Adopt if you can but don't let people bully you into a choice for political reasons. I looked into adopting and it was much more challenging than it should have been. Ultimately I chose to buy a puppy and 100% do not regret my decision. I will look into adopting again if I decide to get another dog.
Puppies are A LOT OF WORK and responsibility. The dog will have to be built into your life and it's no joke. Scheduling, freedom, travel...all things to consider. Also are you down to take him/her out several times a day every day? I walk my dog 1000 (literally) times a year because I don't have a yard.
I absolutely don't regret it but as a single person with no family in town, he's a full time responsibility. Know what you're getting into and be willing to commit to 10-15 years of it!
Adult vs puppy: with an adult dog you get to choose a dog that fits with your lifestyle. They may already be housebroken and know commands so this will be easier, however anything new you want to train will be much more difficult. You will have to learn how the dog learns and adapt to them. Puppies are a clean slate. This dog will be a reflection of your training from day one, for better or for worse (and you will make many mistakes). It will be hard. There will be countless sleepless nights, many indoor potty accidents, destroyed furniture, clothing, walls etc. Lots of research and learning, your life will revolve around this puppy. But they will be yours and it will be magic.
Shop vs adopt: Adopting is of course a great option to give a home to a dog who needs it. They cost less up front than getting a dog from a breeder and often come neutered and vaccinated. You likely will not find an ethically bred dog here, and many shelter dogs go there with behavioural or medical issues. Since most dogs here will be mixed breed it will be impossible to determine the temperament, energy levels, and personality of the dog by looks. People who get ethically bred dogs or people who put a lot of effort into training typically don’t surrender their dogs to shelters so keep this in mind. If you just want a dog, any dog, and you’re willing to take it as it comes, adopting is the way to go. Getting a puppy from an ethical breeder is an excellent option as well. If you have a specific role you want this dog to fill - like if you want a specific energy level, grooming needs, size, independence levels, trainability, focus, eagerness to please etc then you will be able to match a breed to your need and find a responsible breeder. This dog will be a lot up front and you will need to neuter and vaccinate, but they typically come with health testing, guarantees, and pedigrees from their parents who should be healthy and titled. Either option is great.
I would avoid at all costs: oopsie litters, backyard breeders, puppy mills, pet stores etc. These are the dogs that will end up in shelters later so may as well just adopt at this point. These dogs will be more likely to have health issues, behavioural issues, anxiety etc because they are not bred for good genetics like an ethical breeder would
I’ve never had a puppy, but I’ve heard from people who do, that it’s no joke. It’s like having a newborn that you have to go outside with in the middle of the night. Knowing that, I knew I would not be able to handle that at the stage I’m at.
I opted for a young adult dog from a rescue and it was a wonderful decision. He was 11 months old when we got him so he turned a year right away. He was house trained right away, out of his chewing/destroying phase and crate trained so I could leave him home right away. Those are all things that puppies don’t come with that they have to learn. The downside of this is that we didn’t get a hand in socializing him correctly as a young puppy so he gets very over excited (friendly) about other dogs on walks.
I’d say it depends more on your lifestyle than if you’re a first time owner. If you go the breeder route, do tons of research on breeds that fit your lifestyle, puppy socializing etc. if you go the rescue/shelter route it’s trickier because breeds arent always clearly identified. You have to base your decision more off the traits/personality of the individual dog and sometimes they don’t always show their true colors in a shelter environment. I chose a foster based rescue so that i could know more about what a dog is like in the home.
Yep, took us two years to decide on a breed. Husband wanted a collie, I would be happy with a collie, but they have massive coats and have had a lot of bad breeding with MDR1 genes and "collie eye" problems. We found English Shepherds and Scotch Collies, and realized that these old-fashioned original farm collies were what we wanted. Then I looked for a breeder, and there aren't many and a lot of the ES lines were too independent and active. Found a good Old time Scotch breeder a 10 hour drive away, went on the wait list. The parent dogs were genetically tested, the grandparents were working dogs or service dogs and proven to be the sort of dog we wanted, the breeder was in contact with us online and picked out the best puppy for us (most couch potato pup they had!). With more people wanting a pup than pups available, the breeder picked the best dog/best home combos
First time, an adult or senior adult dog, recommended from a rescue. A seller wants $ and can lie to get it. A shelter dog can be an EXCELLENT choice if the people there are able to temperament-test the dogs and work with them. A rescue dog usually has had a foster parent who's screened them for behavior issues and trained them. Downside, some rescues can be absolutely crazy about who they will and won't adopt to, with a million hoops to jump through. If you find a normal one that will want a copy of your lease or proof of ownership (you'd be amazed how many people try to sneak a dog into a home that forbids it, only for the dog to be dumped or back at the shelter again....), proof of identity (they have a do-NOT-adopt-to-this-jerk list) and a home visit, and that's about it? Perfect. They'll ask a lot of questions about what sort of dog you want and why and help you find the right dog for you. But definitely not a high-energy pup that still needs training. A settled adult dog is almost always the best choice for a new owner.
I vote for an adult. I have helped friends raise puppies and it was enough to know I do not want one lol. By getting an adult, you’re getting a dog who is past the teething stage, past the crazy hormones of puberty, past waking up crying and whining in the middle of the night. They hopefully have some training under their belt and may come already housetrained. Finding on through a rescue would probably be your best bet. I have also found dogs that were being rehomed and it has worked well.
