Finding good homes for puppies is one of the most challenging aspects of breeding. Unfortunately, not every home is a good home; far too many people adopt when they can’t really afford a pet or aren’t ready to look after a dog. These are the dogs that are most likely to wind up in shelters or abandoned on the street.
Responsible breeding sets the backyard breeder apart from skilled professional breeders. A backyard breeder doesn’t care where her puppies go; she only cares how much money each puppy makes her. A real breeder won’t sell her puppies until she’s
100 percent confident that they’ll be loved, cared-for, healthy, and safe.
A Breeder’s Responsibility
As breeders, we know that the decision to allow adoption is squarely in our hands. If we make the right decision, our dogs are assured a fantastic, loving home for life. If we make the wrong decision, we could be placing them in harm’s way. That’s why most of us put so much effort into filtering out bad homes in the first place.
We may be up against a lot when it comes to finding the right homes for puppies, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t up to the task. Good breeders consider it their ultimate duty, and everything else they do serves that goal.
Here’s a few of the most common rehoming issues we face.
Not Every Dog Is Right for Every Home
Dogs are unique, special beings with their own personalities and needs. Furthermore, every breed is different. Even two puppies from the very same litter can be as different as night and day in personality; it’s important to match you with the pup that suits you best. That means reviewing your lifestyle, your personality, and your level of activity to ensure we make the right match.
Let’s say we have two hypothetical adopters. The first is Susan, a 72-year-old grandma who spends most of her days at home. The second is a Aaron, a highly active 12-year-old and his family.
These two individuals have very different lives and very different living situations; naturally, they’ll do best if matched with dogs who match those needs.
It makes more sense to match Susan with a breed or puppy that’s laid-back and willing to spend most of its days around the house with her. She may also do better with an older puppy who’s had a bit of training.
For Aaron, a lazy puppy may be more annoyed by his high demand for activity than they are pleased. While they may like each other just fine, it’s far better to match Aaron with a puppy who will look forward to long walks, runs, hikes, and playing ball in the park every single day.
Matching the right dog with the right person is a bit of a science
and an art. It takes intuition, careful assessment, and whenever possible, meet n’ greets to judge that connection. If a breeder rejects you for a specific match, rest assured it’s not personal; they just want you and your dog to be perfectly matched.
Dogs Are Expensive
As sad as it may be, money is a factor in adoption reviews – not the adoption fee or price, but whether or not someone can
afford to adopt. Let’s take a look at what it costs to adopt and own a dog in just the first year.
According to MoneyUnder30, the average dog costs its owner approximately $1,000 in care fees in the first 12 months. These numbers are sourced directly from the ASPCA, who regularly investigates pet ownership as part of their animal rescue campaign.
They also quote the following one-time expenses upon adoption:
- Spay/neuter: $200
- First exam: $70
- Collar/leash: $30
- Crate: $95 (more for large dogs)
- Canine training: $110 (more for advanced needs)
That’s already $505, not including the adoption fee itself. You can also expect to pay all or most of the following amounts over the first year:
- Vet insurance: $235
- Annual exam: $225
- Food: $120 (bare minimum)
- Toys/treats: $55 (bare minimum)
- License: $15 (higher in some cities)
Suddenly, the
cost to own a dog rises to nearly $1,200. That’s a
lot of money! It doesn’t even begin to take into consideration accidents or emergencies that may run vet bills into the thousands.
There’s no shame in admitting you can’t afford a pet; in fact, it’s the responsible thing to do. So, when a breeder asks you to prove your income, know that it’s just one step in ensuring puppies get to great homes.
Dogs Need Love, Time & Attention
Sometimes, the adopter can afford to own a dog but can’t afford to contribute in other ways. They may be unable to give the dog enough of their time, attention, and love because they work too much, go on frequent business trips, or are just plain too busy with real life.
When breeders place dogs in homes like these, they’re often comfortable, well-fed, and healthy – but they may be ignored, left alone too often, or left at home. Over time, dogs that don’t get enough attention tend to become neurotic and depressed, leading to struggles around behavior.
Dogs just aren’t low-maintenance animals. Even the quietest of puppies needs regular attention, feeding, walks, and
canine socialization. If you can’t afford at least a few solid hours of time with your dog a day, dog ownership may not be right for you.
Dog Training Factors & Frustrations
Patience and willingness to train your dog is also a major adoption factor. Dogs, at the end of the day, are dogs, and they will chew, nibble, lick, destroy, and generally
annoy the entire household if they aren’t trained and cared for properly.
As breeders, we’re looking for a commitment to stick with your dog and seek assistance from behavioral specialists and trainers if it becomes needed. You don’t have to be an expert; you just need to be willing to do the work to make it work!
The problem with low-patience adopters is simple; little canine ownership issues can add up. Over time, they become more and more annoyed with the dog for being a dog. Eventually, they grow tired of the annoyance. That leads to shelter drop-offs and abandonment.
When dogs stay in the home without proper training, their issues become worse and worse. They may eventually lead to sudden aggression or biting incidents that just don’t have to happen. Early training from puppyhood is the best way to ensure your pup grows into a well-rounded adult dog.
Backyard Breeders, Pet Stores & Puppy Mills Remain a Serious Issue
Even when people can afford to own a dog
and provide the right level of care, there can still be other concerns with adopting. Some adopt for the sole purpose of re-breeding the dogs for themselves and making money. These may be backyard breeders or just people who want to try their hand at breeding “just for fun.”
The problem with this is that breeding requires a significant amount of skill and dedication. Breeding “just for fun” or on the fly can cause significant heartache and suffering. It takes only one wrong breeding match or pregnancy to take a dog’s life or introduce
severe genetic flaws.
Responsible breeders breed to improve the line with an understanding of canine health, genetics, and breed factors. We work closely with vets, often for years, before starting the process to ensure optimal results. If something goes wrong, we’re prepared to take responsibility for it and provide unwanted animals with a lifetime home. That’s just not something most “for fun” breeders can offer.
There’s also the issue of potential accidents. An irresponsible pet owner who refuses to spay and neuter their dog may end up with puppies. Further irresponsibility could result in
even more puppies. Suddenly, our one adoption turns into 20 or more puppies at a shelter – this is why most breeders have spay and neuter contracts.
If all of this sounds rather doom and gloom, take heart: there’s so much good to outweigh the bad. It just takes a special kind of person to keep a dog healthy, happy, and well, and dogs just aren’t the right pet for everyone. Every dog deserves to live in a safe, healthy environment. That’s why we go over and beyond to use measures that rule out bad adopters in the first place.
