Do you want a dog? If you do, you have a couple of different options when it comes to finding one. For example, you can buy a dog from a breeder. If you are considering buying a dog from a breeder, you also want to consider dog adoption. Both options have their pros and cons, and it’s important to learn which option is best for you.

Buying from a Breeder

If you want a purebred dog, you should purchase it from a breeder. If you want a dog that you can show and register, then you should purchase one from a breeder. If you want to breed dogs yourself, you should purchase your foundation dogs from breeders. The drawback to purchasing a dog from a breeder is that it is expensive, usually several hundred dollars. If you do choose to go with a breeder, you should be sure that you work with a reputable one. Puppy mills and puppy farms are not reputable breeders. Their dogs are often kept in poor conditions, and they are rarely healthy.

Dog Adoption

If you simply want a pet for your family, you should consider adopting a dog from your local shelter. Your shelter will have a variety of dogs available for adoption including puppies and adults. These dogs are usually not purebred but that does not mean that they do not make great pets. If your local shelter is a kill shelter, then you are saving the dog from euthanasia. Even if your shelter is a no-kill shelter, you will be opening a spot for a new dog to get help when you adopt.

The drawback to a shelter dog is that it is not purebred (this is not a drawback for some people), and you don’t know its history. With a dog from a breeder, you can typically meet the puppy’s parents, and you can get a health guarantee ensuring that your puppy is free from certain genetic diseases and that its parents are healthy. Finally, dog adoption typically costs money. These fees are usually low (often much lower than the cost of buying from a breeder), and they are used to help the shelter continue its work.

If you are looking for a new canine companion, you should take the time to determine whether a breeder or the shelter is the best place to look.