Adopting a dog vs. buying a dog from a breeder?

It depends on what you’re looking for. If you have certain traits that you KNOW you want in a dog, a responsible breeder is probably the way to go. Their main concern is with the health and well being of the animal. They will stand behind their animals and give you a great support system. Also if your situation changes, they will take the dog back. If you’re looking for a companion, a shelter dog could be a good fit. Obviously an older/adult dog will already have habits and behaviors (some could be good, some could be bad) but if you take your time to look for the right fit for you, you’ll have a great lifelong companion. Alternatively, there are breed specific rescues that I see as kind of a middle ground between going to a breeder and adopting from a shelter (I think someone mentioned how to look for them above) good luck!

Such a great diverse discussion going on here and love to see different views respected. I have always said people should do what they think is best for them and their family. Working in the dog world for over 30 years and helping out with breed rescue I feel people should research to get all the information first to make an educated decision. While I love my breed they are not for everyone. A few questions you should ask yourself.
-what do I want to do with my dog? Hike every weekend, go boating? Chill on the couch, what is my life style. Off leash/dog parks?
-do I have any location/house requirements? Size, land, apartment, etc.
-how much am I willing to spend on food/maintenance? If your budget is small might not be good to pick a Newfoundland who needs regular grooming and lots of food.
-how much daily exercise and attention are you going to give them. Puppies while they are great take lots of work early with regular training. Some breeds like mine (malamutes) require more exercise to keep them happy.

Those are just some to get your started but those will trend you in a general direction. I included a few friendly reminders on looking for a breeder or a rescue dog.

Breeder
-look for someone who is a member of the parent club for that breed. Each breed has a parent club which establishes a code of ethics and genetic testing each breeder adheres to. Not all reputable breeders are members but it is a good indication they are breeding for passion.
-ask them why they do their breeding and what they do with their dogs. This will give you an idea of their focus. Ie preserving the breed, well rounded pets, how active they are in the breed with various titles. If you talk to someone who just has two dogs at home, breed them and didn’t do any events or genetic testing that is not a reputable or preservation breeder. If they are active in events and do genetic testing (dna profile, ofa, etc) they are working for the good of the breed. These breeders don’t do it for money they do it for the passion of the breed.
-ask to see their contact. Most reputable breeders will require pets to be altered once the dog is mature. Doing this too early is known to have long term side effects as the hormones are not there for growth. They also require the dog to be provided back to them if you can’t keep it anymore. Just some typical items.
-look for someone who is going to be our friend for the next 10-15 years. The breeder is going to be your best source of information and they care how the dog is doing. This should be a continued relationship not just a transitional one time event.

Rescue organizations
-first go to your local shelter to start. The local shelter will be the one run by your local city/county not the non profit that is running on their own. Depending on your location some rescue organization are doing “retail rescue”. There are many articles now about the crack down at jfk and the west coast regarding dogs coming into the us without proper or forged health certificates. These organizations have brought in new flu viruses, brucellosis and rabies which both had been eradicated in the us. Now we have had multiple cases and they can be traced back to imported dogs. Please don’t support these retail rescue groups.
-if you don’t like the options at your local shelter a few options, ask to be put on a list and have them notify you when something comes in you are looking for. Lots of shelters will do this. Also ask them for referrals to rescues they work with as they might know someone who has more of the type of dog you are looking for. If it is a specific breed look at the parent club (Alaskan malamute club of America as example) and that club usually has links to breed specific rescue groups. We have ones in each region and a national group for emergencies.
-try and find a group local, meet with them, meet with the dog. Ask if they have a trial period. Most do and that will give you time to see how the dog fits in. If you have other animals make sure they get along. Ask about the heath history, concerns, etc. find out as much as you can to make sure this will be a forever home.

With over 30 years in breeding/showing/working/obedience/education, I can easily say a rescue or a purebred dog can be a wonderful addition. You need to think through all the pros and cons of each to reach the right decision for you and you should have the freedom to make the best decision for you and your family.

