How to deal with people against purebreds?

I'm not sure how big of an issue this is for anyone else. I also would like to say I have NOTHING against mixes, mutts, rescues, anything in between or far out there. I've grown up around both mutts and purebred dogs. My parents have many shelter dogs and my grandparents are fond of their great danes.

In mentioning my want of a corgi I've heard mostly comments about how there are so many animals in shelters and purebred doesn't mean it's better. When I get a corgi it will be my first official dog. The dogs at my parents were theirs even though I did a lot of the care. I will probably look at puppies because I want it to be trained by me. The best comparison is that this will be the closest I get to ever having a baby.

That being said I'm sure down the road I will have other pets. Who knows how many will be mix or rescue? I volunteer for a local low cost spay/neuter and pet food pantry. I see a lot of animals through that.

But how do you deal with people turning their nose up at you for wanting a dog that's not a mix or wanting a puppy? It's not really their business in my opinion so long as the dog is kept healthy and happy. But I've even had friends remark about it like I'm doing an awful thing by wanting one the way I want it.

Luckily my ever judgemental parents have said they understand. I also would say, it could still happen that I end up finding an older dog, a mix, or any combo, that I just fall in love with.

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Permalink Reply by Roger/Laurie on July 27, 2013 at 10:13am

We have two wonderful "purebred" corgis. One came from a home breeder. The other corgi rescue. I will be the first, second and third to say rescues have their issues. But we got the best of both worlds.

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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on July 27, 2013 at 11:03am

You don't have to justify your choices to others, just be comfortable and clear about them yourself. You are more involved in the welfare of animals in general, through your volunteering and intended career choices, than most of those people who might turn up their noses. Just as there is a place for rescue and adoption, there is a place for responsible dog breeding and owning and raising a puppy of choice. One thing does not exclude another, you have a long life ahead of you, follow your heart and remember that what people think speaks volumes about them and little about you.

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Permalink Reply by Cassandra on July 27, 2013 at 11:08am

Thank you, Anna, and everyone. It makes me feel better about the decision. Seeing some of the numbers from Beth's thread was very helpful as well. Even though it's still some time til I get a pup, I already have lists and references and while I wouldn't want to bring one into our living situation currently, I can't wait until we move to a proper place.

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca on July 27, 2013 at 12:10pm

A responsible breeder is going to give you a happy, socialized and well balanced pup that is perfect for your personality and living situation. Rescues are a LOT of work. Maybe I've just been on the bad end but from my experience as a foster I would much rather get a pup from a good breeder. If you end up rescuing other pups or doing foster work you will need a calm socialized dog that can react well in any situation. I'm not saying you can't get that from a mutt or from a rescue dog but you have a better chance with a puppy and a good chance of getting the dog that's perfect for you the first time around. Both of my dogs are rescues and I love my two dogs but it took a lot of trial and error to find the perfect blend of energy level and personality. Toby was my husbands before we even met and to this day if we get on to him about something and go to smack his nose he runs off yelping like we beat him. He also hates most dogs that come into his space. It's very clear to me that he was not socialized properly and that while he was bouncing around homes no one bothered to teach him how to be more than a couch ornament. There have been a few dogs that I adopted that turned into long term fosters because Toby wasn't having none of it. We got very lucky with Sasha. I really wanted a Corgi and because I have the time and energy to put into it I got a dog off Craigslist. She's calm and sweet and totally puts up with my 2 year old pushing and pulling on her and hugging her, ect.
I got a little off topic but my point is for a first dog, with you doing the work you do, I think you are going the correct route in getting a puppy from a reputable breeder that understands what you need in a puppy.

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Permalink Reply by Beth on July 27, 2013 at 12:42pm

I wanted to add some personal perspective as well:

I have personally pulled three cats off the street, keeping two and homing one, and my current cat is also a rescue from an private cat rescue. However, my cats never leave the house and the fact that ALL had issues (and none would be good with kids, which we don't have) was ok with me. I have a friend who got a purebred cat knowing she would have children soon; the cat was a breed known to be docile and this cat put up with being grabbed by toddlers and carted around by young children til the day she died, something none of the four cats I had from the street would ever have tolerated.

