"I just want a pet."People think that since they just want a pet dog, it does not matter where they get their dog from. Most people, however, want a healthy dog which will live a good, long life with them. They want a dog which will be a good pet, not bite them, not cause them unnecessary behavioral troubles, not be exceedingly difficult to train, and will have traits they can handle.
If you get a dog from an unethical breeder, it is likely to come with a host of genetic health and temperament issues. Dogs from a shelter are very rarely well-bred, even if they are purebred. Ethical breeders will take back their dogs at any time in its life if the owner can no longer care for it, so most well-bred dogs do not end up in shelters. Instead what fills shelters are poorly-bred purebreds (with their associated health and temperament problems), crossbreds (with an unknown history, which could include any number of genetic health and temperament issues or issues which come from how they were raised such as with abuse or poor nutrition). These dogs may still make great pets (though beware, because some shelters, just like some breeders, are very unscrupulous!), but the new owner absolutely must be prepared for high vet bills and specialist training costs due to the increased risk of health and temperament problems. Good breeders not only screen for major health problems, but they also breed for overall good structure. Structure is vital to a dog being able to move and function as the breed is supposed to. Overly straight shoulders or knees don't just cause a dog to lose in the show ring. They also hinder its movement and have an increased risk of joint problems as they age, especially if they are very active. [MORE INFO] A dog with poor structure might not develop problems if it is a fairly sedentary, well-cared-for dog with perfectly maintained weight, but even in those conditions, it still may have issues. If it is exercised a lot, has less-than-perfect nutrition or care, or gains a bit of extra weight, it will be even more likely to have problems. |