Yes, Rescues have Puppies !

There is a common misconception that animal rescues, humane societies, and shelters have only mid-age or senior dogs for adoption. Being in rescue I see dogs of all ages coming from all situations, but generally the majority of the dogs we receive are between one and three years of age. Comparing the number of senior dogs (7 years or over) and puppies (those under 1 year) I believe that most animal welfare groups are asked to take more puppies than seniors.

The number of people wanting a puppy is far greater than those who will consider adopting a senior dog. When I post an adoptable puppy online, I generally get inquires from all around the USA from people who want a dog shipped to them just so they can enjoy the puppy experience over again. Most of these people are just window shopping, asking basic questions that won’t tell them anything about if the dog will fit in their home. We often get 30 or more inquiries about a particular puppy before somebody even considers submitting an adoption application.

Posting a senior dog online is a completely different story. When somebody inquires about a senior, they want to provide for a dog that has been forgotten. Often, the senior inquiries are few and far between, but the ratio of inquires to adoptions is much better. In my estimation, an adoption results in one out of about every five inquiries.

I fully understand the desire to have a dog that will be with you for many years, and know that will never change. But when considering adopting a puppy versus a young dog (1-3 years old) there are many people who will not waiver and opt for a pet older than one year.

Why is it better to consider a young dog versus a puppy? If you have ever had a puppy I think you can relate. Puppies, like children, go through stages.

First, there is the "I have no clue where to relieve myself" stage. You are running around the house mopping up little puddles, or steam cleaning for hours. Shortly thereafter follows the "I am going to mark my territory" stage that both males and females go through. Starting to ring a bell?

Next (or simultaneously) is everyone’s favorite "I don’t like the kennel" stage. That’s right, the one where the dog will bark or howl for hours. Hope you don’t want a full night of sleep during this phase.

The "chewing and biting" stages are always a fun too. Forget training a dog to bring your slippers during these stages if you want them to remain in one piece.

What it all comes down to is that puppies are a lot of work. Getting a dog who has been through one or more of the above phases makes life a lot easier. I am not saying that rescue dogs are perfect because they are not. However, it is to your advantage to let somebody else go through the puppy life cycle and reap the benefits of their hard work.

If you are considering the purchase of a puppy, I recommend looking at a slightly older dog first. Not open to the idea? Take some time and do some reading on the breed. Try and focus your time on the negatives as well as the positives. Find a message board where people discuss their problems, join it, and post your questions. Get information from a rescue about the main reasons people surrender that breed. The more you know ahead of time the less surprise you will get with your new dog.