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► No Puppy Mills 
Description: No Puppy Mills. The truth about petshop puppies.

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Added on: 28-Apr-2008
Hits: 334
Rating: 10.0 (1 Vote)

► What is a Puppy broker? 
Description: What is a Puppy broker? A broker is the "middle man." They are the ones who buy a puppy from a miller and sell the pup to the pet store, another broker, or directly to the public. A broker will buy a puppy for say $120 from a miller (why millers breed so many puppies - they get little from the pup). Then the broker will sell the pup to a pet shop for a profit. Then the pet shop will sell the puppy to the public for even more. Say a pet shop sells a Shetland Sheepdog pup for $800.00. The miller gets $120 from the broker for every Sheltie sold. In order to make $800.00, the miller has to sell to the broker 7 - 8 Sheltie pups. Brokers may frequent Auctions to find puppies to sell as well as breeding stock to sell back to millers. How can you tell a broker? Well, look for puppies being sold that were not bred by them. This is the first cue. However, some good breeders will work in conjunction with other breeders and may take puppies as stud fee and if the pup does not grow out as hoped, it will be sold as a pet. But brokers regularly sell puppies they do not breed. Use the same questions and guide you would use for helping determine if a breeder is a miller or not.

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Added on: 28-Apr-2008
Hits: 146
Rating: 10.0 (1 Vote)

► Purchasing Your Pomeranian Puppy 
Description: Purchasing Your Pomeranian Puppy Your Pomeranian will be a member of your family for many years , so take great care to select the right dog for your family. To avoid many of the problems encountered by new puppy owners & save yourself a lot of heartache and do not impulsively purchase that cute puppy in the window of your local pet shop. Impulse buying has no place in pet ownership. Purchase your puppy from a registered breeder. This gives you the best chance of obtaining a companion who is a true representative of it's breed. A good breeder will have screened the the parents for genetic problems. Your puppy will have been given the best start in life by being reared in clean surroundings with lots of loving care. Do a lot of homework before you buy- Research , Research and yet more Research. After Research we go to the next important step in your Search for the perfect Pomeranian Puppy for your Household.

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Added on: 29-Apr-2008
Hits: 223
Rating: 10.0 (1 Vote)

► Stop Puppy Mills 
Description: Puppy mills are nothing new. These mass dog-breeding operations have been around for decades. They continue to thrive because they prey on unwitting consumers who are smitten by too-cute-for-words puppies in pet store windows and on fancy websites. But behind the friendly facade of the local pet shop, the pastoral scenes on a "breeder's" website, or the neighborhood newspaper ad, there often lies a puppy mill. These canine breeding facilities house dogs in shockingly poor conditions. Life is particularly bad for "breeding stock," dogs who live their entire lives in cages and are continually bred for years, without human companionship and with little hope of ever becoming part of a family. These dogs receive little or no veterinary care and never see a bed, a treat or a toy. After their fertility wanes, breeding animals are commonly killed, abandoned or sold to another mill. The annual result of all this breeding is hundreds of thousands of puppies, many with behavior and/or health problems. Read more about puppies and breeding dogs who suffered at puppy mills at the Survivor Stories page »

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Added on: 05-May-2008
Hits: 446
Rating: 10.0 (1 Vote)

► Reputable Breeder vs. The Backyard Breeder 
Description: Reputable Breeder vs. The Backyard Breeder. Tips on how and where to purchase your best friend.

