I hate f*ckers who do this! All of my dogs have been rescued. I got a little Pom 14 years ago that was a puppymill rescue. He was in such bad shape my vet didn't think he would make it two weeks. Well, that was 14 years ago and he's still going strong. There are legitamite breeders who do love their animals, don't get me wrong. But given the option, I would always rescue a dog because in theory, it's really the dog that rescues you in the end not you rescuing the dog. Just my opionion tho...

Yes, I've done rescue work of all species for over 20 years. The worst was when I was volunteering at a shelter in Michigan and a woman came in with her two cats and said she had to turn them in. Why? Her new furniture just arrived and their fur color clashes with her living room! Oh yes, this is a woman who was driving a Jaguar, dripping in diamonds and had a high-end cat carrier for each of them. I about came over the counter and choked her insensitive, rich head off.

Rescuing a one year old dog is perfect. They are housebroken, past the chewing stage and sometimes trained. You also can get a handle on their personality.

I got a puppy (rescue)post Katrina that was such a handful. He's perfect now but boy those puppy days were something else.

My rescue dogs were just as bonded to me as the two I got as puppies.

My DH surprised me and bought me my two dogs but I would rather have had a rescue dog instead. Don't get me wrong, I love my puggies to death! My intention is one day to rescue an older pug from the local pug rescue group. Maybe even a pair of pugs! Of course this will be many years from now because I do not want 4 dogs at once!!

Huge rescue supporter here! I always talk about it, some people may not like it, but I don't care.

My SS13 was given a puppy for his birthday by BM in an effort to teach responsibility (funny from a woman that is not, nor ever will be responsible for anything!) The dog in BM's care got loose and couldn't be found, he was found at the local pound. They had to pay fines, the dog had to be neutered, microchipped, etc. SS was indignant that they fixed the dog that they were going to BREED. GRRRR, he got a lesson right then and there as to why the city demanded that the dog be fixed. He was upset when I presented the facts of how many animals are dumped at shelters in our area and how many do not get adopted out. Of course, he went home and told BM the facts and she told him that I blew all of that out of proportion and had to have words with DH about protecting SS's innocence. DH told her I was right and he supported me in telling SS the facts.

I did a lot of research to find a breed that is compatible with our lifestyle & our home. We paid a lot of money for the puppy we got & I have no regrets. She's wonderful.

Less than a year later we adopted a male of the same breed. He was 8 months old. We loved him to no end, but I will be the first to say he cost us a lot in vet bills & replacing things he chewed up. In his young 8 months he'd developed a LOT of really bad habits. We asked if he was housebroken & were told he was.

Turns out "housebroken" meant he was trained to pee on a blanket by the door. This resulted in anything on the floor...shoes, rugs, towels, curtains that rested on the floor...were all soaked in urine.

We crate trained our first one for the first year & 7 years later (today is her birthday) she loves her crate. We tried crating him & the first day we came home from work he'd bent the metal bars on the crate trying to get out. We started putting him in a gated area & he chewed the walls & door frame. We had to pay $190 to have him put under at the vet's office to clip his nails.

I loved that dog with everything in me, but am very leery about bringing home another dog who has already been "trained" by another family.
He was ours for 6 years. Certainly we dealt with his issues & worked with him the best we could. We lost him last Memorial Day & as frustrating as he was sometimes I still miss the hell out of him.

I have experienced both sides. As much as I loved our guy, I don't consider myself to be an "idiot" for buying our female. Being able to train her from 10 weeks made her a whole lot easier to work with than he was coming in at 8 months old. I don't regret adopting him. I just wish we could've gotten him younger.

We crate trained our first one for the first year & 7 years later (today is her birthday) she loves her crate. We tried crating him & the first day we came home from work he'd bent the metal bars on the crate trying to get out. We started putting him in a gated area & he chewed the walls & door frame. We had to pay $190 to have him put under at the vet's office to clip his nails.
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Got my first Aussie at 9 weeks of age from a breeder who came highly recommended in the community and bred her dogs for show and quality. Paid a pretty penny for him. He did all of what you mention above and MORE. I'd crate trained more than 3 dozen pups during my rescue days and NEVER came across one like he was. Vet said he may be claustrophobic.

Anyhow, he cost me THOUSANDS in torn up furniture, beds, door frames, carpet, walls, an air conditioner unit, windows, fencing, etc. He's 13 now and lives with my daughter and ex full time and I miss him like crazy but yeah, he was a pain in the ass for his first few years.

Oh and I'm also a former dog trainer and vet tech. He is smart as hell (all Aussies are) but he just couldn't be crated and had major separation anxiety so couldn't be left alone. Oh and fear of thunder/loud noises too. He's mellowed a bit in his senior years but still pants, drools and shakes during storms.