ASK THE TRAINER:
SHOULD YOU GET A DOG FROM A BREEDER OR A RESCUE?
A Tucson Dog Trainer’s Perspective
By Andrew C. Sherwood, Professional Dog Trainer with 25 years of experience.
Essentials: Things to consider when getting a new dog.
Reading time: 7 minutes
Best for: Prospective Dog Owners
Key Takeaway: Both breeders and rescues can provide extraordinary companions—the key is defining your target profile, evaluating the individual dog’s character, and choosing the animal that wants the job of being your best friend.
As a dog trainer of over 25 years, I have trained over 2,800 dogs, spent time with hundreds of sled dogs, trackers, hunters, and working dogs, and this is my opinion about where to get your next dog.
Whether you are looking at rescue organizations around Tucson or contacting purebred breeders, the breakdown is as follows.
WHY IT HAPPENS
The Core Differences Between Breeders and Rescues
To make the right choice for your household, you must understand how pricing, health genetics, and behavioral backgrounds differ between these two sources.
- Price
- Breeder: Getting a dog from a breeder can cost some serious coin. If the dog breed is popular, a very inexperienced breeder might charge as little as $500, and the breeders who’ve been in the canine industry for multiple decades will probably be charging something between $3,000–$5,000 for puppies. The prices will typically be for puppies which are ~8–10 weeks old. If the pups aren’t sold before 6 months old, or if the pup was purchased and then didn’t work out at the home and came back, the price will typically drop by more than 50%. (Note: This discussion does not involve buying a professionally trained dog from a breeder.)
- Rescue: It should be no surprise to anyone that the price of a rescue dog is going to be considerably lower. Typically, your adoption fees will range from $20–$250, depending on if the animal is coming from a civilian-run breed-specific organization or a government shelter, and the size/age of the dog. Usually puppies have a higher adoption fee and older animals have a lower fee.
- Health
- Breeder: The breeders certainly hold some advantages when it comes to health. A quality breeder is VERY conscientious of healthy blood lines. They will monitor hip dysplasia, heart disease, and cancer detection just to name a few. To accomplish this, most breeders will request you to contact them if health issues ever arise.
Rescue: While you might think that when it comes to health, the rescue dogs are gonna get beat-out by the breeders, it’s not always the case! Remember that many dogs found in rescue organizations came from pricey breeders and have fantastic bloodlines.
Also, remember there are some breeds that have a higher risk to certain health issues: Golden Retrievers have problems with cancer, German Shepherds are known to get hip dysplasia, Dachshunds get intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), and Cavaliers get heart disease, to name a handful. What’s great is that decades of data has shown that sometimes as breeds mix, those predispositions can be mitigated. Vets will tell you that frequently, mutts are some of the healthiest and longest living dogs they see in their clinics.
| Factor | Purebred Breeder | Rescue / Shelter |
| Average Cost | $500 to $5,000+ (Puppies ~8–10 weeks) | $20 to $250 (Includes spay/neuter & initial shots) |
| Health Profile | Known genetic bloodlines & health testing | Mixed-breed genetic diversity; unknown lineage |
| Behavioral History | “Blank slate” with no prior environmental baggage | Varies; potential for past trauma or unknown habits |
| Bonding / Selection | Selection based on lineage and puppy drive | Opportunity to evaluate mature adult character |
COMMON MISTAKES
Understanding the history of your prospective dog prevents surprises when bringing them home.
Breeder Background: When a dog comes from a breeder, you are usually going to be getting a blank slate. Good breeders let mom do the bulk of the parenting while the puppies are young. If you are getting a dog from a protection lineage, they will likely take steps to ensure that the puppies have not bonded with anyone, even siblings, so as to ensure maximum attachment capability. And lastly, dogs that come from a breeder should not have any “baggage” from dangerous/dirty environments, emotional abuse, or physical abuse.
Rescue Background: The inherent nature of rescue dogs is that “something went wrong”. Therefore, there can be a myriad of issues. When you get a rescue dog, you will rarely know very much about the backstory. Was the dog abused? Was the dog found (escape artist?) or were they surrendered (difficult to live with?)? Are there more serious issues like “cannot be near kids” or “must be the only pet in the home”? A rescue dog is where you are more likely to find separation anxiety, involuntary peeing, and aggression/reactivity.
Lastly, since the rescue dog has already lived with someone else, they may be more leery to bond with some of the family members, even if it’s only a single adult doing the adoption. However, I want to impress upon you that rescue dogs are famous for being fantastic companions. Their supporters will tell you that frequently the rescue dogs appreciate their families even more than other pets, because they understand that they were given a second chance and have a higher level of bonding.
If you take a dog on errands all day versus taking them to the same park for 90 minutes, the errand dog will always behave better at the park. Why? Because active participation in life builds social accountability faster than passive exposure ever will.
WHAT BLACK BELT CANINE ACADEMY DOES DIFFERENTLY
I’ve personally owned both purebreds from breeders and rescue dogs from various organizations and had great results from both, but the best dog I ever had was a rescue.
Shadow was a 3-year-old Siberian Husky I adopted from a rescue in Arizona. His profile picture did not do him any favors and he came with all the normal baggage associated with huskies: separation anxiety, escape artist, predatory aggression, and zero obedience work… So why did I pick him?
I met with 10 available dogs that weekend, but when I saw Shadow, 2 things became clear: I saw his potential, and he picked me. It was because Shadow was an adult dog that I was able to evaluate some of his matured character, and he sold me hard. We shared 12 years together, and our story is normal in the sense that when I speak with friends and clients about “their best dog ever”, it is always the same answer: the best dog ever is the dog who wants the job of being your best friend ever.
Therefore, I don’t think it matters if you get a dog from a breeder or a rescue, a puppy or an adult, a pure bred or a mixed-up mutt. My suggestion would be:
Decide on a rough profile: Think about what kind of a dog you want (breed characteristics, size, energy level, and age).
Check local shelters and rescues first: Take a look at your local shelter and rescue groups around Tucson.
Explore quality breeders: See what reputable breeders have to offer if your specific needs aren’t met at a rescue.
My suspicion is that once you do a little research, you will quickly find a rescue dog that is perfect for you, or you will find that the animal you seek will need to be found through a breeder. Good luck and have fun finding your new best friend!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are rescue dogs more difficult to train than puppies from a breeder?
Not necessarily. While rescue dogs may come with unknown background habits or environmental baggage, adult rescue dogs often have established attention spans and settled temperaments. Puppies from a breeder offer a “blank slate,” but require full housebreaking, bite-inhibition work, and months of foundational training.
How can I evaluate an adult rescue dog's temperament before adopting?
Spend one-on-one time with the dog outside of a chaotic kennel environment. Look at how they respond to your presence, whether they seek interaction, and how they handle novel stimuli. Observing an adult dog’s matured character allows you to see their true potential and decide if their energy fits your home.
If I adopt a rescue with behavior issues like reactivity or separation anxiety, can it be fixed?
Yes. Most behavioral issues in rescue dogs—such as leash reactivity, separation anxiety, or lack of boundaries—can be successfully remediated through structured leadership, clear consequences, and balanced training, regardless of the dog’s age.
NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP?
Whether you just brought home a new puppy from a breeder or adopted a rescue dog that needs help adjusting to your household, Black Belt Canine Academy is here to assist. We provide customized private in-home dog training throughout Tucson, Oro Valley, Marana, and the Catalina Foothills.