Quote:
Originally Posted by CFrance
I know I will get slammed up one side and down the other for saying this, but here goes... We have had two rescue dogs. We continually donate time and money to rescue organizations, both here and elsewhere.
However, I believe it is a good thing to maintain the breeds. If no one bought thoroughbreds, breeders would only breed for themselves in order to show dogs. All other dogs would eventually become Heinz 57, as we used to call them in Pittsburgh.
I may try to rescue a senior golden or golden doodle after our current golden passes on. But I do feel safe and comfortable knowing the breed, the temperament, and being fairly sure of what I'm getting in a dog. We are not Caesar Milan in this family; don't have the skills to untrain a rescue and retrain out of certain issues . Both of us have been bitten by dogs. We've had our dogs roughed up by other dogs. We've both been around difficult dogs we couldn't trust or had the ability to retrain. If I can't find a rescue of a golden or a doodle, we will get another golden puppy. (Unless, of course, someone leaves a beagle on my doorstep--tri color, please.)
Let the slamming commence...
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I'm not slamming you either! We all have to make the decision on what is the best choice for us.
I have two cats that were rescues and I love them dearly. But, I really wanted a dog. Mom and I live together and it took me two years to talk her into geting a dog!
Earlier this year, I spent a lot of time looking at rescue sites on the internet for a dog. I wanted a young, small, non-shedding dog. I was leaning towards Shih Tzus, Yorkies and Maltese. I'm in Michigan and I looked at sites several states away and in Florida (in case I was visiting TV). I applied for a couple of dogs that fit what I was looking for but I found out they were alerady spoken for!
I then decided to go for a puppy. Mom is 91 and I wanted to indoor potty train a puppy so Mom wouldn't have to take it outside if I wasn't home. I thought it would be easier to train a puppy than re-train an older dog. And, I narrowed my search down to Shih Tzus and found my Lexi who is 10 month old now.
Its been a long time since I had a puppy but then my Dad bred, raised and trained them! I had forgotten how much work a puppy is! (Cats are so much easier!) Its a constant "down, no, sit, come, etc." at our house. Sometimes its a little daunting but I still want my puppy. She is worth it.
On a side note, my mother didn't want Lexi or my two cats! They all want to sit on the chair next to her so she can carry on conversations with them, brush them or give them lots of belly and neck rubs. It is amazing how they all cater to her and want her approval.