Comments on: Buy From A Breeder http://www.astraean.com/borderwars/2008/02/buy-from-breeder.html A Border Collie Manifesto Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:21:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Diane Blackman http://www.astraean.com/borderwars/2008/02/buy-from-breeder.html#comment-3280 Diane Blackman Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:19:00 +0000 http://astraean.com/borderwars/2008/02/buy-from-a-breeder.html#comment-3280 I used to preach "buy from a responsible breeder" - unfortunately there aren't nearly enough to supply the demand. OH I still preach it, but I've gotten more realistic. I want people to seek responsible breeders, I want them to demand them, but in some breeds it is well nigh impossible to find one. In other breeds, not such a problem. I used to preach "get a dog from a shelter" I don't do that any more either. I got a dog from the shelter who turned out to be one heck of a good dog. But in my journey to ensure that it turned out that way I learned the error of my ways. The best way to increase the chances of a success in keeping pet and human together is to be able to predict the qualities of the pet. If the person getting the pet gets their realistic expectations fulfilled then chances are it will work. If the person gets a big surprise -- not so much. The reason the mixes out number purebreds in shelters isn't just elitism, although there is some of that. It is also that people have a very real, very honest need to choose something where they have both the ability and willingness to meet the needs of the pet. And if you can't predict the needs of the pet, disaster can follow.<br/><br/>Now I explain to people what a responsible breeder is, why each of the things I list makes them responsible, and the typical failure points of getting a pet. Most responsible breeder things COULD be done by shelter and rescue - matching, support, follow up etc. I try to arm people with information so they can evaluate the trade-offs they must inevitably make. Shelter dogs can make great pets but they need the same support and follow-up that a responsible breeder offers. And that is where I toss down the gauntlet - whether it is a breeder or a shelter or a pet shop or a rescue or a private person transferring a dog the question I ask is - what is being done to (a) make this match a success and (b) protect the dog if it fails. I used to preach “buy from a responsible breeder” – unfortunately there aren’t nearly enough to supply the demand. OH I still preach it, but I’ve gotten more realistic. I want people to seek responsible breeders, I want them to demand them, but in some breeds it is well nigh impossible to find one. In other breeds, not such a problem. I used to preach “get a dog from a shelter” I don’t do that any more either. I got a dog from the shelter who turned out to be one heck of a good dog. But in my journey to ensure that it turned out that way I learned the error of my ways. The best way to increase the chances of a success in keeping pet and human together is to be able to predict the qualities of the pet. If the person getting the pet gets their realistic expectations fulfilled then chances are it will work. If the person gets a big surprise — not so much. The reason the mixes out number purebreds in shelters isn’t just elitism, although there is some of that. It is also that people have a very real, very honest need to choose something where they have both the ability and willingness to meet the needs of the pet. And if you can’t predict the needs of the pet, disaster can follow.

Now I explain to people what a responsible breeder is, why each of the things I list makes them responsible, and the typical failure points of getting a pet. Most responsible breeder things COULD be done by shelter and rescue – matching, support, follow up etc. I try to arm people with information so they can evaluate the trade-offs they must inevitably make. Shelter dogs can make great pets but they need the same support and follow-up that a responsible breeder offers. And that is where I toss down the gauntlet – whether it is a breeder or a shelter or a pet shop or a rescue or a private person transferring a dog the question I ask is – what is being done to (a) make this match a success and (b) protect the dog if it fails.

]]> By: Christopher http://www.astraean.com/borderwars/2008/02/buy-from-breeder.html#comment-3279 Christopher Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:38:00 +0000 http://astraean.com/borderwars/2008/02/buy-from-a-breeder.html#comment-3279 Yes, there are many smart and logical reasons to adopt from a shelter or a rescue (even if that shelter isn't running the best operation it could)... after all, it's about the dogs.<br/><br/>IMO, all of those reasons are strong and plentiful enough where they don't need to be enhanced with a bucket of guilt and demeaning the "competition."<br/><br/>If we are to believe Winograd, and I do, a no-kill nation is possible without any need to resort to blaming anyone, especially the public and breeders... even the irresponsible ones. It's not as if all the hot air spewed at any sort of breeder has done one bit of good for abandoned dogs. Yes, there are many smart and logical reasons to adopt from a shelter or a rescue (even if that shelter isn’t running the best operation it could)… after all, it’s about the dogs.

IMO, all of those reasons are strong and plentiful enough where they don’t need to be enhanced with a bucket of guilt and demeaning the “competition.”

If we are to believe Winograd, and I do, a no-kill nation is possible without any need to resort to blaming anyone, especially the public and breeders… even the irresponsible ones. It’s not as if all the hot air spewed at any sort of breeder has done one bit of good for abandoned dogs.

]]> By: Katie http://www.astraean.com/borderwars/2008/02/buy-from-breeder.html#comment-3278 Katie Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:31:00 +0000 http://astraean.com/borderwars/2008/02/buy-from-a-breeder.html#comment-3278 How is it that peta is even taken seriously anymore?<br/><br/>I've been, for the most part, very happy with my shelter adoption experiences, and I'll probably go that route in the future. Not because peta told me too, but because that is the method of acquisition that works best for me. I have no time for puppies. How is it that peta is even taken seriously anymore?

I’ve been, for the most part, very happy with my shelter adoption experiences, and I’ll probably go that route in the future. Not because peta told me too, but because that is the method of acquisition that works best for me. I have no time for puppies.

]]> By: Sue http://www.astraean.com/borderwars/2008/02/buy-from-breeder.html#comment-3277 Sue Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:00:00 +0000 http://astraean.com/borderwars/2008/02/buy-from-a-breeder.html#comment-3277 Bleh, PeTA.<br/><br/>What a bunch of retards. Eat a hamburger, get a life.<br/><br/>Next time I see a PeTA shirt I'm spraying you with bitter apple. When you treat dogs like humans you give me permission to treat you like a naughty dog.<br/><br/>Their entire campaign proves why they relate so well to animals, they aren't fit for polite society and clearly people hate them. Bleh, PeTA.

What a bunch of retards. Eat a hamburger, get a life.

Next time I see a PeTA shirt I’m spraying you with bitter apple. When you treat dogs like humans you give me permission to treat you like a naughty dog.

Their entire campaign proves why they relate so well to animals, they aren’t fit for polite society and clearly people hate them.

]]>