To get a shelter puppy or not?

[KatarinasMom]

A friend of mine runs a local non-profit shelter and she called me today to let me know that they have a litter of rottie puppies available. Apparently the owner of the female died in an auto accident and the family does not want to deal with the dogs, so they turned them over to the shelter. These are obviously BYB puppies that probably would have ended up being sold through an ad in the local paper, but as fate would have it they are now at the shelter. My friend knows what I have been through with my past rotties' medical issues, and that I have been searching for a COE breeder to purchase a puppy from, but she also knows that I am a sucker for puppy breath I am trying really, really hard to think with my head and not my heart

I guess my question is whether it is wrong to even consider these puppies? I mean, I would NEVER have considered them if I saw an ad in the paper for them so just because they are at the shelter now does that make it more acceptable? My head is telling me to forget about it, they are still the same BYB puppies. But then the part of me that wants a puppy feels that since nobody is making a profit it's not such a bad thing. I told my friend that I needed a few days to think it through.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated

[Nishasmom]

They will get adopted, make no doubt of that! Who could resist those cute little furballs! I would advise you to wait; purchase a dog with all the proper health clearances. I would hate for you to have yet another heart-ache .

[damp]

Originally Posted by KatarinasMom

I guess my question is whether it is wrong to even consider these puppies? I mean, I would NEVER have considered them if I saw an ad in the paper for them so just because they are at the shelter now does that make it more acceptable? My head is telling me to forget about it, they are still the same BYB puppies. But then the part of me that wants a puppy feels that since nobody is making a profit it's not such a bad thing.
Any opinions would be greatly appreciated

I have asked the same question here "hunded of times" what is the difference???? the answer I got... no money involved! yes and so what... does this make a better dog or better the breed!!!
I have tried to get the same point through here for years...
Bying from bybs are bad, we agree I guess, but RESCUING the same dogs and pups are good, as long as you pick them up in the shelter or rescue, then God bless you for saving this poor dog/pup!!!!!

Listen to your brain. If you want a puppy, it costs!
or you can go every where to just get a pup!

Dobbel morale is not twice as good!!!

[bliss7373]

I would not get one of these puppies, especially after your last experience.

I want to be clear - I don't think it is wrong to rescue. To the contrary, I think it can be a wonderful thing. My deceased girl was a rescue and she was a phenomenal bitch. But you do run the same risk of health and temperament issues rescuing an ill-bred pup as you do buying directly from a BYB. Yes, the shelter can ensure better socialization, more time with mom - but they can't change genetics. In your situation, that may not be a risk you can afford to take.

It's much less risky, in my opinion, to rescue an adult from an ethical group. In that case, you should have a better idea of what that dog's temperament is, what physical problems it faces, etc. You'll know whether you're equipped to cope with any issues the dog has and whether you want a potential "project."

I absolutely disagree with any contention that rescue is immoral - you are not putting money in the pockets of BYBs and there is a difference. But I also disagree with the idea that you should always rescue - there is nothing wrong with wanting a well-bred pup from a COE breeder.

[Cody'smom]

Personally, after having been through the heartbreak of dealing with serious medical issues in a byb dog, and ultimately loosing him at a young age, I would not get one of these pups. I now own a wonderful, healthy dog from a coe breeder and will not go elsewhere for a puppy again. An adult dog would be a different story for me, as was mentioned before you will have a better idea of any problems and temperment issues. We also own an adult rescue rott who is a wonderful, healthy, happy dog. If your willing to take the risk healthwise go for it otherwise wait for a coe breeder litter

[Gudrun's Mom]

My friend knows what I have been through with my past rotties' medical issues, and that I have been searching for a COE breeder to purchase a puppy from

KatarinasMom, I live fairly close to your area and I do know of a COE breeder in Warren, Pa who might be able to help you find a puppy. This gal has been in Rotties for over 30 years and has dogs in the top ten AKC rankings in obed. and finished champions. She rarely breeds a litter herself but does on occasion breed one of her males to selective bitches.

There is another woman not too far from you who has been in Rotties for even longer who is one of the officers of the Colonial Rottweiler Club and also has shown for years plus did a lot of advanced obed. work.

I believe that if you contacted them they could give you some information on where there might be a puppy available.

I don't know how to contact you through this board but would be happy to share this information if you would be interested.

It is always tempting to rescue a puppy from a shelter but as we all know there are risks involved. I personally think that there are a lot of puppies from BYB that are healthy but more importantly you haven't seen the parents or know if any testing was done regarding possible health issues or temperament that might be passed on. Any puppy that you acquire whether it be from a BYB or COE breeder could have problems, believe me through the years I've had my share of health problems with pups from excellent breeding. However there was always a health guarantee and I was given a replacement pup. It still didn't help the heartache of the loss of your friend that you've grown to love. Genetics is the luck of the draw even when you try your best to breed the best traits of each parent but the odds are much higher with selective breeding from a COE breeder.

[KatarinasMom]

Originally Posted by Gudrun's Mom

I don't know how to contact you through this board but would be happy to share this information if you would be interested.

