Adopt.. or Shop! The Only Thing That Actually Matters

Adopt or Shop? The Only Thing That Actually Matters

Some people believe the only ethical way to get a dog (or cat) is to adopt. With so many animals sitting in shelters, why would we intentionally breed more dogs?

This post is going to focus on dogs—I’ll happily fall down the cat rabbit hole another day.

At the end of the day, whether you adopt or go through a breeder is largely a matter of opinion. What actually matters is that you do your research and choose a dog whose breed, temperament, and needs truly fit your lifestyle. There are countless dogs in shelters, and it’s absolutely possible to find the exact temperament—or even breed—you’re looking for if you’re patient and intentional. On the flip side, finding a reputable, ethical breeder can also be a great option when you’re looking for specific traits that align with your life.

Maybe you’ve adopted in the past and ended up with a dog who had severe behavioral challenges, and this time around you’d prefer the predictability that can come with researching a breed and meeting the parents. That’s a completely valid choice. Or maybe every dog you’ve ever owned came from a shelter and they’ve been absolute gems—so you’re willing to wait, visit often, and keep your eyes peeled for that unicorn dog. Both paths are okay.

My own dogs have come from just about everywhere.

My very first dog was a Mini Schnauzer named Peanut. We didn’t technically “adopt” her or get her from a breeder—we found her, and her owner was a college student who had purchased her from a breeder and he realized he couldn’t care for her and surrendered her to us. She was a great dog! Our next dog, Cleo, came from a shelter. She was a scruffy terrier mutt who lived to be 17. She was so skittish when we got her but incredibly sweet and loyal and ended up being an amazing dog as well.

My third dog was my first dog on my own, away from my family. I wanted a dog I felt confident hiking alone with, but who also enjoyed socializing and dog parks. I adopted him as a puppy, and while he was an amazing dog, he also came with serious behavioral challenges. He was difficult—but he taught me more about dogs than any book, trainer, or course ever could. I’ll always be grateful for him, he's the reason I moved to Montana, how I met my husband and why I opened this business. He came with his challenges but I wouldn't have changed a thing about him... but maybe for my next dog I would be more careful in my selection and research breeders, meet some parents and take my time.

Bentley! (the reason I opened my business)

Once I started saying I wanted to go to a breeder, the opinions came flying in. It quickly became clear that no one is fully right or wrong—it’s all perspective. And I wanted to touch on that, you aren't bad for going to a breeder (as long as its an ethical breeder) and you aren't superior for adopting from a rescue or shelter either, both options have their place and time and breeders are very important to keeping breeds alive and shelters are detrimental to keeping streets clean and saving lives too.

Adopting from a shelter—whether it’s a puppy or an adult dog—doesn’t guarantee they won’t dig holes, destroy toys, or have behavioral issues. And purchasing a dog from a reputable breeder doesn’t guarantee a dog who loves babies, cats, men, or strangers. Some things come down to training and environment, but others are simply genetics. Certain breeds are wired to herd, chase, guard, bite, problem-solve, or outsmart you—and that’s not a flaw, it’s biology. We owe it to ourselves and the dog to think carefully about breed traits and ethical sourcing before bringing one home.

And then… jokes on me—I adopted again.

I wasn’t even looking for a dog, and honestly, those tend to be the best ones. One of our clients fosters for Bella’s Second Chance, a local rescue. When they’re gone for long ski days, we do drop-ins for their dogs. Anytime a new foster comes into the home, we do a meet-and-greet before adding them to the schedule.

That’s how I met Sunny.

He greeted me politely at the door, played well with her 3 dogs, and just had this happy, confident presence. I remember thinking, “I can’t believe someone gave this dog up.” (He was actually seized from a hoarding case in Utah, so he wasn’t surrendered—but he had been neglected.) I left that meet-and-greet and immediately called my husband and told him he had to meet this dog.

A few days later we did another meet-and-greet. Sunny ignored deer, walked nicely on leash, and greeted Cody with excitement instead of fear—something many dogs struggle with when unfamiliar men enter the home. Cody liked him, but said something that stuck with me: “He seems to really likes you. You should get him—for you.”

I thought about it for maybe 30 minutes over lunch and submitted an application.

It’s been just a few days with Sunny, and he’s already gone on long walks, learned not to bark at my horse Rowan, shown mild curiosity (but no obsession) with the chickens, been politely nervous of the cat, and fit right in with Bruin. Sunny was originally named Monkey before he was transported to Montana, then renamed Sunny. I may change it again—I had a horse named Sunny growing up and I’m not a fan of duplicate pet names. Atlas, Halo, or Arlo are contenders… Atlas seems to be winning.

Bella’s Second Chance does DNA testing on their foster dogs, which I think is such an incredible bonus. Sunny (or Atlas?) is 74% German Shepherd, 21% White Swiss Shepherd, with small percentages of Samoyed, Malinois, and Labrador. He’s incredibly smart, athletic, and eager to learn—traits that fit my life beautifully.

So adopt or shop—just do it responsibly. Avoid backyard breeders. Support ethical rescues. Choose a dog whose needs align with your life, not just your heart in the moment. Unsure if a dog is the right fit? Reach out to a dog trainer and they can help assess! Cody at Diverse Dog Training has done many puppy assessments and cane either come and help, or give you the tools to test on your own.

I’m excited to have a dog in my life again. Bentley will always be missed—but my heart had room for one more.