The search For a new Dog

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Originally Posted by Jer

It's a pretty simple concept: Dogs are domesticated animals. They aren't fit to survive on their own in the wild because WE created them to serve our own selfish desires for companionship. Now through our own irresponsibility as a species there are WAY more dogs than homes looking for dogs and as such to continue to intentionally breed dogs when there are already too many is irresponsible. Rewarding those who breed by paying for puppies is just as irresponsible. This isn't holier than thou thinking it's fact. Suggesting people adopt from a shelter is solid advice and belittle someone who would suggest such responsible action is idiotic and without ground. Your one bad experience doesn't represent an entire community of rescues.

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Rewarding those who breed by paying for puppies is just as irresponsible. < Self righteous "holier than thou". You buy dogs, either from a breeder or a shelter. Responsible breeders are good for dogs in general, if all we ever had was mongrels then eventually we'd end up with only one type and size of dog which would probably be something like a mid-sized terrier of moderate to low intelligence (which I don't want).

Suggesting people adopt from a shelter is solid advice and belittle someone who would suggest such responsible action is idiotic and without ground. < Not at all what I did ... all I complained about was the holier than thou attitude from those that choose shelter dogs over pure breed dogs ... which is exactly what you did.

There is good reason for both adopting a shelter dog and buying a pure breed, it depends upon our needs and wants from a dog, budget, etc. To suggest either is morally superior is sophistry (but that's what the rabid "rescue" movement has done).

Your one bad experience doesn't represent an entire community of rescues. < No, but the attitude that buying a full breed dog is somehow evil/irresponsible/bad is self righteous "holier than thou" BS that springs forth from the font of Critical Theory of Marxism (if its part of the history of the dominant culture its evil and must be "critiqued" to death), as is the notion that adopting a shelter dog is somehow a major contribution to peace/justice/good in the world and my experience with several dog and cat "rescue" organizations has ONLY reinforced my opinion (for the record we got both our cats from shelters ... I have no specific needs or wants from a cat that would require me to get a pure bred cat).


If your needs/wants/specifications for a dog are undefined then you are better served buying from a shelter (its cheaper and it is a good thing to find a home for some unwanted dog), but if you have specific needs/wants/specifications then by all means don't buy the commie "But that's Bourgeois" (because that's basically at the root of the attitudes of the "rescues are better,pure bred is evil" crowd) bullshit and don't think it makes you better than someone that buys from a breeder.

The difference between the two is WHERE the dogs come from. One helps perpetuate the cycle & one helps end the problem. Keeping breeds 'pure' while perpetuating genetic diseases is stupid. I can't have a conversation with someone this unreasonable.

http://www.humanesociety.org/news/ma...d_paradox.html

Putting some bs political spin on dog breeding is just that; bs. Read up.

[QUOTE=ChadAmberg;1239949]Not sure if this is an option for you:

http://cosprings.craigslist.org/pet/3945895793.html[/QUOTE

WOW im all over this. thanks I am suppose to call the owner tomorrow. Thanks a lot for this!!

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Originally Posted by Jer

The difference between the two is WHERE the dogs come from. One helps perpetuate the cycle & one helps end the problem. Keeping breeds 'pure' while perpetuating genetic diseases is stupid. I can't have a conversation with someone this unreasonable.

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Not all dogs that are bred are bred poorly with genetic defects. In fact some are bred so well, they have no health problems at all like my GSD. Some dogs are bred for very specific reasons namely working dogs such as herding or hunting dogs. These dogs have very specific jobs that have two parts. First, they are instinctive. My GSD scored extremely high on instinctive herding skills when she was young before training. The second part is training that needs to take place early in their puppy years. My GSD will follow any command from her handler (me), but she will work on her own as well, and I have no problem with her watching my kids on my property; the main reason I have her. My sister and brother-in-law used an Australian Blue Shepherd on their ranch for a specific reason. Not all dogs can do all jobs; and some can't do anything but be a cuddle pet. My GSD would make a horrible hunting dog. So, to say it is not responsible for people to want to bred these working dogs for specific reasons is kinda unreasonable. Now, people that breed dogs poorly piss me off as well. If you are going to do it, do it right. Now, if a family is just looking for a house pet to love on, there are plenty of those at the shelter.

[QUOTE=mcsurveyer1361;1240981]

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Originally Posted by ChadAmberg

Not sure if this is an option for you:

http://cosprings.craigslist.org/pet/3945895793.html[/QUOTE

WOW im all over this. thanks I am suppose to call the owner tomorrow. Thanks a lot for this!!

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If I wasn't transitioning from my divorce, I would have called today; sounds like a good one!

