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

Yes, you were very lucky, indeed! Thanks for sharing your story! :) :thumbup:

It's really nice you get to exchange pics with the breeder and e-mail, too. :)

Good to hear!
 

Carol Jean,

Your pet store sounds like one we had here in my town years ago. It was a Pet shop/groomer/pet food/supplies/whathaveyou store. They did everything. I had poodles, and took them there to be groomed, bought all the food there, and whatever else I needed. We also bought horse shoes and horse supplies from them. The pets they had for sale only spent the day at the shop, then went home with the owner. (Oh, yes, she was also a dog trainer, in her spare time. LOL ) She took as good care of them as she did her own dogs. And she took as good care of any dogs she had to groom as she did her own. If there was any problem whatsoever, she called the owner and let them know. You had to give her your vet's name and number before she would groom your dogs, just in case there was ever a need for vet care. She was wonderful! And her store was as clean as any restaurant you can go into if not cleaner. A far cry from the pet stores we have in this area now. Of course this was about 30 or 35 years ago, if not longer. And it was a small town where everybody knew everybody, so anyone who wasn't on the up-an-up would be found out very quickly.

I am very glad you have had a good experience with a pet store in recent times. I just wish there were more of the "old time" attitude out there now.

There are actually more of those little small town mom and pop pet stores around than some realize which is why I try hard not to judge people for buying from a pet store....Instead of saying "Don't buy from pet stores" I would rather we say


DON"T BUY FROM A PET STORE THAT GETS THEIR DOGS FROM PUPPYMILLS.

I would hate to unintentionally damage the business of hard working people like you just described who take care of the puppies. :(

You can search the threads here to read the stories of others who have had a similar experience with small town or even Big Town pet stores....I am thinking of Ivan's store in Brooklyn when I say Big Town...there a lot of New Yorkers who are very happy with that store. :thumbup:

[QUOTE=SoCalyorkiLvr]There are actually more of those little small town mom and pop pet stores around than some realize which is why I try hard not to judge people for buying from a pet store....Instead of saying "Don't buy from pet stores" I would rather we say


DON"T BUY FROM A PET STORE THAT GETS THEIR DOGS FROM PUPPYMILLS.

I like that better, I agree and that is how i am going to word it from now on when i tell people about pet stores. :thumbup:

I wish there were more places like that around. The petstores around here are pretty shady. :thumbdown

I am happy for you and glad you learned a little about your babe's background. I agree with others, it isn't all pet stores b/c some of the small ones help out a breeder that is refered to them. I think we all object to the huge chain stores that puppymills supply pups to.

I also don't necessarily think that you will get a bad puppy from even large petstores though there is more risk. The problem is the breeding program people support from anyone that mass produces dogs. Not bad for the puppies that come out of there...they find HOMES. It's the dogs that are left behind to live out the prime of their lives in cages, producing more puppies.

You definately have a very RARE experience with a pet store puppy! But I'm glad that you got so lucky! Thanks for sharing your story with us!