ArcaMax

Dear Cathy,

I was moved by your response to “Bob, Greensboro,” that I wanted to thank you immediately. As a long-time reader, I’ve always appreciated your kindness as much as your wisdom. It may surprise you to know that your response to a very opinionated “Bob” has made such a difference in my life.

For a long time I’ve been wanting to find a dog to love and to share my life with. Understanding there are so many deserving dogs in shelters who are looking for a loving home, it felt unfair to them, and maybe even irresponsible, for me to seek the services of a breeder.

But, when I visit local shelters, I worry that all the unknowns of shelter dogs (socialization, family health history, full-grown size) may be more than my experience, skills, age, physical abilities, and home can handle. And that worry has kept me from acting. I think what ‘Bob’ and so many others like him do is wonderful, but it may not be what I can do.

Your column was like a warm hug. I’ve decided to renew my search at the local animal shelters this winter but also take steps to meet the ethical breeder who lives not too far away upstate. And, no matter what the outcome may be, I will do what I can to help animals by donating to my local shelters to support all their good work.

— Margaret, Huntington, New York

Dear Margaret,

I appreciate you sharing your experience and your hesitation so openly. As someone who has worked in animal welfare for decades, I want to state clearly that adoption matters, and animal shelters and rescue groups always need adopters. So, I truly hope you will visit your local shelter. I think you may be surprised by the remarkable dogs waiting there.

At the same time, I understand the concerns you raise, because I hear them often. Many people worry about adopting because they fear the unknown – not knowing a dog’s full history, wondering if there will be behavioral challenges, or assuming an adult dog will require more training than a puppy. In my experience, those assumptions don’t always hold true.

The truth is every dog needs training and adjustment time in a new home, regardless of age. With a puppy, you are signing up for months – and often up to two years with large breed dogs – of intensive training, supervision, and management. With an adult dog, what you see is often much closer to who that dog already is, which can make it easier to make a thoughtful choice about adopting.

I have adopted many adult dogs in my life and found that there is often less work involved in helping them become part of the family. The secret is taking the time to understand what you are truly looking for and partnering with shelter and rescue staff who know the animals well.

These are people who spend time with the dogs and cats in their care and can tell you about their personalities, energy levels, and compatibility. I’ve adopted adult dogs who needed little more than learning the household routine and settled in almost immediately – and others I was happy to invest time and training in to help bring out their potential.

That said, if you feel drawn to a breeder, it’s important to understand what an ethical breeder might look like. They don’t sell puppies to pet stores, alongside the side of the road, or through online ads. They don’t treat dogs as inventory. They do keep them inside their home, not in outdoor kennels, and consider them part of the family. They prioritize health testing and temperament and tend to interview you as carefully as you interview them. If a breeder simply invites you to “pick out a puppy,” that’s a red flag. Responsible breeders want to know why you’re interested in the breed, what your experience is with the breed, and whether the dog will truly be a good fit for you.

But there is also a middle path many people overlook when considering a new dog: breed-specific rescue groups. These rescues often take in puppies and adult dogs, both from animal shelters and people who can no longer care for them. They know the breed well, foster dogs in homes, and can often offer guidance that combines predictability with adoption. Because the dogs are mostly fostered in homes, adopters often gain real-world insight into what living with that dog is actually like.

The key is slowing down, spending time with a pet, and listening to the people who know that animal best.

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)

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