Considering 27 million dogs get euthanized each year just for being born. Adoption is the way to go. Put puppy mills/breeders out of business.

I purchased one from a breeder. He is my first dog. My parents never had one growing up either, so having a dog was a new experience for everyone. I chose to get one from a breeder so that I would know everything about the dog when he turned older. I would know what experiences caused him to behave a certain way. Now that I have experience and feel confident, I will adopt going forward.

Adopted pups and breeder pups are both great! But, I think there is something to be said for how grateful many adopted pups are - they know how bad it can be elsewhere. That said, I found it helpful to approach adoption descriptions a little like house hunting - you have to read between the lines to determine what they’re really telling you about the personality of the pup (separation anxiety, vocal, super chill or lazy or active) while also taking your best guess at the breeds and doing your research and seeing what breed is the best fit for your lifestyle. (Would I literally die for a golden retriever puppy? Heck yes. Is that the best breed for my life right now? Sadly, no. And so I went with another pup that was a better fit for my lifestyle and it had been AMAZING.) and, if you’re set on a particular breed, I’d highly suggest joining the (breed) (state) rescue and (breed) rescue Facebook pages you can find - there are ALWAYS opportunities to adopt that way too.

Then, once you get your pup, the fun begins! Def do your research on good vets and great, positive-reinforcement obedience training before you bring your pup home, and know you’ll need to put in the time for it! But the payoff? So, so worth it

Volunteering at an animal shelter and seeing all of the unadopted dogs that get killed and their bodies burned (I quit after tat don’t worry) made me realize I will ONLY adopt.

Adopt a pup!

Adopt

Adopt! They're all one of a kind 🙂

Adopt 100%

Adopt!! My mutts are the best and so grateful for a loving home.

Adopt don’t shop!

Adopt if you don’t mind unknown health and temperament history.

Go to a reputable (AKC parent breed club or regional breed club) preservation breeder if guaranteed health, temperament, and physical characteristics matter to you.

I volunteer at a shelter and also show dogs. I have adopted (which is still buying, btw!) and bought. I work very closely with many reputable preservation breeders, which most people have no clue how to find. I am more than happy to point you towards reputable preservation breeders for the breed(s) you are interested in.

Keep in mind they don’t contribute to shelter overpopulation. Irresponsible owners who go to less than reputable sources do. All of my reputably bred dogs have had it in their sales contract that they must go back to the breeder if I can no longer care for them. I also wanted known history, so an adopted dog wasn’t an option in the first place when I was looking to buy.

adopt

Adopt!

I recommend doing a breed assessment. Many trainers will offer a really cheap service to recommend a breed for you based on your needs. You can also find some assistance online. Once you've determined breed (hopefully based on personality and temperament), look for dogs that closest match the breed characteristics that you want.

Often, the easiest way to ensure a clean slate is through a breeder. Adopted dogs come with baggage and sometimes that baggage isn't something you want to deal with. Read between the lines. Again, some trainers will offer services to help you find a dog, whether from a breeder or adoption.

My family breeds specialty border collies for competition. If you’re not planning on doing something like that either get a cast off - we have a lot of sweet dogs who failed out of herding school, for example - or go for a solid traditional mutt around the size you like. The pound is great

I adopted from a high-kill shelter. My doggo is a a “designer” mix. I would 100% adopt again.

That said...a lot of adoption outfits are basically scams. https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/investigations/dog-auction-rescue-groups-donations/

After running into a few of these, I’m less adamant that everyone needs to adopt. Do your research.

Unfortunately there are also many dogs adopted out that pose a threat to humans. A close friend had to have her dog euthanized after it broke out of its collar and attacked a man walking past their house. The vast majority of dogs do not do this, but there are adoption outfits that will continue trying to home this type of animal. It’s not a good situation, so research your adoption group just as carefully as you would a breeder.

Adopt! Or foster first and see how you and the dog get along

You can adopt from breed specific shelters. For example, if you want a purebred Golden, there’s an adoption organization for that—just google it based on the breed you want