Should You Get A Poodle From The Humane Society Or Through The Newspaper?
Humane Societies: Humane societies are a good place to find assorted pups and dogs, but seldom offer purebred Poodles. Breed rescue organizations frequently monitor incoming dogs at shelters and pick up purebreds for placement through individual breed rescue. Shelters sometimes do have purebreds with all types of backgrounds and temperaments available for adoption.
The wonderful part of adopting a Poodle from a shelter is you’ll be giving a Poodle a chance at life. But keep in mind that you might learn less about a shelter Poodle than you would about a breed rescue Poodle who has lived with families in a home environment. Volunteer foster families are able to observe the dog closely to see how it interacts with kids, cats, and other dogs. Dogs in animal shelters typically live in kennels and, because of the number of incoming and outgoing animals, cannot be observed as closely. Also, though most shelters are extremely careful to adopt only healthy animals, there’s a chance you’d be taking home an ill Poodle.
Newspaper Ads: Whatever the town, whatever the newspaper, you will always find classified ads that read something like, “Adorable Poodle Pups for Sale.” Do such ads provide a good source for finding a Poodle? Most Poodle enthusiasts and reputable breeders say no. In most cases, these are advertisements from “backyard breeders.” Although some reputable breeders do advertise in this manner, it’s not common.
What’s a backyard breeder and why should you avoid one? Basically, a backyard breeder is someone who owns a Poodle and decides that breeding her dog with the neighbor’s Poodle would be a great idea. The result will be a fabulous litter of pups that could be registered and they will both make money! Any dog can be registered by a breed registry, but that doesn’t mean the dog is of sound mind and temperament. There’s little consideration for conformation, health, or temperament in backyard breeding.
Reputable breeders rarely advertise in local newspapers – they don’t have to. They usually sell pups by word of mouth, and pups often have homes well before they’re born.
The best advice about buying a Poodle through newspaper ads is this: Buyer Beware. If you’re set on buying a newspaper-ad Poodle, investigate the background of the advertiser and be prepared to ask a lot of questions about the pup’s medical history. Find out what hereditary diseases are common in Poodles and insist on seeing proof of health clearances.
What about ads for Poodles in dog or Poodle magazines? Serious, reputable breeders are more likely to advertise pups in well-respected magazines, but anyone, reputable or not, can buy an ad. In fact, many magazines have disclaimers, advising potential buyers to investigate puppy advertisers. Approach sellers in magazines the same way you approach newspaper advertisers – skeptically – and be sure to investigate the source for your potential Poodle.