Why We Bought Our Dogs from a Breeder

One of our most frequently asked questions (besides where we got Navy) is why we chose to buy her from a breeder and not a rescue. In the age of #AdoptDontShop on social media there is a pretty big divide between rescue dogs and dogs bought through breeders. Heck, we’ve even been publicly shamed on our Instagram for not rescuing our two dogs. The answer is not an easy one and we know that not everyone will like our answer, and that is okay. I’ve loved corgis for as long as I can remember and knew when the time was right, I would get one of my own.

Corgis are a very popular breed and in the rare instance when one comes available for adoption, they are quickly placed in a new home. Over the years I’ve had my name on several waiting lists for a corgi to rescue. Unfortunately, my application has been denied each time for a number of good reasons (my work schedule, distance from the rescue, I live in an apartment, etc.). Being denied a rescue corgi never truly bothered me because each time I was denied, I knew in my heart the dog was going to home that was better fit for its needs.

Because we couldn’t find a rescue that matched our needs, Zach and I started to look into purchasing a corgi from a breeder. We made sure we not only had the time for a puppy, but we had the money to support a dog as well. Zach and I also had the important talk of what would happen if we broke up or something happened to one (or both) of us. Bottom line: we had a plan in place if we were no longer able to care for our dog.

Breeders often get a bad rep, but buying a puppy from a reputable breeder is not a bad thing. Good breeders are not in it for the sale. Good breeders will want your puppy to be a good match for your family and lifestyle. They will give you expert breed guidance and be open to offer assistance throughout your puppy’s journey. Reputable breeders follow breed standards so the physical and temperamental characteristics of the breed leave little to guess. A reputable breeder will have reports of your dog’s pedigree so when your puppy is born, you’ll know its history–cool right? Buying from a breeder gives you the chance to meet your puppy’s parents as well. Finally, a reputable breeder will offer some sort of health certification and many will guarantee a home for your puppy if something were to happen to cause you to surrender the dog.

Our search for a good corgi breeder was a long one, but worth it in the end. We talked to several great breeders before we found Navy and Duke’s breeder. Our breeder offered documented records of both parents’ health and pedigree. There was no guessing with Navy; we knew she would be a healthy dog with a good temperment.

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Rescuing an animal is really great but its not for everyone. I grew up loving dogs, but unfortunately due to my family’s crazy after school sports schedule, we did not have the time for a dog of our own. Throughout my later half of high school, I volunteered at a local animal rescue. During this time, I had the amazing opportunity to see so many rescue success stories. I helped loving families be placed with new four-legged additions. After time, my siblings and I even tricked our parents into letting us rescue a dog of our own, Sully [more on Sully later].

While volunteering, I also witnessed some of the negative sides of rescues as well. Each week new dogs were brought to the rescue and the pressure was instantly on to place these dogs and the existing dogs into new homes. This is where a lot of the problems started. Shelters usually have a strict, detailed application process to make sure animals are matched with someone who is committed to sticking with them for the long haul. I saw everything from animals with behavior issues and illnesses pushed out the door to families who ended up surrendering the animal a few weeks later. I also saw rescues misleading applicants as well. From lying about the age of the dog in order to attract more applicants to the breed of the dog, I’ve seen it all. Please know this is not the practice for all rescues, but I’ve seen this happen several times.

When our family rescued Sully, we were told she was a spayed and an adult dachshund-corgi mix. As soon as we brought Sully home she went into heat. Our vet believed this was her first heat making her less than a year old. Sully is also not any part dachshund. She is likely a corgi shepherd or hound mix (still 100% adorable!). We were told Sully was surrendered because her family was relocating to an apartment that did not allow dogs. After Sully had a few negative encounters with children, we believed she was actually surrendered because of an incident with a child. Despite these issues, our family never gave up on Sully on we never will.

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When it comes down to it, rescuing a dog does not mean you are a better dog owner than if you were to buy a dog through a breeder. The most important thing is to rescue responsibly and/or buy a dog responsibly.

Are you looking for a rescue of your own? There are so many amazing rescues out there for you to consider. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Animal Welfare League of Arlington
• East Coast Corgi Rescue
• Queen’s Best Stumpy Dog Rescue
• Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
• Cardigan Welsh Corgi National Rescue Trust

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