Dog Trainer Erskineville – Book Today – Shelter Vs. Breeder Blog Post

Shelter Vs. Breeder – Advice from a Dog Trainer in Erskineville

So, you’ve decided to get a dog? Good on you! The next big decision you need to make is whether to adopt a dog from a shelter or buy a puppy from a breeder. Please do not to support pet stores and puppy mills by purchasing a puppy from them! If you find it difficult to make a decision, here’s advice from your local Erskineville dog trainer.

Adopting a Shelter or Rescue Dog

All though some shelter dogs can be unpredictable and come with behavioural issues, it doesn’t apply to all of them. Some dogs are surrendered to shelters because of a change in family situation, not because of the behavioural issues.

The Benefits:

• You are saving lives – the life of the dog you adopt and the space that opens up for another dog in the shelter.
• Most rescue dogs will already have all of their vetting completed, such as microchipping and spay/neutering.
• The rescue group will be able to tell you all about the dog’s personality.
• The cost of adopting is much lower than the cost of purchasing a puppy from a breeder.

The Challenges:

• It is very important to know how to pick the right shelter dog for you. Without someone who understands canine behaviour you might choose wrong. If you need help with this, check out my consultation service!
• You may not know exactly what breed the dog you pick is.

Buying a Puppy from a Breeder

If you are thinking of buying a puppy from a breeder, it is very important to choose the right – good – breeder. And you need to be  prepared for the 10-15 year responsibility of raising and training a healthy, well-balanced dog.

The Benefits:

• You will be able to see your puppy’s mum and see the environment the puppies were raised in.
• Responsible breeders will provide genetic health testing to ensure their dogs don’t carry any inherited genetic problems.
• You will be able to shape your puppy into the perfect dog—as long as you are patient and consistent with training.
• You know exactly what you are getting in terms of breed.

The Challenges:

• Puppies are a LOT of work. Are you prepared for it all: toilet training, chewing etc.?
• You alone are responsible for training your puppy. An untrained puppy quickly grows into an out-of-control adult dog.
• Buying a puppy from a breeder can be expensive.