A lot of people ask me why I got a purebred dog instead of a dog from the pound. "They're perfectly good dogs" people argue, "and they really need a home". They also go on to tell me that my dog is inbred, unhealthy and less smart than their dogs, but then again, that's just people for you. The truth is that I did not start out wanting a purebred dog, I started out wanting a puppy and after maybe four or five years of research and begging, I learned about responsible hobby breeders, many of which are involved in show breeding today. The advantage of hobby breeders is that they protect your dog, grandparents to grave.

Why are there so many animals to adopt? It is partly because we are not doing what we need to control the pet population. This is done primarily by spaying and neutering the pets that we don't want to breed, but what about the new generation of dogs. Who is looking out for their welfare? The answer is, responsible hobby breeders. Now, note the important word there, that's 'responsible'. There are purebred breeders out there who are not breeding responsibly and there are probably cache mutt breeders who are, but so long as I have been into dogs, the hobby of purebred breeding is what breeds and manages some of our best dogs. A breeder who is only try to sell their dogs are much more likely to fall into the trap of 'doing it just for the money'. They are more likely to breed for quantity than quality "how many can I sell". On the other hand, a hobby breeder, a kind of breeder that is really uniquely supported by the purebred community, will go to Africa to freshen up the gene pool (basenjis) and will hang up the phone on anyone who tries to buy a dog small enough to fit into a stocking. A hobby breeder does not breed his or her dogs when they do not have enough responsible owners waiting for a dog and they will only breed the highest quality animals. When you buy from a responsible breeder, you are supporting a community, a way of treating animals that is sadly different, but wonderfully ideal for you new furry family friend.

One thing that might turn a lot of people off to purebred breeders, but is actually one of their best qualities is that they are very picky about YOU. You, in this case meaning: the future owner, are sometimes asked to take quizzes, sit through interviews and all for the chance of buying one of their dogs. I know, it sounds a little arrogant, but think about the alternative. You neighbor's sweet and loving dog "big gal" has a litter of beautiful furry little puppies. Desperate to get rid of them, you neighbor (a nice and well meaning person, despite not having spayed her animal), puts up a sign in front of her house that says, "FREE PUPPIES". Without a thought, you neighbors pushes the dog into your hands and you take it home. Almost the moment the dog gets home, it starts peeing on your oriental rug, chewing up your fine furniture and tracking mud across your nice clean floor. You work a lot, so the dog ends up being at home alone for much of the day. It gets lonely, so when it's not chewing up your sofa, it's howling with the great painful sobs of something that been beaten or been thrown into prison. Eventually, you get so fed up with the dog, that you decide that you have to take it to the shelter. They try and place your dog, but their shelter is so full and you have done so little to add to it's formative training that the dog ends up being put down. Now this happens a lot more than you think. Now imagine if you friend told you, "No, I will not let you have one of my dogs. These are big dogs and I don't think you're ready for it. I'm also not so sure that you'll have time to take care of a dog like this". You would think that your neighbor was just being arrogant, but look: your neighbor just saved your dog's life.

Another neat thing about getting a responsible hobby breeder is that they are actually interested in your dog as it grows up. This not only means you have an audience for you adorable puppy photos that only you seem to enjoy, but it also means that when things get rough, you have someone in your corner. When I got my dog, my breeder was there to help me with everything from grooming tips to training tips. I remember when Maggie was young, she told me to take a wet wash cloth and freeze it in the refrigerator. That, she explained, would soothe the dog's gums and it was growing up. Maggie never tore up any furniture. Additionally, it something big does change in your circumstances (you lose your job, you have to move, you don't end up running as much as you hoped) many breeders will take the dog back and either keep it for the remainder of it's life or seek to place it with a new home. That concentrated interest is unique to hobby breeders.

If you want to buy a puppy, I recommend that you get it from a responsible hobby breeder. They are discerning about breeding, careful about whom they place animals with and they make sure to be supportive throughout the life of the dog.

I guess my issue with that logic is that you say people take unwanted animals to a shelter and the animals are consequently put down... It seems to me that this is a good reason *to* purchase dogs from the pound. Perhaps I live in an especially considerate region of the country, but the pound had us fill out a questionnaire before we could adopt our dogs, as well. Plus, both my dogs were spayed before they could be adopted, which was part of the adoption fee.

I'm not looking to say that getting a dog from a hobby breeder is bad--simply that adopting dogs from the pound is a good way to save them from that lethal injection you spoke of.
» Unicornasaurus on 2011-07-22 03:32:35

That is the point I was trying to make. I was not saying that getting a pound dog is bad. I was saying that getting a responsibly bred dog is another way of attacking the problem. Another way that people sometimes don't understand and often look down on.
» jinyu on 2011-07-24 11:31:28

This was very interesting. I hadn't thought of it that way, you're right. I'll consider it if/when I get a dog.
» middaymoon on 2011-07-24 11:32:57

This is a very interesting piece
I myself am a dog lover but have never had a chance to own a dog, yet. In the future, when I am thinking of getting one, I'm sure to put hobby breeders in mind.
» Xboyz on 2011-07-25 10:03:20

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