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SnowWa · 01-04-2006, 08:32 PM

Don't buy your pup at a pet store (I know this.. But - I bought my little Yorkie at pet store and realized shortly thereafter that I should not have done so - it was like my brain was on vacation that day!!!!)

But, I was lucky - everything has turned out fine.

The small pet store I purchased him from is one that has been family owned in our area for more than 20 years and is a grooming/pet supply/puppies-for -sale-from-time-to-time store.

I hadn't been in there for years - but the same father and son own it who always have. They had about six pups - everyone has to wash their hands several times while visiting their store - and no one is allowed to hold any pup unless they are interested in purchasing it.

I did get my pup - and the owners (taking turns) spent about 45 minutes with me. They gave me a lot of printed material - a hundred instructions - gave me their home phone numbers (said to call anytime with any problem - even at 3:00 am - if I was worried) and talked and talked and talked. Told me about the breeder - whose puppies they had sold before, and went on and on. This finally got to the point that I was trying to think of an excuse to get out of there and take my puppy home. He was washed, his nails clipped, and dressed in bows, and we finally got to go home.

Anyway - after thinking about everything - I still held my breath a little and hoped nothing would go wrong. Luckily it didn't. The pup was 9 weeks old and a great eater when I got him. No problems ever. He's over four months old now.

A few weeks later - I got paperwork in the mail to register him (which I'm not going to do). And, I got the breeder's name from the paperwork.

I wrote to her to get more information about my pup - and yesterday, I received a long detailed E-mail from her. She has owned both parents for 8 years. She was so happy that I am happy with the puppy - told me everything about his parents - all their color changes, weights, personalities, etc. She is going to send me pictures and wants to keep in touch.

She said that she lives in a remote area (in Montana) and has usually found it hard for most people to visit or even find her home. She said that if she has any puppies left after 8 weeks (if they are healthy, eat well, and have a good weight) she drives them to Spokane (where I live) and lets Paul (at the store) sell them for her. She said he is a personal friend (he used to raise Yorkies, himself - I didn't know this) and she knows he takes good care of them and finds good homes for them. She said over the years, he has helped her sell puppies from three or four litters. And, she said that the litter I got mine from is her last litter. Her dogs are 8 years old and not going to have any more puppies.

It was nice to learn that my (small family-owned little pet store) does not get their dogs from puppymills. They said they didn't - but instead over the years, they have established relationships with several different breeders and often help them sell their puppies.

Nevertheless - we all know we should not buy our pups from pet stores....
I was just lucky!

Listen to this!!!! My pup's mother weighs a solid 12 pounds and his father weighs 4 to 4.5 pounds. Unreal! She said that most of their pups have ended up being about 6 pounds. The mother is predominately what some of you call a blonde or red Yorkie and the father is tan with black and silver (which my pup appears to be).

I feel relieved and very fortunate. My pup has been to the vet twice now (for shots) and is as healthy as he can be. And - he is definitely laid back, non-yappy, and as cute as he can be. (I learned that he has his mother's personality.)

Still - if I ever purchase another pup - I will buy directly from a breeder. Even though I was very lucky, I certainly did my fair share of worrying until I learned that everything was fine.

Just thought I would share what we will might call a "rare" experience.

Carol Jean

01-04-2006, 08:32 PM	#1
SnowWa YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 2,992	Pet store puppy..... Don't buy your pup at a pet store (I know this.. But - I bought my little Yorkie at pet store and realized shortly thereafter that I should not have done so - it was like my brain was on vacation that day!!!!) But, I was lucky - everything has turned out fine. The small pet store I purchased him from is one that has been family owned in our area for more than 20 years and is a grooming/pet supply/puppies-for -sale-from-time-to-time store. I hadn't been in there for years - but the same father and son own it who always have. They had about six pups - everyone has to wash their hands several times while visiting their store - and no one is allowed to hold any pup unless they are interested in purchasing it. I did get my pup - and the owners (taking turns) spent about 45 minutes with me. They gave me a lot of printed material - a hundred instructions - gave me their home phone numbers (said to call anytime with any problem - even at 3:00 am - if I was worried) and talked and talked and talked. Told me about the breeder - whose puppies they had sold before, and went on and on. This finally got to the point that I was trying to think of an excuse to get out of there and take my puppy home. He was washed, his nails clipped, and dressed in bows, and we finally got to go home. Anyway - after thinking about everything - I still held my breath a little and hoped nothing would go wrong. Luckily it didn't. The pup was 9 weeks old and a great eater when I got him. No problems ever. He's over four months old now. A few weeks later - I got paperwork in the mail to register him (which I'm not going to do). And, I got the breeder's name from the paperwork. I wrote to her to get more information about my pup - and yesterday, I received a long detailed E-mail from her. She has owned both parents for 8 years. She was so happy that I am happy with the puppy - told me everything about his parents - all their color changes, weights, personalities, etc. She is going to send me pictures and wants to keep in touch. She said that she lives in a remote area (in Montana) and has usually found it hard for most people to visit or even find her home. She said that if she has any puppies left after 8 weeks (if they are healthy, eat well, and have a good weight) she drives them to Spokane (where I live) and lets Paul (at the store) sell them for her. She said he is a personal friend (he used to raise Yorkies, himself - I didn't know this) and she knows he takes good care of them and finds good homes for them. She said over the years, he has helped her sell puppies from three or four litters. And, she said that the litter I got mine from is her last litter. Her dogs are 8 years old and not going to have any more puppies. It was nice to learn that my (small family-owned little pet store) does not get their dogs from puppymills. They said they didn't - but instead over the years, they have established relationships with several different breeders and often help them sell their puppies. Nevertheless - we all know we should not buy our pups from pet stores.... I was just lucky! Listen to this!!!! My pup's mother weighs a solid 12 pounds and his father weighs 4 to 4.5 pounds. Unreal! She said that most of their pups have ended up being about 6 pounds. The mother is predominately what some of you call a blonde or red Yorkie and the father is tan with black and silver (which my pup appears to be). I feel relieved and very fortunate. My pup has been to the vet twice now (for shots) and is as healthy as he can be. And - he is definitely laid back, non-yappy, and as cute as he can be. (I learned that he has his mother's personality.) Still - if I ever purchase another pup - I will buy directly from a breeder. Even though I was very lucky, I certainly did my fair share of worrying until I learned that everything was fine. Just thought I would share what we will might call a "rare" experience. Carol Jean __________________ http://tinypic.com/ipxhmb.jpg A Yorkie is worth a thousand words.