pet store vs. dog breeders (Update, puppy is home)

[DuWayne Steurer]

Well, we lost an old and dear member of our family this past weekend. Our first thought was no more dogs for a long while, but then we spent a few days thinking about it, and decided if we were going to have another one, now is the time, as I'm home most of the time, and it'd be (relatively) easy to get a dog trained.

 

Local pet store that I frequent has a good deal on puppies, that includes first and 2nd shots, a 2 year guarantee on any "defects", health wise, as well as a 6 month and one year checkup. We spent a good amount of time with a dog we liked, and she certainly seemed attentive, responsive, and so on.

 

I ask, because I've heard a lot of horror stories about pups bought from pet stores vs. those from reputable breeders.

 

And no, I will not be getting a dog from the humane society. I've went that route twice before, with disastrous results both times.

 

 

(added tag --1992)

[Roscoe Chill]

I don't know if I'd necessarily agree with going the pet store route, but I definitely agree on the Humane Society. The Humane Society makes it harder and in a lot of cases more expensive to "do the right thing." Not to mention they false advertise their breeds, when it is obviously part pit bull.

[Raw Biz]

Another option would be to look into rescue. My aunt is part of the Boston Terrier rescue for Wisconsin. She has two Bostons of her own, plus an Italian Greyhound. And then she usually has anywhere from 2-5 extra rescue dog at a time that are cycled in and out waiting to be adopted. Basically it's like a foster home for dogs. One of her Bostons is a rescue, my grandpa has a rescue, and I have a rescue. I will say that some of the dogs have their problems (mine is really ****** but it's because she was a puppy mill dog and was abused) but most of them are really good dogs. A lot of times people just find out that they don't have time for a dog or older owners go to nursing homes or die. I'm not saying to get a Boston from her but any kind of rescue is good. I tend not to like breeders because of the puppy mill situation. However, if you do go the breeder route, make sure they are definitely in it for the animals and not just to make money.

[danzig6767]

I bought a puppy for my daughters birthday last April and at first was going to get a dog from the Humane Society. After waiting and waiting for a breed to arrive that i wanted, i gave up and decide to buy a puppy. While telling this to someone at the Humane Society, she implored me to not buy the dog from a pet store and instead find a reputable breeder. She told me that many dogs in pet stores come from puppy mills that not only keep their dogs in terrible conditions, she said the majority of problem dogs they take in were dogs bought from pet stores that likely were born in a puppy mill and sold cheap to a pet store.

 

The bizzare thing is i don't watch the local news much and a few days after talking to that lady at the Humane Society, i happened to have the news on and they were doing a story on a few puppy mills that were raided. The conditions the dogs were living in were deplorable and the puppies i guess are not only living in terrible conditions, they are removed from their mother way to soon which causes long term issues for the dogs.

 

Now i'm sure not all dogs in pet stores come from puppy mills, but i doubt the ones that are will be something a buyer of a puppy could know the difference and obviously the store owner isn't going to say we buy dogs from puppy mills. I bought my puppy on the internet because there were no Toy Fox Terrier breeders locally and that's the dog my kid wanted. I used a great site called http://www.puppyfind.com which listed all kinds of breeds and breeders of them around the country, along with pictures of the dogs they have for sale.

 

My kid picked a puppy out and the breeder listed their phone number, i wasn't going to buy without speaking to the breeder. They also had a website up. After speaking to the breeder, they gave me a few references to call and the other buyers only had kind words. I asked for one more confirmation, a few pictures holding the dog with a sign with my name on it, they said that's fine

 

I ended up paying 450 for Tyson along with 150 to fly him from South Dakota to Milwaukee. The 600 dollar price ended up being as cheap or cheaper than local pet stores selling puppies of that breed. He had his shots with full records of all the shots from the vet. The breeder has been so nice, Tyson is my first dog and i had questions early on, he said call me anytime. Buying a dog online seemed goofy at first, but it was a very positive experience and if some pet stores buy dogs from puppy mills, i didn't want any part of contributing to the practice by giving them my money.

[Fatter than Joey]

I certainly understand hesitations with the Humane Society... We have 2 dogs both rescues, and they both have worked out well. I kept an eye out on Craig's list as well.

[Invader3K]

Yeah, I know someone who bought a kitten from the local Humane Society, and I think it took like two weeks. I know they are trying to make sure a "good person" is adopting the pet, but this place is literally swarming with cats that need homes. They also tried to guilt her into adopting more than one kitten on top of that.

[Brian the Automator]

We got a dog from the humane society, and it only took 24 hours I think. She's terrific... I can't believe someone would give her up like that.

 

If you don't feel that the humane society is a good option for you, definitely get a dog from a breeder. They actually care what they're doing, and don't just try to churn out puppies in the cheapest way possible like puppy mills do.

[1992casey]

Sorry to hear about your loss. I was wondering how things were going after the post about your dog last summer.

 

Definitely don't do the pet store.

 

Reputable is the key word to put in front of breeder. Don't buy from just any breeder. You should screen the breeder and the breeder should screen you. And both the buyer and seller should be protected by a written contract with a money-back guarantee. It looks like a Google search for "reputable dog breeder" will provide links with good information.

