Reputable/Responsible breeder vs Pet Store
We've all seen them, noses pressed to the glass, eyes pleading for somebody to take them
home. So cute and cuddly that many a rational person has made the impulsive decision to
bring one home, a few hundred dollars later. And inevitably, thousands of dollars in
veterinary bills later, the poor sucker finally realizes that maybe buying that puppy wasn't
such a grand idea.
Every single puppy sold from a pet store came from a puppy mill, or a backyard breeder.
How can such a blanket statement be made? Simply because there is not one, single
responsible breeder out there who would allow one of his or her dogs to be marketed out
like regular merchandise to whoever can lay down the cash.
There are no responsible breeders who would sell their dogs to pet stores ever!
This is a fact, there is no debating this. Even though the pet store workers may try to
assure you that the dogs came from a responsible breeder, it is simply not true.
Let's look at what defines a responsible breeder, shall we?
A responsible breeder must know where their puppies are going.
A responsible breeder will interrogate the potential buyer about their home, family, living
arrangements, other people that share their house, their past, and their future. Police
interrogations have nothing on a breeder trying to find the best possible home for his or her
dogs.
A responsible breeder will sell with a contract. A contract that protects the interests of all
parties, but most importantly the puppy!
The Contract:
When you buy from a responsible breeder you will be signing a binding contract stating that
if something (anything) happens to this dog the breeder is the first to be told. This may
seem a little extreme, but there is a very legitimate reason behind this. If your new dog
develops hip dysplasia or any disease that can possibly be genetic or inherited four or five
years down the road, they want to know to possibly pull the parents from the breeding line.
You sign that if something happens to you, and you can no longer care for your dog, they
will be notified, so she may take the dog back into their care or find it a new home.
You agree to spay or neuter your new pet as soon as possible to help prevent unwanted
litters if your dog was bought as a companion.
You agree to abide by any other terms and conditions set forth in the contract. If that
means getting hips certified at age two, or eyes certified, you do so.
As daunting as this is, if you think this over, you will realize that the breeder has done this
to protect their dogs. And most people have no trouble signing these contracts with a clear
conscience.
A responsible breeder will take back into their care, any dog at any time that has been
bred from their breeding lines. And often even dogs that were not.
A responsible breeder will do their very best to make sure that none of their dogs ever
end up in a shelter.
A responsible breeder can guarantee your new dog's freedom from genetic diseases and
defects for life, knowing that she has done the very best to breed best possible parent to
the best possible parent and both were free from genetic problems.
Can ANY pet store say the same thing?
Before you go into a pet store looking for a pup, realize where it came from. It’s parents are
most likely living out their lives in cramped cages with minimal or no human contact being
bred and then discarded when they are no longer able to produce puppies.