101 Reasons Not To Buy Puppies

 

 

101 Reasons Not To “Simply” Buy Puppies From

i)              Pet Stores

ii)            “So Called” Breeders

1. Health Issue ala Bad Health: There are so many pet stores’ puppies come from puppy mills. And who are these puppy mills? Don’t forget puppy mills are breeders as well. They are the most unscrupulous breeders. They are not the result of careful breeding and they are usually not well cared for before coming to the stores. Some common illnesses and conditions are neurological problems, eye problems, hip dysplasia, blood disorders and Canine Parvovirus.

2. High Tendency Having Behavioral Problems: Because breeding is indiscriminate, behavioral problems are not weeded out generationally. You'll also find that a pet store's staff is not likely to have any training in dealing with behavior issues so the puppies continue to do the wrong things, which become habit.

3. Lacks of Socialization: Pet stores puppies are often pulled away from their litter at far too young an age, often at only four or five weeks. The earliest a puppy should be separated from his pack is eight weeks and most reputable breeders will say at least 10-12 weeks. This lack of time socializing with his siblings means that puppy will not develop important canine skills. Likewise, a puppy who has not been handled by people from about three weeks will not naturally socialize well with them.

4. The Downfall of The Standard: In a broad sense, purchasing a puppy from a pet store and then breeding her means you are ruining the standard of that breed because the previous breeders were not concerned with it. Having said that, all of them are “still” certified as a pedigree breed.

5. Lack of Information: The sales personnel of a pet store staff is not an expert on a breed and often not on dogs in general. They may not even know where the puppies were coming from. 

6. Return at Your Puppy's Peril: Most pet stores in the western world do offer a warranty of sorts where you can bring the puppy back if he/she has problems. They don't tend to tell customers that the puppy's fate, once returned, their fate of surviving is normally ended.

7. Problem with Housebreaking: Pet store puppies have spent all their short lives in cages. They do not have the opportunity to develop the natural canine instinct of eliminating away from their food and bed. This causes problems when you try to housebreak them.

8. What You See Isn't Necessarily What You Get: If you see what looks like a Great Dane in the window, you may find, as he/she grows, that there's a little Great Dane’s features but mostly he/she  looks like a Kutta. There is no guarantee you will get a purebred dog if that's what you're after.

9. Poor Value: A puppy from a pet store generally costs between USD500 and USD2,000 & above (for normal purebred). This is often more than you'd pay at a reputable breeder who can ensure you get a healthy puppy and provide support afterward.

10. Questionable Pedigree: You're paying for a pedigree. When you buy a puppy from a pet store but it's very likely that it's not genuine. If the papers are genuine, it still doesn't mean the puppy is a good example of its breed - you need an honest breeder to prove that.

What are our options other than pet store puppies? Find a local honest reputable breeder that knowing the breed.

Local honest reputable breeders are knowledgeable about the breed they represent and can help with behavioral and physical issues that might come up later. These breeders socialize their puppies early on, breed in good traits and breed out bad ones and they can show you your puppies' parents and share with you their history.

So the next time you see that adorable puppy in the window, pause and think about the downsides. Buying from such a store is, in essence, supporting them and the horrible practice of puppy mills. And it is also almost a sure bet that you'll have a bad experience.