Pet store babies!

[ChocoMilk]

How many people here have bought a baby with no health issues from a pet store, only to have symptoms show in later years? I've been reading that health problems may arise later on and it's scaring me. I bought my puppies (both very healthy!) through a "local breeder" here in NY but I think it may be a puppy mill. I bought it (unknowingly) assuming that not all pet stores are "puppy mill" breeders that raise their dogs in unsanitary conditions.

(In Korea it is quite common and normal practice to purchase dogs from a "reputable" pet store because there are more untrustworthy or unknowledgeable BYB breeders. Reputable breeders set up a pet store in order to prove that they are serious in raising quality dogs with guarantees. This is just how it is in Asia- having a professional store with knowledgeable owners shows their commitment in breeding)

[concretegurl]

I always think about it like this...if I was selling (I prefer to think of it as adopting out) puppies how would I do it...screen people have them make a deposit and wait and continue contact etc. or have them walk in off the street give me some money and leave with one of my dogs-what kind of breeder hands their pups over to a retail store and then has them resale a puppy-well the answer is a puppy mill or back yard breeder or a shady for profit breeder...it really is that simple-if not show me one responsible breeder that sells to pet stores. There is one exception the local pet boutique LISTS local breeders; sometimes they display their pups in the grooming area (but you can't touch or contact them so you can't spread disease to them) they only do this to keep their home safe and unknown, but you meet them there fill out an application (they ask for your drivers license!) and they don't let you take a pup that day the process takes about a week unless they need more info-but the breeder does all this themselves. I'd totally have gotten one of my dogs there but they don't breed any breeds I'm interested in...

[Reese1]

If someone bought a dog from a pet store and hasn't had any issues, they need to thank their lucky stars!
There is "NO" such thing as a a good or reputable pet store. No breeder with a shred of ethics would turn their dogs over to a pet store to sell to just anyone. Only greeders in it for money do this, IMO.

[107barney]

I bought two dogs from a petstore 10 years ago. One has been sickly from day one. The other has been a healthy dog overall and has only been sick a couple of times in his life for things any yorkie could get (pancreatitis and also he had kennel cough a couple of times). I do think it is the luck of the draw though and I would not recommend trying it.

[shodanusmc]

Originally Posted by Reese1

If someone bought a dog from a pet store and hasn't had any issues, they need to thank their lucky stars!
There is "NO" such thing as a a good or reputable pet store. No breeder with a shred of ethics would turn their dogs over to a pet store to sell to just anyone. Only greeders in it for money do this, IMO.

Totally agree!

[Mardelin]

Understanding that most Pet Stores buy their puppies from Puppy Mills and BYBers. When purchasing from a Pet Store you are supporting bad breeders.

Also, keeping in mind that medical problems can occur with a pup and any age and from any breeder. It's not only how a breeder screenes their potential new puppy owners, it's how they stand behind their breeding. Are they going to be there for you should something go wrong. Do they test, how knowledgable are they about the breed and breeding.

The following is taken from the YTCA Code of Conduct:

# 4. Puppies will not be sold or consigned to pet stores, agents, or other commercial enterprises nor sold to disreputable breeders, and neither puppies, adult dogs, nor stud services will be offered as prizes or for raffles.

But, to answer your question: Your pup could very well be healthy throughout life. But, understand Yorkies come with their own set of unique medical problems, so why tilt the scales by buying from anything but a reputable breeder.

[ChocoMilk]

Definitely. I am very aware of it now after reading many posts here and educating myself. In America, there would be no way I would ever buy from a pet store, knowning all the problems it can create! However, tHe thing with Korean pet stores is that they raise the dog themselves at their homes and NOT from other breeders (and hire few others to take care of the dogs on a daily basis as well) but have a pet store to be more trustworthy to the public. Of course there are bad pet stores as well that buy their dogs from different sources, but "reputable petstores" in korea only specialize in few breeds and they raise the dog themselves with a help of few other "employees". I think the one negatives of this is that, yes they are making profit off of their dogs and they make a living off of it, but I do think that it is okay if the owner (although making a profit) genuinely cares for their dogs and wants to provide a healthy dog for families who don't know where to turn.

