Puppy Mills. What do YOU think they are?

[junescrater716]

I found this website and it's quite interesting! The question popped up, What is a puppy mill? This is what they said...

So what is a PUPPY MILL anyway? A puppy mill has many definitions and could be any one of the following depending on who you talk to:

○Someplace that keeps one or more breeds and continually has puppies for sale.

○An unhealthy, disgusting place where one or more breeds are kept in deplorable conditions and again puppies are continually available.

○Somewhere a single breed is kept in healthy condition and puppies are continually available.

○A place where many dogs are raised, where the sole purpose of breeding is for financial gain instead of for betterment of the breed, and the puppies are sold to anyone, including brokers or pet stores;

○ As many dogs as possible are kept in the smallest space feasible with minimal contact.

In my opinion I find nothing wrong with buying dogs or kittens from pet stores. You will only be saving the puppy or kitten. Puppy mills will NEVER EVER go out of buisness so you might as well buy the animals from pet stores otherwise they will be PTS anyway. What do you think about pet stores? Here is more info on puppy mills. ▼

http://ndrc.tripod.com/puppy.htm

[Karen]

I will never, ever buy a pup from a pet store. You are only perpetuating the puppy mill business. You are not "saving" that pup, you are condemning it's parents to another round of being bred. Think of it that way.

Thinking that "there will always be puppy mills" is defeatist. Did folks listen when "people" said "women will never get the vote?" Did folks listen when "people" said "blacks aren't human beings?" No. They faought to change the prevailing attitude. We can do the same.

[junescrater716]

Yes but if no one buys the puppy it will eventually be put to death.

[NicoleLJ]

First off I would never ever buy a dog from a pet store. I want to see the parents and know how it was raised and so on.

Here are my definitions.

Breeder - Someone who has more then 3 breeding dogs(whether female or male). Does all the health testing, titles their dogs either by showing or trials or both. Breeds for the over all dog(temperment, health, structure, intelligence). Makes sure the dogs they have have the best of everything including time and love. Has contracts to back up her dogs, is very picky on who gets their dogs, requires spay/neuter of all pet quality dogs. All their dogs are registered. Would never breed a famlae more then 3 times. Would never breed before the age of two or after teh age of 6. The list goes on.

Hobby Breeder - The same as above but has 3 or less breeding dogs. I would be classed as this.

Back Yard Breeder (BYB) - Someone who just has one or two dogs and goes to the closest person who looks like they might have the same breed and breeding them. Rarely has registration papers for their dog or for the puppies. Does no health testing. gives no garentees and sells their pups for next to nothing or free.

Puppymill - has many dogs and many breeds. Gives them as minimal care as possible. Just enough to keep them alive and keep them breeding. breeds as soon as possible, on every heat for as long as possible. does not health testing. Many times has falsified registration papers or is registered with fake registries. Does not do any of the things a Breeder should do. The dogs are usually sick and diseased. They are in it to make as much money as quickly as possible. The list goes on.

Those are my definitions.
Nicole

[junescrater716]

Our pug Curly traveled to so many different states before he came to us. It was meant to be and a miracle that he isn't already dead from being shipped to so many different pet stores.

[junescrater716]

If you fall in love with a dog like we did don't you think it wise to buy it?

[cmayer31]

It's strange that I can copy / paste on of my old posts, but my thoughts are exactly the same as the first time.

I agree that petstore puppies need homes too. However, look at it from a retail point of view. A puppy to a petstore is an unit of inventory. This inventory is based on available supply from the breeder and gross margin return on investment. This means that these retailers are looking for what is in demand in the current market, so they're looking at designer breeds with fancy names. The lowest cost from a contracted breeder is determined on the purchase and then the markup will be whatever the market will provide. This unit of inventory is then set for sale and will esentially auto-replenish once the first unit sold. This will stop when that particular model is no longer in demand, and they will switch inventory tactics to a new model after clearancing the not selling unit out.

Buying from a petstore just confirms that there is a market for more inventory.

Sorry to refer to puppies as inventory, I know they are loving caring animals that need a home, however this is how petstores see them. I'll only shop at petstores that supports adoption for dogs and cats and work with human societies and rescues. I will never shop from a store that sell puppies/kittens for profit.

[Suki Wingy]

all of the above are a mill. Caring more for $ than for the animals is generally what defines a miller for me. If you buy a pup from a pet store, he won't die but It'll mean a whole nother litter will be born and also suffer. You also pay a whole lot more than from a rescue and also more than the average good breeder, but most likley spend lots of $ extra on vet bills. Of all of the dogs from pet stores I've met, they've all been sick at one point that normal other puppies don't usually have.

