew he used them. I do have a pad down for him ALL THE TIME, in 3 years he used it once. He prefers to make out doors. He squats, no leg hiking. If I walk him he will hike his leg, in the yard he does not. That is why he is PERFECT for me lol. I have only had female dogs, I raised them from 8 weeks old. I had a pack of 3, all 3 years apart. My 3rd baby was bossy, and aggressive towards my 2 older girls, she wanted to be # 1. She was my smallest weighing in at 9 pounds as an adult, the 2 older ones were 13 pounds,very sweet passive girls. The baby was very dominant, I was able to train the aggressiveness and dominance out of her, and teach her I WAS THE PACK LEADER, not HER lol. But she was a baby, not a rescue, I trained her not someone else. In most rescues they do allow a meet and greet where you can see if both dogs are friendly towards each other. But, that is not to say they will stay friendly once they share the same roof, toys, yard, humans. There is NO guarantee they will always get along, that also holds true if you buy a baby, raise it yourself, that baby can be aggressive and dominant towards the other dog. Older dogs (over 1 yo old) usually do not chew furniture, chewing is usually done when a baby is teething. That has been my experience in raising 8 puppies. I can understand all your concerns in adopting a rescue, it's a chance you take in adopting and having another dog in the same house. There is no guarantee you will get exactly what you want, a perfect, well mannered, well adjusted, non aggressive, non dominant dog. You may be better off getting a female puppy, go through the house training, teething stage, raise her the they you want her to be, there is more of a guarantee she will be more of what you want. |
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I may need to keep them separate regardless and only together with supervision |
Please adopt, there are many cute awesome dogs that need homes. I adopted both my yorkies as puppies as was able to train them and work with them just as if I'd bought them. My older dog is a yorkie/schnauzer mix and is supper cuddly and calm but can be playful and likes to go for walks, my girl is 100% yorkie and the most energetic, mischievous, loud, stubborn little dog I've ever met. You may be better off with a mix. If you adopt from a rescue often they are fostered and you can get an idea of their personality so you have a better chance of getting what your looking for. Good luck! |
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But it's to be expected. I did look on the ones website, it didn't seem that privacy invasive... Did announce that potential owners home would be inspected. Sounds fine, but it makes me a tad nervous. Not sure how to make things perfect in their eyes is what I mean. I am thinking of going to local shelters, because I've been looking at rescues, which the dogs are in foster homes like that dog I showed earlier.. and I don't think they even have much info on her... So I was thinking maybe just directly to a shelter. |
Read through the link BHSApp It's an application form... some questions are rather too invasive and quite frankly a bit cringe worthy on some... |
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I found this dog but I cant tell what kind of mix it is.... Harrison, NY - Yorkie, Yorkshire Terrier Mix. Meet Elena a Dog for Adoption. Does look a bit like a yorkie mixed with a maltese or a poodle or something like that. ---- Ultimately I may just go to a pound because the dogs there would be in immediate danger.. I actually sympathize a bit with kill shelter workers... I think the blame shouldn't be placed on them, but the specific dog owners who just give up their dogs whenever for whatever dumb reasons... Too bad you cant tell the actual personality of a dog in a pound.... due to the stress they're in. |
I sent an email with questions regarding the dog-- and they told me that first I have to fill out the form... but the description isn't that descriptive and to be honest it seems more counterproductive to fill out an adoption form only to later on find out that the dog isnt what you want in a dog(because lack of information) and decide not to adopt it after all.. which means the time you filled the application, the time for them to process it... was a waste of time (for both). I just dont understand that or if i should proceed or just skip. |
You also have the option to ask for an older dog from a breeder if you want a dog that may already be pad trained or you want to know what you're getting already. I made the choice to go the breeder route for several reasons (health, I had a small child so history is important, and lifetime support). I commend those who choose to adopt, however I knew that it wasn't a option for me. If you're filling out applications, and you're denied it can be heartbreaking however just know that that's not your fault. You can provide a great home but that may not have been the dog that was intended for you. Things happen for a reason and season. |
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As for being denied- I haven't been denied as I haven't even made an application yet.... But you can denied for just about something insignificant and dumb. Being denied for not having a fenced yard(or a yard for that matter) is stupid unless the dog happens to be something like those alaskan huskies or alaskan malamutes, or something like a jack russel (i.e. not apartment dogs) But luckily I don't have that problem since we live in a house in the suburbs(soon to move somewhere out in the country-- which is also why we havent done anything as we wanted to get settled in first before going at it-- doubt it'd be good on a dog to go through moving when they just first met us). Still I was planning on owning a dog that is able to live in an apartment happily- because you never know where life will take you and someday you may end up indeed in an apartment even if temporarily. Like we had hurricane sandy hit us hard a few years ago and peoples houses were completely devastated, some where probably able to live in an another house- while typically people probably moved into apartments. So those who had a large and active breed mostlikely had to rehome their pets. What I want is a contingency plan as well. For me a dog that is calm, non-aggressive, kid-tolerant, dog/cat/animal tolerant(i.e. low prey drive), friendly, and such would be easily accepted into an apartment. Should I ever need to move out. That is why I am taking my time and asking multiple questions. If rescues, or shelters don't want to answer my questions or don't even respond then the next step is avoid adoption all together because clearly it isn't going to work out if I can't know anything about the dog- or at least their personality. I still have hope adoption can be viable and I could give one a good and happy home. |
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