Should everyone be forced to show they aren’t able to rescue a dog before they can buy a puppy?

A lot of them now are paying extortionate amounts for crossbreeds bred from pets. They aren't talking about buying a purebred puppy from a reputable breeder.

They are so incredibly picky about the homes they deem suitable.,and you can never anticipate the nature of a rescue dog because of past trauma that many owners wouldn't take that risk

I've got adopted humans, and there's only so much trauma and past issues my house can take- can I be exempted by already doing my "adopt, don't breed" duty?

Likewise.
I would never even consider having a rescue dog.
All our puppies have been from reputable breeders that were recommended by our breed club or by people that we know within our breed.

I personally think we should try and cut down the number of animals going to shelters in the first place. So I'd like it if people thought far more carefully about getting an animal and what animal/breed/age would suit their lifestyle. It's a big responsibility. I'd like may be all secondary school age children to visit a rehoming charity so people realise how much damage what I think of passive neglect does (ie leaving a dog too long, not walking them, not providing them with mental stimulation). People think that shelters are just animals that have been horrifically abused and neglected as that's what we see on TV adverts etc, but not looking after your animals needs also does a lot of harm and is cruel. I'd also like to stop people being able to get dogs on a whim, so I'd stop bad breeders and puppy farms (which should be stopped anyway for a multitude of reasons) and also stop animals being given away via gumtree etc.

No, thank you. It's not my responsibility to take on a dog that someone else bred or abandoned. If I want another dog in the future, I might consider a rescue IF it is a breed I want and fits my other requirements—but only if I've decided that I don't want the full puppy experience. (Having done it multiple times already, there are parts of puppyhood that I wouldn't mind avoiding, but if I want a puppy, I'm getting a puppy.)

There's no guarantee that I'd pass the rules for rescuing a dog, anyway, but the bottom line is that as long as I haven't been proven to be an abusive or neglectful pet owner, it's no-one's business where I get my next dog or cat. If I want a specific breed/age, that's what I should be allowed to get, if I can find it and afford it.

Dogs often end up in rescue because their original owners got a pet that wasn’t suited to their requirements/bought from a puppy farm/failed to train them properly. Dogs in rescue don’t pass through the rescue and become the perfect pet - they’re still the untrained/poorly bred dogs that were given up in the first place. This has become especially true in the past few years - 10+ years ago there was more of a range of breeds/situations for giving up dogs in rescue - now rescues are invariably either anxious-aggressive cockerpoos, absolute medical car crash frenchies, or boisterous untrained status dogs.

If you want a project, have the expertise and means to care for a rescue, and can deal with some uncertainty in the end result - by all means get a rescue. But if people are pushed into getting a rescue dog when they aren’t really prepared for it, it will end up back in rescue.

The thing that needs regulating is backyard/amateur breeders - they create these dogs and sell them to whoever will pay. Those puppies are much more likely to end up in rescue, than dogs bred by a breeder who puts thought and expertise into the health and temperament of their breed, and vets potential owners thoroughly to make sure they are prepared and committed.

Such a ridiculous thread, especially if you've ever tried to adopt a dog.

All the rescues near me are full of staffies and neurotic collies with bite histories who can't be homed with men/women/children/dogs/cats.

I have looked at what the local rescue home expects from prospective owners.
Most want a massive garden with a 6 ft fence.
This is urban living, we don't have a lot of private gardens.
That's not to say people who live in a flat shouldn't own a dog imo. But the kennels disagree 🤷🏻‍♀️
OP you have said that not all dogs have gone to rescue places traumatised. Just by being in kennels a lot of dogs become traumatised.
The ones who come with background history, it really is the say so of the person who is surrendering the dog telling the staff this info. Could be absolute bollocks.
Just because a dog hasn't been 'triggered' whilst at the kennels doesn't mean it is unreactive in every situation.
Having said all that I think more regulation is needed regarding back street breeders and I hate the KC with a passion.

Decent breeders do vet potential owners.
Sometimes, I think when someone says they ended up buying a puppy because they could not rescue, they mean they went on Gumtree and bought from a back yard breeder.

no because loads of people would end up with dogs they don’t want or have the same attachment for and it would just perpetuate the problem

I’ve often wondered if there are better ways puppy farming could be handled, as this seems to be a massive problem (I’ve read somewhere that some rescues, maybe in US, are almost a front for selling worn out breeding dogs and bitches).

In plenty of cases there are obvious red flags that many vets should be able to spot in new puppies. Maybe the owners need some sort of fine so prospective buyers will be more careful about where they buy from? Apparently it’s too difficult for local authorities to find and close down the farms themselves, but something must be done.