[LilacDragon]

In my opinion I find nothing wrong with buying dogs or kittens from pet stores. You will only be saving the puppy or kitten. Puppy mills will NEVER EVER go out of buisness so you might as well buy the animals from pet stores otherwise they will be PTS anyway. What do you think about pet stores? Here is more info on puppy mills. ▼

If a pet store has ten puppies that it can't sell for a profit, it will not order more. Yes, those 10 puppies might die (they don't - they are often returned to the Class A dealer that they were purchased from or marked down continually until they are sold at cost - making $0 for the petstore) but that cage is full and another puppy isn't ordered to fill it.

If you want to kid yourself into thinking that you saved that puppy - go for it. But remember, somewhere in the U.S. is a dog that lives in a cage, pumping out puppies at least twice a year, that never sees a vet, never sees the sun, sleeps in it's own feces and dies alone.

Do yourself, and your puppy a favor and go to www.petshoppuppies.com and request a breeder search. You will be able to find out what the USDA inspections said and what kind of hell your puppy came from. After you find out - remember that your puppies mother lives there every single day - probably for her whole life.

[junescrater716]

it's true that most pet store dogs are sick. Curly had kennel cough when we brought him home. But still in my opinion, all dogs are worthy of homes even if they are from pet stores.

[Suki Wingy]

what about the dogs used for breeding those dogs? They certainly don't have anything like a home even though they officially do.

[wolfsoul]

Yes but if no one buys the puppy it will eventually be put to death.
I'd rather have puppies put to sleep than their parents tortured again and again. Euthanization is quick and painless. Being bred year after year, heat after heat, in deplorable conditions, covered in fleas and lice, living in your own excrement -- does that sound better than a quick death? Of course not. Most pet stores dump leftover puppies at shelters.

Everybody has a different opinion on what a puppy mill is. We all picture animals living in cages, being bred every heat to anything and everything, very unhealthy, etc. What if it were a breeder that shows, works and trials, health certifies, and breeds registered show and working stock? Well it sounds good. What if this breeder bred 6 different breeds? What if this breeder had 8 litters a year? But they are still breeding registered, health certified, show and working animals with good health, good conformation, and good working ability. What is it then?

[junescrater716]

I don't understand if puppies in puppy mills are so terrible why do most organizations brand them like AKC,ACA,CAC,etc. Shouldn't they keep an eye on the puppy mill?

[wolfsoul]

I don't understand if puppies in puppy mills are so terrible why do most organizations brand them like AKC,ACA,CAC,etc.
Most registries are only in it for the money. CKC is one of the few that will not register pet shop puppies -- it is illegal.

[LilacDragon]

I certainly don't mean to be rude but it boggles my mind that someone can look at a pet shop puppy and not give a single thought to where it came from.

I know a woman who has a double dapple doxie that she rescued from a puppymill (a friend who knew she had tried to rescue this dog on two seperate occasions bought her at an auction). This dog was born stone deaf and without eyes - just empty sockets. She was sold at auction as a puppy for a very high price because she was a double dapple. At the second auction, she went for a higher price because she was an excellent mother!

My mother has a pet shop puppy that she says she "rescued". It has a skin condition that it will be treated for for it's entire life. Goodness only knows what is wrong with the mother. His skin condition is genetic.

[junescrater716]

So why then is AKC such a great registry? This is beginning to confuse me. lol

[junescrater716]

We knew where our pug came from but we couldn't just leave him there after the look he gave my dad.

[Karen]

Yes but if no one buys the puppy it will eventually be put to death.

You don't know that. It may end up at a shelter, it may end up back to the breeders, but this is a case in which, as moral human beings, need to think of the big picture.

By buying this puppy, am I perpetuating puppy mills when I know they exist? Yes.

[Karen]

So why then is AKC such a great registry? This is beginning to confuse me. lol

It is not.

[LilacDragon]

Most registries are only in it for the money. CKC is one of the few that will not register pet shop puppies -- it is illegal.


Careful. The CKC you are refering to is the Canadian Kennel Club - not the Continental Kennel Club.

Of the U.S. based kennel clubs, AKC is considered the most responsible. If you look at the "breeds" that can be registered with some of the others, you will find most "designer breeds". The AKC requires that breedings be tracked, the breed breed true from generation to generation, and that a stud book be available for a certain amount of years before the National Breed Club for that breed can request that it be registerable.

[wolfsoul]

So why then is AKC such a great registry? This is beginning to confuse me. lol
AKC isn't a great registry --- honestly it's the national breed clubs that make a registry what it is but the board of delegates are a bunch of tools and make poor choices and only care about money. That's why AKC will register your dog based on a photograph -- it's why they considered making a deal with Petland --- but it's the USA's national registry -- what can ya do? I, myself, will be registering my puppy (and puppies from future litters) with AKC -- not because I like the registry, but because it's the only way my dogs can compete in AKC events. For those who want the titles, you don't have many choices.

