For those having trouble adopting a dog...

[hiero2]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

. . .interviewing from a breeder feels really different than from a rescue. . . .

You get to meet the puppy's mother and sometimes the father. . . .

The breeder will do her best to make sure the temperament and energy level of the breed will suit your family.

These aren't dogs desperate to get a home before they are put to sleep, so yes, expect to explain why you can give the pup a lifetime home and proper care. The breeder is doing her best to see that the pup lands safe.

Oregon, you've said it well. I can do a major rant about the AKC and what the whole show-dog thing and focus on "purebred" has done to more than a few breeds. But when it gets down to the individual breeders, they almost always know dogs better than your average bear, and they care about delivering healthy, solid dogs. AND, as you say, they know the parents, and probably the grandparents, and maybe a few more generations of the dog's relatives so they will know something about what runs in the bloodlines.

When you deal with a rescue, you almost always have to overcome a problem or two. That comes with the territory. It does seem out-of-place to me, though, that more than a couple of rescues put the prospective owners through more hoops by far than a breeder would.

I don't quite agree that

No fancier / breeder hands out puppies to anyone with a checkbook

. Breeders can be just as greedy and insensitive as the next man. But the rest of what you said, I like it. And what you have said is why I don't get fashed if somebody wants to go the breeder route. I'd rather folks find a dog who is a good fit for them than worry about where the dog came from. My regards, H.

[Coldjensens]

We have had a heck of a time adopting dogs. Most shelters have pit bull pit mixes or rat terriers. Most rescues we encountered either had so many rules no one would ever qualify or they just clearly were not interested in adopting out dogs and just pretended to be a rescue to get a tax break and donations for their dog hoarding problem. We have had to drive up to 400 miles each way to find an actual adoption rescue or a shelter with something other than pit bulls.

One place refused the pending adoption after a home inspection because we had chickens. She declared "Dogs and Chickens cannot be kept ont he same property" Oh oh she better tell that to about 14,000,000 farmers with dogs and chickens.

I am glad to hear other have found good places. We have not.