I understand there are many reasons for wanting a puppy rather than a dog, but show respect for seniority! Puppies are cute, but dogs are much more desperate for homes and loving hearts. These poor adults were once pups too and have been raised in loving homes only to get eventually get dumped at an animal shelter, where people bypass them due to their age. Please reconsider the puppy factor and look into the many adult canines available in the classified ads!

Please also consider getting a dog from an animal shelter. Many are abused or just plain unwanted. These animals have only love to give and so many are ignored.

There are thousands of ads on Kijiji for purebreds that costs potentially thousands of dollars. Just 4 months ago there was a Chihuahua at the Edmonton Humane Society! There are also BREED RESCUES, something many people are unfamiliar with. Some people found rescue organizations for a particular breed!
The costs for shelter dogs are much lower than for a purebred and they can cover extensive medical treatments such as altering and surgeries as well as a standard fee temporary or long-term sheltering. These fees are usually less than $300, versus that $1500 you're going to spend on a "Labradoodle" or "Whoodle". Don't get me wrong, I love certain purebreds too, but I recognize the greater need in plain-jane dogs that are the result of human stupidity on the lack-of-spaying-and-neutering-front.
Thank you!

PS: Thanks to a contributor who would like to remind the public: most adult dogs do not need house trainging vs a puppy! "Save your carpet!"

One more thing....PLEASE HAVE YOUR PET SPAYED AND NEUTERED, UNLESS IT IS A REGISTERED SHOW BREED OR YOU ARE INTENTIONALLY STUDDING. If you don't want your girl pregnant, alter her. If you own a male dog, it's not funny to force puppies on other people.

Nice post!!!

I would like to add that getting your dog from a rescue (either breed specific or all-breed) often has the advantage of knowing the dog's temperment etc before adopting. When we get a dog in we not only fully vet the dog, but also keep him/her in a foster home to assess the dog. We then do our best to make sure dog and adopters are compatible.

If you don't know where to find a rescue - google it! There are too many of us out there to count.

Thanks for a great post!

I have yo agree, excellent post! Thank you for sharing and (hopefully) enlightening a few folks.

thank you everyone 4 the nice replies