Puppy vs Adult dog.....lay it on me.

[BuddyRoo]

When I was a kid, we never got to pick out a puppy. Dogs were dumped out near our farm and those became our dogs.

When I was finally a “grown up” I got my first pup. He passed away after 13 years just last fall. We have another that is now 7. I love raising puppies.

HOWEVER…I’m thinking that maybe I could get an adult dog from a breeder that was a return or something. I dn’t really want to go to the shelter and roll the dice because I want some of the basics like OFA, CERF, meeting the parents, etc. My brother and mother have taken dogs from the shelter and really gotten screwed on health issues. I don’t want that AND I want "my"breed (a lab)

Has anyone here taken a “reject” that went back to breeder?

Something that I’m thinking of because I can’t take time off work or take the pup to work with me now like I could before. And we have to get our next dog soon or need to wait indefinitely as our other dog is 7 this year and that’s my cutoff.

[ElisLove]

You don’t even need to take a ‘reject’. After show dogs are done showing often breeders will place them. Either they will ask to use the dog for breeding in the future, or they may not (either it’s done breeding or they decided to not breed it).
I’ve never gotten an adult dog so I will leave the experiences for others.

[Zu_Zu]

I was given a two year Aussie ~ she fit my world perfectly ~ my heart dog ~

• I took her to Obedience class in order to bond with her ~ she was the Star !

• Super easy transition ~ she was smart and loved her new life !

Skye was with me from age 2 until she passed away gently at the age of 18 years old.

• I would highly recommend adopting an adult dog !

• just the not having to ‘housebreak’ is a wonderful blessing :yes:

[GoodTimes]

I’m in my twenties and decided to go with an adult dog (1.5yo so not really an adult, but housebroken with the basic sit, stay, etc.).
I work full time and didn’t want to have to get a dog walker, etc. I’m hoping to start some agility with her now that she’s a little older and can focus better.

My next dog will likely be a puppy, hopefully a lab that I can train to take hunting or do some field trials.

“Rejects” are a definite possibility, although breeders who do a good job of vetting new families likely won’t have many. The ones they do get may have issues, ie not good with kids, cats, other dogs, etc. My mom bred her champion field trial lab when I was younger, she only ever had one reject in 3 litters.
The retired show dogs might be a good option though.

[vacation1]

It’s becoming quite the interesting question, where do you get a dog now? I’ve always gotten adults from shelters, but the last adoption was prior to the explosion of no-kill and rescue, and now every time I meet a ‘rescue’ dog, it’s got major problems and/or the owner clearly has been misled by the rescue. I’ve lost my faith that a shelter is a good place to get a dog. So an interesting question. I’ve read a couple of nonfiction books about guide dogs recently, and I got the impression that despite the careful breeding and raising, there are quite a few that are found unsuitable for the job and need to be rehomed. I’d think those would be awesome Labs.

[BuddyRoo]

[QUOTE=vacation1;8721154]
It’s becoming quite the interesting question, where do you get a dog now? I’ve always gotten adults from shelters, but the last adoption was prior to the explosion of no-kill and rescue, and now every time I meet a ‘rescue’ dog, it’s got major problems and/or the owner clearly has been misled by the rescue. I’ve lost my faith that a shelter is a good place to get a dog. So an interesting question. I’ve read a couple of nonfiction books about guide dogs recently, and I got the impression that despite the careful breeding and raising, there are quite a few that are found unsuitable for the job and need to be rehomed. I’d think those would be awesome Labs.[/QUOTE]

We are on the same wavelength. I have watched my family members get dogs that are just terribly unhealthy or have major screws loose. I am honestly not willing to sign up for that from the shelter now that they seem to not be screening as well. I don’t want to inherit a major problem. I’ll be honest.

My brother for example, who makes good money, has spent almost 10k in behavioral help and more in physical issues with his dog’s heart issues. AND he acn’t even live in certain parts of town now as she’s a PB.

Eff that. I want a lab. I want a black, field/American lab and that’s what I want . To replace my last who was a much loved dog.

I just don’t know if I can do a pup right now! I’ll find a way if needed. But the whole go to a shelter thing is not on my list anymore given all the bad experieincss in mult locations over a few years.

