[Yogi]

This was e-mailed to me and I think pretty much covers all the problems most I have heard from have encountered after purchasing from a pet store. Granted, we are all weak in the heart when we see them in those little glass faced boxes...
10 Reasons Not to Buy From a Pet Store

1. Bad Health: Because so many pet store pups come from puppy mills, they are not the result of careful breeding and they are usually not well cared for before coming to the store. Some common illnesses and conditions are neurological problems, eye problems, hip dysplasia, blood disorders and Canine Parvovirus.

2. 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. No Socialization: Pet stores pups 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 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.

5. Lack of Information: A member of a pet store staff is not an expert on a breed and often not on dogs in general. Purchasing a puppy from a store means you will not get the lowdown on that breed or likely help with any behavioral or other questions.

6. Return at Your Puppy's Peril: Most pet stores do offer a warranty of sorts where you can bring the puppy back if he has problems. They don't tend to tell customers that the puppy's fate, once returned, is usually euthanization.

7. Housebreaking is a Chore: 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 Maltese in the window, you may find, as she grows, that there's a little Maltese in there somewhere but mostly she looks like a Terrier. 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 $400 and $2,000. 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, or AKC papers, 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 a reputable breeder to prove that.

[cigwyllt]

This should be compulsory reading for anyone who is planning to buy a puppy. So much heartbreak could be avoided if people educated themselves about buying a dog and would take the time to seek out a good breeder instead of treating it like any other material purchase and heading to the store!

[Lara's mom]

There can't be too much that's more heartbreaking than bringing home a new puppy only to discover that he or she is very ill.

[reeskujo]

Thanks for posting this Yogi...I live in Missouri and puppy mills which is where most of the pet stores get their puppies are a huge problem here...

When I'm doing a training class one of the first things I do before we get started is have everyone introduce themselves and say where their puppy came from...Breeder,rescue or shelter pet stores etc...I do this because it gives me more insight as to where the puppy comes from and if there's a potential for behavioral problems..I'm still astounded as to how many people get their puppies from a pet store when every other day a new puppy mill makes the news for being closed down...

To date I think I can honestly say that I've not had one pet store puppy that has not had health and or behavioral problems...I began early on with theses classes by teaching about the difference between puppy mills and reputable breeders...

I've been lucky enough to talk a few people out of purchasing the cute little puppy in the pet store window...

Just recently we went to the mall and I stopped in the pet store to see the condition of the puppies...I was horrified at their living conditions...2 or 3 to a cage, food and water bowls empty and puppies soiled in feces and urine...

I was enraged!...Of course I immediately headed in the store by my husband knowing my temper and mouth about these things wouldn't let me go in so when I got home I called the manager of the store and ripped him a new one and then called and reported them to the Dept. of Agriculture as well as the local Animal Control who over sees abuse and neglect reports..

[skivvies]

Good post! I've heard too many stories about people buying puppies from a pet store, and then having them fall ill. I can't imagine how heartbreaking that would be.

[mieketsai]

i can't agree more~

[lucysdoghouse]

There are so many dogs that need homes that live at shelters and rescues. I could never imagine buying a dog from a pet store.

[lange]

I completely agree from personal experience. Before I knew anything about pet mills & pet stores, I bought my Wrigley from Petland 5 years ago. He has had many issues although none "health" related. He took all of 2 years to be completely CRATEtrained. He has also had behavior issues with some neurotic tendencies. He was over 3 months old when we bought him which likley only helped embed more problems for him. He's such a loving dog but it has NOT been an easy road for any of us. I am now well aware of the damage bad breeders & stores can cause. I will speak against it any time I can. I only hope with the recent years of exposing the problem people become more aware & we get on the road of extincting these places.

[Krissy48lowes]

Excellent post! A while back while I was doing market research on local pet stores that sold pets, I was shocked on the consumer write ups. I've never purchased a dog from a pet store, so the reviews that I was reading were amazing. Some of the pets sold didn't even live for a week after being purchased. Buying from establishments that purchase from puppy mills is only encouraging this horrid practice.

[nattiej1976]

I LOVE embaressing hubby and daughter, and often go into pet stores and very quickly strike up conversations with anyone considering the pets and warning them of the dangers and the likely places where that cute little puppy in their arms have come from.

I was in one only last week and they had $800 on (admitedly cute) but deffinately mill puppies. So I proceeded to tell the young lady who appeared to be considering a purchase, that she could get a PURE BREED dog, not X Bred for same if not less from a well reputed breeder, and pointed her in the direction of our kennel club.......lol then also suggested to her if she had her heart set on a cross breed she should try the RSPCA shelter, who would rehome a pet to her for $120.

[elve9ine]

Thanks for posting...