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Where Does A Quality Pet Come From?

An excellent way to evaluate the quality of the puppy is to evaluate the source. Options include:

  • Pet shop, dealer or commercial kennel:

These outlets rely heavily on impulse buying, which is a poor way to choose an addition to your family. Pups are bred and raised as cash crop to become merchandise sold for a high profit. This high profit is possible because little has been put into the care of these pups or their mother. The purpose of a commercial breeder is to breed dogs for profit. Little or no attention is paid to the temperament and appearance of the dogs used as breeding stock, which are frequently highly inbred and over bred. The pedigree of shop pups, if accurate, often reveals that parents are brother and sister and the grandparents are father and daughter. Commercial sources rarely accept responsibility for the puppy after it is sold.

State-by-State Lemon laws exist- but they don't give you a lot of time for the dog to reach maturity. Often there is only a mere 2 week-30 day grace period! http://www.malteseonly.com/lemon.html...
-So your puppy is sick? What are your options? an exchange for another puppy from the pet store? Are you really willing to bring your dog back for another one? Any help with vet bills- I doubt it!

  • Backyard or Casual Breeder:

Usually this is the person who owns a dog and thinks it would be "fun" to have puppies or that it would be a great experience for the children. Perhaps it is an effort to recoup the original
cost of the dog. Usually these breeders know little about the breed's lines, history or standard and still less about grooming and care. They are not aware of breed issues nor concern themselves with such. Like commercial breeders, casual backyard breeders make little or no investment in their breeding stock. Frequently they have a dog and know of someone with the same breed and decide to have a litter with no regard as to whether the dogs compliment each other or double up on faults. They may choose to have a litter because one of their relatives "wants a dog like theirs." Breeding stock may not be certified by a veterinarian ophthalmologist (ACVO) and CERF certified clear or PRA (Progressional Retinal Atrophy) a hereditary ailment which causes blindness, clear of hip Dysplasia (OFA/GDC/PennHip certification.) While they may love their own dogs, they do not understand the breed as a whole. Their goal is to produce pups and when the 'fun" is over, sell them quickly. The backyard breeder's responsibility tends to end when the pup is sold.

  • RESCUE
Rescue is a wonderful way to give a dog a second chance. Many dogs wind up in need of rescue for any number of reasons. Most do not reflect on the temperament of the dog. Rescue organizations and shelters generally do careful temperament screenings which may include some obedience training and time spent in foster care with a family in a home setting. Frequently the health history is not known; but you are also not paying top dollar for the likes. Many dogs come into foster care housebroken and understanding basic commands. There are local SPCA's for all breeds and mixes and specific breed rescues which only handle a particular breed. An application and references is usually required along with an adoption fee which covers expenses. Dogs are generally spayed or neutered as a condition for the adoption. Dogs which resemble an AKC breed may be eligable for ILP status which allows them to compete in AKC performance events, such as Agility, Obedience, and Field Trials.
  • Quality Hobby Breeder:

The very best choice for a quality pup. Breeding a quality pup is a serious labor of love, dedication and responsibility. The
quality puppy is a the result of the breeder's love of dogs a dedication to the breed and a responsibility to the dogs the breeder has produced, for as long as they live. The quality puppy comes from a breeder who acknowledges responsibility for every puppy produced for the life of the dogs. A quality pet starts with a careful breeding program in which the characteristics and temperament of the puppy's ancestor's are known to the breeder. Animals being bred undergo careful evaluation and medical screenings. A quality breeder tries to produce a pet who is as close as possible to the breed standard (the blueprint of what the particular breed should be.) Once the puppies are born, the quality pet is the result of careful socialization and human bonding by the breeder. A well socialized "people-oriented" pup is the result of positive contact with humans from the first days of its life. Since puppies learn a tremendous amount from their mother, the temperament and socialization of the dam is of primary importance to the personality of the pup.

A quality puppy comes from a quality breeder!