Once you’ve decided you want a dog and know which breeds are suitable, the hard part begins. You now have to decide if you want to bring home a puppy or a shelter dog.
This is not an easy decision (trust me, I know!), and both have their pros and cons. Whatever you decide, you need to make an informed decision. Hence, I have crafted this quick guide to the ultimate dilemma of ‘puppy or shelter dog’.
Disclaimer: I love adding images to blog posts, as I feel they break up walls of text (especially on a phone). However, I didn’t want to put in any images in the lists themselves to avoid making it difficult to read, so this blog post will have fewer images than I normally use.
Table of Contents
Puppy or Shelter Dog: The Ultimate Dilemma [Quick Guide]
Everybody loves puppies, myself included — I guess the term ‘puppy love’ really is apt in these situations 😜. However, while adorable, puppies are hard work! Not everyone is up for that (and kudos to you if you realise that!), and others just want to give a shelter dog a new and loving home.
Whatever option you choose, there are pros and cons to both. It is up to you to look at those and think for yourself what you can and want to do.
Now, I love to recommend shelter dogs, but I am pretty biased because I have had shelter dogs before — Years ago, I volunteered at a local shelter, and on my very first day, 2 German Shepherd brothers, 4 years old, were surrendered (these people got divorced and neither wanted the dogs — heartbreaking 💔).
They were kept in an outdoor kennel all day, every day, and knew nothing in terms of love, commands, treats, or toys. After meeting them and evaluating them/their behaviour, I adopted them right then and there (although I had to wait the mandatory waiting period), and it was the best decision I’ve ever made! The love they gave me was worth it a thousandfold!
So, let me run you through the main pros and cons of both puppies and shelter dogs — but don’t worry, it will be totally unbiased 😉! I have made it into a listicle so it is easy to read.
Did you know that humans are hardwired to love baby animals?!While scientists haven’t found out exactly why just yet, Professor and author Joshua Paul Dale says “We seek out cuteness because it feels good”*…and well, I can’t say I disagree 😊
* If you want to learn more, check out this article on National Geographic.
It can be difficult to choose between a puppy or a shelter dog.
The Pros of Puppies
Puppies are a blank slate —> Because puppies are puppies, there is no baggage, no unwanted behaviour you must train out, etc.
Remember: This is only applicable when buying a puppy from a reputable breeder! Puppies will more than likely have behavioural issues when they come from puppy mills!
Socialisation? Check! —> reputable breeders ensure proper and early socialisation for their pups. This is key! They have done the prep work, you just need to continue their work to ensure an all-round socialised dog.
Longer lifespan —> Puppies should (normally, obviously) live for many years (how many is breed-dependent). A shelter dog is usually (somewhat) older, so most likely, you get to spend less time with your dog.
Get the breed you want —> If you have narrowed down which breed is suitable for you, you can look for reputable breeders. Shelters may not have the breed you would like.
Puppies have no secrets —> When you go to a reputable breeder for your pup (AS YOU SHOULD!), they know their breed inside out, and also have a really good feel for each individual pup. They can often spot the puppy that will have the temperament that best fits you and your life(style).
Known health —> Reputable breeders only breed with parent dogs that are healthy (they are almost always screened for any (hereditary) health issues).
With them being puppies, they don’t have any health issues…yet — remember that no dog will be 100% healthy for their entire life! In most cases, reputable breeders will gladly give you any health documentation they have regarding your pup.
Another puppy mill warning: steer clear of buying pups from these places! You will get a puppy that is most likely already ill!
Approximately 50% of all puppy mill dogs die in the first 12 weeks of their life!
Return the sender —> Let’s say you take a puppy and something happens, e.g. you falling seriously ill or someone in the family turns out to be (too) allergic. A reputable breeder will gladly take the dog back and look for another family…which is way better than bringing or returning a dog to a shelter.
Known origins —> Again, when going to a reputable breeder, you know where you dog is coming from. You know about lineage, where the dog comes from (country), and you have the documentation (like a passport) to prove it.
A closeup of newborn puppies (Photo from Freepik.com)
The Cons of Puppies
Time & energy consuming —> A puppy knows absolutely nothing, so it’s up to you to teach and train him to become the best version of himself. This includes house training (which can, depending on breed, be quite a task!), socialising, and obedience training.
Teaching will take time and energy…and sometimes sleepless nights, especially when potty training.
It takes patience —> In fact, it can take A LOT of patience! Not just in teaching/training (like I mentioned above) but also with their antics.
For example, pretty much every puppy goes through a biting phase…cables, shoes, whatever, nothing is safe or sacred 🫢. You will need patience to teach your puppy what is and isn’t desired/wanted behaviour.
