![]() ![]() “The biggest thing that I wish people knew is that it’s becoming harder to find a dog in the U.S.,” says Reusche. shelters euthanized dogs to provide space for new intakes, explains Reusche.īut today, there aren’t enough dogs in some places, adds Reusche. But this route may not be feasible for everyone-especially in high-demand areas, such as the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and West Coast. Some concerned with the health and welfare of purebred puppies choose to adopt shelter animals as an alternative. And while some of these facilities are regulated by the USDA and meet standards such as Purdue University’s Canine Care Certified, many don’t pay as much attention to selecting healthy breeding dogs and providing adequate puppy enrichment as do small-scale breeders, says Sara Reusche, owner of Paws Abilities Dog Training in Rochester, Minnesota. In particular, Sharkey hopes to offer an alternative to purebred puppies, around a third of which are bred in high-volume kennels. (This is the age when puppies are the cutest.) Her puppies, sold between eight and ten weeks old, average about $2,000 each, she says. “I want to breed dogs for what I think is the actual highest function a dog has, especially in this country, which is as a companion animal,” says Sharkey. Sharkey is part of the growing functional-breeding movement, which raises dogs in small-scale settings to be friendly and healthy pets, with less focus on purebred status. “I decided that the best way I could do that was to breed them.” “I would really love for all families who want a nice dog to be able to get a nice dog-and we don’t have that right now,” says Sharkey, who also owns WOOFS! dog-training centers in Arlington, Virginia. They regularly see owners face rehoming or even euthanizing their pets due to aggression issues. ![]() Sharkey and Erica Pytlovany, both dog trainers, founded Bosun Dogs in 2019 after witnessing clients continually face severe behavioral challenges in adopted dogs. “I don’t want any genetic pressure other than health and temperament.” “I’m not concerned with what they look like,” she says of her puppies. She doesn’t even aim for a specific build, size, or coat. Laura Sharkey breeds mixed-breed dogs, but they’re not goldendoodles, chiweenies, pomskys, or any other designer crosses. ![]()
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