Looking to adopt a new dog- perhaps a German Shepherd or Boxer

**sseelhoff** · 01-10-2012, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by digitalv

bout an hour and a half

Win-Win.

**flemgoblue** · 01-10-2012, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by digitalv

would absolutely LOVE to find one for free, but most now a days we'll have to spend something on one.

bout an hour and a half

we got our shepherd form a rescue.. its a challenge because you dont get them young enough to train them, so theyre likely to have quirks forever, but theyre great dogs. Extremely loyal and ours is great with our two year old as well

**joeking1978** · 01-10-2012, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by digitalv

would absolutely LOVE to find one for free, but most now a days we'll have to spend something on one.

bout an hour and a half

IMO, with what I know about Shepherds... they have been so overbred that the breed is riddled with hereditary defects. You almost can't risk adopting a Shep for free from just anyone or anywhere. I know people who have gotten lucky and then I know more who haven't. Given that it is your pet that you tend to get very close and emotionally attached too... nothing is harder than dealing with a loved pup who can't make it up stairs by the time they are 6 or have a seizure when its 4...

If you want a Shepherd or a Boxer... you are better off going to a reputable breeder and spending some coin where you can see the lineage and identify whether they are prone to these defects...

**ACfromtheD** · 01-10-2012, 09:52 PM

It's personal preference obviously but I would never go to a breeder. Mutts are the best and rescuing a dog is where it's at.

**Lee Dog** · 01-10-2012, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by ACfromtheD

It's personal preference obviously but I would never go to a breeder. Mutts are the best and rescuing a dog is where it's at.

Seconded.

**Willie Mays Hayes** · 01-10-2012, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by ACfromtheD

It's personal preference obviously but I would never go to a breeder. Mutts are the best and rescuing a dog is where it's at.

Thirded

There's also plenty of purebred dogs in rescues and shelters and not all of them are damaged goods.

**tommyz** · 01-11-2012, 05:41 AM

Originally Posted by ACfromtheD

It's personal preference obviously but I would never go to a breeder. Mutts are the best and rescuing a dog is where it's at.

Originally Posted by Lee Dog

Seconded.

Originally Posted by Willie Mays Hayes

Thirded

There's also plenty of purebred dogs in rescues and shelters and not all of them are damaged goods.

I agree about going to a rescue or shelter.That is where I got my pekingese..But im a pure bred guy..I wont buy a mutt or one of those "new" mix breed dogs like a peekapoo and things like that..

**joeking1978** · 01-11-2012, 06:35 AM

Originally Posted by ACfromtheD

It's personal preference obviously but I would never go to a breeder. Mutts are the best and rescuing a dog is where it's at.

mutts are often great dogs... but if you want a pure breed, sure, you can find one there... but the potential for genetic defect is substantially higher. Surprisingly mutts have lower rates of defect. If you want a breed due to specific characteristics of that breed... you can't be assured getting you're a pet which has been well bred to retrain those personality traits.

good ol' mutts are great dogs and often people who adopt them have lower expectations anyways. As long as its dumb, friendly and loyal= win.

**phillyfan** · 01-11-2012, 06:37 AM

Do any of these people that tell you that you have to adopt a dog consider adopting a child?

**joeking1978** · 01-11-2012, 06:43 AM

Originally Posted by phillyfan

Do any of these people that tell you that you have to adopt a dog consider adopting a child?

doubt it... but besides, adopted children tend to have more genetic defects and bad personality traits too. So good luck. It'd be more humane than putting them down I suppose.