Training and teaching a puppy is no different from raising a toddler (for those who have kids). You need to invest time, energy, and patience to teach your toddler how to behave properly...with the occasional temper tantrum 😜.
High purchase price —> Puppies are quite costly to purchase! How much, is very much breed-dependent but expect to pay anywhere between $1,000 and $2,000 (checking an average of UK prices, I estimate an average of £1,500). However, some dogs, especially those from, e.g. show dog parents, can cost way more.
More short-term expenses —> Apart from the above-mentioned high(er) purchase price, you also need to keep in mind that in the short-run, your puppy needs several vet visits, e.g. to get his/her vaccinations, chip, and spay/neutering if you choose to do so.
Waiting time —> You may know which breed you want, you have done research into a reputable breeder…aaaaand then you find out they have no litter coming up (yet). Bummer!
While this sucks, and you are eager for a puppy, do NOT see this a sign to go just anywhere for a puppy! If you do, you might end up with a puppy mill dog which is a huuuuge no-no!
Blank slate —> Okay, confusing as I also put it as the first pro of a puppy, so let me explain: a puppy needs to be trained from scratch… excellent, because only the behaviour you teach him is there (that includes anything that you don’t want him to do, say, jump up at people).
However, many might find themselves overwhelmed or afraid they unintentionally make mistakes that might lead to problems that require a dog trainer’s intervention.
That said, it doesn’t have to be a con if you are ready and able to take puppy classes. Finding the right trainer (do your research on this!) can help you and your puppy become the best team ever!
An added bonus of puppy classes? You get to meet other puppy parents — your dog gets to learn more socialisation (people and dogs), and who knows, you might make some friends yourself…a win-win in my book 😉.
The Pros of Shelter Dogs
Usually trained —> Contrary to popular belief, most shelter dogs are not unruly or have tons of behavioural issues. Many dogs come from homely environments where they were loved but had to be surrendered for a variety or reasons, such as long-term illness or death of the owner, or financial issues.
No puppy-hood trials —> Raising a puppy is hard work. Things like house training can take up a lot of time. Then there is the dreaded ‘I-will-bite-whatever-I-can-sink-my-teeth-into period…drives many people nuts.
In most cases, shelter dogs are (at least somewhat) older, meaning their puppy antics are behind them and they are often house trained already.
No immediate vet costs —> Compared to a puppy, you don’t have any immediate vet costs such as spay/neutering, chips, and overall health checks. This is (almost always) done by the shelter, usually as soon as dogs come in.
Cheaper —> Apart from not having any immediate vet costs, shelter dogs are also cheaper to purchase than puppies from reputable(!) breeders. General rule of thumb: the older the dog, the cheaper the adoption price.
Known temperament —> An older dog (aka, any dog past the puppy stage) already shows his or her temperament. This can help you (and the shelter) to see if this individual dog will be a good fit for you.
Known behaviour —> While many shelter dogs are usually trained (to some degree), it is important to realise that being in a stressful environment (i.e. the shelter), a dog’s behaviour can be different (at least temporarily).
Also, for the dogs that are there with behavioural issues, the issues are observed and known. When possible, a shelter will work on the behaviour but most likely, they will not be able to fix it entirely while in the shelter. It is then up to the new owner to continue the work. But, at least you know what you are working with and you can then decide if you want to take up the work.
You are saving a life —> In many cases, quite literally! There are still many kill shelters in the world who will euthanise a dog if (s)he is deemed to be unadoptable.
Even in no-kill shelters, many dogs are suffering. Having volunteered in a shelter, I have seen this firsthand. It is sad 😢.
You might get the breed you want with known temperament and behaviour —> “What does that mean?” I hear you ask. As you know by now (hopefully), I am all about taking breed-specific traits into consideration.
However, as I said before, shelter dogs have a known temperament and behaviour. This means that you might have an individual dog that does not (completely) act like his/her breed would.
For example: A very active breed might not be suitable, but perhaps there is a dog of that breed in the shelter that is somewhat older and does not need the breed-required exercise and you can still get a breed that you want.
Older age —> Generally speaking, shelter dogs are older dogs. What I mean is that it is rare to find puppies in shelters. If they are there, the won’t be there for long. Having an older dog means that you may have to say goodbye to your doggo sooner than with a puppy.
Possible baggage —> Pretty much all shelter dogs will have baggage. This can be trauma from being in a loving home and then taken to a shelther (for whatever reason), coming from an abusive and/or neglectful environment, or stress from being in a shelter (for too long).
It is quite common for dogs that come from a shelter to have separation anxiety. Or you may have to spend extra time to overcome the dog’s trauma.
