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Food for thought. I like everything he said except the last part where he said "Go to your local animal shelter and get yourself a mutt puppy". Puppies are not for everyone. There are some wonderful adult and senior dogs needing homes much more than puppies.
But some folks definitely want a certain breed instead of a mutt. That is their choice. We have a Bichon and a Maltese, both adult rescues. Both perfectly healthy, leash trained, house broken and perfect pets for our family of adults, children and cats.
I think there is a place for RESPONSIBLE, ethical breeders but it is too easy for puppy mills and backyard breeders to pass along undesirable and unhealthy characteristics. NO To BACKYARD BREEDERS AND PUPPY MILLS. https://www.facebook.com/home.php
Through all the years my wife and I had mixed breeds. The last ten years, we have adopted into our family purebred Schnauzers. As most people know they are hypoallergenic and shed little if any hair. That was something we both found appeasing about this breed, since we both have sinus problems at the drop of a hat.
However...
The last two and a half years, we had a female and a male Schnauzer contracted cancer. As their friend, I contacted a specialist in the field of K-9 cancer and really started to think that our dogs will beat this. In the end, our dogs lost their battle and I began to look for answers as to "Why" (BTW - The specialist said, "It's a toxic world we live in."). I researched this from toys made in China, to their food, to their shampoo, to their backyard, to their vaccinations, to their...You get the picture? I even found "Some" purebred bloodlines were susceptible to certain cancer more over other purebred bloodlines.
One day I was talking to my dad about how much I missed Pepper and Cisco. Pepper was my "Sweetie" and Cisco was my "Best friend ever"... In the conversation my dad said something profound and at that very moment I rejected entirely. He said, "Many of these purebreds today are over-bred."
Okay...
Fast forward to this year. Currently, my wife and I own a female schnauzer named "Heidi" and adopted her into our family after the passing of Pepper. After Pepper past, Cisco demeanor changed and I thought having another female schnauzer would snapped him into place. We let him pick her out of three other females and yes!...His attitude changed back to his old self (dogs hate pack changes). Life ended for Cisco on January 29th and unfortunately Heidi's demeanor changed. While she has gradually accepted the pack as is, she has become the most skittest puppy on the planet. Nothing like she was when Cisco was around.
So...
I have begun searching for a male schnauzer. Unfortunately, my wife has said "NO! No more dogs!" I can't say I blame her, but having two ratters would be a plus, since we have deer mice on our property in Colorado. In my endeavors to find "Just the right male schnauzer", I have noticed one thing. These so-called "Puppy Mills" and such will list the male and female of the litter. Some will list litter history. As time progresses, the litter will get smaller and smaller. Sometimes, only one puppy will be born. Perhaps my dad is on to something...I just don't know?
Now why did I tell this story? One to get it off my chest. While I love the purebreds, our so-called mutts lived a long and healthy life. You gotta love em as well! Our most attentive to commands was a German Shepard ~ Australian Shepard mixed, named "Shelia". She was one smart cookie! Another mixed, that was sharp as a whip, was our Cockapoo, named "Candy" (at that time they were recognized as a mix breed a long time ago)
In closing...
Know that I would still do "Everything" in my power if something unspeakable happened to our Schnauzer today. Fortunately, I know for a fact, she was in the first litter. So maybe this over-bred thing will not stick, if there is any validity to it? I love the purebreds for distinction and the instinctive service they are reared for. But I can't help but think that my dad was right?
Our very best to all our past K-9 family members! Sit, stay! We are coming home very soon...
Last edited by RockyMtnXpress; 04-22-2015 at 10:53 AM..
I think peoples view points change based on what is in their local shelters.
For instance, when we lived in WA for a 2 years if you wanted a mutt you went to shelter(and they never had very many) and got one. If you wanted a pure breed you went to a breeder(hopefully a good one) and that was that.
Now living here, in TX, its a different story. The shelters are FULL of purebred and mutt dogs. One shelter here(the one our beagle mix came from) has over 500 dogs right now and just glancing through the adoptable albums, I see dozens that are purebred(huskies, GSD, labs, a beagle, a yorkie, a whole litter of aussies...the list goes on and on)
So I see no use for breeders, when really, those dogs are in shelters too. But some states don't have the pet overpopulation like Texas does, thus it makes it harder to find a dog if you really have your heart on a certain breed.