I would be eternally greatful if I could somehow obtain this information from you I have been looking for a COE breeder for a few months now and the closest I've come to finding anyone within "acceptable" driving distance was about a 9 hour drive from where I live. The distance I would have to travel is not a determining factor for me if the breeder has the right dog for my family, but finding someone closer would definitely be a big plus

I know we are not allowed to post breeder referrals, and I don't believe we are allowed to post e-mail addresses. Maybe someone more knowledgeable could chime in with a suggestion on how we could communicate without breaking any rules

[SABELLESMOM]

Are the puppies pedigreed? If so, look up the ancestry. Check out a few things. I understand why you wouldn't want to take a chance on a BYB dog, someone will.

I'll probably be shot for this but, not every BYB dog has health problems. It's a chance you take. I have two wonderful Rottie friends, both shelter dogs, both purebreds..both healthy. I also know Wylde Blue Yonder, a rescue (purebreds) and his sister Luna. Blue became the first and only MAD and ADCH (agility) Rottweiler in the country. He was dancing towards his MACH in agility when he retired.

Yes, you DO have better odds with a COE breeder. The decision is yours. <putting on my blindfold, now for the firing squad>

[hokisteph5]

Originally Posted by SABELLESMOM

I'll probably be shot for this but, not every BYB dog has health problems. It's a chance you take. I have two wonderful Rottie friends, both shelter dogs, both purebreds..both healthy.

Samson was adopted from a local humane society at four months old. Gretchen started off as my mom's dog and was bought from what was basically a BYB, who had an oops litter. When I read some of the horror stories some on here have gone through with their dogs, I consider myself lucky.

Both of mine have good temperaments, have not had major health crises, etc. For me, adopting is the way to go right now.

After reading through some of the horror stories, though, I can understand why some would want to stack the odds in their favor with only buying from a COE breeder.

[fostermom]

I know all the arguments regarding COE breeders pups vs. byb or shelter pups...I just wonder how much (in a statistically significant way) are we really stacking the "odds" in our favor by purchasing from a COE breeder?
Most of my dogs and fosters have come from shelters and I have never had a major health issue with any of them (with the exception of a couple of extremely geriatric fosters who had expected geriatric type issues)...one foster and my old girl have "iffy" hips, but never enough to cripple or slow them down in any way. Their temperments have all been exemplary. Even with poor hips, my 13 yr old meets me at the door every afternoon, bouncing up and down with excitement...and still runs the first half of the block when I take her for a walk.
I'm not a puppy person...and yes, with the exception of one 7 wk. foster, all my shelter dogs have been adults...but I wouldn't think twice about adopting a pup from a shelter....any dog (COE or not) can end up with health/temperment issues. I can tell you that my BYB girl had her hips rated as excellent and was a phenomenal obediece dog, and my shelter boy at seven barrels down the steps BACKWARDS..and pivots like a quarterhorse when he's playing with the other dogs (hmmm, good hips???)....I guess I disagree with the concept that most or even many shelter dogs are defective in any way.
flame away!

[Gudrun's Mom]

Fostermom, I agree with you wholeheartedly. The best Rottie that I ever owned came from a large litter where the mother dog had mastitis and the BYB didn't know how to care for them. They ended up at our local humane society with the AKC papers. I had a pedigree made and he came from a lot of champions and obed. titled dogs. Both his temperament and health was excellent. Hogan lived to be 13 years old and really never had any health problems up until the day that he had a stroke and I had to put him to sleep.

Katarina's Mom, did you ever go and see the litter?

[Gudrun's Mom]

I do want to mention though that I'm not trying to discredit the coe breeders. If it weren't for them our breed would be in greater jeopardy. Already there are way too many people who breed a litter with no attention to health or temperament. I'm only saying that when a litter is at a humane society or rescue, they too should have the opportunity to find good homes and given a chance.

I much prefer buying from a coe breeder. Let's face it many coe breeders put their hearts into this breed plus it's very expensive and time consuming to breed a quality litter of pups.

[TrinaJ]

There are NO guarantees when you get a pup, even with all the health certs on the parents, you can never be 100% sure, even IF the breeder is a COE breeder. I am not in ANYWAY backing BYB's all i am saying is that you can never be 100% sure.

Whatever you decide to do will be the right decision for you at the time. These puppies will find homes, most puppies do, its the older dogs that need our help.

Good luck!

Trina

[webangel2b]

All I can say is that I wish I could get one of those pups.

My Dixie is not from a COE and while that would have been smarter and better in all cases. She too needed a home and is a wonderful dog to boot. I wouldn't trade her (or any health problems we may incur) for anything in the world. I know we all feel that way about our dogs, no matter where they came from - all dogs need a good home.

Regardless of your decision (which has to be yours to make), I hope they all find good homes.

[KatarinasMom]

Originally Posted by Gudrun's Mom

Katarina's Mom, did you ever go and see the litter?

My husband was at the shelter this weekend helping install new gates on the kennels (he volunteers his "handy work" there often) and our friend had the puppies running around while he was there. One little guy in particular followed my husband around the entire time he was there Needless to say my husband was not about to leave the baby there when he left, claiming that he just had a "gut feeling" that it was "meant to be" It is very hard to argue with that when you've got the most adorable little rottie puppy face staring at you The puppies do have AKC papers, so I plan on obtaining a pedigree to get some sort of idea on the heritage of the little guy. He's already stolen my heart, so I guess I will just have to keep my fingers crossed that no major health issues develop. All of my previous rotties had been rescue/shelter/byb dogs that either came into our lives as adults or, with our last girl, "larger" puppies (she was almost 5 mo. when we got her). So this is our first experience with a 8 week old rottie pup and I find myself completely in awe of how small they actually start out in this world