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Originally Posted by backwardsrain  A lot of puppy mills will show you the puppies in a house, but the puppies actually came from a barn or other large facility where they are kept in rows and rows of cages except when being shown to potential buyers. But it can be difficult to tell because they hide it so well. So you need to learn to look for clues that the place is a puppy mill. A place that breeds more than two breeds is almost always a puppy mill, and the place you mentioned breeds at least 9 breeds or mixed-breeds. Also terms like teacup, micro-mini, etc. are signs that the place is either a puppy mill or just a backyard breeder. And then there are a lot of people online pretending to sell puppies they will ship you, except once they get your money you never hear from them again.
Since most people buy a dog on impulse, and don't buy a dog often enough to learn how it works, dishonest people have learned to take advantage of all these uninformed puppy buyers.
Buying one from a reputable breeder will cost at least $1,000 though. It depends on where you live. There are always rescues or rehomes if you want one for a couple hundred dollars or so. |
I most certainly wouldn't mind getting a pup from a shelter. If I choose to get another pup later in life, I would definitely try a shelter first. I don't know of any breeders myself. Well, actually my step-dad's daughter and her husband have Yorkies, I think (My mother said they looked like Yorkies) that had pups. I think 4. But when she told me, I had already gotten Mya. I don't think they have the pups anymore though. And I know they are not breeders.