 

If you're not comfortable with the Humane Society, consider rescue groups.

[jason21nl]

I would go through a dog breeder as well. My brother just bought a dog from one not too long ago.

 

I got my cat from the humane society and it rules. Sure, the first 6 months she meowed non stop but I got a cat that plays catch, and fetch plus likes to be dressed up in ridiculous clothes.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Sorry to hear about your loss. I was wondering how things were going after the post about your dog last summer.

 

 

Thanks Casey. She seemed to bounce back for a while, and then the last few weeks I kinda had that feeling. She was being really naughty, and instead of slinking off or acting pathetic when she got told "no", she started baring her teeth and growling. Not eating a lot, yada yada. Friday night while she was out going to the bathroom, she more or less collapsed in the snow and I had to carry her in the house. She laid in the kitchen, crawled to the bedroom where my wife was, but never got back on her feet. We decided to take her in saturday and have it done, but unfortunately she never made it that far (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), and she passed away about 5 in the am saturday.

[Thurston Fluff]

I doubt there are many people who would advise a pet shop over a breeder. Just make sure you screen them. Equally important as the breeder is the breed of dog. One person's joy is another's horror. I have had luck with the humane society including my present dog who is probably going to go down as the best I've ever owned. I think the key with the humane society is they are fine with mixed breeds since most mixed breeds don't have the assorted health problems of pure bred. If you really don't want to figure out which breed best fits your lifestyle then a mixed breed is the way to go though, as I said, it really is best to take that time. I can see the problem the humane society could have if you wanted a particular breed. They have so few of a particular breed, in a particular area, that it would be hard to screen temperament ect. and still get the right fit.

I'm not a fan of rescues for most owners. If you are an experienced dog person with plenty of time to devote to the dog it can be a great option to get a purebred dog without the usual $500+ price tag. The problem with rescue dogs is they usually don't have an accurate health history and many of them were rescued from bad situations. If you are a very experienced owner, who has a lot of time to spend with the dog and are willing to deal with the possible health issues of an unscreened purebred then it can be a great way to get the breed you want. I really don't think getting a rescue dog is a good idea if you have kids. Especially young kids. I really respect rescue people but rescue dogs are not for everyone.

 

I've found this site useful when it comes to quick referencing breed personalities and needs.

 

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/searchcategories.htm

[1992casey]

This site, How to Find a Good Dog Breeder, has a nice PDF available: How to Identify a Good Dog Breeder. I think I might differ a bit with a detail or two, but for the most part, I think it's really well done.

[OldHoss]

First, sorry to hear about your dog.

 

I'd always go with a reputable breeder over the pet store. By going with a breeder you can learn about your dogs "parents" and any health and temperment issues that it may have in its family line. We bought our Brittany from a breeder who was great and got to meet our dogs mom and a half-brother, who were both sweet and gentle and we felt very reassured about the type of dog that we were going to get (and she turned out in temperment to be just like her mother).

 

Also the breeder guranteed against hip displaysia. If our dog would turn up with displaysia, they would take her back and let us get a dog from the next litter. Of course, we'd never take that option. But for some, it's a nice piece of mind.

 

Also if you're looking for a breeder for a particular breed, try to find the local owner's club for that breed. Most breeds will have an owner's club. We contacted the local Brittany club and that's how we got in contact with our breeder.

[Ralph Wiggum]

My wife and I have two dogs (Springer spaniels) and two cats. The older Springer (she's 3 years old) and the two cats are from the humane society, and the youngest dog was bought through a local breeder.

 

The cats are fine...no problems at all with them. One plays fetch, even. I'm not really a cat person (wife said she wanted cats, I didn't, so we got cats...you know how it works), but these cats are actually pretty cool.

 

The older Springer was an abused dog, and she had some pretty big issues when we got her. She didn't trust anyone and was pretty aggressive at first. She also had/has the propensity to bully smaller dogs. She especially doesn't like little dogs that bark at her. However, we've had her for about two years now, and she has become a terrific dog. She's a little high-strung and is stubborn at times, but is also a lot of fun to have around. She still has a few quirks, like the small dog thing, but overall she's great.

 

We bought the pup from a breeder about a year ago, and he's been excellent ever since we got him. Was already potty trained and knew basic commands. He's a very mellow dog that loves to play.

 

I would say that if you are looking for a quick fix, going through a breeder is a better bet. However, if you are patient, the Humane Socity can pay off, too.

[Thurston Fluff]

The older Springer was an abused dog, and she had some pretty big issues when we got her. She didn't trust anyone and was pretty aggressive at first. She also had/has the propensity to bully smaller dogs. She especially doesn't like little dogs that bark at her.

 

Man you summed up my border collie right there. Amazing dog but she hates when other dogs face bark her and can be quite aggresive with other dogs at times. It's a constant battle. I've read that if a pup gets jumped it has a much higher chance of being aggressive with other dogs.

