Buy or Adopt - That is the question.
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.
I strongly favor Dog Adoption, and that is what this article is all about.
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.
For more information regarding pets and other subjects, visit http://www.caveatemptorus.com
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.
move in cleaning service Mundelein ..What is Canine Bloat?Bloat refers to the bloating of the... Read More
"Your cat has feline diabetes." If this is your vet's... Read More
From the first day of life on a leash, most... Read More
Aggression behavior in a dog is a normal form of... Read More
Dogs need mental and physical stimulation. They're also very inquisitive... Read More
Bringing home a new puppy, ushers in a wave of... Read More
If there is an art to getting horses to load... Read More
Whether purely for looks or for a bird's home, bird... Read More
The days are getting longer, and if you have a... Read More
What does doing natural preventative care mean? I thought vaccinating,... Read More
Mention the word "video" and different people would come up... Read More
PROBIOTICS - The Good Bacteria - Does your pet have... Read More
Is your home safe for your Furr Kids? It might... Read More
Your dog is a social being, just like you! He/she... Read More
You've probably had a day or two when you felt... Read More
Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics, because the disease... Read More
BackgroundSilkworms are the larva of a moth (Bombyx mori) native... Read More
Obesity is one of the greatest health concerns facing dogs.... Read More
Animal lovers come in all shapes and sizes. Undoubtedly if... Read More
Allergies to dogs can strike anyone at any age, yet... Read More
Scottish Terriers are short-legged dogs, at a height of ten... Read More
If you thought dog noses were just a source of... Read More
What should you feed your cat to make sure he... Read More
Training your dog can be time consuming and frustrating at... Read More
As a business, I've not been in the holistic pet... Read More
insured cleaning company Highland Park ..The best thing to do is to start training your... Read More
What should you feed your cat to make sure he... Read More
If you are seriously considering keeping fish as pets or... Read More
Among the most well known cat lover gifts are photo... Read More
Whoever coined the phrase, "It's a Dog's Life" wasn't familiar... Read More
Sometimes puppies are born that can't suckle properly, and it's... Read More
Would you put together a model plane without looking at... Read More
Mistake #7 ? Assuming You Can Get On Any Horse... Read More
Goldfish care is critical for the health of your goldfish.... Read More
Pomeranians have tiny mouths and itty bitty teeth, but not... Read More
As a parent, you want to be able to give... Read More
Whether purely for looks or for a bird's home, bird... Read More
The West Highland Terrier is a friendly dog, and is... Read More
The first thing to realize when you are training a... Read More
Many people want to make sure their family pet has... Read More
If you love dogs and you enjoy making money then... Read More
Internet Fraud, Classifieds Scams, Abuse and Suspicious Replies are world... Read More
In compiling some information on achieving a proper fit to... Read More
We've all heard the phrase, "Free as a bird." In... Read More
Itch, itch. Scratch, scratch, scratch. Does that sound familiar? Hopefully... Read More
Let's face it ? everything is cute when it's small... Read More
Reading a pet food label, how difficult can it be?... Read More
So you have a mature pair of discus fish that... Read More
As pets go hamsters are fairly easy to take care... Read More
For most West Highland White Terrier owners, the dog is... Read More
Pet |