I think I am proof that you don't need to go to a reputable breeder...as I mentioned Flower wasn't from one!! And I understand there are all different characters in rescue dogs, it depends on there background, I hate to see so many in rescue, and as I mentioned will hopefully be rescuing a greyhound soon! But will have to be the right temperament for my situation, and Flower will have the last say when we choose 1!!

I dont beleive any animal is bad and yes can be cured, just as humans can. just give them a chance and maybe stop being so sarcastic!

As it should be.

We would have happily taken on a rescue dog however the rescues we went to would not rehome to us as both my partner and I work full time.
They allowed us to look at the dogs first and select those we thought would suit us & our lifestyle then they put up a barrier against each one (mostly because we worked).

We were then left (as we felt) with no option but to look at a breeder - my boy was the result of an accidental mating and his 'breeder' had no experience of rearing pups.
However I am still in contact with them a year on (as are all the owners of his siblings) and if we had any issues I know we could go back to them.

I appreciate and totally agree with the fact that there are too many dogs in rescue and dying unnecessarily howeverit is not always an option for everybody to take on a rescue.

Whenever a new person joins us here at Dogsey, we welcome them with open arms, we read their views, join in their discussions, laugh at their jokes, make nice comments over their dogs photographs and get to know each others dogs very well, thats what makes Dogsey such a lovely place.

I have noticed though, that every so often a newcomer arrives on the scene and starts harping on about breeders versus rescue dogs and how their opinions just have to be right, there's no two ways about it, they are right and its the rest of us that simply cannot see it. It is good that rescuers are so passionate about what they do, but it isn't for everyone.

I don't usually get involved in these threads anymore as they seem to go around and around in circles never really achieving anything other than getting peoples backs up and sometimes ending in verbal assault.

We've all heard the pros and cons of rescue versus breeding and, as its a free country, none of us should feel we are in the wrong with the decisions we make as to which dogs share their lives with us.

I would like to welcome tinkladyv to Dogsey and say that I hope she has many happy hours of chatting amongst us. I'm pleased that she has rescued some dogs in need of a good home, and hope that she continues to do so in the future if this is what makes her most happy. I also hope that she will see that the rest of us get the same pleasure from our pedigree dogs and crossbreeds, none of whom are thought of any the less by our fellow members if they don't have any paperwork with them, or fancy names, we all love and care about each others dogs regardless of where they came from and we love and care about each other too.

I have given them a chance, as i said earlier I have two rescue dogs.

And I agree that there are very few dogs that start out bad but I maintain that there are many with serious issues nevertheless.
Yes, these issues can be managed - e.g. keeping dog aggressive dogs on a lead and away from other dogs.

But I don't know of any other behaviourist/trainer/dog expert that can say they have 'cured' every dog of every issue. So, yes, sorry, but I am doubtful of your claim, or of the range of issues you have come across.

In that case tinklady blame the people who:
.. buy a poorly bred puppy from 'just anywhere' rather than waiting for one from a good breeder,
..haven't a clue that a puppy is about as much work as a new baby (all be it for a short period of time)
.. don't bother/are too idle to put the work in to training and socialise their puppy,
..can't afford the vets fees went their dog is ill,

Don't blame the good breeders and those who work hard to raise their dogs correctly, we are not the bad ones here!

The good owners and breeders here know having a dog is like having a child, you are taking on a commitment for maybe 18 years. Our dogs don't end up in rescue so you are preaching to the converted.

Oh please! Stop being so patronising!
The majority of people on here that I personally know breed with care, thought and have waiting lists for their puppies and would take them back at any given time within the dogs lifetime and also do more than their fair for their chosen breeds rescue!

No they have not added to more dogs waiting for homes, who says? You?

Not everyone has the patience to own or has the right circumstances to own a Collie or a Lab, have you ever considered that? No EVERYONE fits the criteria to own a rescue dog, have you ever considered that?

Oh, but you are, you are assuming that everyone has the right circumstances for dogs such as....
And yes, I have a rescue dog infact I owned two at one stage, having recently lost one - as as lovely and loyal as they are taking into account now I am almost six and a half months pregnant as much as I would love to offer another rescue at some stage a home, I seriously doubt that I would be considered for one anytime in the future as most places will not place dogs with children under five! So, if and when I find myself looking for another dog I'm afraid it's back to the 'reputable' breeder for me where I know I can safely raise my baby with a dog that has no baggage or be turned away from owning a rescue puppy because I have a child under five!

I think you'll find your mistaken here, as to show a dog it needs to be registered in your name with the KC and most if not all rescues go without papers. At least they do in the breeds I'm associated with.
Also you say you can get puppies form rescue, i doubt you'd get an eight week old well bred pedigree to start with, even byb dont use rescue centres they sell.

I would very much like to know the name of this so called reputable breeder who is cross breeding blue merles. The BC clubs have strict codes of conducts regards breeding ethics. Please PM me with her details. If she a well know breeder as you put it I would have heard of her. I would like also to know what evidence you have of this. How did come about that you got your Merle pup from this breeder? If you can send me the information I will look into this and report her to the BC Clubs who will then look into it. It would be anonymous as obviously I don't know your identity. I'm sure you'll be happy to help if one bad breeder can be stopped.
Thanks