Undesired behaviour —> building onto the previous point, baggage can come with undesired and unwanted behaviours such as excessive barking or jumping up at people. While this behaviour is known (it is observed by the shelter), not everyone is willing or able to put in the time and effort to work on the issue(s).
Adopters are unfamiliar with dog behaviour —> Shelters are stressful places! You have a dog that has been taken out of his/her known or trusted environment and is now in a kennel with lots of other (unknown) dogs and people. The stress will cause a dog to bark excessively, lunge at the kennel gate, etc.
However, this is not the actual behaviour of the dog, it is the stress. If you are unfamiliar with this concept, it can appear that the dog is ‘aggressive’ or has other behavioural problems, and the dog will be ignored by potential adopters.
When in doubt, consult with the shelter personell, in many cases they know the dog’s behaviour outside of the shelter/kennel evironment.
Adjustment time —> many people expect a shelter dog to be instantly grateful for being taken out of a shelter and needs to bond with you immediately. However, that is not how it works.
The dog needs time to adjust to you, your house, your routine, you name it. Some dogs may do this in a matter of days, but more often than not, it will take a few weeks and, in some cases, even a few months!
When your dog is a bit withdrawn, doesn’t ‘bond’ with you directly, etc., don’t fret! Don’t push! And definitely don’t just return the dog to the shelter! You see, there is this helpful thing called ‘the 3-3-3-rule‘ that explains the adjust period of a shelter dog.
Yes, sometimes, it turns out the match is not right. If you have given it time, asked for help, etc., and still something is not right (for both you and the dog), give yourself some grace too. You tried!
Contact the shelter, explain the situation and return him so that he can find a better match.Don’t think you failed the dog, it is better to return him so he can find home that suits him better, than keep him where he is not feeling his best.
You many not find the breed you want —> Most people have an idea of the breed they want, even if it may not be the best fit for their life(style). However, a shelter is not a ‘breed to order’ place.
That said, if you are open-minded and look for the dog with the best temperamental and behavioural fit for you, you WILL walk out with the dog you NEED.
Unknown health —> When dogs come from bad evironments, such as abusive places, puppy mills, or the streets, not much is known about their medical history.
Yes, a vet will check over the dog for any current (and sometimes potential future) medical conditions (think early signs of hip dysplasia), there may not be any indication of prior medical problems.
Also, there will be no information from parent dogs so no information about any potential hereditary conditions. Keep this in mind that you may (or may not!) have any medical problems popping up later.
Potentially complicated adoption process —> Adopting a dog is not necessarily a quick and easy fix for ‘just getting a dog’. Just like with reputable breeders, most shelters will ask you a host of questions, ranging from “do you have any experience with dogs?” to “how long will the dog be left alone during the day?”to gauge how a dog will fit into your life(style).
You see, proper shelters care about where the dog will live. If the dog is left alone 10 hours a day, all day every day, and you cannot afford a pet sitter/dog walker, the shelter might be very relunctant (and rightfully so!) to go through with the adoption.
That said, often shelters will look WITH you for a dog that would suit you. However, if they don’t feel the environment will be rigth for the dog, you might walk away without one. If that happens, as difficult as it is, accept that. After all, we are talking about a living, breathing animal, not a battery-operated toy dog!
Any shelter that does not evaluate you and your life(style) to see if a (specific) dog will be suitable is, in my opinion, not a reputable shelter — they just want to get rid of the dog(s) asap.
What’s Next?
Well, that is up to you. As you can see, there are pros and cons to both puppies and shelter dogs so you need to decide for yourself what is best for you.
Yes, I wholly advocate for shelter dogs, as there are way too many dogs looking for a loving home, but ultimately, I cannot decide for you.
Not to mention, whether you go for a puppy or a shelter dog depends on what fits you and your lifestyle. If you want a puppy and you can give all your attention to raising one, then don’t let anyone shame you for not going for a shelter dog.
If you are not sure about shelter dogs, then go to a local shelter if you can! Volunteer a few times (however many times you can) as shelters are always looking for help.
You get to see how shelters operate, how dogs come in and how their behaviour may change over time (remember the bit I told you about adopters being unfamiliar with dog behaviour in a shelter?!), or you can opt to take dogs for walks. This is good for your and the dog’s health, you get to see a dog’s behaviour away from the shelter, and, who knows, you might fall in love in a particular dog and choose to bring him/her home!
Volunteers at a shelter — many shelters are always looking for volunteers! (Photo from Freepik.com)
If you decide on a puppy, please do proper research and ONLY go for reputable breeders! You do not want to take home a puppy mill pup because that will not do either of you any good. I have a great (but very extensive!) blog post on how to recognise puppy mills.
So, have you decided yet on what you choose, puppy or shelter dog? Drop your answer in the comments!
Remember to pin an image to your favourite pet board!
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