When thinking about getting your next (or first) fur baby, best friend and lifetime companion is both exciting and challenging, allot of people find themselves asking should I adopt or find a breeder. This is going to depend on a few things! Here is how you should determine where to find your dog...
Look for specific personality characteristic to fit your lifestyle and family needs!
First look at all the different breeds on the AKC website that fit what you are looking for and determine which breeds will best fit for energy level, grooming needs, personality traits and find the breeds you like the look of. Think about things like how active your lifestyle is, what the activity level of your home is, how big your yard is, things you like to do, places you go and imagine having a dog with you for all of it. Then choose the breed that best fits your lifestyle! Don't get an Australian Shepherd or a Great Dane if you live in a one bedroom apartment because you like the "LOOK" of the breed, this is how dogs get re-homed or end up in shelters.
Finding the specific breed you have chosen to get!
Look at your local shelters first to see if there are any available. There are many age ranges available and getting a shelter dog doesn't always mean you are getting an older dog with behavioral problems. Many purebred dogs are surrendered for various reasons that has nothing to do with fault of the dog, so if AKC papers don't mean much to you...GO ADOPT! Be patient and look within a 100 mile radius and I can almost guarantee you WILL find what you are looing for!
If AKC Registration is important to you because you want to show and/or compete in titled events you will most definitely want to find a breeder. Not a puppy mill! Yes, some puppy mill breeders will give AKC Registration so be careful...we do not want to help support and fund puppy mill types of breeders.
A good AKC breeder will be breeding to BETTER the breed standard and most likely will have breeding dogs holding titles with the AKC or other kennel clubs in some form whether or not they are still actively competing.
Below you will find links to look up breed information and breeder information through the AKC website. Below that you will find links and information to local shelters with dogs in need of adoption!
Each breed’s ideal physical traits, movement, and temperament are set down in a written document called a “breed standard.”
There are over 340 dog breeds known throughout the world. The American Kennel Club recognizes 200 breeds.
To find the breed that bets fits your needs, desires, and family life search the AKC website!
You will find eve
Each breed’s ideal physical traits, movement, and temperament are set down in a written document called a “breed standard.”
There are over 340 dog breeds known throughout the world. The American Kennel Club recognizes 200 breeds.
To find the breed that bets fits your needs, desires, and family life search the AKC website!
You will find everything you need to know about that breed. Picking a dog based on how cute it looks will sometimes backfire on you, and this is how dogs end up in shelters. Your lifestyle needs to fit within your dogs breed, physical activity needed, their tempermant (do you have kids in the home), grooming needs, etc. Consider your lifestyle and choose a breed that fits well! Find all breeds by clicking the above picture.
You can easily register your AKC dog online, transfer ownership and more.
If you have a new puppy that needs to be registered, your breeder should have given you a form from AKC with registration #'s on it. There are 2 types of registration, Full and Limited. Most breeders give a "Limited" registration which does not require a "PIN" #.
Yo
You can easily register your AKC dog online, transfer ownership and more.
If you have a new puppy that needs to be registered, your breeder should have given you a form from AKC with registration #'s on it. There are 2 types of registration, Full and Limited. Most breeders give a "Limited" registration which does not require a "PIN" #.
You can register online by going to the AKC website linked to the picture above.
A "FULL" registration with a "PIN" # would be giving you access to show your dog for conformation and breeding rights. If you are purchasing a purebred dog with the intentions of showing this dog, make sure you talk to the breeder before hand and let them know. Otherwise you could end up with a Limited registration.
For 140 years, the American Kennel Club has been the country’s leading authority on all things dogs, acting as the premier resource for dog lovers, from the fancier to the everyday owner. Along with our affiliated organizations, we encourage dogs as family companions; advance canine health and well-being; advocate for dog owner rights; a
For 140 years, the American Kennel Club has been the country’s leading authority on all things dogs, acting as the premier resource for dog lovers, from the fancier to the everyday owner. Along with our affiliated organizations, we encourage dogs as family companions; advance canine health and well-being; advocate for dog owner rights; and educate the public about responsible dog ownership.
We are passionate about everything related to dogs, and we celebrate the joy they bring to our lives every single day. Being a dog lover is not a pastime; it’s a way of life – and we make every moment count.
Search the AKC website to find information, articles, related topics, training tips and more by clicking the AKC logo above.
One of our main goals at FCHS is to provide safe refuge and necessary medical treatment (including spay/neuter surgery) to all animals in our care — not to turn a profit. Adoption fees help offset these costs, covering less than half of the cost.
Adoption fees are set on a variable fee schedule that considers the animal’s age, breed, and
One of our main goals at FCHS is to provide safe refuge and necessary medical treatment (including spay/neuter surgery) to all animals in our care — not to turn a profit. Adoption fees help offset these costs, covering less than half of the cost.
Adoption fees are set on a variable fee schedule that considers the animal’s age, breed, and size. Some animals are less common and therefore have increased demand. These animals are assigned higher fees, which ensures we have the funds to provide for other animals in our care who may have special needs or a more difficult time finding a new home.
Every adoption at THS is unique and special. It is our goal to match suitable pets to appropriate forever homes.
In leading efforts in our community to reduce pet overpopulation by continuing to spay and neuter every adopted animal.
We have a responsibility to provide leadership in passing legislation to protect animals.
Acts of cruelty, neg
Every adoption at THS is unique and special. It is our goal to match suitable pets to appropriate forever homes.
In leading efforts in our community to reduce pet overpopulation by continuing to spay and neuter every adopted animal.
We have a responsibility to provide leadership in passing legislation to protect animals.
Acts of cruelty, neglect, and abandonment should be investigated and the quality of life of animals improved through education or legal intervention.
The Wood County Humane Society strives to provide the best possible care for the pets at the shelter. With this mission of care, we also strive to provide services to our community, who love their pets and animals too.
We offer a low-cost spay and neuter program for community cats, respond to calls of animal cruelty, neglect, and abandon
The Wood County Humane Society strives to provide the best possible care for the pets at the shelter. With this mission of care, we also strive to provide services to our community, who love their pets and animals too.
We offer a low-cost spay and neuter program for community cats, respond to calls of animal cruelty, neglect, and abandonment, a temporary safe haven for pets as their owners flee from domestic violence, and food assistance for Wood County residents who have temporarily fallen upon hard times and caretakers of community cats.
We are dedicated to rehabilitating, and rehoming dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens in need while promoting responsible pet ownership within our community. Our mission is to provide a safe haven for homeless pets, offering them the love and care they deserve until they find their forever homes. Join us in making a difference—together, we can create a brighter future for every dog and cat in need.
Copyright © 2025 Owned by Ezra - All Rights Reserved. Owned by Ezra Dog Training serving Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Kimberly@OwnedByEzra.com
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.
A Meet & Greet Assessment is a crucial step for your dog before starting training. This is a free service I provide for your dogs comfortability with me.