[the_rook]

[QUOTE=vacation1;8721154]
It’s becoming quite the interesting question, where do you get a dog now? I’ve always gotten adults from shelters, but the last adoption was prior to the explosion of no-kill and rescue, and now every time I meet a ‘rescue’ dog, it’s got major problems and/or the owner clearly has been misled by the rescue. I’ve lost my faith that a shelter is a good place to get a dog. So an interesting question. I’ve read a couple of nonfiction books about guide dogs recently, and I got the impression that despite the careful breeding and raising, there are quite a few that are found unsuitable for the job and need to be rehomed. I’d think those would be awesome Labs.[/QUOTE]

My family raised pups for Canine Companions (CCI) when I was in high school and one of our 4 dogs did not pass. We kept him and he was an incredible dog! They have a great foundation of training and are bred to be calm, easy going, and friendly. CCI does not train seeing eye dogs, but companions for people who are disabled which help them go about their daily life in a more independent manner. The dogs were usually a Lab / Retriever mix or one or the other breed.

OP - this would be a good organization to look into!

[S1969]

I agree that you don’t necessarily have to take a “reject” - my breeder placed a 12 month old puppy with a family because it was supposed to go back to Australia (where the dam lived; she had come to the U.S. to be bred) but the owner moved and there was a limitation on the number of dogs he could keep. So he had planned to bring back two puppies, but ended up not being able to and they placed the male. He had a fabulous pedigree, show championship, and all health testing.

You might be able to buy an older puppy; that’s another option. Sometimes breeders hold onto puppies from a litter until they are a bit older - 6-9 months, for example, to make their final pick from the best two or something.

I think if you are set on a breed, you should start by contacting breeders and see how they place puppies/dogs. Most good breeders have a network of breeder/breed friends, and they are the first people that will know about older dogs needing placement - so you could start putting some feelers out.

[Perfect10]

[QUOTE=vacation1;8721154]
It’s becoming quite the interesting question, where do you get a dog now? I’ve always gotten adults from shelters, but the last adoption was prior to the explosion of no-kill and rescue, and now every time I meet a ‘rescue’ dog, it’s got major problems and/or the owner clearly has been misled by the rescue. I’ve lost my faith that a shelter is a good place to get a dog. So an interesting question. I’ve read a couple of nonfiction books about guide dogs recently, and I got the impression that despite the careful breeding and raising, there are quite a few that are found unsuitable for the job and need to be rehomed. I’d think those would be awesome Labs.[/QUOTE]

It has to be said- not all shelter dogs have issues. In fact, most shelter dogs don’t have issues. If the dogs you have met all have issues, you have been incredibly unlucky, you’re ignoring all the ones you have met that don’t, or it is the owners creating the issues. I worked in rescue for a year, and now I work at a vet where I see people and their rescue dogs every day. The vast majority were easy, adoptable, no issues dogs.

[Brooklyn_Born]

Years ago (about 25) I finally got the collie I had dreamed of owning my entire life. Both my husband and I worked full time so a puppy would have been hard. I did however, work close enough to come home at lunch. I contacted a local breeder who had two possibilities. One was a young female who had just had her first litter of puppies. For some reason they decided not to breed her again, and so put her up for sale. The other was a 6 month old puppy that was the last available from a litter from their champion male. He was only “Pet quality” so they offered him to us with a required neuter contract. We ended up going with the 6 month old male. He was not housebroken, because he had lived in a kennel, but it didn’t take long. He was amazing

If I were to look into getting another collie, i would definitely do what some others said and contact reputable breeders about what they or their own contacts might have available. Good luck finding your dream lab!!

[dog_amp_horsemom]

Alll but one of my dogs are rescues, all have been adults, never had a health issue. I know of two people who have bought expensive dogs from good breeders and have had alot of expensive health issues , make that three people - breeds: std. poodle, golden retriever, g. shepherd.
Labs can be hyper and strong until they turn three yrs old. ( unless you train them starting at 2-4 mos.).
Lab rescues will have a lab that they will know all health issues regarding that dog.
My friend gets retired show dogs - she is on her third. They are all champions that are crate trained and calm.
Hope this helps in you decision…

[yellowbritches]

I love dogs but I’m not a huge fan of puppies (I like to PLAY with puppies, but don’t want to raise one). My last puppy was 20 years ago when I was a teenager. She grew into an awesome dog, and I adored her from moment 1, but she was a HELLBEAST as a puppy. When she passed away, my next one was a year old and housebroken. My accidental addition I got a couple of months ago will be 3 in a few weeks.