That said, I know few other people who haven't had a problem yet and I am hoping that they will continue to stay healthy! I just wanted to know if all the health issue threads posted on the health forum are usually coming from dogs from pet store or BYBs. But reading your reply Mardelin, I could see that it may be a normal yorkie medical problems, and not because it was bought from bad breeders, etc.

Thanks for the replies! any other pet store bought yorkie owners that have been healthy throughout?

[capt_noonie]

Korea is teeming with puppymills.

Bottom line is turning a profit from selling dogs is wrong. If they are making the rent, they are making a profit. If they can pay employees, they are making a profit.

Now my question is, if these pet shops are "reputable" as you say, what happens if/when a puppy gets sick? What are the responsibilities of the shop or it's owner? Asian countries in general do not see animals in the same light as we do here, so I'd be hard pressed to believe they do any type of screening before selling these pups out.

[ChocoMilk]

Yea I think thats where I differ a little from the majority of forum members here. As long as the dogs are loved and taken care of and are healthy, I'm not really against (or for either) selling dogs "for a profit". There are many bad pet shops in korea, but the ones my friends got theirs raise their own dogs. They have their own pet shop because i doubt any korean will want to trust a home breeder since KKC is not as known as AKC is. They have a one year guarantee where they pay for the full vet service for a year if they are sick, whatever it may be, and it also includes the required shots. Also a full money back guarantee if the puppy dies from sickness. Most koreans who have "researched" buy their dogs from pet shops that raise their own dogs, have clean facilities, have great guarantees, and they make sure to buy from places that have 5 star ratings from previous customers who purchased their dogs from the store. The internet "rating system" is huge in Korea and most customers base their buying factors from other reviewers. Also, I've noticed that they bring their dogs back to the pet shop to visit the shop owners from time to time, take pictures with them to upload on their blog, they return to get their dogs groomed there, etc. I'm not saying this is good in any way (nor bad), I'm just saying this is how its done in korea.

[concretegurl]

Originally Posted by ChocoMilk

Yea I think thats where I differ a little from the majority of forum members here. As long as the dogs are loved and taken care of and are healthy, I'm not really against (or for either) selling dogs "for a profit".

I think we can all agree that its when profit is the overall issue for someone, making a dollar over taking the best care of their dogs. I wish all responsible breeders made a profit but the reality is most people responsibly breeders break about even or if they do make a profit they reinvest for the betterment of their dogs. No one faults large kennels that make a profit-we fault those who have dogs stacked in cages, confined used for breeding without adequate time between litters, being over 3 years old when bred, having more than 5 litters maximum before being retired, receiving adequate medical and health care-not to mention making sure that dogs who are sick (genetically) are not bred...and that dogs are adopted out to responsible homes...its all a matter of caring. Wouldn't it be nice if we all could go to a pet store and buy a puppy without knowing we are taking part in supporting industry with such immoral practices...but we don't live in that utopia we live in reality-don't buy a dog from a pet store buy from a responsible breeder...if we all did this pet stores wouldn't sell any dogs end of industry...end of this kind of animal cruelty.

[Roxiesmama]

I know Roxie's original owner purchased her from Petland in Florida.
I have had her for a little over a year, and the main health concerns we have had are food sensitivities and Luxating patellas in both her back knees.

I can't help where Roxie came from (she was given to me by her previous owner), but I know I would be much more careful if I were going to purchase another dog.

[FlDebra]

Originally Posted by ChocoMilk

How many people here have bought a baby with no health issues from a pet store, only to have symptoms show in later years? I've been reading that health problems may arise later on and it's scaring me. I bought my puppies (both very healthy!) through a "local breeder" here in NY but I think it may be a puppy mill. I bought it (unknowingly) assuming that not all pet stores are "puppy mill" breeders that raise their dogs in unsanitary conditions.

