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Originally Posted by Imissu  Been there, done that. I now can look forward to very expensive LP surgery when my pup is old enough to add to her initial cost.
We need a source, an honest source, to identify or disqualify breeders.
Being "nice" or just doesn't work as an identifier. |
I dont know your situation, but there are as many breeders with dogs with genetic problems as there are "backyard breeders" or at least enough to make the issue a difficult one if you are purely looking at the physical health of puppies AFTER you acquired them.
People naturally want to buy a dog that will be healthy but it is no different from humans really... some of the worst examples of humanity breed and have "healthy" kids and so it is for dogs.
People demand guarantees and assurances and sellers give them what they want. Much of it means nothing, it is spin and marketing.
many breeders don't make it easy for people to make an informed decision, the whole proces makes it hard because if you take too long puppies get sold.
However you buy, get insurance for at least the dogs first year and be willing to go to training classes and put in a lot of effort to train your dog.
Owners are at least as guilty as breeders when it comes to outcomes for dogs. They ignore advice, tell you they know it all, take a dog and largely only start really trying to learn anything once a problem arises.
Vets get things wrong. They will sell you all sorts of crap, fail to manage their clients and could do a lot better in many areas.
So the whole thing is a potential nightmare for everyone involved because of human and animal frailties and yet somehow most of us manage to muddle through.
If you are buying a dog it pays to take someone along with you that can take a dispassionate view of the breeder and what they say. They will help you make a more rounded decision and shouldn't hold up the decision making process.