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Originally Posted by MED

Not all dogs that are bred are bred poorly with genetic defects. In fact some are bred so well, they have no health problems at all like my GSD. Some dogs are bred for very specific reasons namely working dogs such as herding or hunting dogs. These dogs have very specific jobs that have two parts. First, they are instinctive. My GSD scored extremely high on instinctive herding skills when she was young before training. The second part is training that needs to take place early in their puppy years. My GSD will follow any command from her handler (me), but she will work on her own as well, and I have no problem with her watching my kids on my property; the main reason I have her. My sister and brother-in-law used an Australian Blue Shepherd on their ranch for a specific reason. Not all dogs can do all jobs; and some can't do anything but be a cuddle pet. My GSD would make a horrible hunting dog. So, to say it is not responsible for people to want to bred these working dogs for specific reasons is kinda unreasonable. Now, people that breed dogs poorly piss me off as well. If you are going to do it, do it right. Now, if a family is just looking for a house pet to love on, there are plenty of those at the shelter.

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Try reading what I said carefully. Slow down if you need to because there's a VERY important word in there that you seem to have missed. Here, I'll even make the important word bold so you can't miss it.

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Originally Posted by Jer

The difference between the two is WHERE the dogs come from. One helps perpetuate the cycle & one helps end the problem. Keeping breeds 'pure' while perpetuating genetic diseases is stupid. I can't have a conversation with someone this unreasonable.

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In other words, there are breeders that will perpetuate the lines regardless of genetic defect that exists. In that statement that is clearly who I'm am taking exception with and it's not a blanket statement to all breeders. Now, just because they breed healthy dogs doesn't mean this world needs more dogs when there are millions that are already here that are w/o homes. On top of that, you can tell me about solid genetics all you want but the scientific fact remains that mutts have stronger genetics and are prone to fewer genetic anomalies. When you cross breed you get a healthier dog that lives longer and when this happens over generations you end up with a stronger species. There's a lot of reasons to not condone breeding dogs but don't take my word for it. Go to a dog shelter and see how many dogs need homes.

[QUOTE=mcsurveyer1361;1240981]

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Originally Posted by ChadAmberg

Not sure if this is an option for you:

http://cosprings.craigslist.org/pet/3945895793.html[/QUOTE

WOW im all over this. thanks I am suppose to call the owner tomorrow. Thanks a lot for this!!

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Glad I could help, and I really hope it works out. I'm a big fan of giving the older guys just as much home as the pups.

A buddy of mine in NC has lots of acreage near a bridge that seems to be a favored dumping spot for dogs. He's probably got a dozen now that just showed up scared and hungry over the last couple years. Honestly, I wish I could do the same.

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Originally Posted by Jer

Now, just because they breed healthy dogs doesn't mean this world needs more dogs when there are millions that are already here that are w/o homes. On top of that, you can tell me about solid genetics all you want but the scientific fact remains that mutts have stronger genetics and are prone to fewer genetic anomalies. When you cross breed you get a healthier dog that lives longer and when this happens over generations you end up with a stronger species. There's a lot of reasons to not condone breeding dogs but don't take my word for it. Go to a dog shelter and see how many dogs need homes.

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Jer, I'm not trying to throw gas on the fire here but your argument is fundamentally flawed. You use the example of millions of dogs that need homes as a reason that anyone that wants a dog should get a shelter animal. Ok, if everyone did that, and there were no more breeders very soon there would be no more domesticated dogs. Why you may ask? Shelter dogs are all neutered or spayed. That by definition negates your argument that cross breeding makes a stronger dog, since these dogs cannot be bred. I have had rescue dogs in the past that were good dogs, but all of them had issues we had to work around. As a side I have been training obedience and schutzhund for 25 years. I have bred dogs, mostly GSDs and Rottweilers and was very selective in my lines and the families I placed my pups in. Shelter dogs can be great animals, purebreds can be great animals, but what you get is directly related to the work you are willing to put in. Giving a loving home to a shelter animal in inherently no more noble than giving a loving home to a purebred puppy or dog. This is an obviously emotional issue for you, but you cannot vilify those who choose a different, ethical option.

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Originally Posted by UncleDave

Jer, I'm not trying to throw gas on the fire here but your argument is fundamentally flawed. You use the example of millions of dogs that need homes as a reason that anyone that wants a dog should get a shelter animal. Ok, if everyone did that, and there were no more breeders very soon there would be no more domesticated dogs. Why you may ask? Shelter dogs are all neutered or spayed. That by definition negates your argument that cross breeding makes a stronger dog, since these dogs cannot be bred. I have had rescue dogs in the past that were good dogs, but all of them had issues we had to work around. As a side I have been training obedience and schutzhund for 25 years. I have bred dogs, mostly GSDs and Rottweilers and was very selective in my lines and the families I placed my pups in. Shelter dogs can be great animals, purebreds can be great animals, but what you get is directly related to the work you are willing to put in. Giving a loving home to a shelter animal in inherently no more noble than giving a loving home to a purebred puppy or dog. This is an obviously emotional issue for you, but you cannot vilify those who choose a different, ethical option.

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No more dogs. ROFL!

Seriously, I can't have this conversation with someone so unreasonable. I love how you glossed over the fact that you bread dogs. Your lack of grasp with reality as it pertains to this topic makes perfect sense now. It doesn't change the facts however.