(In Korea it is quite common and normal practice to purchase dogs from a "reputable" pet store because there are more untrustworthy or unknowledgeable BYB breeders. Reputable breeders set up a pet store in order to prove that they are serious in raising quality dogs with guarantees. This is just how it is in Asia- having a professional store with knowledgeable owners shows their commitment in breeding)

Sounds like you are describing a different situation in Korea -- more like the breeder has their own storefront instead of selling their pups off wholesale to a pet store that sells supplies and pets from other breeders as well. You are in a better position then, to judge how dedicted the breeders were, how well pre-screening was done to include blood tests and conformation checks to ensure the health and standards of the pups.

As far as health problems cropping up years later from shoddy breeding....it can happen but I don't think long term problems are rampant. You may wind up seeing joint problem later in life but most serious problems do show up in the first couple of years. So, I would not spend a lot of time worying about your pup. If you were happy with the breeder she came from, feel it was more a breeder storefront than an actual petstore like we think of here in the States, and she has had thorough vet exams since, I would not worry over problems that are not here.

Sometimes we spend so much time worrying over what might happen, we don't enjoy what we have now. So love your pup and enjoy every day!

[Patti]

My pom came from a pet store where she only sold AKC registered puppies. I would never again purchase from a pet store but I wasn't as aware as I am now. Maya was a pretty healthy dog until she was about 10 1/2 then she got Cushing's. Not sure if breeding had anything to do with it but probably. Maya did have a bad temperment. She was snippy, territorial and a horrible barker.

[Sweet Apple]

I've got so many feelings about this particular subject...I bought an AKC English Mastiff, about 12 years ago, from a very reputable breeder, that was well known in the show circles of English Mastiffs...The dad was a champion w/"excellent" hips, her mom was a fine looking dog, w/"good" hips...I paid almost $2000, for her, and had her flown here, from Kansas w/a health guarantee, including hips, etc...Her parents had all the preliminary tests done, and the pups were well screened, as well...Anyway, at her 18 month screening, she showed to have severe hip dyplasia...I called the breeder, and they said I could send her back, and get another pup...Send her back to where??? To someone that didn't know her, love her, a family that didn't care about her? I said forget it...She was w/me for 9 1/2 years, and never, once complained about the pain...At 9 1/2, she laid down, one day, and couldn't get up...After three days, I knew what I had to do...Most heartbreaking day of my life...Almost two years later, I got Apple, and didn't know I was buying from a "broker"...At a year old, she had one or two episodes w/LP, but hasn't had one, for over a year now...I think it's the raw food! Apple exhibits more features of the standard for a yorkie, than my little guy, Buzz...I bought Buzz, from a breeder, on YT, that had all the preliminary tests, and was sold as a pet...He has no health problems, that I know of, except, possibly, an elongated pallete, (the vet told me this) that causes him to do that backward sneeze/cough (?) sometimes...I've had him x-rayed, and it doesn't show CT...Bottom line, is you can do all you know to do, or do nothing at all, and you never know the outcome...I'm sure I paid waaaaaaaaay too much for Apple, but I feel the breeder was more than fair w/me w/Buzz...At the end of the day, you do what you think is best, at the time, w/the information you have...I wouldn't trade either of my yorkies for all the tea in China...I am blessed, beyond measure...

[ChocoMilk]

Originally Posted by FlDebra

Sounds like you are describing a different situation in Korea -- more like the breeder has their own storefront instead of selling their pups off wholesale to a pet store that sells supplies and pets from other breeders as well. You are in a better position then, to judge how dedicted the breeders were, how well pre-screening was done to include blood tests and conformation checks to ensure the health and standards of the pups.

As far as health problems cropping up years later from shoddy breeding....it can happen but I don't think long term problems are rampant. You may wind up seeing joint problem later in life but most serious problems do show up in the first couple of years. So, I would not spend a lot of time worying about your pup. If you were happy with the breeder she came from, feel it was more a breeder storefront than an actual petstore like we think of here in the States, and she has had thorough vet exams since, I would not worry over problems that are not here.

Sometimes we spend so much time worrying over what might happen, we don't enjoy what we have now. So love your pup and enjoy every day!

Definitely! I'm very thankful that they are healthy as they can be and will try to put my worries aside

and thank you for all for your replies. From the replies, I can see that many times, it just really depends on the individual animal. Regarding bad temperament, I wonder how much the environment in the first few weeks of puppies lives affects them..