Archive for December, 2010

Question : Petstore dogs… any potential?
Okay. I know petstores are the harbor place for puppy mills, back yard breeders, etc. I know they’re over-priced dogs that have little value for that money besides their companionship.
… usually..

Now, I’m from New York. We don’t have many pet stores that actually sell dogs around where I’m from, but the ones that do are quite frankly rank and I would never even step foot in there if I weren’t educated on their issues.
I’ve never come across a pet store that actually had … morals.. of any sort.
But I’m currently in Virginia Beach on a vacation to visit my brother and sister-in-law.
Well yesterday we went to one of the malls, and ended up going into the pet store to see if we could find a toy for their current dog, a male Basset Hound.

We ended up looking at two of the dogs that they had: a Siberian Husky [purely for myself] and a Basset Hound [potential companionship for their Basset].
It ended up being this:
Both dogs were more expensive than the Sibe breeders I’ve been in contact with in the past in regards to their dogs. And these are Sibe breeders that I’ve heard nothing but good things about.
They both came with a pedigree – not a tough feet. Plenty of BYBs have pedigrees for their dogs.
They both came with a one year health guarantee – I’ve never come across a pet store with a health guarantee [then again, I'm from upstate new york]. But a one year health guarantee isn’t that good. Hip Dysplasia comes up after 2 years of age, usually.
They come with a contract – you’re supposed to get the dog neutered/spayed around 6 months of age. Okay. Getting a little worried here…
They do a *background* check on the new owners. They call your vet, they call your references, and they do a criminal check before considering you for sale. Of course, they also do a credit check if you’re asking for financing on the dogs [which, apparently, was the big cahuna there. they advertised that like water in a drought].
What really got me was that they would be willing to let us visit the places the dogs were bred at. The woman that had brought the pups out to let us visit ended up staying to talk with us after the Sibe. She gave us a run-down on what they hold for regulations on the breeders, and the health regulations on the dogs. They don’t sell dogs that come from homes that breed more than two breeds.

Now… I’m not considering getting a dog from them. It was nice to play with the pups and reminisce on when my Sibe was a pup, but I’ll be sticking to reputable breeders, rescues, or shelters. I don’t like taking that risk.

But I know my brother, and I know he doesn’t listen to what I have to say on dogs. I’ve tried to get it into his head that, although his male was a breeding male [which he was. he was also stuck in the kennel with the female 24/7. how's that for quality breeding?], and although he came with a pedigree – that doesn’t mean he should be trying to stud him out now. He’s too short, his tail isn’t held correctly ever, his legs/knees [whichever term] knuckle over, and his feet face out to the sides too much. He doesn’t have the temperament for a Basset Hound, either.
But. I’m a 17 year old, soon-to-be Freshman in College, who doesn’t hold a “degree” in dogs or any sort of “qualifying position”, so I don’t know what I’m talking about. -_-

Back to the point:
They’re likely going to be looking at this pet store for another dog if they do choose to get one.
With the knowledge stated above [1 year health guarantee, background check, visitation ability, etc], would they be making a **decent** decision on where to get another dog?
They can’t go to the shelter to get a dog because they’d have to neuter their male, and my brother doesn’t want to do that.

Obviously, a reputable breeder is a better choice, as is a rescue and shelter, but they think reputable breeders are overrated [and ruin the breeds, apparently], and they can’t go to a rescue/shelter.
But is it the worst choice they could make? [With the exception of flat-out going to a puppy mill.]
Please read the entire thing if you’re going to answer.
I AM NOT BUYING THIS DOG. Jesus. I don’t even buy toys from stores that sell dogs.

Jayse – Like I said, they had regulations for the breeders. My brother told her that their current Basset was in the kennel with the female 24/7, and she quite literally freaked out and started bashing on them. She brought us a binder with the regulations they had for their breeders. None of their breeders are allowed to breed a female more than once every two years.
cjrossi – I’d mentioned they couldn’t go to the rescue or shelter because my brother flat out refuses to neuter his male because he’s “a breeder dog” and should “always be a breeder dog” [his words]. Shelters/Rescues don’t sell to homes with unfixed dogs. At least not around here.
Jen – They’re called “Pet-Go-Round”, I believe. They don’t have any actual information on their site besides the pups, though. >_>

Thank you to those of you who gave info instead of just insults.
Chrissy – a health guarantee from a reputable breeder is generally for the entirety of the dog’s life. At least it is with the two Sibe breeders I’m in contact with. And a reputable breeder always has it so that a pet-quality dog has to be altered before a certain age.
Okay, before anyone else suggests I refer him to a reputable breeder, can I re-point out that he does not like breeders that do health tests [such as hip dysplasia], show their dogs, and overall have actual quality dogs. He believes that they are ruining the dogs, breeding *more* health problems into the blood, and are using them for money.
Go figure.
But instead of telling me to do something that’s not going to happen for years, it would be more beneficial to give links for information about neutering benefits. After all, it’s the only thing keeping them from being able to go to the shelter or a rescue.
cjrossi – maybe you should have read the question? I asked whether or not it was a potentially decent decision for them to make, not where they should get a dog.
Nowhere did I “berate” anybody for giving me information about reputable breeders I already knew.
Rotts – he has yet to get the opportunity to actually stud his dog, thank god. He’s posted everywhere he thought of: craigslist, kijiji, facebook [boy did we get into an argument over facebook!], but no one’s taken him up on the offer thankfully. I’m hoping that’s the way it stays, and he ends up giving up his tirade and getting him neutered. It’ll be a long wait, though.
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Best answer:

Answer by Anna Bell-uhm
If you do this, you are a puppy mill supporter. PETA will get you and kill you.