I don't think this is good at all..
 

I posted a couple of days ago that my baby boy was coming home on Friday. I'm pretty dog clueless and my aunt is a dog trainer so I had her help me with getting the dog, and I've spent the last couple of days roaming through the site and now I'm afraid that my puppy might be coming from a puppy mill! What are some of the ways you can tell? There is an entire website for this company, which now appears to be a "breeder broker" (CT - Connecticut Yorkshire Terrier Puppies for Sale by Teacup Yorkie Breeders - Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford, Stamford, Waterbury, Norwalk, Danbury, and New Britain). Have I been taken for a ride? I can't back of the deal now and I know how horrible puppy mills are, what can I do? What can I look for? I have to bring the puppy for a mandatory vet visit per the contract, so he's going to be going in to the vet Monday - is there anything I should ask them to do?

This is my first dog. I definitely don't want to be supporting puppy mills. =(
I feel so horrible.

You are right. That website seems to be a broker. Since reputable breeders would never sell their puppies though a broker, you can assume their puppies come from backyard breeders and puppy mills.

Unfortunately, the future health of a puppy can't be determined by one vet visit. Yorkies, like all purebred dogs, have certain genetic conditions they are prone too. Liver shunts, luxating patellas, Legg-Perthes are just a few. Most genetic conditions aren't apparent early on and take months or years to show symptoms. The best way to get a healthy puppy who is free from "genetic time bombs" is to get one from a reputable breeder who tests and screens her adults before breeding. Puppy mills and backyard breeders don't do any genetic screening so the odds of getting a puppy with a genetic condition are pretty high.

Yorkies are 36 times more likely to have a liver shunt than all other breeds combined. A bile acids test will tell you if your puppy has a shunt or liver disease, but he will be too young for the test when you get him. Are you getting any sort of health guarantee? Surgery to correct a liver shunt costs thousands of dollars.

Unfortunately, I think your instincts are right. The situation you are in is not good at all, as you said.

They are giving me a ten year health guarantee.
But I'm also thinking pet insurance is going to be something I should carry on this little guy as well now. I feel horrible for this, but I'm just going to do all I can to make sure he is okay and that we are both protected and prepared if anything should happen in the future.

You've already fallen in love with your new baby, so enjoy him.
Ten year health guarantee??? Health is never guaranteed? Unfortunately, things happen, even when you do all of the right things.

Oh I definitely have. I was just curious, because if there is even a possibility that this is the case (which it seems it is) I'd like to start doing some research on it all, I've seen a couple posts on here with some information on rehabing a puppy mill pup, and while I know it's not always possible - I'd like to have as much information as possible so I can be prepared for anything, you know? I'm still just as excited for him, and can't wait for him to get here so I can spoil him. (I've already begun and he isn't even home yet!)

I think the pet insurence is a great idea!
It sounds like you are going to give him a great home!

Are you getting him shipped or do you get to go and see the breeder?

:thumbup::) You'll be a great mommy!!

He's being shipped =( Which I was not happy about from the get go, but now I'm more worried.
Thanks! And I'm without a doubt, already getting quotes on pet insurance.


Prince's Mom - Thanks! I really appreciate it.

Have you read the guarantee? If the puppy dies within one year from a genetic condition, they will give you a "replacement" puppy. If your puppy dies from a genetic condition after that, they will reimburse you 45% of the purchase price.

They will not reimburse you for any vet bills so if your puppy has a treatable genetic condition like a liver shunt, you will have to cover the cost of the surgery yourself. Ditto with Legg-Perthes, etc. Since most pet insurance won't cover genetic conditions, you can't count on that to cover treatment, either.

You also have to keep your Yorkie on NuVet supplements for life (and save all the receipts as proof) or the guarantee is void. :thumbdown

Thanks for the information, I read the guarantee but I'm going to go back and re-read it, and definitely look for an insurance company that covers genetic conditions, and get the best package I can. What the heck is NuVet supplements? Should I give them to my little man or just stick with the pet insurance?

