Did you get your puppy from a breeder or pet store?

[Cupcake]

Breeder , she is the best yorkie ever!

[JENNGENE01_]

When I was first getting my little one. We did some research and were very nieve to the whole puppymill situation that we though it was only the pet shops in the mall . So we saw an ad and went to check out this "pet store" they told us that they get their puppies from breeders. So we were like wow and we got our Penny from there a couple of weeks later. We then found out that she did come a puppy mill My penny right away had parasites and kennel cough and her tail never heeled properly after they doced it. So within weeks of getting her spending so much money I loved her and wouldn't train her so I started my research about the breed and puppymills. A couple months later I took in my sisters ex's pup a s**tzu named Hopper. Iwanted to help stop/reduce puppymills and take care of abandoned yorkies so I joined a rescue and have my rescued guy his name is Lucky.

[ellie81]

When I first got Bengi I was unaware of the puppy mills and everything; still I wasn't even thinking on getting it at a petstore because of their prices being outrageous. I decided to looked in the newspaper and I found this guy. He wasn't a "reputable" breeder; he was more like a backyard breeder now that I understand more about the responsibilities attached to breeding. Bengi is very healthy but I wouldn't buy another yorkie from him; I just don't want to take the chances of ending up with a yorkie that can have health problems eventually.

[Olivier]

Mine comes from breeders of Illinois , Michigan , Canada and Europe .

[Zoey's Momma]

Zoey came from a breeder, but one of my Maltese came from a backyard breeder. I wouldn't change Riley for the world. I saved her, and now she's my mini me.

[Vinnie's Mom]

Originally Posted by angelee

Mine came from a pet store and I'm not afraid or ashamed to tell people. All dogs need and deserve a home. I had never heard of puppy mills before I came here. My little guy is the best and I wouldn't trade him for anything.

I did get my dog from a breeder, because it was way cheaper than a pet store, and the closest pet store is an hour away. I would have no problems getting a dog from a pet store because I too believe that all dogs deserve and need a good home, the money is the issue for me right now, I consider getting a dog from a pet store just as much of a rescue as from an abusive home.

[dayorkiemania]

i got 3 of mine from breeders. the first 2, Laura and Dior came from the same breeder who is home breeder. they have the same father. Porsche,my newest yorkie came from the show breeder who is now my friend.

[lizziepooh_1]

Tia came from a petstore. If I had my choice I would have bought one from a breeder, but my husband wanted to surprise me with a puppy and felt more comfortable buying froma store. Turned out she has luxating patella. We got really upset with the store for selling us a puppy with a condition that they could have told us about. We ended up getting a refund and keeping her...so the store did not make a profit on the sale of our puppy. We like to think of Tia as a rescue pup because she came from a store...although I do agree that buying from stores creates a demand from puppy mills, I also beleive that every dog deserves a loving home....it's not the dog's fault. We believe that Tia is nwo in the best home she could ever have...ours! We love her so much....don't know what I'd do without her sweet face to cheer me up!

[roosmom]

I think the main thing that you have to be careful about when buying your puppy from a pet store is that they're kept in really confined areas with other dogs and therefore are so much more likely to be sick! We got our Roo from a breeder but I wouldn't say she had the optimum conditions for a pup either (though my fiance got her so I never saw them) but it was a trade for services and really a spur of the moment thing. Our puppy was sick the first week we got her so even though we got her from a breeder, she still had problems and ear mites (she's just now getting off the antibiotics!). It's not a good idea to get a dog from a pet store because of the cruel living conditions etc but at the same time- if you already have one from the pet store don't feel bad! I'm sure you love your puppy to death and it really doesn't matter where she came from! I wouldn't worry about telling people where you got her either- if it bothers you just say she was a gift!

[judyeve]

Originally Posted by Anna Banana

I just realized that this might have sounded bad, like I was criticizing people who have purchased puppies from pet stores. I'm not criticizing anyone, I'm just stating the fact that when you buy a dog from a pet store that gets their dogs from puppy mills, you support puppy mills. I just think it should be a learning experience, once you know about the truth of puppy mills, you shouldn't support them anymore...

Thanks for posting this explanation. When I saw that some of the responses were beginning to get, what I thought, were nasty, I was going to bypass this thread. However, your explanation changed my mind, and I appreciate that.

I did buy Max from a pet store. I had every intention of going through a breeder, knew a little about puppy mills, etc. But, I went in just to see....ended up holding Max and fell in love. I really worried about his health until his first few vet visits. He is fine, adorable, and a really great dog. He's not AKC, but I don't care because he's my baby and I love him so much.

However, next dog will not be from a pet store. I won't support them, having learned so much, mostly from YT.

[paulapoo]

I got Otis from an elderly lady who only breeds her 2 dogs. I guess that's called back yard breeding. He was CKC, and back then I didn't know any difference between AKC and CKC. Both parents were onsite. She had the pups in a box in the house. My shih-poo also came from a backyard breeder. He had an eye infection when I got him and the guy went in to this garage type shed thing, and brought him out. He smelled bad but was energetic and happy anyway. I had to get him outta there!!

[donatella80]

I was pretty ignorant of puppy mills and pet stores until I started spending a lot of time on this board. I probably would have bought a Yorkie from a pet store without a thought, but not after reading what I've read since.

Basil came from a backyard breeder. I Googled "Pennsylvania breeders Yorkshire Terriers" and found several. I saw his pic online and fell in love (he was the last one left out of a litter of 3). I called the breeder and drove about 2 hours to her house. His mom & dad were on site--they were the only Yorkies the lady owned and she breeds them every other year. They lived in the house and were AKC registered.

I lucked into a happy, healthy little dog and couldn't be happier!

[Sugar's Mom]

Originally Posted by paulapoo

I got Otis from an elderly lady who only breeds her 2 dogs. I guess that's called back yard breeding. He was CKC, and back then I didn't know any difference between AKC and CKC. Both parents were onsite. She had the pups in a box in the house. My shih-poo also came from a backyard breeder. He had an eye infection when I got him and the guy went in to this garage type shed thing, and brought him out. He smelled bad but was energetic and happy anyway. I had to get him outta there!!

So, people that only breed their own two dogs in their homes are called BYB??????? unless the breeding and living conditions are deplorable, I believe this is called hobby breeding.

[LullaBelle]

I got my bella from a pet store but my Cousin in law owns it! She is so dedicated to the well being of her animals. I love my baby and my Cousin in law they are both wonderful and exceptional.

[donatella80]

Originally Posted by Sugar's Mom

So, people that only breed their own two dogs in their homes are called BYB??????? unless the breeding and living conditions are deplorable, I believe this is called hobby breeding.

I used the term in my post as well and didn't realize it could be construed as derogatory--I meant nothing by it. I thought that backyard breeding and hobby breeding were the same thing. If I offended anyone, I apologize!