So I see no use for breeders, when really, those dogs are in shelters too. But some states don't have the pet overpopulation like Texas does, thus it makes it harder to find a dog if you really have your heart on a certain breed.
People can often adopt out of state from shelters, I am in California but got Chaos from the Irving Texas shelter. I was starting to consider a new dog as Phoenix had developed Kidney disease and the vet said she could suddenly go into renal failure. I knew Dazzle would not be happy alone when I work . I visited the local shelter and humane society and did not see what I was looking for as they have very little variety.
Friends sent me photos of puppies that needed homes and I said Nope not looking for a puppy. Then someone posted a photo of a puppy in a high kill shelter in Texas on my Facebook timeline and all it took was one look at that puppy and I was calling the shelter and had someone I knew only from CD that lived in the area go pull her for me so she would not be put down as the date was nearing. They adopted to me but said she had to be out by a certain date and I had to work so had to wait to fly there thus had the friend pull her and board her at her vets.Then I flew to Texas to get her and had the added bonus of meeting my CD friend ( we got to know each other when our dogs had nasal cancer via the thread I had started) I also got to meet her new dog so an extra bonus.
I have no regrets doing it this way and despite not wanting a puppy I got one as there was just something in that photo that screamed I am your dog. ( and she so is) I also got over the fear I had of ever flying a dog as she was too large to fly under a seat so I took a larger crate with me and she flew as checked baggage and she did great as did the airlines.
The shelter also had a group of wonderful volunteers that would have helped me find transportation but the way I did it worked out best for me and Chaos.If you can not find anything local check other areas too.
I would have Loved to have gotten another Silken Windhound as I LOVE Dazzle but I checked with breeders and there were no planned litters for any of the ones I checked with so I would have had to wait maybe a year or more and Phoenix may not have that long.I love mutts too so I went with a mutt. Sadly about 7 months later Phoenix developed pneumonia and while she recovered from it all the drugs it took pushed her into renal failure. After a week of spending the days at the vets and nights at a home and she was getting no better so I let her go and was thankful for the 7 months of guidance she gave little Chaos. RIP sweet Phoenix.
Animals get cancer People get cancer There is NOT true Answers as to Why. Heck Kids are Born with Cancer!
This is true! However, it never hurts to look into the matter. More so, since there are a number of manufactured man-made toxic products that may promote this dreaded disease. By example, check the warning label on a regular bottle of motor oil. Some products, we are only beginning to see as a problem and that list keeps growing.
I may never find the answer as to why two of our dogs dies of cancer in succession. I have made adjustments to do my best to reduce any future possibilities. Never can tell and it certainly won't harm us.
Here's my two cents...we took what was basically a strong healthy animal and bred it into a genetic mess. BNull terriers have OCD problems, Shar Pei's have chronic skin problems because of their wrinkles. German shepherds can develop degenerative myelopathy (MS for dogs). Other purebred can develop epilepsy, hip displasia, wobblers syndrome. The larghe breeds and deep chested breeds can get bloat, a fatal twisting of the stomache and intestines. The daschund has spinal problems because of it's length, hounds get chrojnic ear infections. Need I go on? This experiment in genetic engineering has all but ruined the canine.
I much prefer a natural dog or a mutt. They tend to be healthier overall with less genetic diseases and defects.
what works for one person or family may not for another. For years we had purebreds, in fact we raised and our daughter showed English Springer Spanials. Lately and how it happened I have no idea, we have been depending on rescue or shelter little kids. Our Shih TZu was found wandering down a main street one Sunday morning about 12 years ago. Our friend found him, couldn't keep him, so soft hearted Nita and Pat gave him a home. His collar was aheard to his neck, he had never been groomed and was afraid of everything. Now, years later he is the sweetest dog on earth. Our little Carmen was from the Shelter. She had spent several days there, as people would adopt her, have problems (the last time, someone took her, 6 months later got evicted from their home and just left her behind) One thing, she hated other dogs. Now, she gets along well with her doggy friends and is happiest when begging for a nummy or sitting on someone lap. I will admit, we still miss having English Springers.
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