You are going to be such a good mommy to your new little furbaby!
Please keep us posted and post pictures when you can!!:)

Just take a deep breath and calm down! ;) You made a mistake, there are plenty of people on this forum that have made mistakes just like you. :( It does not mean that you are getting a puppy that is going to have a genetic defect. You will fall in love with him, you are not going to have to rehad a puppy like an adult and you will just need to take one step at a time. :) When does he come home to you? I do suggest that you have the testing done that Ladymom suggested but please relax. You have already made your decision that you are not going to back out of the sale so you will just need to take it as it comes. If you need any help just ask and there are plenty of people who have all types of information that is very helpful with raising a happy and health puppy :):)

Thanks, I'm trying to relax - with the help of all of you wonderful, information filled people I'm sure it'll be just fine. I'm just over-thinking it, I think. He comes home friday. I am definitely going to talk to the vet about those tests absolutely. This is all still new to me, like I said I'm a first time dog owner (well, this is MY first dog - I had a dog when I was younger). Thank you so much everyone for all your help.

First, congratulations on your new baby! :)

You sound like you're going to be a wonderful, responsible yorkie parent. You're doing your research & you've already learned some very important lessons.

The only pet insurance I know of that covers genetic conditions is Embrace. I signed up with them about 6 weeks ago after doing tons of research. Here's the link to their website, and another thread from yesterday about pet insurance. Good luck!

Embrace - Veterinary Pet Health Insurance for Your Dog or Cat

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...insurance.html

Duplicate post.

Do you have any pictures of the little boy that you are supposed to get or is he still listed on the website? I have heard alot of stories of people picking a puppy from a broker and being sent a different puppy.. I cannot imagine that this person has all of the puppies listed on the website at their house and are able to tell the difference between all of them. Don't brokers usually buy a whole litter for cheap and resell? That means they would have to take the puppies with them until they sell them, not leave them with the breeder..Maybe you could post a pic of then one you want and then one of the one they send you and see if it is the same one. If it is clearly not, you may be able to recoup some of your money. Good luck with your new puppy!!

Parenting 101
 

My daughter is home sick from school today, and I hate to see her suffer.....maybe that is why this thread is making me all..... smooshy!

It is such an emotional journey to take on the responsibility for another life; in many ways a fur-kid is just like any other, don't you think? When it is your 'first,' every decision seems to be that much more important to you.....

OP, one of the major lessons I have learned is 'once you know better, you do better.' It doesn't help at all to beat yourself up about something you couldn't have understood at the time. Seeking out information and being open to learning says so much about you! I'm sure you will be an excellent parent. :)

You are entitled to be over-the-moon excited about your new puppy, so don't let anything change that! Congrats!

You are referring to the old "bait & switch". That happened to a member on another forum I belong to. When she went to pick up her puppy at the airport, not only was it much older than it was supposed to be, it wasn't even the same sex!

Ten year really? I have never heard of this? Anyway, you already love your baby so just enjoy him and thats it. I know you feel bad but you didnt do it on purpose and this puppy will get lots of love and be so blessed because he is with you. So dont stress over things you cant change and just be the best mommy you can be. Dont worry over diseases either because you will drive yourself crazy. I would however get pet insurance as soon as possible, because in the even that down the road he does develop something serious it will be covered. If you wait, it wont be. I have PetPlan and they cover ALOT of things most others dont - like genetic diseases and breed specific diseases too.

GL and post pics when you get your baby!!

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

This is the pictures that I have saved of the little one on my computer (I attached them), if you are just looking on the website and type in puppy ID 147894, he comes up there as well. I will definitely look at that closely, I never even thought of that. I'm going to save the pictures on my phone and give him a good look over when I get home. Thanks for the info!!

I hope your daughter feels better! fur-kid's definitely are just like any other. Thank you so much for the kind words, I am over the moon and much more excited (is today over yet? haha) - I'm not ever going to let anything change that, just trying to get any/all information I can so that I can make sure he is fully protected and while it's impossible to make sure NOTHING ever happens, the more precautions I take, the better.

