NEWBIE: I did the unthinkable - PETLAND

[chachi]

I dont blame you Ive been in the pet stores and seen those sweet little puppies and want to buy them all. They all come from puppymills though and you dont know what underlying health problem they may have since alot that come from puppymills do because of the conditions and lack of health testing

[LILYgirlandTAKA]

Originally Posted by BisBatt

I have been in the market for a Yorkie pup (as a pet) and over the past few months I have contacted several breeders and also been shopping on the PureBredBreeders website. Yesterday, I wandered into PETLAND and they had two Yorkies - one little guy immediately jumped all over me and then fell asleep in my arms. He was perfect. I've read all about the puppy-mill horrors (regarding PBPUPS.COM and PETLAND) - but now my heart has been stolen.

Petland says the puppy is ACA registered. This is also concerning - even though I will never breed the pup. They are charging 1999.99 - which looks to be around the price point for a pure AKC pup.

I am looking for any words of advice.

I also found a 9 week pup in the classifieds - no papers - 600 quick sale. Should I run?

I did the same thing as you are describing with Taka, I didn't know about puppy mills and all the bad things about it until after buying Taka and coming to yorkie talk. We paid $1900 for him and we found out he has a soft spot that will not go away since its still the size of a dime and he is 8m old and he has a degenerative bone disease (LCP) we just discovered. I have no idea if he is registered or not since he is from Japan and his papers are in Japanese lol. So my advice.....I wouldn't buy from a pet store. I'm so happy we have him now but if I would've known about all the bad things I probably wouldn't have gotten him. Lily came from a pet store too I think we got lucky with her. I just wanted to get her out of the store she was in, I COULD NOT STAND the condition she was in when we got her it was HORRIBLE! She was so matted that I couldn't even pet her without getting my fingers stuck in her hair.

[cindersellie]

I really wouldn't get a puppy from petsmart. You just don't know what you're going to get- temperament and health problem wise. For 2k, I'm sure you can find a really good breeder with healthy pets. Just keep looking, you'll find a healthy one at the right price.

[Amazing Yorkies]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

I was going to say along the same lines as far as pricing goes, for my pups as well, and these puppies also come from winning Champion show dogs and established proven age old lines! (This is important to YOU because while you do not want a show dog, you can rest assured you are getting a puppy out of Yorkies that are exquisite examples of the breed standard in appearance and temperment, as well as health! Look at that body of that beautiful dog on Amazing Yorkies avitar....a picture of health and beauty and temperment. Find a reputable breeder...go to dog shows and mingle with the breeders...that is a start.... You have absolutely NO idea what in the world you are getting in a puppy from a pet store......I have had several pet stores contact me trying to become a provider of puppies for the pet store....I can tell you this...NO reputable breeder ever stocks pet stores, so you can rest assured the puppies that are found there come from byb or puppy mills...people that throw two dogs together, and then put the pups in a box, take them to the pet store, and sell them for $300.00-$600.00 apiece....the pet store doubles the price to move the dog to customers, assuring you THEY only get their babies from the very best breeders.....NOT!!! I too, never go into pet stores that sell puppies....it kills my soul to see those little precious souls there and I want to buy them all......so I just dont go there!

Well said!

[lexi43]

I did a no no just like you were going to do but I fell in love with Zach. I was not intending to get a dog but I wandered into a private pet store and saw Zach. It was love at first site. This was before I knew about puppy mills and YT. Well Zach turned out to be great. He's now 3 years old and in perfect health. He was AKC registered and he had a two year health plan. If I had know then what I know now I proabably would have run but I didn't and so far I have no regrets. BTW I was given the breeders phone number and I spoke to him. He told me that I could come to see his home anytime I want. They were really nice people unfortunatly they live kind of far from me and I never did get there.

[xoCourtney]

Originally Posted by BisBatt

That's just it! I'm a newbie and I'm having a hard time figuring out WHO is reputable and who is not. I'm reluctant to buy from an out of state breeder - I want to meet the puppy before I purchase it. I'm struggling to find the right breeder in Michigan. Is it safe to assume if the breeder provides AKC registration - then they are "reputable"?

Hi and welcome!! I too went through the same things you did. I fell absolutely in love with a puppy mill puppy and even had a name picked out for him (Bentley) because I was 110% positive I was going back for him. Bentley was about $2000 as well. I started looking up puppies and found this forum and although my heart will always hold a special place for little Bentley...my wallet wouldn't hold a special place for the vet bills and therapy needed to keep him alive in the later years. I found my breeder on the YTCA.org site. from my knowledge these are very reputable breeders (someone correct me if I am wrong please!!) and my breeder is 9 hours away. I know you said you don't want to travel out of state but I adore my breeder and was willing to drive the 9 hours to get Miley from her. Miley hold's a much bigger place in my heart than Bentley ever did because I know for a fact she is mine and she has clean bloodlines. Believe me when I say I know its hard...I'm not putting you down for wanting to buy a puppy mill pup but for $2000 I would strongly urge you to find a reputable breeder to ease your heartache later on in life.

