05/21/2026
(Getting A Dog)
Pure Bred Vs. Mutt, Breeder Vs. Shelter
I’m not touching on everything but making general statements.
If you get a puppy from an ethical breeder of great caliber, your chances of getting a dog that deals well with training and the pressures of life goes up dramatically. It’s the difference of training in a matter of days and weeks, then maintaining, or months.
*Now, this is of course a general statement.*
We’re talking about what is a safer bet for households looking to get a dog.
It is true that I have worked mutts and dogs from shelters that have been amazing, learned rapidly, and done well overall. But many have come with baggage, and decisions pushed upon them without your consent, etc.
This is basic. If you mess with genetics they break down and the result can be an animal that is afraid for no reason, can’t handle life, and takes a very long time to train, to build confidence, trust and joyful work. If you get a dog from a shelter that is older, you roll the dice. Even a younger dog that didn’t come from an ethical breeder can be a similar dice throw.
Now, I haven’t said anything here about the reality of your lifestyle and how that drastically affects dogs and their behavior.
But don’t have a hero complex. It’s unhealthy and will leave you unable to self-care and thus unable to care for others, including the dog.
These aren’t absolutes but a call to wisdom and being responsible. It’s not like buying furniture or a TV. They are living creatures with emotions that can be impacted by many things they did or didn’t ask for.
If you rush to say, “I can handle it!” You’re already demonstrating that you probably can’t.
Food for thought. Be wise. Know yourself.