When it came time to start thinking about a dog (years before we had one) my husband and I very carefully laid out what we needed and realized that a rescue would be a chance in a million. We needed a dog who would be ok with cats, good with kids even though we don't have any (because of our neighborhood), good with other dogs, enough energy to go hiking and maybe do some agility while still being able to tolerate long hours home alone.

All of that his hard to find in a purebred dog, let alone a rescue. We quickly realized we lack the lifestyle to give a rescue with a questionable background what it would need to thrive.

At this point in time, the majority of dogs going into shelters are not new puppies but young adults and older dogs, which speaks to the fact that it's not a matter of too many puppies, but too many bad matches (people not knowing what they are getting into, wrong dog with wrong person, people whose live situation changes and they don't have a breeder to send the dog back to).

Having a dog for ten or 15 years that does not make you happy is unfair to both dog and owner. We can't personally save every animal. Making sure we have a dog that matches our lifestyle goes a long way towards making sure dogs don't end up in shelters, and if EVERYONE did that then we would have very few dogs in shelters.

Some people love a project dog. I am not one of them. I like a wash-n'-go dog that I can take with me to a busy park or a woodland trail, toss in the back of the car, visit with clusters of children who are not educated about dogs, leave alone with my cat, stand and chat with my other dog-friends, board while I go on vacation, all without worrying that the dog will be stressed or growl or start a squabble. That is MY lifestyle. I have plenty of hobbies and dogs are just one of them.

Follow your heart and get a dog you know you will love, and let the nay-sayers do what they will. We have some dog-friends who RUN a rescue, and while I know we might not always see eye-to-eye on how we acquire our dogs, we are respectful enough that we can stop and talk and let our dogs mingle. A sign of maturity is respecting that other people's values are different from yours but still finding common ground in other areas. As someone mentioned, when others give you grief it says more about them than you.

I have had some conversations with people I cared about enough to have a calm discussion, on the issue of rescue vs breeding. I doubt I changed minds but do feel I've let them see my side of the picture in a clearer way. I do believe in living and letting live, but I also see an organized movement to demonize breeding in some circles and I do think it's sometimes important to get some facts out there. The key is to pick the venue carefully.

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Permalink Reply by Linda on July 27, 2013 at 2:22pm

Excellent post Beth!

I did state that you don't find dogs like Irish Wolfhounds in shelters....very rarely. Our female came from a shelter. Turned out the dog was too big at 6 months and they didn't want such a big dog. Then why the heck did you get an Irish Wolfhound??? A giant breed is hard to place. We knew she would be the perfect match for us and that she would be good with kids. She sure was, when our daughter came along she was glued to that baby. Bex learned to stand by grabbing hold of Tasha's fur and pulling herself up. That dog was the best companion for any little kid. They truly are gentle giants. Our 2nd we got from a breeder. When I told the breeder we had a 5 yo she was not sure it was a good idea. Let us come see the pups and bring our daughter along. We were greeted at the door by 4 full grown wolfhounds. Bex just waded her way thru them without a bit of fear. That sealed it. I also used Duffy to teach kids how to act if a dog approachs them...frankly I got sick of locking him in the kitchen cause the kids were afraid of him so I used him as a teaching tool.

Our first corgi rescue....I could not have him around kids. His previous family did not teach their child respect for other living things so the dog became hostile towards the child. But he was good with us...Bex was in high school by then. Because people didn't take the time to teach their child a dog ended up in a rescue. He could have been hard to place because of his dislike of kids.

Someday I would like to give a senior dog a home but most need a quiet household. Ours is a little too nuts with 2 corgis and 3 cats.

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Permalink Reply by Holly on September 21, 2013 at 7:25pm

My dog is a rescue but that was a selfish move on my part because I wasn't prepared for the effort and time required to train a puppy. It is by no means a sign that I am somehow a better person. Unless asked by someone who seems genuinely interested in how to acquire a dog themselves, I do not mention adoption and I never ask people if their pets are "rescues." I think it is as rude as asking someone if their children are adopted. As long as you are a responsible and loving pet owner it is no one's business how you happened to meet each other. Not sure how I would answer the question myself if my dog was purebred, but so far I have tried simply smiling and saying truthfully, "Actually, she rescued me."