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by xoCourtney

Hi and welcome!! I too went through the same things you did. I fell absolutely in love with a puppy mill puppy and even had a name picked out for him (Bentley) because I was 110% positive I was going back for him. Bentley was about $2000 as well. I started looking up puppies and found this forum and although my heart will always hold a special place for little Bentley...my wallet wouldn't hold a special place for the vet bills and therapy needed to keep him alive in the later years. I found my breeder on the YTCA.org site. from my knowledge these are very reputable breeders (someone correct me if I am wrong please!!) and my breeder is 9 hours away. I know you said you don't want to travel out of state but I adore my breeder and was willing to drive the 9 hours to get Miley from her. Miley hold's a much bigger place in my heart than Bentley ever did because I know for a fact she is mine and she has clean bloodlines. Believe me when I say I know its hard...I'm not putting you down for wanting to buy a puppy mill pup but for $2000 I would strongly urge you to find a reputable breeder to ease your heartache later on in life.

Good for you for driving and getting a dog from a breeder rather than a petstore/puppymill .

My biggest issue with people, pet stores & puppy mills is the hypocrisy. Don't buy from a petstore & then say you're against puppymills, when you choose to directly fund puppymills. Don't fund practices you don't agree with.

[xoCourtney]

Originally Posted by KazzyK810

Good for you for driving and getting a dog from a breeder rather than a petstore/puppymill .

My biggest issue with people, pet stores & puppy mills is the hypocrisy. Don't buy from a petstore & then say you're against puppymills, when you choose to directly fund puppymills. Don't fund practices you don't agree with.

Oh yes my baby was worth the drive. She may be small but she's healthy and that's the most important peice to me. It's like everyone has said there's no such thing as a teacup just smaller Yorkies. My baby just so happened to be the smallest in her litter. Like twins, there's always gonna be a bigger one. Clean bloodlines and health are the most important things to me.

[MyGirlSasha]

OP I hope after all you've read you decided against purchasing this pup! If you don't know what to look for in a reputable breeder I'm sure one of them on here would be happy to tell you what to look for. It's worth it in the long run, avoiding vet bills and whatnot, and more importantly not supporting puppy mills.

[ironmike86]

Go to a local dog show. You can find Yorkie ppl there.
Look at a referral Breeder Referral
Look at there home. Get references if you can .
Look at there Pedigree
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f9...ps9a36f6b1.png
And for Yorkie you not paying more then $1500. If they are show potential your not getting it anyways. What you are getting is a breeder who tries to breed healthy animals and a health guarantee. From a pet story you make get nothing but Vet bills. But even if you buy from a good breeder you may have health issues. But they will work with you help with the bill or take the pup back if its within the guarantee. They want healthy dogs. Pet store think nothing but $$ and pump the dogs out.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by KazzyK810

Good for you for driving and getting a dog from a breeder rather than a petstore/puppymill .

My biggest issue with people, pet stores & puppy mills is the hypocrisy. Don't buy from a petstore & then say you're against puppymills, when you choose to directly fund puppymills. Don't fund practices you don't agree with.

There are a lot of people who get there pups from puppy mills that didn't know. Then when they do find out they start speaking out against them.

[cummins]

Oh please please listen to all the good advice you have received and don't buy from a pet store.

[Yorkiedaze]

Took me two years research before I got my first Yorkie. I also never go into any pet store that sells dogs, since they come from puppy mills. The money keeps those heartless horrible millers in business.
I find it very difficult not to get extremely upset at anyone that "knows" it's wrong to buy pet shop dogs, and yet, still goes in to buy one. It's this kind of selfish shopping that makes putting the millers out of business.

[ironmike86]

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

Took me two years research before I got my first Yorkie. I also never go into any pet store that sells dogs, since they come from puppy mills. The money keeps those heartless horrible millers in business.
I find it very difficult not to get extremely upset at anyone that "knows" it's wrong to buy pet shop dogs, and yet, still goes in to buy one. It's this kind of selfish shopping that makes putting the millers out of business.

Me too. I go to the Pet store that have rescue dogs but that would be the only type. Like Mudbay type stores but never one that actually sells dogs for $$$$

[Drudi]

I did the unthinkable, I got my pup at a flea market, then I found yorkie talk,wished I had found it sooner. My pup is healthy for now but I'm very worried about the future, I still can't bring myself to watch the videos of the puppy mills. Glad I found this forum so I can read and try everything possible to keep him healthy. Please think about it and keep reading the great advise your getting from real dog lovers.