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Added on: 28-Apr-2008
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► What is a Backyard Breeder? 
Description: What is a Backyard Breeder? Probably the best definition I have found so far to answer "What is a back yard breeder (BYB)?" comes from Boxerworld.com: "The average pet owner that breeds their dog(s)." So, why are back yard breeders a problem? Well, they just breed dogs for the sake of it. They may have a sweet pet they want to try and reproduce or they think that their dogs are quality because they have papers and/or are registered with some registry. They think maybe they can make a few dollars selling pups, etc. They just put out dogs without real consideration for the future of not only the breed but the puppies produced. Often, BYBs breed dogs with faults. This perpetuates fault and problems in the breed. They do nothing to prove their dogs are of sound temperament and that they are breeding good representatives of the breed, etc. They just breed. And often, they do not even breed purebreds. Some BYBs "create" neat sounding things and think they are breeds - like Dalimers. This was seen listed in the Washington Post as a rare, German breed. Well, they are mutts - crosses of Dalmatians and Weimeraners, nothing more than a back yarder trying to make a buck But many people who show and breed dogs do so from their homes? How do you know is a breeder is good or not? Through EDUCATION and ASKING questions. These questions will help you out:

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Added on: 28-Apr-2008
Hits: 167

► What is a Puppy Mill? 
Description: What is a Puppy Mill? The "Puppy Mill" often evokes horrific mental images of waste filled cages, dogs stacked like boxes at a warehouse, disease, and even death. But not all Puppy Mills are what we see in the media: some appear quite clean and even lovely. But puppy mills all have the same thing in common: the desire for PROFIT. How can you tell a miller? Look for a few things: 1) Multiple breeds being bred and sold. Good breeders stick to one or two breeds. 2) Cutsie prefixes such as "Teacup." 3) They take credit card. 4) The website looks good but upon closer inspection is lacking vital information such as: titled dogs, health screenings, etc.

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Added on: 28-Apr-2008
Hits: 122

► Where to find a Dog/Puppy 
Description: Where to find a Dog/Puppy There are only TWO places you should consider getting a dog from: a good, reputable breeder and a rescue. You forgot to list pet stores. Why? A pet store is the WORST place to go. Yes, they are convenient and yes, they will sell to anyone, but there is no quality control. Also, a pet store will tell you exactly what you want to hear to make the sale and not what you should hear. Puppies at pet stores come from puppy mills or back yard breeders. These facilities mass produce puppies with little consideration for the health and well-being of the breeding animals and offspring. Puppies are often raised in nasty conditions and not socialized. Health care is limited to what is needed for shipping. Parents are not tested for hereditary problems - it is not cost effective for the miller. There is a greater chance you will get a pup that has hereditary problems and even behavioral ones from lack of socialization. Being kept in a cage for the formative weeks is not proper socialization. Millers are concerned only with how much money they can get from their dogs. Pet Stores are concerned about the bottom line as well. Think, is it easier to sell $800 worth of pet products in one day or one $800 puppy? Pet Stores will insist their dogs are from breeders. Technically, they are, anyone who lets dogs breed can be called a breeder. But a reputable breeder does far more than sell dogs and you will NEVER find a pup from a reputable breeder in a store. (However, some Back Yard Breeders - see the next section - will also sell to pet stores and many people think BYBs are good breeders.) Some pet stores will even say the pups are from rescue groups. Well, no reputable rescue will send puppies to pet stores for sale. What about a newspaper ad? Many back yard breeders just breed purebred dogs – many just breed dogs, crosses or not. Some BYBs like to create breeds out of ignorance or the desire to make money from a sucker who knows no better. How many times do ads run for Sheltie-Poos?

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Added on: 28-Apr-2008
Hits: 149