[wolfsoul]

Careful. The CKC you are refering to is the Canadian Kennel Club - not the Continental Kennel Club.

Yes, most call the Continental Kennel Club the ConKC. Don't ya just love how they made their initials exactly the same lol.

[NicoleLJ]

Yes, most call the Continental Kennel Club the ConKC. Don't ya just love how they made their initials exactly the same lol.

Drives me nuts. On my website I state that puppies can be either AKC or CKC registered (And soon UKC) I always have to explain that I mean the CanadianKC not the ConKC.
Nicole

[junescrater716]

lol. Ok so AKC isn't all it's cracked up to be?

[NicoleLJ]

lol. Ok so AKC isn't all it's cracked up to be?

I don't think there is a registry out there that is perfect. But you do have to make due with what there is in your country. For me it is the CanKC and the UKC.
Nicole

[LilacDragon]

AKC isn't a great registry --- honestly it's the national breed clubs that make a registry what it is but the board of delegates are a bunch of tools and make poor choices and only care about money. That's why AKC will register your dog based on a photograph -- it's why they considered making a deal with Petland --- but it's the USA's national registry -- what can ya do? I, myself, will be registering my puppy (and puppies from future litters) with AKC -- not because I like the registry, but because it's the only way my dogs can compete in AKC events. For those who want the titles, you don't have many choices.

The only registration you can get from AKC based on a picture is an ILP and the picture must be accompanied by proof of spay/neuter. An ILP number will enable you to compete in working/obedience venues.

(But, yes, I understand what you are saying and agree.)

[junescrater716]

ohhhhhh!!! I see ok

[Giselle]

Yes, most call the Continental Kennel Club the ConKC. Don't ya just love how they made their initials exactly the same lol.
It's disgusting because the general public has no clue about registries so they generally don't have a clue which reg. is reputable and which is not.

There are many more besides the ConKC and CanKC. I can name others off the top of my head. FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) and FIC (Federation of International Canines), UKC (United Kennel Club) and UKCI (Universal Kennel Club International), etc.

Additionally, there are puppy/kitten retailers (i.e. pet stores) who copy off reputable clubs like the IKC (International Kennel Club).
Here's one version of IKC: http://www.ikcdogshow.com/

Here's another: http://www.internationalkennel.com/

And another: http://www.ikcpups.com/

It's frightening and infuriating to say the least..

As for the question: "What constitutes a good breeder VS. puppy mill?"

A good breeder is one who breeds for the betterment/improvement of the breed. It does not matter if the dog is proven in the field or in the ring. I hate it when people stipulate that a dog must earn championships in the ring. That is most definitely not the only requirement.

A breeder who does not breed for the betterment of the breed is not necessarily a "bad" breeder, but s/he should definitely not be breeding. Then there are some breeders who breed for money. I call these people "greeders". Puppy mills and many BYBs are Greeders, not breeders.

[LilacDragon]

It does not matter if the dog is proven in the field or in the ring.

The purpose of showing the dog in a conformation ring is to show that it is the BEST of the best and more closely meets the breed standard. As for being proven in the field - bettering the breed means that the dog has the temperment and workability that the breed was meant to have.

Sorry - but both of those things are just as important as health clearances. I don't want a skittish or aggressive rottweiler that looks like a doberman.

[wolfsoul]

I hate it when people stipulate that a dog must earn championships in the ring. That is most definitely not the only requirement.
I completely agree! Visa doesn't have her CH -- doesn't mean that Solo would have popped out ugly. :p Just means I haven't finished her. My friend bred shelties her entire life, and they always had females that weren't the greatest looking shelties -- but BOY, did they throw beauties!

[Giselle]

The purpose of showing the dog in a conformation ring is to show that it is the BEST of the best and more closely meets the breed standard. As for being proven in the field - bettering the breed means that the dog has the temperment and workability that the breed was meant to have.

Sorry - but both of those things are just as important as health clearances. I don't want a skittish or aggressive rottweiler that looks like a doberman.
Agreed. Extremes at either end of the spectrum is not good and usually spells disaster for the breed itself. However, a standard was formulated to ensure that a dog of the said standard can successfully fulfill its original duty. The vice versa is true. If a dog does not live to its standard, it cannot perform its duty successfully and efficiently. While it'd be my dream to see show GSDs who can herd and working GSDs who succeed in the ring, I'm just saying it's all right if dogs are proven in the ring more so than in the field (or vice-versa). While breeders should be breeding for it all, the sad fact is that many don't. You're right, though. Dogs should be bred for both.