It's my understanding that sometimes a reputable breeder will use a lead referral site for leads or inquiries only and then the breeder contacts you directly to ask you questions about the home environment and such before they agree to the sale. In many of these cases they are not puppy mill puppies but puppies raised in a home. Ask your Aunt if she spoke to the actual breeder. Regardless you will most likely fall in love immediately. Your vet will tell you if your puppy has come to you healthy and will check for lp and any obvious disorders. Congratulations, relax and enjoy your new little one:).
Jackie & my :littleangSophie :aimeeyork

I knew someone who tried to talk me into having NuVet supplements as a condition of the contract. She said the breeder sets up an account with the company and any time someone that they send to NuVet buys anything, part of it goes to the breeder. Any other breeder they talk into signing up goes under their account also so anyone 2nd breeder sends to NuVet, the company will split the $$ to the breeders. Typical pyramid setup. It supplies an additional income for the breeders that require this and an easy out for not fulfilling a contract. There are NO vitamins that will stop liver shunt or the many other possible things a puppy may be born with. I am not saying they are bad vitamins as I really have no experience with vitamins from them. I just am not going to require any product be continued as a means of living up to a contract. I say stick with the pet insurance and anything your vet says your puppy needs.

Hope this isn't too confusing.

Yeah, that's what I figured. The breeder/broker gets a kick back from the sale of vitamins.

Since after the first year all you would get back would be about $400 if the puppy died from a genetic condition and they will not reimburse vet bills, they would more than make up the $400 on those that claimed it through the vitamin sales.

The health guarantee really isn't worth anything IMO. It's just a marketing ploy.

Get good pet insurance asap, although most consider genetic conditions to be pre-existing and won't cover them. You can get a bile acids test done as early as 12 weeks and I would absolutely recommend doing that to make sure he doesn't have a liver shunt. Also have your vet check his knees for luxating patellas. Both knee and liver surgery run into the thousands. All you have to do is read through the Health section here to see how common these conditions are in Yorkies.

Rissa,
We adopted our shih tzu from a puppy mill when she was still a little skinny thing. She has grown into a wonderful healthy adult 10.5 years old now) with very few problems. Once she gets to know people and gets rid of her shyness with them everyone falls in love with her because she is just the sweetest little thing. She mothers everyone but I don't know where she got it from since she was so young when we got her she couldn't possibly have picked it up from another dog.
Anyway. Don't worry about your dog having any emotional problems. I'm sure it will be fine. Even the adult dogs we rescued eventually turned into great dogs. Love is the best thing you can give them and I think you have plenty of that!

Welcome to YT.

:thumbup:QUOTE=DaisyMom;2849565]My daughter is home sick from school today, and I hate to see her suffer.....maybe that is why this thread is making me all..... smooshy!

It is such an emotional journey to take on the responsibility for another life; in many ways a fur-kid is just like any other, don't you think? When it is your 'first,' every decision seems to be that much more important to you.....

OP, one of the major lessons I have learned is 'once you know better, you do better.' It doesn't help at all to beat yourself up about something you couldn't have understood at the time. Seeking out information and being open to learning says so much about you! I'm sure you will be an excellent parent. :)



You are entitled to be over-the-moon excited about your new puppy, so don't let anything change that! Congrats![/QUOTE]

:thumbup::thumbup: this is such good advice

Before I was educated about Puppy Mills I fell in love with a puppy from one of the puppy stores in the mall. Luckily he is very very healthy now, he's 2 years, but I wouldn't do it again just knowing where he came from. Unfortunatly I just recently found this site, although I knew what puppy mills were I've become more and more educated as time goes by. I wish you the best of luck with your baby and hopefully everything goes well!

I tried to look him up but it said "this puppy has found it's forever home". Congratulations, take a deep breath and hopefully you'll get a good one. I have one that is def. a puppy mill dog as I got him from a pet store (before I was enlightened) and another one that I have very little history on as she is a rescue, but I love them more than anything. Can't wait to see pixs of the little guy.

Do they sell the NuVet? That seems like an odd requirement.

Ahhh. I should have read all of the posts before I asked.