I know what you mean, Gempress, it's annoying when you adopt a shelter dog and people are always going, "Ohhh, what's wrong with her?"
Just because a dog's in the pound doesn't mean it has--or will develop--health or temperament problems. Reputable breeders are great, genetic testing is great, but people shouldn't imply that all shelter dogs are doooomed :yikes: simply because they came from irresponsible people or BYBs. My border collie / lab mix, Ebony, lived fourteen years without any health problems (other than some arthritis in her old age that we easily controlled with glucosamine), and her temperament? Perfect lab temperament, except we could leave food on the coffee table without her showing the least interest in it--and she tried to herd soccer balls.
I was lucky with Ebony (who was adopted as a puppy), but how many other dogs are sitting in a cage, waiting to make someone else lucky? All love is a risk. To me, the knowledge that you're saving a life makes the shelter dog worth the gamble.
Just because a dog's in the pound doesn't mean it has--or will develop--health or temperament problems. Reputable breeders are great, genetic testing is great, but people shouldn't imply that all shelter dogs are doooomed :yikes: simply because they came from irresponsible people or BYBs. My border collie / lab mix, Ebony, lived fourteen years without any health problems (other than some arthritis in her old age that we easily controlled with glucosamine), and her temperament? Perfect lab temperament, except we could leave food on the coffee table without her showing the least interest in it--and she tried to herd soccer balls.
I was lucky with Ebony (who was adopted as a puppy), but how many other dogs are sitting in a cage, waiting to make someone else lucky? All love is a risk. To me, the knowledge that you're saving a life makes the shelter dog worth the gamble.