[NicoleLJ]

I completely agree! Visa doesn't have her CH -- doesn't mean that Solo would have popped out ugly. :p Just means I haven't finished her. My friend bred shelties her entire life, and they always had females that weren't the greatest looking shelties -- but BOY, did they throw beauties!

I agree that is why I said in my first post that
"titles their dogs either by showing or trials or both"

They have to have something to prove that they are bettering the breed. In some breeds, like th eborder collie, they can not show in conformation because they can not be registered with the CanKC. So the breeders trial their dogs to prove them. In some breeds there has become a seperation form show stock and working stock. You can see this in Labs, GSDs, spainiels(sp) and others. For me they have to be titled in something at the very least.
Nicole

[LilacDragon]

Almost twenty years ago, I knew a woman who had a collie that was in International Champion with most of her titles in Europe. Probably the most beautiful blue merle bitch I have ever seen. But she was dumb as a box! I swear to you, this dog could not walk across a room without someone holding her collar.

[junescrater716]

lol thats funny! It's like that saying, There is no such thing as being smart AND beautiful!

[Karen]

lol thats funny! It's like that saying, There is no such thing as being smart AND beautiful!

That saying is completely untrue, and an old stereotype among humans. Beautiful does not equal Dumb any more than Ugly equals Smart. The two have nothing to do with each other.

This thread has moved far from it's original topic.

But to return to it, I do not think puppy mills care whether the dogs they produce are anything but alive and saleable.

[wolfsoul]

The purpose of showing the dog in a conformation ring is to show that it is the BEST of the best and more closely meets the breed standard. As for being proven in the field - bettering the breed means that the dog has the temperment and workability that the breed was meant to have.

I agree but disagree - I feel that showing a dog often proves nothing, other than the fact that you show your dog.

I know a toller breeder who puts CHs on all of her tollers by pinning them up against eachother in the ring so that they can win points, and therefore get their CH. They aren't too common in the showring so it's easy for her to pull it off. They are terrible examples of the breed -- in one show, my friend handled one of this breeder's dogs, and the judge asked why there were two goldens in the group ring. Another time, the judge told her to leave -- said "none of these dogs deserve ribbons." Of course this is Canadian showing -- much easier to pull this off when you don't need majors!

I have a friend who has been showing her sheltie for three years, and it's sitting on 9 points. It went to a couple of shows a month for three years -- that's ALOT of shows. Just needs one more point, and she will have her CH. She's never taken anything over Winner's Bitch. Will her CH prove that she's a good example of the breed?

And everyone has secrets to make their dog look more correct for the ring. Powders, gels, specific haircuts, etc. I've been to grooming seminars, I see the things they do to make the dog look correct -- they can turn a horrendous dog into something quite lovely. It's not that difficult if you know what you're doing -- I did it to a dog I handled earlier this year. Left her hocks long to make it appear as if she had more bone, brushed her leg hair inwards to make her legs appear straighter, showdried her hair to make it appear thicker, thinning sheared her nose to get rid of the cowlick. She's a horrible example of her breed conformation and yet I handled her straight into the group ring.

My dog is a beautiful example of what the breed is supposed to look like -- in CKC and AKC. However, in UKC she would do terribly. In FCI, she would do terribly. It doesn't mean she isn't a good example of what she should look like. Showing is based on opinion and politics -- not always on the dog, itself. when I look for potential studs, leases, etc, I don't even look at a Can CH. An Am CH is a bit better. A UKC Ch tells me that the dog is very correct, but European-type and very refined. I'm more likely to look at a Special in any of these registries as it's a higher possiblity that the dog stood for a judge through several shows. However I know of some Specials that did just the opposite. My co-breeder Specialed a dog that backed off the judge it's last time out -- Group placer, Can/Am Ch. I have, on video-tape, a Special backing off a judge -- Group placer, Can Ch. A friend witnessed a dog sitting between the handler's legs, terrified out of it's wits as she held it's head still and the judge lifted it's lips with a pencil to check the teeth. This dog group placed -- under a European judge. If the judge is European, the more likely the dog will place.

Even so, I love showing, and for the more common breeds it really can be a good way of seeing which ones are show quality (politics aside). It's a good hobby to have too. :) Can't wait to put a Ch on my boy -- I'd like to show him both CKC and AKC. Doubt we'll ever get to UKC, he probably wouldn't win anyways -- not refined or European enough.

[lv4dogs]

I will never, ever buy a pup from a pet store. You are only perpetuating the puppy mill business. You are not "saving" that pup, you are condemning it's parents to another round of being bred. Think of it that way.

