Puppy mill???

[Meg]

Originally Posted by Puppyperson

I need to say something....A lot of the emails are talking about having my mom go look into a shelter and rescue a dog. She has looked into 3 shelters and most were big mixes--she has bad hips and can't have a dog pulling her around. The smaller mixes she found had problems or warnings like "no children" or "one dog family". She was concern because she has 11 small grandchildren and I bring my dogs to her house. She is lonely and not use to being in a dogless home. My brother saw this site--not me. I was just wondering what you thought. She thought the puggle was cute, that's all. I don't think she really has one breed in mind...just something under 40 lbs. I know she wants a puppy. All the puppies in the shelters were lab, shepard, or rott mixes---they will all get too big for her.
I am all for saving rescues (I have a maltese mix from a rescue) but I feel like I am being preach at for her to save a dog. Most of us on this forum have pure breed yorkies---why didn't we get a rescue instead?
Sorry--maybe I am reading the posts wrong but I felt like I had to clear this up.

I think everone here just has a soft spot for the poor animals in the shelters and that it has kind of shown up in this post. But I am sure everyone understands buying from a breeder. I hope she finds the perfect dog for her!

[Lyz517]

Originally Posted by Puppyperson

I need to say something....A lot of the emails are talking about having my mom go look into a shelter and rescue a dog. She has looked into 3 shelters and most were big mixes--she has bad hips and can't have a dog pulling her around. The smaller mixes she found had problems or warnings like "no children" or "one dog family". She was concern because she has 11 small grandchildren and I bring my dogs to her house. She is lonely and not use to being in a dogless home. My brother saw this site--not me. I was just wondering what you thought. She thought the puggle was cute, that's all. I don't think she really has one breed in mind...just something under 40 lbs. I know she wants a puppy. All the puppies in the shelters were lab, shepard, or rott mixes---they will all get too big for her.
I am all for saving rescues (I have a maltese mix from a rescue) but I feel like I am being preach at for her to save a dog. Most of us on this forum have pure breed yorkies---why didn't we get a rescue instead?
Sorry--maybe I am reading the posts wrong but I felt like I had to clear this up.

I understand what you are saying and am sorry that you came here to ask a question regarding a possible place for your mom to purchase from and now its become something other than that. I'm glad your mom did try the shelters first and I know what its like trying to seek a dog type from a shelter. I think sometimes it gets overlooked that some of these dogs in shelters come with issues that may not be suitable for certain homes. Not everyone is willing to take that chance. There are many reasons why sometimes we cannot rescue dogs from the shelters...such as temperament problems, not good with kids, not good with cats or other pets, not good with males and or female owners, special needs, will not be or is the size being sought..I'm sure the list could go on. Thats just part of it and lets not forget that rescues also have their own requirements to consider possible homes. Not everyone qualifies and doesnt mean that if they dont they are bad people. Sometimes its something that may be small but is a requirement to them. Anyway I'm sorry now I'm rambling about shelters....

I say help your mom out and check this place...If it is a two year written guarantee you are getting then that is good and the price is reasonable.
The puggles are adorable and IMO its good knowing that if it is a mix atleast you know who and what breeds its parents are. GOODLUCK!

[Puppyperson]

Thanks Lyz--You got out what I was trying to say. I don't think that we will be going to this place to look, anyways. It would take me almost 4 hours for just a "look". I spoke with my mom and told her that I would help her search. She will be looking in her paper and mine and we will call around and around to see what we can find. I just want my mom to be happy and get a great companion for herself.

[diva pup]

I am sorry if you got that impression from my post. I think I was under the impression that your mom really was looking for something on the small side and this time of year there are so many puppies at the SPCA, I thought if you broadened your search you might have better luck
I just simply could not see paying that kind of money for what basically is a mix. I too hope your mom finds exactly what she is looking for in a companion. I do have a rescue and she is a wonderful dog
I recently saw some pug chi x's at my feed store, they were asking 50 dollars for them, too bad you don't live closer!!