The big dog came from a rescue and, I have to say, they totally missed the mark a lot on who she is when they described her to me. I thought I was adopting a velcro dog, but got one with a massive independent streak. Which is actually ok (preferred, really), I have come to find out. No health issues, no behavioral issues. Just not at all what I was told I was getting. I’ve seen other adoptions through other rescues and been unimpressed with the matches (a very, very shy dog thrown into a very busy boarding farm. An extremely high energy dog matched with a growing family- this one only worked out well because my friend is an extremely competent dog owner, but that dog is not what I would have picked for a family in the process of making babies!). So, I kinda get what you’re saying, OP.

My little dog I rescued directly from her previous owners. She’s a specially bred mutt (I’m sure they paid a small fortune for her), and is thriving now that she’s in a household more suitable for her temperament. Good adult dogs are out there in a million places. You just have to be open to finding them in weird places occasionally.

[vacation1]

[QUOTE=Perfect10;8721540]
It has to be said- not all shelter dogs have issues. In fact, most shelter dogs don’t have issues. If the dogs you have met all have issues, you have been incredibly unlucky, you’re ignoring all the ones you have met that don’t, or it is the owners creating the issues. I worked in rescue for a year, and now I work at a vet where I see people and their rescue dogs every day. The vast majority were easy, adoptable, no issues dogs.[/QUOTE]

I know not all shelter dogs have issues. I have one glaring at me right now because I’ve been on the computer too long. Her worst issue to date has been making cranky faces and barking when she’s unhappy with human behavior. The problem is that so many do. Shelters and rescues seem to have forgotten that they are responsible not just for the lives of the dogs in their care, but for the safety of both the people who adopt them and of the people and animals who encounter them in their new homes. They’re also responsible for the continued good name of second-hand dogs. It took us most of the 20th century to get shelter dogs respectable, and 20 years to destroy that to the point where ‘rescue’ is now routinely offered as an excuse for a problem dog. Oops, sorry about your cat, Bane’s a rescue!

[Bicoastal]

[QUOTE=BuddyRoo;8721047]
HOWEVER…I’m thinking that maybe I could get an adult dog from a breeder that was a return or something…

Has anyone here taken a “reject” that went back to breeder?[/QUOTE]

Me, me! And you’ve met one of them :D. I got my Pap after he retired from showing and mostly retired from breeding. I recently got a BC that was purchased as a puppy and returned just a few weeks later because the owner was repeatedly returning to the hospital for lengthy stays.

I think I found my niche in breeder rehomes. Breed of choice, older, if they were breeding they’ll have health tests, often well socialized and good house manners, you know the final temperament and structure, plus lifelong breeder support. I love this gray area between buying a puppy and adopting a rescue. I give it four paws up.

[Belmont]

I was given a reject cow dog at two years old. She is the best dog I’ve ever owned. AND NO POTTY TRAINING. Training to my commands were a bit slow, but I also kept some of her working commands.

Puppies are cute, but I don’t think I’ll ever do another one.

[Kodidog763]

We got two puppies and 3 adults from the same breeder. The adults weren’t returns, but a female who was retired from breeding, a male who was unsuitable to be bred (severe hip displaysia), and a retired stud (in fact the father and grandfather of our two puppies).

I love all of the dogs, but I feel there is a different bond with the two we got as puppies. The older dogs have some quirks from being raised in a kennel environment, so that requires some patience. However puppies are a ton of work that you don’t have with an adult dog. Pros/Cons each way.

[vxf111]

In a heartbeat I would get an adult dog from a good breeder. A retired show dog, a dog that went over size, a dog that washed out of a particular event-- if it fit what I wanted-- in a heartbeat.

[Simkie]

Check this out, BRoo!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gb13lpx5vbs0wpl/Screenshot_20160628-142229.png?dl=0

[vxf111]

That dog looks AWESOME. I think BR does black labs… but if not… OMG that dog sounds perfect! Cute too.

[vxf111]

Also

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/pet/5657881842.html