Thinking that "there will always be puppy mills" is defeatist. Did folks listen when "people" said "women will never get the vote?" Did folks listen when "people" said "blacks aren't human beings?" No. They faought to change the prevailing attitude. We can do the same.

Well said once again Karen!

I for one will never purchase a puppy (or any other animal besides fish occassionally) from a pet store.
I think one person CAN make a difference, and who knows that one person may be you.

[Freedom]

"There are seven states that are known as puppy mill states because they have the majority of the puppymills in the country. They are: Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania."

I took this quote from this page:
http://www.prisonersofgreed.org/Commercial-kennel-facts.html

I do not have a dog - yet. I am in process of adopting a puppy mill rescue. The rest of the information I have is from the web site of the particular rescue organization from which I am adopting. The stories and photos they show are horrific. Female dogs have no vet care and suffer with infections that could be easily treated and cured. They go blind because simple eye infections are ignored. They are underweight, bred continually, often do not see the light of day or ever get out of their cages.

Most of their rescues have no teeth, male or female. As long as the dog can eat, no need for dental or vet care.

The rescue dogs are primarily adopted out to families who already have a dog established in the home. The rescue needs a dog to observe, follow, copy, emulate, to learn how to exist. (I know I said I don't have a dog and I am adopting one; there are exceptions to every rule.)

The rescued dogs are purchased at auctions. There, the dogs not sold are dropped into the "burn pile." I can't tell you much about that, just the name gives me tremors and I couldn't follow that particular link. Many of the photos, you can see the smoke from the burn pile in the background.

These dogs are terrified of humans, they have never known love, tenderness.

Many breed rescue groups attend the auctions to end the cycle. Buying the dog, even a puppy, saves that do and all the puppies (estimated at 6700 per female!) that she would have produced in the cycle.

Here is a link to one rescue operation at one auction.

http://www.hua.org/dog-adoption4.html

Do I know what a puppy mill is? I think so. Can I tell you? Not really, and not without crying. I have no idea how they are defined to make the statement which I copied at the top, that 7 states allow puppy mills. But there must a definition that many folks agree with. One that maybe we could start with: the worst group you can find. Eliminate those groups, revise your definition, and work your way up until you reach some sort of humane set up.

This female was rescued. At 8 years of age, she had never stepped on grass!!!!
http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=6605482

Thanks for reading this far. I guess I am caught up in this right now, because of the adoption I am working with. There is a lot of information out there on the internet on this topic. Just go to any rescue organization for any breed.
Sandra

[junescrater716]

I found one more thing online that has now convinced me...

10 Reasons Not to Buy a Puppy from a Pet Store
written by Catherine M. Sheeter

1. Health-

That adorable puppy in the window of the pet store is hard to resist, but you may be paying a lot of money for a dog that you know very little about. Pet stores generally rely on impulse buys to sell their "product". There is a good chance that the pet store puppy will develop a health problem sometime in its life that may cost you a lot of money to remedy. When you buy a pet store puppy it is very unlikely that the puppy's parents were screened for genetic diseases that can be passed to their offspring. Every breed of dog has genetic problems that are passed from generation to generation by breeding dogs that carry the flawed gene. Many of these genetic problems can be detected with today's technology, but these tests are expensive. People who are concerned about the welfare and future of their breed will have these tests conducted to preserve and improve in the future quality of their breed. Most good breeders are more concerned about the health of the puppies that they are producing than the money that they will or won't make on the production of a litter.


2. The myth about AKC papers-

Most pet shops would like you to believe that if a puppy is registered by the American Kennel Club, this guarantees the puppy will be healthy and a good example of the breed. This is not so. The only thing that AKC papers certify is that the puppy is a purebred and produced out of AKC registered parents. Even this can be fiction, as some producers register more puppies than are actually born in each litter to receive extra registration slips to pass out with unregisterable puppies. The parents of your puppy may be unhealthy or carriers of crippling or deadly health defects which they may have passed to their offspring- your puppy. They may also be horrible representations of the breed that you are buying. Often times the parentage of pet store puppies is also questionable due to poor record keeping. In other words, your puppy may not even be a purebred, even though it has AKC papers. Responsible breeders do register their puppies with the AKC, but that is only the beginning.


3. The pet shop guarantee-

Many pet stores provide a form of guarantee for people buying puppies from them, but their guarantees may be as bad as none at all. A not-so-uncommon scenario goes something like this: after your family has become attached to your adorable new puppy you find out it is sick. It will cost you several hundred dollars to treat, so you take the puppy back to the store to receive your guarantee. What they will most likely offer to do is trade you puppies- take away your beloved pet and replace it with a new puppy, not necessarily a healthier one, either. They will most likely euthanize the puppy you brought back, because this is cheaper for the store. The other tactic that some stores use is to tell you your puppy will grow out of the problem- until their guarantee has expired. Do you want to take this risk?