[Luvmypupster]

Puppyperson, hope you didn't take offense to anything that was said. The only thing that I meant by my comments is that IMO paying 1000. for a mixed breed is too much. You can get all shapes and sizes of mixed breed dog for very little money and sometimes even free. Rather than going to an animal shelter of humane society try focusing on specific breeds that might intrest your mom and try looking into breed specific rescue groups. Most all breeds are going to have a devoted following and a rescue organization whom takes special intrest in finding them a good home. You can also get young dogs from rescue groups and they have mixed breeds too. Examples, if a lab is something she fancies you can look at Lab Rescue and find a local chapter near you. They will have purebreeds and mixed breed labs for adoption, if it's poodle mixes she likes locate a poodle rescue. It's just an idea. Good luck! I hope your mom finds a wonderful companion.

[txshopper73]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

These are the types of dogs sitting in the pounds waiting to be rescued. The breeder is charging more then some charge for a purebred. I realize the pounds are full of purebreds also, but what chance does a wonderful mix-breed have if people flood the market with them?

The Lab is perfect the way he is, why experiment? What if the genes do not go along with the breeders plans..what if the Lab/poodle mix takes on the coat characteristic's of the Lab and personnality of the Poodle? Screw with Mother Nature and she will screw you right back.

I agree with YorkieRose. If your mother didn't find one at the local animal shelter, why not travel to the next county? Not only would you find dogs like the ones this breeder offers, but you could luck out with a purebred, too. Have you checked www.petfinder.com They have lots of pets on there waiting for a home and you can sort these dogs by breed, size, maintenance; lots of options.

IMHO, if I were to spend $1000 on a dog, I'd just get another yorkie I just can't see spending that on a mixed dog.

[whispersmom2]

With a Beagles floppy ears that are prone to infection and a Pug who almost always has respiratory problems would you not be just adding more potential problems to the off-spring of such a mix? Aug. 2004 issue of Dog Fancy addresses some misinformation about mixing breeds supposedly to make them less allergy causing. That is a myth--if you are allergic to dogs you are allergic to dogs according to the article..True allergies are from dander as a rule and ALL dogs mixed or purebred shed dander to some extent. So mixing something with Poodle does not produce a hypoallergenic dog.
The hip joints of Pugs are SO different from a Beagle..what if the pelvis is a Beagle and the legs are more like the Pug? Watch how they both walk and you will see what I mean. The eyes and skin folds on the face of a PUG are prone to injury and infection. I do not know what diseases Beagles are prone to other than ear and skin probs.
Those mutts are $799.00! And, what will they do to correct any problems for 2 years? Give you another puppy that has the same problems or will they give you a refund or pay vet bills to correct the problems? I have seen both breeds as purebred animals for LESS that $800.00 so I wonder how that breeder justifies charging anyone so much money...I LOVE Pugs, I actually know one whose name is EGG! I also care for a Beagle..I love both breeds so I am not being a Yorkie snob here. It just makes more sense to me to get a somewhat predictable purebred and at least eliminate doubling the chances of the problems of both breeds bei passed to the puppies..JMHO
I guess the big thing is they are up-front that they create high-priced mixed breeds.....someone else might not be. I apologize in advance if I have offended you or anone else, but this topic was fresh in my mind from my magazine..

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

Originally Posted by Puppyperson

I need to say something....A lot of the emails are talking about having my mom go look into a shelter and rescue a dog. She has looked into 3 shelters and most were big mixes--she has bad hips and can't have a dog pulling her around. The smaller mixes she found had problems or warnings like "no children" or "one dog family". She was concern because she has 11 small grandchildren and I bring my dogs to her house. She is lonely and not use to being in a dogless home. My brother saw this site--not me. I was just wondering what you thought. She thought the puggle was cute, that's all. I don't think she really has one breed in mind...just something under 40 lbs. I know she wants a puppy. All the puppies in the shelters were lab, shepard, or rott mixes---they will all get too big for her.
I am all for saving rescues (I have a maltese mix from a rescue) but I feel like I am being preach at for her to save a dog. Most of us on this forum have pure breed yorkies---why didn't we get a rescue instead?
Sorry--maybe I am reading the posts wrong but I felt like I had to clear this up.

