spectacular. wrote:@Imzadi83
In a sense, I understand where you are coming from─ but the way your comment came off didn’t seem like you just wanted to help educate. It sort of came off as “don’t go to a breeder, check a shelter instead,” which seemed uncalled for. OP stated they found a breeder, and that should be the end of it. At the end of the day, it’s up to the OP to come to the decision of if said breeder is reputable or not and if they choose to ignore help (which I don’t imagine they would, considering they are here asking for it) it falls on them. I don’t think we can question the breeder because, as you stated, we don’t know this breeder or their reasons for breeding. But there’s no reason to automatically assume that the breeder they have chosen is bad, either. That can go both ways.
Also, if OP wants a purebred─ less than 2% of the shelter dog population are purebreds, despite what a lot of people are led to believe. Other than going to a breeder, however, OP might be better off finding a reputable, breed-specific rescue group, who are more likely to actually know the breed that they rescue and are likely to be much more helpful than any shelter stall. Which, in my own personal experience (as well as a couple of friend’s experiences) are pretty subpar and often extremely rude.
Onto the topic of shelters being a good place for information, long story short─ they aren’t. They are not the end all be all of all dog experience/ownership and information. Actually, in fact, many shelters (and keep that keyword in mind ─many─ not all) are very uneducated in dog behavior, training, health, etc. A better idea would be to go to an expo or even a dog show, where you can talk to people who actually make their life about their dogs, and people who know their dogs better than a shelter would. Somebody who knows the breed can offer much more valuable information than most shelters would.
While I don’t recommend it─ because you have to cherrypick and find the best ones to join, facebook can offer educational dog groups that give off good information as well. But again, you have to really search for them and know what you’re looking for.
Another thing you mention that I can’t ignore─ backyard breeding (BYB) and puppy-mills. Both of those words are highly overused and often people will rush to label normal hobby breeders and pet breeders as puppy mills.
Yes ─ a dog should be health tested with the OFA and have been tested for what their specific breed recommends and I would never recommend someone buy a dog that has not been health tested.
No ─ true titling is completely optional.
(ig.) The AKC doesn’t recognize some dog sports (and some dog breeds), therefore those dogs have to go through off registries like the ADBA, NCA, etc. Also, titles often don’t transfer over through certain registries. I’m absolutely sure that several people would say that my Doberman is not from a reputable breeder because, according to the AKC, his parents aren’t really CH dogs. 
I'm sorry if my post came off as anyway other than education. I stated it was their choice and pointed them in the direction of where they could educate themselves in regards to making an informed one. I'm not assuming the breeder is either responsible or irresponsible, I'm just hoping and encouraging the OP to find that out. I'm not trying to question the breeder so much as I want to encourage OP to question them if they haven't. Since we don't know I see no harm in providing information OP can use (or not) to make an informed choice. As I want to see less dogs killed in shelters I personally don't think asking someone "Please consider going to a shelter or rescue instead." especially when talking about one of the breeds most commonly seen in shelters is such a bad thing to ask. If they don't want to fine, if they've never thought about it what's wrong with asking them to think about it or look into it to see if it's right for them? Personally I think one of the best pieces of training advice I could give is for someone to do their due diligence in sourcing a dog. Many people I've personally known have gotten a dog from someone they thought was a good breeder only to find out and regret their decision later.
If the OP wants a purebred is a an IF because they didn't state such. They stated Pit Bull which is more a type then a breed and is one most common to end up in and killed in shelters. I do agree with you about breed specific rescue groups which is why I mentioned rescues as well as shelters. I'm sorry you've had bad experiences in shelters; like rescue groups, breeders, etc. all are not the same however so I stand by my recommendation to look into them rather than just assuming. If you or OP doesn't like or feel that they are a good resource you/they don't have to use them. I also agree with your idea of going to an expo or dog show. Thank you for mentioning that, I think they should do that as well.
To me if the idea of breeding for "hobby" is a moot point and not one I use in discussions about responsible versus irresponsible breeders since both could consider breeding a "hobby". When I say BYBs I'm referring to irresponsible breeders as that is the most widely used and accepted form of the term in my experience. I'm not rushing to label any breeder in particular. Untimely one has to decide for themselves what they require in a breeder. I don't agree that those words are overused however. I think there are sadly many BYBs and puppy mills around pumping out dogs that end up in shelters/rescues. Again over a million dogs are killed in shelters/rescues every year in the US alone, where do you think they came from? Irresponsible breeders. Considering the extent of the problem I'd said irresponsible breeders likely outnumber the responsible ones though I don't know for sure. Either way I would recommend caution and research to anyone. If OP has already done that, decided their breeder is responsible and that is the best choice for them great! They can just ignore that part and focus on training advice (which I did also provide). What I said was said (as nice as I know how given that typed responses don't show tone) came from a place of love for dogs and concern for the OP that I wish them to find a companion that is right for them.
When I say titling I'm not concerned with what registries those titles apply to or can transfer to though I see your confusion. I'm referring to the fact that a breeder does their due diligence to prove that their dog fits the breed standard and is worth breeding to better the breed. Also this prevents kennel blindness to compare ones dogs to others to again make sure they are breeding with an intent to better the breed, not just make more pets that have the physical characteristics of the breed standard.
Araphen. wrote:So. I worked in a rescue for 5+ years.
I really love the support for shelter pets, but I really hate the shove down your throat attitude. ( not directing that at any particular person. This is a very sensitive argument and things can be taken very wrong)
Let’s me just throw in my two cents.
Along with what every one is saying about “pits” in shelters not being purebred ....
I am going to probably state the likely very unpopular opinion of the pro-shelter argument - that if this is your first dog, or first dog in a long time ... and your heart is set on a pit, I think you are doing absolutely the right thing looking for a breeder rather than trying to take on a rescue pit. Absolutely down the road once you know the temperaments of pits better and have an established training disciplinary routine look for another rescue pitty to add to your life.
Pits are fantastic dogs, and can be rehabbed. But they are not really beginner dogs in general. If you are just starting out with one it is best to get it as a puppy. Because I can honestly say that with the over 50+ pits I have seen come from shelters very few came with out a quirk of some sort. Many where not obviously apparent at first either, but potentially very dangerous. If you are not ready for that, and don’t have a plan to counter, you could get hurt and will likely have to rehome (more often than not return to the pound) the dog anyway, so your adding to the problem not subtracting from it.
That said. Absolutely do a lot of research on your breeders. Pits are a common enough breed there is a lot of good material out there to pick a good breeder, and there are a lot of really good ones. That said there are also a LOT of really bad ones. Be careful.
I disagree though I see where you are coming from. Personally I think a puppy is a bad idea for anyone's first dog. A lot of dogs in shelters started out as normal puppies but end up with problems because the owners just weren't ready for all it takes to raise a puppy for it to turn out as a well balanced dog. That's one of the reasons I recommend fostering/volunteering as at the least you'll see the problems that can happen and know to find out how to not do that with your own dog. Where I am most problems we see from dogs in shelters is simply a lack of training/socialization as a puppy then they grew up and the owners couldn't handle the dog once it was fully grown and still biting,jumping, dog reactive, etc. Although honestly people moving/change of lifestyles are still major reasons why dogs end up in shelters/rescues. A good shelter/rescue should match people with a dog that is a good fit for them and be honest about any quirks, so should a good breeder. Some do it better then others so people should be careful regardless of which they choose.
I agree with Pit Bulls not being an ideal first dog, but would extend that to add I don't think most terriers are something I would recommend as a first dog to most people.