4. What will that puppy look like when it is full grown?

You may have seen specimens of the breed that you are buying, but this does not guarantee that this puppy will fit the breed standard. You do not know if the parents fit the standard either and cannot see the faults that each parent has. There is no perfect dog, but a good breeder will be willing to discuss the faults and strengths that each of their dogs possesses. You should also be able to see at least the mother of the puppy that you are buying if bought from a responsible breeder. Even then you can not tell exactly what the puppy will look like, but you will have a much better idea of what to expect. Why spend so much money without even knowing what the puppy's parents look like?


5. What do you know about the breed?

Employees of pet stores generally know very little about the dogs that are in the store. They can probably tell you a little bit about the breed and then point you to a rack of generic dog books. What do you do after you bring the puppy home, only to find that this breed is not the right one for you and your family? Good breeders are full of information about the breed of puppy that you are considering. They should be able to tell you the general temperament aspects of the breed and help you predict whether this breed of dog will fit into your lifestyle. They will also be able to warn you about specific health problems that the breed is prone to and will be able to tell you what aspects the breed excels in. There is no breed of dog perfect for every person and a good breeder is concerned that their puppy goes to a home that they will fit into.


6. Housebreaking and training problems-

This puppy that you are buying from a pet store has most likely spent much of its life in a cage. Many pet store puppies have never seen carpet and may never have even seen grass or dirt. Due to the conditions that puppies are kept in at pet stores, they have been forced to eliminate in the same area that they sleep and eat. This goes against the dog's natural instinct, but your puppy has had no choice. This habit may make housebreaking your puppy much more difficult. A good breeder keeps the puppy area very clean and makes sure the puppy has a separate elimination area. By the time the puppies are ready to go to their new homes they will be well on the way to being house trained. Good breeders will often also start teaching their puppies how to walk on a leash and to lie quietly for grooming. A pet store puppy has most likely never walked on a leash or been brushed before. It can be much more difficult to teach a pet store puppy these daily exercises than a puppy that has been brought up properly. Responsible breeders also base their breeding decisions in part on their dogs' temperament and personality, not only on looks or the fact that they are purebred. Most pet store puppies' parents have not been selected for any reason other than they can produce puppies that sell as cute "purebreds" registered by the AKC.


7. How about Socialization?

Your pet store puppy may well have never been in a house before. If this is the case then everything will be new and scary for them. The doorbell, vacuum cleaner, and children playing are all new sensations that can be terrifying to an unsocialized puppy. Good breeders will expose their puppies to many situations so that the puppies are used to them by the time that they go to their new homes. Most responsible breeders have evaluated the temperament of each of their puppies before they are placed in a new home. A good breeder will know, due to hours of observation, which puppies are dominant and which are shy, which are energetic and which are easy going. Then the breeder will be able to match the puppy to the new owner and make sure that energetic pups go to active families and that shy puppies go to a home that can help them overcome their insecurity. This careful evaluation enables a breeder to choose which puppy will fit your household and much of the guesswork is taken out of the selection process. Good breeders can help you make an educated decision about all aspects of your puppy's feeding, training and overall maintenance and care based on your family situation. If you are going to spend so much money on a dog that you plan to keep for its lifetime, why not find one that will fit into your lifestyle well?


8. What is a pedigree worth?

Some pet shops make a big deal out of their puppies' pedigrees. This is interesting, as the pedigree is really just a piece of paper with names on it. Unless you know the dogs behind those names the pedigree is really quite useless to the new owner. Can the pet store tell you what your puppies grand- parents died of, or how long they lived? Do any of the dogs in your pup's pedigree carry genetic diseases? Most pet store employees do not know any more about your puppy's background than you do. A reputable breeder can tell you all of this information about your pup's family tree and more. When you buy a puppy from a reputable breeder you are getting more than a piece of paper, you are getting the important information associated with the names too. Almost all responsible breeders will achieve titles on their dogs by showing them under unbiased judges. They will achieve championships on their dogs, which tells that the dog is a good representation of the breed. Some breeders also obtain obedience, or other titles that relate to the job that their breed of dog was originally bred to perform. Many also achieve canine good citizen titles on their breeding dogs. These titles will be shown on the dog's pedigree before and after the parents' names. Ask the breeder to explain what the letters mean.


