Rescue vs. buying from a breeder?

I used ASSA to get Sca and then Spitfire from a recommendation by Sca's breeder.

Good luck and happy spoiling regardless of your approach to getting him :yes:
 
Sheltie Breeder

Please read "I Am a Sheltie Breeder," copied below and posted by missjennygirl. It is an excellent definition of a good breeder and illustrates just a few of the reasons to buy your Sheltie from a qualified, responsible breeder. This is not to say that rescue dogs are not a good choice for some, but there is also a case to be made for buying breeder dogs.

I am a dog breeder. I spend a lifetime learning pedigrees, going over dogs, talking, and learning from those in my breed and those outside it. I raise each litter as if I gave birth to them and spend an equal amount of time finding them loving forever homes. I only bring puppies into this world that I think will be the healthiest (mentally and physically) and best examples of their breed. I support each family who chooses one of my puppies and let them know they are now a part of our extended family. I treat them all well.

I am there if one needs to come back and will aggressively pursue the return of one of my dogs if it's in the wrong place. I support my breed in rescue and education. I hold them when they arrive and leave this world. I share my knowledge and socialize my dogs so that they will be the advertisement for my dedication. I don't keep track of the money and time I put in to my love of dogs, it would not be a true measure of how I feel.

The price I charge for my puppies is never profit, but investment in the next generation. I am not ashamed of who I am... I work hard at being a good dog breeder and encouraging others. I am a breeder and I am proud of it. If we don't support each other - we are doomed as a fancy.
 
I have one rescue and one from a breeder. If I am looking for a performance dog, I go to an ethical, responsible breeder because I want a dog who has correct conformation, a health guarantee, temperament testing, and I want genetic testing done. For my dogs who are meant to be companion dogs (they may compete, but it's okay if they don't), I go with a rescued dog.

If you go with a breeder, do a lot of serious research in advance (there are some good threads on here about how to choose a breeder) - there are a lot of back yard breeders out there who don't care about the health or temperament of the breed.
 
So far, all our Shelties have been rescues. All four have been awesome dogs. I see their profiles online & can't stop thinking about them needing a home, so I'm a sucker for rescue for life.

That's why I rarely look at pics of Shelties needing homes unless I'm thinking of getting one, it's hard for me forget them.
 
Ok, gotta chime in here.

Bottom line is there are no guarantee's even if you got with a reputable breeder, and I can attest that my Bacca's lines is one of the better ones.

Yet, my boy seemed doomed from the start....first off he was cyrptoid, and not at not even 5 years old, he is being treated for hyptothyroidism and liver disease. And most lately a potential positive diagnosis for bladder stones and a liver shunt.

That being said, his siblings and subsequent half siblings all have shown champion.

All to say that a breeder pedigree is no guarantee, but personally, despite Bacca's health issues, I still think its a safer bet.


Unfortunately, I think Bacca is one in a thousand of this very successful line. I think he just inherited everything bad. My ppor boy!
 
We've gotten Olive (current beeyootiful sheltie) and Pavi (angel sheltie) from breeders. Both breeders were over 3hrs away, one on the other side of the state and another almost two states away. There are sheltie breeders closer to us, but when we were ready to bring the pups into our homes, these particular breeders had the right puppies available at the right time. Pavi and Olive were both completely worth the travel!

If you are looking for something specific (gender, color, lines, etc), you may have to drive long distances or consider shipping. The single biggest difference that I can think of between breeders pups and most rescue dogs is history; that is, breeders will be able to provide you with many generations' worth of genetic information for medical info, temperament, etc, and insight into the puppy's parents. Very few rescue dogs are fortunate enough to have this kind of information travel with them.

Having done a fair amount of rescue work, I support both rescue and breeders. Rescues are definitely not for everyone. Dogs may come with baggage and when you are looking forward to bringing a happy bouncing sheltie home, it can be a massive wake-up call to discover your dog has "issues" you are not prepared to or are unable to deal with. Should you choose to adopt a rescued dog, try fostering first. You'll get a much better idea of what you may expect. That being said, many rescue dogs are baggage-free.

Good luck with whatever road you choose!
 
Ours are all rescues. I wouldn't trade them for the world. The youngest we got at 4. The rest were seniors when we got them.

Health issues? Yep now that they're older. Behavior issues? Not so much. Only one did we have to do a lot of work with due to him being severely abused. But we knew it going in. He was totally traumatized. Now he's my velcro dog. You don't have to go that route with a severely damaged dog unless you choose to.

They all came housebroken and with the basics. Since I am the world's WORST potty trainer with dogs or kids, I was delighted to know they were housebroken.

Everyone of them brings us such joy every single day. And we know that they are living out their lives in the best possible situation we can give them.

One of them was in a high kill shelter. He was heartworm positive and a senior. He wouldn't be here now if he wasn't with us.

I'm so glad to have each and every one of them.

They're all Mama's Baby Dogs....except when they're Daddy's Baby Dogs that is. ROFL
 
I got a purebred dog because I wanted to have some idea of what I was getting. By the same token, one buys from a breeder for the same reason. If you're the type that's not really good with dogs in general, I'd say go with a breeder. On the other hand, if you're sure you can deal with the uncertainty, and you like the prospect of giving some poor little beastie a chance for some happiness he might not otherwise know, get a rescue dog!
 
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