Dogs... What is your Breed of Choice?

Dog Snobbery

I used to think that owning purebred dogs was a form of snobbery. Why do we need that many breeds of dogs, anyway? With all the dogs dying in shelters every day, why are people still breeding dogs? I set out to find answers, and learned a lot in the process.

My son and our first dog,
a black mini schnauzer

Why do we need so many breeds of dogs? There are plenty of perfectly marvelous mixed-breed pups out there, and they will make wonderful pets in someone's home. However, not every dog is right for every situation. That's why there are so many different breeds. For instance, in my family we wanted a small hypoallergenic dog, and my husband loved his friend's mini schnauzer. What breed do you think was our first pet?

Dogs come in an enormous variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and dispositions. Let's focus on size for a minute. Small dogs usually work well in apartments--as long as they aren't too noisy. Big dogs are excellent helpers on the farm-- they can pull a cart, herd sheep, serve as a watchdog, and scare away predators such as wolves. For people who require a service dog, a medium-sized dog works best.  If the dog is too big, he cannot comfortably travel with them.  If he's too small, he cannot perform the necessary duties. Dog breeders work to maintain the size, shape, and disposition they value in their breed. If breeders stopped breeding, people would not be able to choose a dog that fits their lifestyle.

German Shepherd dogs are bred for their herding ability,
intelligence, loyalty, and williness to work

What is your Breed of Choice?

Dog breeders preserve the distinguishing characteristics of dog breeds making them valuable to humans. Even if you think you don't have specific needs, ask yourself some questions. Would you want a dog that sheds, or one who needs to be groomed every 8 weeks? Do you have the energy for a playful and active dog, or would you rather have a mellow dog sitting on the couch next to you? Do you prefer a quiet dog, or a watch dog that will alert you to strangers? Your choices, and your lifestyle, would be different than mine, but we can each find a wonderful pet for our needs. If your lifestyle and needs are flexible, consider adopting a dog from a shelter.

Irresponsible Breeders and Irresponsible Owners

That brings us to the other point, why do breeders still breed dogs when dogs are dying in shelters? It's a complicated issue, made worse by misinformation being spread by various groups. We've all heard pet overpopulation is a serious problem in this country. Nobody really knows how big the problem is. Animal rights groups magnify their estimates to get more charitable donations. Some dogs euthanized in shelters were given up because they were old, had an incurable disease, or serious behavioral problems. Responsible breeders do not let their puppies end up in shelters. They will take back their dog, or help find a new home for it, regardless of the reason or age of the dog. Often they will help even if it wasn't a dog of their breeding! Pets that are euthanized at the shelter cannot be blamed on responsible breeders. If someone must be blamed, it belongs to irresponsible owners.

Adopting or buying a dog requires determining which dog fits with your lifestyle and needs. If you are buying a puppy, make sure to get it from a responsible breeder who will help re-home the dog if necessary. If adopting from a shelter, consider what characteristics you want and what traits you don't want. A pet should have a home for life, and that requires the owner making a serious commitment and understanding what is involved in owning their type of dog.