► Responsible Breeding 
Description: Responsible Breeding. "Hollywood has given a warped reality to breeding. More often than not, Hollywood shows a happy mom with fat, wriggling puppies. All puppies find their ways to happy homes. What Hollywood does not who you is the responsibility of breeding and the potential for heartache." Please remember, in every litter bred for show or working, there will be puppies that do not meet the high standards a good breeder sets. These pups will go to pet homes. Rarely are all puppies in a litter "show pups." Since the rest will be available to pet homes, there is no need at all to go to someone "just breeding for pets." "A Responsible breeder will... Insist the dogs being bred are good breed representatives in body and mind and have proven it by competing is various competitions. They breed first for their own needs. Puppies not meeting the breeder's desires will be carefully placed in pet or performance homes with a spay/neuter agreement. They will test for hereditary issues as well as Brucellosis (which can be devastating). They will require the same standards of dogs they breed to. They will research pedigrees to try and improve upon their own dogs as well as add to the breed as a whole. Responsible breeders have a goal they breed towards, they do not breed just to see what will be produced. Has a working knowledge of the genetics behind the dogs (colors, health issues, etc.) They accept the financial risk and rarely make money off of litters when all the expenses from tests (some must be done annually), feeding, medical care, etc. are tallied up. Responsible breeding does not equal money. They accept the emotional risk: which include the possible death of a puppy, puppies and/or the mother. They accept long term responsibility. If for any reason at any time, a buyer cannot keep the dog bought, the breeder will want it back - even if the dog is twelve years old! If at any time a hereditary issue that was previously unknown to the breed shows up, the breeder will inform all puppy buyers as well as alter the breeding program to prevent the issue from being passed on to any other dogs. Makes sure all puppies go to carefully screened homes. If there is no home out there, the puppy is kept until one is found. NO puppy ever goes to a pet store or animal shelter. Responsible breeders do not add to the thousands of unwanted pets that are in shelters." Wow, this is a lot that a good breeder will do!!! Now what about a bad breeder? Again, let's go back to Will O'Wisp for this: "What an Irresponsible breeder does... Breeds just for the sake of having a litter. Overall quality of the dogs is secondary. The owner may not even know what a proper breed specimen should look or act like. Breeds so the kids can witness the miracle of birth. They forget that the children can also witness the miracle of death. What of the mom has trouble? Complications that make an already uncomfortable situation very painful or requiring medical intervention? Do you want you kids to see this? Breeds just because the have a registered purebred - regardless of whether or not the dog is a good representative. Does not realize the importance of a pedigree. Breeds because people have commented "I'd like a dog like that." More often than not, when the puppies are born, these people no longer want one. Does not look into the health and background of the dogs to be bred. Does not prove the dogs deserve to be bred. Will not take long term responsibility. Once the puppies are paid for, they feel the responsibility is out of their hands. Takes shortcuts and does not provide proper pre and post natal care. Does not screen homes and will place puppies through newspaper ads, sell to pet shops or dump at shelters if the work gets too much. Does not temperament test puppies or do any medical care on them (like puppy boosters at 6 weeks)." Those "poo-dogs" and designer mutts Hereditary issues in cross bred dogs, ("poo-dogs" & designer mutts) What can I do? Pets as Presents, rethink it!

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Added on: 28-Apr-2008
Hits: 217

► Those "poo-dogs" and designer mutts 
Description: Those "poo-dogs" and designer mutts. ock-a-poos, Snoodles, Sheltipoos, Labradoodles, Maltipoos, Shihpoos, Pooshihs, Bassadoodles, Shihchons, The list goes on... What is a "Poo dog?" Simple, any dog crossed with a poodle and given a funky name they also fall under the heading "Designer Mutt." What is a designer mutt? Any crossbred dogs being sold as if it were purebred or something special. The sole purpose is to sell puppies to the unsuspecting and undereducated buyer. It is not uncommon to find outrageous price tags in the range of $1000 - $2000 on some designer mutts. Whether the puppy is from a mill or from a person just breeding them for the heck of it, there are many sad myths and misconceptions of these dogs. Some people state they are trying to create the "ideal dog for..." However, with over 400 recognized breeds woldwide, there is pretty much a breed for every activity. One argument Designer Mutt Breeders use is that they are breeding for companion dogs. Honestly, there are hundreds of breeds, common and rare, bred solely for companionship. Is there a need to breed more crosses basically just to make money? No. A good breeder of "companion" breeds will place their pet puppies with the same care and concern for health as the pups they intend to use for show and future breeding.

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Added on: 28-Apr-2008
Hits: 158