Why People Choose to Purchase Dogs from Breeders

In recent years, conversations about dog ownership have grown increasingly passionate. Social media campaigns often promote slogans like “Adopt, don’t shop,” encouraging people to adopt rescue dogs instead of buying from breeders. While adoption can be a wonderful and compassionate choice, it’s important to recognize that purchasing a dog from a responsible, ethical breeder is also a valid and thoughtful decision.

People choose to buy from breeders for many reasons — from predictable health and temperament to lifelong breeder support and the desire to preserve specific breeds. Here’s a closer look at why many families, service organizations, and even rescue advocates turn to reputable breeders when adding a dog to their lives.

1. Predictability of Temperament and Traits

One of the most common reasons people purchase from breeders is predictability.

Every breed has been carefully developed for generations to display specific physical traits and personality characteristics. For example, a Newfoundland is known for its gentle temperament, love of water, and patient nature with children — traits that have been preserved through selective breeding.

When someone buys a puppy from a reputable breeder, they have a solid understanding of what to expect as that dog grows up. This is particularly important for families with children, older adults, or people with specific lifestyle needs. A predictable temperament helps ensure that the dog’s energy level, behavior, and care requirements align with the owner’s home environment and experience level.

Adopted dogs can make incredible companions too, but because their genetics and background are often unknown, there’s more unpredictability in their future size, coat, and behavior. Ethical breeders help remove much of that uncertainty.

2. Health Testing and Genetic Screening

Reputable breeders don’t just breed dogs — they invest in health, sometimes spending thousands of dollars on genetic and orthopedic testing before deciding to pair two dogs.

For instance, responsible breeders of large breeds like Newfoundlands typically test for:

• Hip and elbow dysplasia (via OFA or PennHIP)
• Cardiac conditions
• Cystinuria

These tests help reduce the risk of passing hereditary diseases to future puppies. Ethical breeders also keep detailed records of their dogs’ lineage and health history to make informed breeding decisions.

When buying from such a breeder, families gain peace of mind knowing their puppy’s parents were screened and that the breeder stands behind their health guarantees. In contrast, many rescue or shelter dogs come without medical or genetic background information — and while that doesn’t make them any less worthy of love, it does mean the adopter accepts more uncertainty.

3. The Importance of Early Socialization

Good breeders don’t simply breed puppies — they raise them with care and purpose.

From the moment they’re born, puppies are handled daily, exposed to household sounds, and introduced to people, other dogs, cats, and sometimes livestock or children. This early socialization helps puppies grow into confident, well-adjusted adults.

Some breeders use structured programs like Puppy Culture or Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) to give their litters the best start in life. By the time a family brings their puppy home, that puppy has already learned how to interact with people and respond to new situations calmly.

This kind of early development can make a huge difference in the dog’s long-term behavior and confidence — something not always guaranteed when adopting a puppy from an unknown background.

4. Breeder Support for Life

When you buy from a reputable breeder, you gain more than a dog — you gain a lifelong mentor. Ethical breeders make it clear that their relationship doesn’t end at the sale. They offer advice on training, nutrition, grooming, and health care, and they’re available to answer questions for the lifetime of the dog.

Most even include clauses in their contracts stating that if the owner can no longer keep the dog, it must be returned to the breeder — not surrendered to a shelter. This commitment helps prevent dogs from ending up in rescues in the first place.

That kind of support and accountability is invaluable, especially for first-time dog owners who want to do everything right but may not know where to start.

Of course this commitment goes in both directions. People have to be willing to honor the contract that they signed. Unfortunately some people lack honor and integrity and the dog still ends up in rescue. It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen.

5. Preservation of Breed Heritage

Another major reason people buy from breeders is preservation. Purebred dogs represent generations of careful selection for specific traits — not just looks, but purpose. Every breed has a history and reason for existing.

Newfoundlands, for example, were bred as working water rescue dogs. Border Collies were developed for herding. Great Pyrenees guarded livestock in mountainous regions. By breeding responsibly and maintaining healthy gene pools, ethical breeders help preserve these living pieces of canine history.

Without dedicated preservation breeders, many of these breeds — and their unique abilities — could eventually disappear. Choosing to buy from a responsible breeder is, in many ways, supporting the continuation of that legacy.

6. Specific Needs and Lifestyles

Some people have very specific needs that only a certain breed can meet. A person looking for a calm, water-loving companion might seek out a Newfoundland, while someone needing an allergy-friendly dog may choose a Poodle or Portuguese Water Dog.

Similarly, service organizations often rely on breeders to produce dogs with predictable temperaments suitable for therapy or assistance work. These programs require dogs that meet strict standards for behavior, intelligence, and health — standards that only ethical breeding can reliably achieve.

For these individuals or families, purchasing from a breeder isn’t about preference — it’s about function and compatibility.

7. Responsible Breeders Help, Not Hurt, the Canine Community

Contrary to some misconceptions, responsible breeders are not the cause of shelter overpopulation. Let me say that again for the people this line might trigger.

If you at all felt triggered by this, the comment section is open and I’m over due for some hate comments.

In fact, responsible breeders are often part of the solution. Ethical breeders limit the number of litters they produce, carefully screen buyers, and require their dogs to be returned to them if rehoming becomes necessary.

Most reputable breeders are passionate about overall canine welfare. They educate the public about responsible ownership, spay/neuter options, and proper training — all of which reduce the number of unwanted dogs.

The real issue lies with irresponsible breeding (such as puppy mills or backyard breeders) and uninformed ownership, not with ethical, preservation-minded breeders who prioritize health and stability.

8. Emotional Connection and Trust

Finally, many people choose breeders because of the connection and trust that form throughout the process. Reputable breeders invite potential owners to their homes (virtually or in person), introduce them to the parent dogs, and provide full transparency about how the puppies are raised.

This level of openness allows buyers to see where their puppy was born and raised — not in a kennel or mill, but in a loving environment. That trust builds confidence and helps new owners start their journey with support, guidance, and community.

Choosing to purchase a dog from a breeder doesn’t mean someone is against adoption — it simply means they’re making an informed choice that suits their needs, lifestyle, and values. Responsible breeders are educators, caretakers, and preservationists who dedicate their lives to improving their breeds and ensuring their puppies thrive.

Whether you adopt or shop responsibly, the goal should always be the same: to give dogs a safe, loving, lifelong home. When done with care, purchasing from a reputable breeder is not just a valid choice — it’s an ethical one that supports the health, heritage, and happiness of dogs for generations to come.