[bbrauch2000]

I got an 8 month old from the humane society just about a year ago and it couldnt have gone any better. He wasnt even close to the breed they said he was and he's twice the size they said he would get of course, but he came potty trained and doesnt bark, which is all i care about. I think if you just keep watching the humane society website until you see something you want, it doesnt take long at all. I went and saw my dog at about 7 PM the night before and picked him up the next morning when it opened. They even let me put a deposit down the night before to make sure no one could snatch him up from me.

[hawing]

Humane societies vary. The one in Rock County (in the 'hood of my youth, in fact) has produced some less than optimal experiences among my relatives. Organizations like these have to operate with a degree of caution, but the degree used there has seemed excessive in the past. (I hate to ponder why.)

[apirk]

My girlfriend works for the St. Louis Humane Society (they are all independent of each other) and after the stories I've heard I would never buy an animal from a pet store. She does PR so she goes on a lot of the rescues and works with the media. Every rescue they go to the dogs/cat were being sold to brokers who sold them to Pet stores. Most are inbred and were bred in terrible conditions. There are exceptions of course my sister has a dog from a pet store that is completely healthy with no problems for 7 years. Even before I knew all that stuff personally I would rather get one from a shelter. I love my Basset Hound Cooper who we got from a shelter.

 

If you go to a Humane society to look at dogs try to go when they open on a weekend and try to talk to the dog walkers. They usually know the dogs a little better and are much more helpful in recommending or talking about specific traits of how a certain dog acts.

[dadofandrew]

I've spoken on this many times, but the only difference between a reputable dealer and a puppy mill is how often they clean the cages. They are both bringing unwanted animals into the world for profit, and deserve nothing but scorn. I would never get an animal anywhere but at a shelter, and the idea of paying $600 for an animal while many are being put to sleep is abhorrent. Sure, you might have to wait a bit if you want the latest flavor of the month, or a cute puppy. I'd give my cash to a terrorist before any kind of "breeder". I would equate what they do with the folks who buy up web sites...sadly legal, but very unethical and a pathetic way to make a living.

 

RoCo, I'm sorry for your loss. We've had Ronnie 8 years, and we can't imagine life without him.

[mothershipconnection]

Al, I don't think it's the breeders who create this problem, it's irresponsible people who don't get their dogs fixed. Human society dogs often don't come from breeders - many are mutts from parents that should have been fixed or purebreds raised by owners who didn't take adequate care of them. Of course, there are also plenty of sad stories of people who couldn't care for the animal and ethically gave them up.

[1992casey]

As a matter of fact, Humane Society dogs shouldn't be coming from reputable breeders at all. The purchase contract should state that the dog will be returned to the breeder if the buyer's circumstances change and s/he can't keep the animal. Likewise, animals purchased from reputable breeders will be fixed by the buyer as part of the purchase contract.

 

And by the time a reputable breeder is done paying dog show fees, transportation to dog shows, stud fees, transportation for stud services, vet bills, etc., that person is probably either losing money or making no more than a small profit.

[DuWayne Steurer]

In my life, I've had or lived with 3 dogs that were either pet store or breeder dogs, and they were all 3 wonderful dogs. We had a Collie when I was a kid that was bought from a pet store. We had a Samoyen (SP!) Husky who was bought from a breeder. And my last dog was given to me by a breeder who was a personal friend who had an extra large litter.

 

On the flip, I've had 2 dogs from the humane society, and to put it plainly, they were disasters. I won't go into details, I have a feeling I'll simply be told I wasn't doing things the right way. I have a relative who had a rescue dog, and the dog was so mean when my relative got pregnant, they put the dog down, as no one (not even a rescue) would take it, and they couldn't have it around a baby.

 

I understand there's many more good than bad stories as for rescues and humane society animals, I do. I simply have to say that I've been down that path, and don't want to do it again. I have kids, and I have very young nieces that come over. I could choose to not have a dog, and we initially thought to wait at least a few years, but we've all talked and everyone would like to have another dog around the house.

 

Thanks for the responses and opinions, I respect them all even if I don't necessarily agree with them.

[danzig6767]

I've spoken on this many times, but the only difference between a reputable dealer and a puppy mill is how often they clean the cages.

That's flat out nonsense

 

[Roscoe Chill]

Al, just how much do you think it costs to adopt a dog at a humane society nowadays? I'd bet you be surprised. And "flavor of the month?" So you're saying if you don't adopt a pit bull mix if that's all the puppies that are available, you're a bad person? It's not as black and white as you make it out to be.

 

EDIT: What if you want a dog for a specific purpose such as hunting, protection, herding, etc. Not to mention sometimes you have no idea what kind of dog you're getting. You may want a dog under 30 pounds, and you end up with one that is 75 pounds full grown. Again, to call all breeders puppy mills is ridiculous.

[apirk]

Again, to call all breeders puppy mills is ridiculous.

Agreed completely there ae tons of great breeders, the problem is there are tons of horrible breeders especially in very rural areas. The best thing to do is do research if you are going to get from a breeder. Also, I'd say the number one thing to do is ask to see the parents and see were the dog has been since birth. My dog as a child was from a breeder and the one I have now is from the Humane Society and both are/were great dogs. Either way you have to be careful.