I was reading Del's old thread on the bichon "breed standard" today (great thread ... thanks Del

), and it got me thinking .... (always dangerous ...

)
Milo came to us as a rescue at 3 months, probably from a puppy mill, and lacks many of the qualities described in the breed standards (e.g. wrong proportions, larger than standard, lacks halos around eyes, tail not erect enough, lacks some dense undercoat, elbowed gait, etc.). But his temperament is 100% bichon-esque, he is very smart (as in obedience training smart) and he is as beautiful to us as any dog we have ever known!

Now that we are searching for his brother/sister AS A COMPANION FOR MILO AND US -- NOT TO SHOW OR BREED, we are asking ourselves whether we should again seek to rescue what in all likelihood will be poorly bred bichon (because we do believe in that cause) or whether we should instead source a breed standard puppy (and thus support the breed and ethical breeding practices -- a noble cause also). It strikes us that these two goals are mutually exclusive, unless of course you are lucky enough to rescue a breed standard puppy. Somehow I think the odds of winning the lottery on any given day are better.

Buying a show quality bichon is pricey -- and I can't say I am enamored of the what little I have learned about the bichon show dog world. The truth is we have champagne tastes on a beer budget.

We understand the health concerns associated with buying from puppy mills and back yard breeders (Milo came to us with his hidden genetic health baggage) and we will not intentionally take that risk again. Still no breeder can guarantee that your puppy will not eventually develop some breed specific genetic illness -- the best they can do is replace the dog -- which is one way that these poor fluffs end up in rescue in the first place I think.
I raise all these issues because I don't know which way to go here ... and I know that once I commit to care for a dog -- I make a lifelong commitment to do so. It has always been thus with every dog I have ever owned.
To buy or to rescue .... that's my question I guess.
TIA,
George