I'm right there with you PuppyPerson. My thoughts exactly. ...and I rarely disagree with Pat....sorry Pat.

[YorkieRose]

Absolutely no problem...Kim
I have not been to the local shelter as yet since I moved. So I am not familiar with what is here.
One of the best kept secrets is the breed rescues. I had several Maryland friends involved with different ones.
I was floored at the gorgeous poodles available..Poms, and Collies..all purebred, some with AKC papers. A neighbor got a 4 month old Bassett...and another got two Poms.
Small Paws Bishon Rescue gets entire litters of puppies with the dam. I had no clue.

I can understand not wanting a large adult mix, if your heart is set on a small toy.. but unfortuantley that is far from the truth as to what is out there waiting. Do you know Small Paws will ship a puppy to you? Check out the site.

Another place to look is the breeder...most retire adults..I had a list as long as my arm...Whispersmom also..I saw some of the lovely YOUNG adults she placed very reasonably.
There is nothing wrong in being a mix breed..I am sure most of us here are not of purebred royal bloodlines...I just can not come around the deliberately mixing when they are so readily available.
Last time I was at the Humane Society in Waldorf MD there was Jack Russell/Rat terrier pup who was 4 months old.

I wish the posters mom all the luck in the world..if they posted she wanted a purebred I am sure no one would have added any mixed breed comments.

[Midge5353]

They just had an article about mixing breeds and designer dogs in the August 2005 issue of DogFancy. It had a part about there being no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog because if you are allergic to dogs, you are allergic to dander, and all dogs have dander, its just that some dogs dont shed as much because they don't shed hair. But they still do have dander I think. But, another good reason for mixing breeds to get something like a labradoodle is that I would assume they don't shed. Labs shed but poodles don't. I dunno. The "designer dog" subject is turning into quite a controversy everywhere! I don't really have an opinion on it. The mixes are cute though. And SoCalyorkiLvr, I agree with your above post in blue. You are right. Just because a dog is purebred, doesn't mean it is any better than a mix. I agree with every part of your above post. You said it well.

Also, people say that we shouldn't breed mixes because there are already so many dogs out on the streets and in pounds that don't have homes. That is true, but, why breed purebreds then? We are just bringing more and more dogs into this world whether they are purebred or not. If you breed mixes and you sell every single one of those puppies to good homes, what is the difference if it is a Lab, poodle, or a Labradoodle? Either way, whether the puppies are purebred or not, they are still being born. So you can't say people shouldn't breed mixes because there are too many who don't have homes, because if you say that, then obviously we shouldn't breed purebreds either. Ya know?

I hope I didn't offend anyone. It is JMHO.

[StewiesMom]

They're very close to me. I think their mixes are over priced. There are so many dogs in that area in shelters of mixed breeds. From what I know about the area, there is no way it can be a puppy mill with outside kennels. It would get reported too quickly; plus, its so urban there that there woudln't be any room to have a mill.

[YorkieRose]

And I am going the beach..LOL

[whispersmom2]

And, I am gonna keep my mouth shut! If I got into a debate, my butt would be looking for another forum.. I always said I did not discuss/debate sex, religion and politics. Now, I am adding another....just do not have a name for it yet..

[Luvmypupster]

Puppy mills or backyard breeders don't always need lot's of space. Animal abuse can take place in small areas. I was watching animal cops the other day and they found a mill type situation in an uban setting. House was full of numerous breeds, dead puppies and filth.

[Luvmypupster]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

And I am going the beach..LOL

Hey Pat, I'm going to Florida in a few weeks!!! Can't wait to see the beaches.