9. Do you want to support puppy mills?

Almost all puppies that are in pet stores come from puppy mills. These operations are exactly what the name implies. Most mass produce puppies with money as the prime motive. Their breeding dogs are often kept in very poor conditions and are sometimes malnourished. The dogs are almost never tested for genetic diseases and may not receive vaccinations. Puppy mills often obtain their breeding dogs from people in a hurry to get rid of their dogs for some reason, often through "free dog" ads in newspapers or public auctions. Occasionally they are stolen from their owners. Females are generally bred every heat cycle until they are worn out and then they are often sentenced to death. The horror of puppy mills is encouraged every time a puppy is bought from a puppy store.

How do you know that your puppy comes from one of these places? The main reason is that almost no responsible breeders will sell puppies to pet stores. Good breeders want to make sure that their puppies go to good homes and are well cared for. They want to be actively involved in screening the home that their puppies go to. Breeders are also concerned about keeping track of their puppies after they leave the breeder's home. They will know about any health problems that their lines may carry, and will be interested in any health problems that a puppy of their breeding develops. A pet store usually never hears about their puppies once they leave the store, and generally really don't care. Buying from a pet store does not mean that you will save any money in the purchase price of the puppy either. When you buy from a reputable breeder there is no middle man involved who wants to take his share of the profit out of the price of the puppy. Often the price that good breeders charge is no more, and sometimes less, than what you will pay buying a puppy from a pet store.


10. After the puppy goes home-

Once you take the puppy home from the pet store they do not generally care what happens to the puppy. Most pet shops do not care if the dog is left to run loose and kill livestock, or if it dies of liver disease at one year old. If you have a training problem they will often be unable or unwilling to give you training advice. Most do not care if you take your dog home and breed it continually. Responsible breeders are more than people who sell puppies, they will also be good friends to you and your puppy. They care what happens to their puppies' once they are sold. Almost all good breeders sell on spay/neuter contracts or limited registration. This practice enables breeders to keep dogs that are not breeding quality out of the breeding population and also monitor what happens to their puppies in their new homes. Some breeders sell show quality puppies on co-ownership, so that they retain a portion of the dog's ownership, for better control of what happens to their dog later in it's life. If you have a health or training problem a good breeder will generally be able to offer you advice and help you through the ordeal. Most reputable breeder care about each of their puppies' futures and will be concerned about their welfare. They care not only about their own dogs, but also the impact their dogs will make on the breed as a whole.

So please next time you are looking for a new puppy to buy, do your research. One of the best steps toward becoming an educated puppy buyer and dog owner is to attending American Kennel Club sanctioned shows and carefully researching each breed that you are interested in. Once you decide what breed of dog you would like to add to your household, talk to many breeders. Good breeders can inform you about genetic diseases common in the breed you want and are generally happy to share their knowledge. When you are ready to buy a puppy from a particular planned litter ask the breeder for proof of genetic tests specific to the breed and request to see one or both of the parents of your new puppy.

A common excuse for buying a puppy from a pet store is that you do not plan to show your puppy, you just want a companion. Out of each litter that a reputable breeder produces there is a good chance that at least a portion of the puppies in each litter will not be show quality, but would make outstanding pets. Not every puppy that a breeder produces is destined for stardom in the show ring, but might well be the next shining star in your household. Please pass up the next puppy you see in the pet store and contact breed organizations. They will be able to match you with a responsible breeder that will help you add a well adjusted and healthy new canine member to your family.

Other positive alternatives are adopting a dog from your local humane society or adopting a rescue dog from various rescue organizations located throughout the United States. Every breed of dog registered by the AKC has at least one rescue organization that will take in dogs of that breed and places them in new loving homes. There are endless numbers of dogs of all shapes, sizes, ages and personalities in need of a new loving home. When you obtain a dog from one of these organizations you are more than saving that dogs life. You are also sparing a female dog in some puppy mill from being condemned to produce yet another litter for pet shop sales. So please be rational and thoughtful when you go to get your next dog and help prevent irresponsible pet ownership.

A pet store is generally the worst place to buy a puppy. As long as there is a market for pet store puppies, other dogs will be condemned to death by mass breeding only so that a few people can make some money, often with no thought of the welfare of their "product." This is not to say that a good pet has never come out of a pet store, as many have. For each that has, though, many others have not. Remember, when you buy a puppy, you are adding another member to your family, not just another piece of furniture that can be disposed of at the smallest whim. You would not have a child without careful research and planning for the child's future ten or fifteen years down the road. Your new dog should be no different. Adding a dog to the family is a long term commitment and responsibility that should be taken seriously and only acted upon after careful consideration and research.

[GreyhoundGirl]

I would never buy a pet store Puppy.