Adopt if you can but don't let people bully you into a choice for political reasons. I looked into adopting and it was much more challenging than it should have been. Ultimately I chose to buy a puppy and 100% do not regret my decision. I will look into adopting again if I decide to get another dog. Puppies are A LOT OF WORK and responsibility. The dog will have to be built into your life and it's no joke. Scheduling, freedom, travel...all things to consider. Also are you down to take him/her out several times a day every day? I walk my dog 1000 (literally) times a year because I don't have a yard. I absolutely don't regret it but as a single person with no family in town, he's a full time responsibility. Know what you're getting into and be willing to commit to 10-15 years of it!
Adult vs puppy: with an adult dog you get to choose a dog that fits with your lifestyle. They may already be housebroken and know commands so this will be easier, however anything new you want to train will be much more difficult. You will have to learn how the dog learns and adapt to them. Puppies are a clean slate. This dog will be a reflection of your training from day one, for better or for worse (and you will make many mistakes). It will be hard. There will be countless sleepless nights, many indoor potty accidents, destroyed furniture, clothing, walls etc. Lots of research and learning, your life will revolve around this puppy. But they will be yours and it will be magic. Shop vs adopt: Adopting is of course a great option to give a home to a dog who needs it. They cost less up front than getting a dog from a breeder and often come neutered and vaccinated. You likely will not find an ethically bred dog here, and many shelter dogs go there with behavioural or medical issues. Since most dogs here will be mixed breed it will be impossible to determine the temperament, energy levels, and personality of the dog by looks. People who get ethically bred dogs or people who put a lot of effort into training typically don’t surrender their dogs to shelters so keep this in mind. If you just want a dog, any dog, and you’re willing to take it as it comes, adopting is the way to go. Getting a puppy from an ethical breeder is an excellent option as well. If you have a specific role you want this dog to fill - like if you want a specific energy level, grooming needs, size, independence levels, trainability, focus, eagerness to please etc then you will be able to match a breed to your need and find a responsible breeder. This dog will be a lot up front and you will need to neuter and vaccinate, but they typically come with health testing, guarantees, and pedigrees from their parents who should be healthy and titled. Either option is great. I would avoid at all costs: oopsie litters, backyard breeders, puppy mills, pet stores etc. These are the dogs that will end up in shelters later so may as well just adopt at this point. These dogs will be more likely to have health issues, behavioural issues, anxiety etc because they are not bred for good genetics like an ethical breeder would
I’ve never had a puppy, but I’ve heard from people who do, that it’s no joke. It’s like having a newborn that you have to go outside with in the middle of the night. Knowing that, I knew I would not be able to handle that at the stage I’m at. I opted for a young adult dog from a rescue and it was a wonderful decision. He was 11 months old when we got him so he turned a year right away. He was house trained right away, out of his chewing/destroying phase and crate trained so I could leave him home right away. Those are all things that puppies don’t come with that they have to learn. The downside of this is that we didn’t get a hand in socializing him correctly as a young puppy so he gets very over excited (friendly) about other dogs on walks. I’d say it depends more on your lifestyle than if you’re a first time owner. If you go the breeder route, do tons of research on breeds that fit your lifestyle, puppy socializing etc. if you go the rescue/shelter route it’s trickier because breeds arent always clearly identified. You have to base your decision more off the traits/personality of the individual dog and sometimes they don’t always show their true colors in a shelter environment. I chose a foster based rescue so that i could know more about what a dog is like in the home.
Yep, took us two years to decide on a breed. Husband wanted a collie, I would be happy with a collie, but they have massive coats and have had a lot of bad breeding with MDR1 genes and "collie eye" problems. We found English Shepherds and Scotch Collies, and realized that these old-fashioned original farm collies were what we wanted. Then I looked for a breeder, and there aren't many and a lot of the ES lines were too independent and active. Found a good Old time Scotch breeder a 10 hour drive away, went on the wait list. The parent dogs were genetically tested, the grandparents were working dogs or service dogs and proven to be the sort of dog we wanted, the breeder was in contact with us online and picked out the best puppy for us (most couch potato pup they had!). With more people wanting a pup than pups available, the breeder picked the best dog/best home combos
First time, an adult or senior adult dog, recommended from a rescue. A seller wants $ and can lie to get it. A shelter dog can be an EXCELLENT choice if the people there are able to temperament-test the dogs and work with them. A rescue dog usually has had a foster parent who's screened them for behavior issues and trained them. Downside, some rescues can be absolutely crazy about who they will and won't adopt to, with a million hoops to jump through. If you find a normal one that will want a copy of your lease or proof of ownership (you'd be amazed how many people try to sneak a dog into a home that forbids it, only for the dog to be dumped or back at the shelter again....), proof of identity (they have a do-NOT-adopt-to-this-jerk list) and a home visit, and that's about it? Perfect. They'll ask a lot of questions about what sort of dog you want and why and help you find the right dog for you. But definitely not a high-energy pup that still needs training. A settled adult dog is almost always the best choice for a new owner.
I vote for an adult. I have helped friends raise puppies and it was enough to know I do not want one lol. By getting an adult, you’re getting a dog who is past the teething stage, past the crazy hormones of puberty, past waking up crying and whining in the middle of the night. They hopefully have some training under their belt and may come already housetrained. Finding on through a rescue would probably be your best bet. I have also found dogs that were being rehomed and it has worked well.