I'm on my third dog. Two puppies and a rescue. The rescue was 25 yrs ago.
Very small local place, we turned up, pointed at a dog and the guy let us walk him for half an hour. Signed a form, payed 30 pounds and was told to take him home and feed him scrambled egg!
Dog definitely had issues but not aggressive and he made it to 16 yrs old.
Ex wanted a puppy so two years into the rescue we got one. Runt of the litter with money knocked off. Also lived to 16.
No questions asked/home checks with either dogs.
Bloody good dogs.
Current dog is 2 and came from a social media post as a puppy. Two visits and lots of questions asked. We are still in touch with the breeder and a few of the other litter owners.
I did originally put my details in online to 5 rescues. All immediate nos. We both work full time- opposite shifts - so dog would only be alone for an hour a day. Dd was just under 15 which a couple of rescues ruled out. A couple would only rehome a certain distance, or required quite a few weekly visits.
All three dogs from different circumstances, all three dogs treated the same.
I appreciate rescues have to do their best by the dogs but I believe a lot of dogs are going not rescued because of the strict guidelines.

Don’t you think if some arbitrary rule was to be introduced, it should be one step previous to this - and people should be vetted before taking on a puppy, so that they don’t end up at a rescue shelter?

Sounds nice but totally unworkable.

This!
No more back yard breeders... no excuse for "oops" puppies. Breeding should be licensed and regulated. I bet the people with oops pups don't declare their earnings.

Two kids and a cat, spent 2 years trying to find a rescue but just couldn’t. Dog after dog that had to be “the only pet”, “no children”, “not suitable for rehoming with cats” etc. I’ve had rescue dogs my whole life and this was the first time I kept getting refused. Ended up getting a puppy 🤷‍♀️

No. I've had a rescue dog in the past. I chose to buy one this time round, spent ages searching reputable breeders etc.

Would be better to make it illegal to breed without a licence. I know far too many people who breed dogs as a way to make some extra money.

We applied to a rescue centre and were turned down on assessment because we live too near to a main road, 150 meters to be precise. We also live 50 meters the opposite way to a large park.

I/we. (Partner & I) Were turned down, didn't qualify (?) to re-home a dog or puppy from four rescue centers
(First house)
Too close to a road
something about garden walls (I can't remember )
Too close to a train line.
Partner out out of house more than four hours a day
Second house
Too close to road
We bought three dogs all terriers
Wanted to try again with a rescue dog
Rehoming team-
"Terriers are 'singular' pets "
So it wasn't for the want of trying
I see your point but think it would be difficult to action it
Edited due to missing , wanting to try again ....

I don’t give a shit about any rescue dogs. With the best will in the world you don’t know what that dog’s been through. I would always and have always gone for a puppy from a reputable breeder and NOTHING anyone can say or do would convince me otherwise. You just don’t know what you’re getting with a rescue dog

There's a huge mismatch between the type of breeds most prospective owners want, and the breeds available in shelters. My local shelter is full: Of staffies, terriers and rottweilers. And they recently changed their "can live with children over 12" to "can live with children over 14", for some reason.

So there's no point in your proposed policy - it won't result in more adoptions from shelters.

This! We really wanted to rescue, ideally a younger dog but it wasnt feasible. The local pet rescue (DSPCA and dogs trust) had no animals that they were happy to rescued by families with young children. I get that they don't know a dogs history in a lot of cases but meant as we had young children we wouldnt be considered suitable. Also to say it was like a police interview and the person we spoke to in the DSPCA was aghast that we would consider rescuing and have the gall to also work and occasionally not be home. Still cant comprehend how us potentially not being home a few hours here and there is better that a dog sitting in a shelter facing never being rehomed and PTS

In the end we decided to just get a puppy. Id love to think in future when the children are older its something we could do but until then or the rescues rethink their criteria, nothings going to change

I don't see anything wrong with those restrictions.
Some older dogs have an unknown history, so are best not to be rehomed with children. Younger children might not know how to handle dogs... they might climb over them, tug on ears etc. No rescue wants to risk a dog biting a child.
If you work... then it is not fair on the dog to be left alone for hours. Older dogs might be ok.
Other pets... again, nothing wrong with that. Some dogs are reactive to others so have to be the only dog. Some dogs have a strong prey drive so can't be rehomed with cats. There is the opposite too... some dogs can only be rehomed if you already have a dog.
A decent rescue will say what the individual needs of the dog are. If a particular dog is anxious around kids, has separation anxiety, and is no good around other dogs.... then there is nothing wring with insisting on a kid/pet free home with someone that is there a lot of the time.
The needs of the dog comes first. You are not owed a dog.