A) they never have greyhounds or whippets
B) they are WAY too expensive
C) they have WAY too many health problems
D) They support Puppy mills
E) the list goes on :p

[Husky15]

I would prefer to adopt a dog, and Belle is only the second dog we bought from a pet-store. The other we got was a Husky/Malamute. Pagan [our Shetland Sheepdog] my father rescued from an abusive owner living just down the street from us. Princess [Lab/Golden] we got from a woman who could no longer keep her, but I forget where we got Buster. We got our cat named Boots from a shelter [they were going to get a dog but came back with a cat] and we got my CC from a man living beside my grandmother. Although I realize what happens when people buy dogs from pet-stores, I do not think it is right to just let them die. They are living, breathing animals too that deserve love just as much. And let's face it - the dogs and animals at pet-stores are always going to be bought. There are so many people out there who do not understand what exactly goes on. I didn't even know as much as I do about shelter animals until I came on here. I knew they were there, but I knew nothing about it. It's the sad, sad truth.

[Karen]

I know, but the more we educate people, the fewer who will buy.

[borzoimom]

lol. Ok so AKC isn't all it's cracked up to be?
In any registration, it is only as good as the person behind it. The person that knows Dog A was Bred to Dog B. Realizes that statements of " with papers so in so money, without is so in so money ( less)" - they realize the papers belong to the dog- not for the person to sell...
However- the AKC allows DNA testings to become part of the registration= thus veryifying that is the dog that bred to the other dog.
I think the Canadian Club is pretty good too.
THe other CKC- is awful. YOu can have any dog, out of any mix- known or not, and they will "allow you" to pay them to send you a piece of paper- thats like me sitting at home with my own printer, that people could send in a picture of their whatever, and what the hey- I charge them 15 bucks ( making this up.. but you get the point) and send them back a piece of paper worth the price of a piece of paper (.001) of a cent.. The same CKC is also using the "designer breeds" ( the same breeds by the way you can get at any shelter in the US) giving them the same registrations worthless printed paper legitimacy of a breed by issuing such worthless piece of paper. Any "certificate of authenticy" is really only worth what is being authenticated.
Now I am not saying someones sweet little pug mix is a " worthless" dog. I am saying however that this other CKC registration is based off of making money- not trying to encourage the " pure bred dog". Our human society recently started putting pictures of the same breeds in their shelter and it says " PRICE- 55 DOLLARS FOR ADOPTION FEE" "Receive free one free vet visit and Endless dog kisses.."

[Marigold2]

Good Morning, I just saw this tread concerning puppy mills. I would like to offer my opinion as well. Puppy Mills are truly horrible places, much different from a breeder. A breeder raises their dogs because they love them and are dedicated to that breed, they might show them or just keep them as pets as well as sell some. However their main goal is the care, love and education of those dogs, which are their family. Puppy Mills ONLY breed for one purpose, and that is profit. No concern, love or kindness is giving to the animals. They are only there for profit. If the puppy is ill or not good to sell they are killed, pure and simple. With one million animals put down every year in our local shelters the best place to adopt a dog, cat, bunny or other animal is from a shelter. The ASPCA, Love-A-Spray and hundreds of other groups are out there needing help, needing more monies, needing people to adopt. Perhaps the puppy or kitty will not be pure breed, but their love and need is even greater. You are saving a life and enriching yours to no end. Puppy Mills are not here to save a pet, they are there to make a profit. The choice you make, whether to save a life or promote a horrible business is up to each and everyone of us.

[borzoimom]

When I had my shepherds, I was told countless times it would have been easier to adopt a child than get one of my precious shepherd pups!

[lovingpaws]

Don't get me started................

[lovingpaws]

Don't get me started................

Too late

1983 & 86 bought gifted golden - from pet stores -aka puppy mills. received papers to send in & register with AKC. Kacee the older one was fairly smart, Kisha younger, mentally challenged - she acted like a puppy all her life and even at age 12 people said how old's your puppy. I DIDN'T know anything about puppy mills then Both had health problems and one or the other was at the vet about every 2 months, ear infection, skin infections, allergies, anxiety. I think things would have been worse if I didn't feed natural & holistic foods. My third came after another 2 years, from breeder. Rarely saw vet. Great health, great body form. One disadvantage was epelepdic seirsures at about 8 or 9 - controlled with med. K & K also died of cancer at over 14, and that they made it that long was truly a blessing from God.

When I did volunteer work at a shelter (actually it was at the shelter but done by DART members) that also did investigation, I remember the day they brought in "puppy mill breeder dogs. These dogs were fearful and agressive, they needed tlc and to learn to trust, physically the also were in poor shape. We need to stop buying AT ALL pet store that sell DOGS & cATS

[borzoimom]

Don't get me started................
lol... I knew you were coming back to this one.. lol.