I have always had a hard time deciding whether or not my first dog would be adopted or if I would purchase him from a breeder. My husband purchased Icon from a very good breeder as my first dog, so when we decided it was time for a new dog I adopted. Ecko seemed to be the perfect fit, and she was so beautiful! Then we started having really serious problems with Ecko and the cats. So it saddens me to realize that my situation may not be the best for an adopted dog. I just have too many cats and its not safe for me to bring in a dog with an unknown history. I'm just not comfortable risking my cats lives like that... I think, for a little while at least, I am going to get puppies as young as possible, and unfortunately you don't come by those as often as adult dogs. How does everyone else feel about adoption vs puppyhood?

John LOVES cats. My dad is allergic so I always did without as a kid and have learned to live without them. I wouldn't mind a cat, but I'm not as gung ho about them as he is. When we got Koda, we were hoping he would be good with cats. Fat chance! Haha. He sees them as the electronic rabbit in the greyhound races LOL.

Now... personally, we always want to adopt. We debated the puppy thing for a while, but all the training, house training, destruction, etc wasn't for us. Granted, there are a whole mess of other issues with adoption, but to me, the puppy stage is a bit overrated.

However, I will say this, and I've said this before-- if you have cats and want your dog to get along with them, the BEST option is puppyhood. The way I see it, you're paying for that assurance. Now, there ARE adoptions who get along with cats (who may have had them growing up etc). The girl we are adopting in a couple of weeks is great with cats... so you can get lucky. But the point still stands.. if you want 100% assurance (although I say that hesitantly because nothing is ever 100%) I would go with a puppy.

Hope this helps!

I think I will always adopt I love knowing I'm taking in a dog that needs a good home. I will say though that I think it is just as hard to adopt and not know what they have been through and having to work through that takes time and we are learning that with Sierra as she was not very friendly with men but she is working through it and the bonding she is now doing with my husband that even 6 months ago she would not do has been so great to see. I will say a puppy would be great cause you can start on training them young where we are having a hell of a time working with our 2. but I do not want to deal with the potty training and the chewing and they only stay cute and puppy like for a short time. so that is how I feel right now.

I keep telling myself that a puppy is my only real option, its hard because I am one of those people that always want to help, and I feel like I am not helping all those poor dogs at all. I beat myself up over stuff all the time though. Sorry, one of those Sarah Mcloughlin (sp?) ASPCA commercials were on and they make me bawl EVERY time!

I have no qualms about either buying or adopting. I think it really boils down to ones individual situation and what is the better fit for both the people as well as current and potential pet(s).

Personally I will always consider adoption first and foremost. However I am not opposed to seeking out a puppy from a reputable breeder if that would be the best fit for our family and situation. Both of my current dogs are adopted but I do plan to one day buy an Alaskan Klee Kai from a reputable breeder. Aside from that I may also purchase a show Chihuahua in the future but I want any and all other furry pets I ever get to be adopted. One of my three guinea pigs is adopted too.

We got our first husky at 8 weeks old and we had our cat for a few years already and they never adjusted. He was very rough with her and didn't realize she couldn't play like a dog. So I think it can happen with a puppy also. Plus puppies tend to be more playful and not care who or what is around them when they are playing where as an older 2 or 3 yr old husky is passed that stage.
Our first husky was a puppy and second was adopted and from now on we will always adopt b/c there are so many people that get huskies and find out they can't handle them.

I think anybody who wants a husky should do some deep research before getting one.

All of mine are adopted (Ridik and Tambi were basically abandoned here). The best part for mehas been working trough all of the issues. It seems to get easier and faster with each dog. But there is one draw back; there's no health ratings on any of their pedigrees, if we even have that. I love taking mine hiking and can't imagine enjoying mountain summits without them. Sioux will need surgery eventually for his hips. That really bothers me to no end. I know that the chance of things like that can pop up anywhere, but the proper tests go a long way in reducing those risks. I would like to not have to take a dog through a rehab program, still that's the hand I was dealt.

The other angle is the fact that I can't work a dog until they're two years old. Waiting that long to start a fitness routine would suck. Especially while going through all that puppy drama.

Well since I tend to agree with dogs on this point "CAT ARE THE DEVIL BOBBY BOUCHER", and won't ever have one. It's adoption for me, to many pets in shelters need homes as it is. But it really depends on your situation I guess.

yeah, that is hard too, Icon really wants to get into the agility and stuff but I wasn't allowed on the course with him, he just learned the moves, I was told to do that until he was around 2 bc that is when their growth plates close and I don't want him damaging anything... and I do foster dogs occasionally, I do what I can. The last husky I fostered was the sweetest dog ever! It was so sad to see him go. I took him through some of Icon's classes and stuff before I adopted him out... he was great with cats, but my foster dogs so far seem to be good with the cats... it is just the one that I want to keep. To be honest I didn't spend much time at home with any of my foster dogs, so the cats being in danger wasn't really an issue... for the most part we were always out and about trying to socialize and train and find new homes... So that works for my lifestyle, but it seems like every time I want to keep a foster dog something stops me, usually a prospective owner... and then when I got Ecko with intentions to keep her and she was the most terrible one... I think I am cursed...

You have to remember , as a puppy , you get to socialize the pup with the cats and it learns that they are not food. husky's have a really high prey drive and the adopted one was probally not well socialized, especially around cats, so it see's them as prey.

mcdlabs wrote:

You have to remember , as a puppy , you get to socialize the pup with the cats and it learns that they are not food. husky's have a really high prey drive and the adopted one was probally not well socialized, especially around cats, so it see's them as prey.

Exactly why I think for cats, going to puppy route is easier

mcdlabs, post in the welcome mat and introduce yourself! Your puppies are gorgeous

Koda wrote:

Exactly why I think for cats, going to puppy route is easier

It's not always the case though, there are some huskies in rescues and shelters that are fine with cats even if they are the minority. We adopted our husky and he is "okay" with cats.

Huskyluv wrote:

Koda wrote:

Exactly why I think for cats, going to puppy route is easier

It's not always the case though, there are some huskies in rescues and shelters that are fine with cats even if they are the minority. We adopted our husky and he is "okay" with cats.

I'm not saying it's impossible, I'm saying it's easier. Coming from someone who has seen a LOT of huskies to adopt, it's not easy to find one that is, especially if they've never seen cats.

Look at our new girl we're getting, she's GREAT with cats, but she's the first in a series of MANY that we've looked at. If there's a choice in the matter, or you are impatient, I think the puppy route to ensure safety is the easiest to take