I Did Not Buy a $100 Puppy
 

After a sleepless night, I headed south to meet the breeder and see her puppies. Before I left, I called her to let her know I was on my way. She told me that one of the two $100 puppies had been sold yesterday. As it turned out, only the "shy" one was left. And he is 4 months old.

I arrived at her home. Prior to getting ot her actual house, I saw a trailer with a ton of dogs (different breeds) out front in a long caged area. Behind the house was another long caged area with lots of Yorkies (adults that she breeds). She is breeding 4 different breeds!

The place where the $100 puppy stayed looked decent and clean. She brought the puppy out, and he didn't want to have anything to do with me and my mother-in-law. He would not approach us, and the only way I could hold him was for one of the family members to hand him to me or for me to "sneak up" on him while he was looking another direction. Otherwise, I would end up chasing him. Not good. He was sweet when I held him, and I did two puppy tests to check for his dominance/submission level. He seemed very submissive. I asked if I could go into another room with just me and the puppy to see how he interacted with me without all the distractions. She wouldn't let me. He looked rather big for his age, I thought. She estimated he weighed about 3.5 lbs.

I thought and thought and thought about it. I asked questions, and much of the time, the information was inconsistent. She has three male puppies listed on her web site as being ready on August 15th. I asked her yesterday if one of these puppies was the $100 puppy. She said "yes." And she said that her 10 week old puppy was also one of them ("Chipper"). But all three on the web site were the same age and size! So how could the 4 month old be one of the puppies ready by August 15th??

Today I asked if all of the male puppies listed on her web site had been sold, and the mother told me "yes." Ok, that makes no sense. The mother (it's a mother/daughter breeder) supposedly breeds just the Yorkies. She said she had been too sick to show the older $100 puppies and that's why they still had them. But yet she was able to sell all three of the other puppies?? And she told me they went a MONTH ago, not just last week when they were supposedly "ready." I was getting a bad feeling.

Then while I was holding the puppy, he just suddenly started yelping and getting restless like something hurt. I wondered if he had a luxating patella which popped out of place, and that's why he was hurt??? They said he thought someone was going to give him a shot!

They give their dogs their own vaccines. This puppy had not been to the vet since his initial check-up which I'm guessing was shortly after he was born.

So I walked away. As I drove home, I started to feel very sad.

But I did get in touch with another local breeder, and we are going to look at puppies next week and hopefully pick one out. They won't be ready until the end of next month or beginning of October.

Sorry to hear you didn't get the puppy. but that's probably a good thing. that whole story right there seems really fishy.

good luck next week!

I can't help but still wonder if I made the right decision. I think that is the "emotional" side of me. If someone else wants to check out this last puppy, I will give you the information.

sometimes thats exactly how they want you to feel. i mean im no expert. but i think i would have went with my gut instinct too. something just doesn't seem right. and her story kept changing. thats not good.

the long cages and different breeds????? that sounds like a puppymill to me (on a smaller scale)
i knew it sounded too good to be true. thank goodness you did not get him. i know we all feel sorry for them but to cont to fund these mills is not good for the puppies in the long run.

You listened to what your gut was telling you to not your heart. I feel you did the right thing. When it is the right time you will find the perfect puppy for you.
Have you thought about calling animal control to go out and investigate the other dogs to make sure they are being properly cared for?

Awww, I feel sorry for those poor dogs. I hope someone get them from her. Can you post her website? Maybe someone can give them a better life. Poor babies :(

I'm glad you steered clear. I'm sure you'll still find your perfect baby for you. :D

I know it's an emotional thing. Once you hold them, you don't forget them. But I think you did the right thing for you. It's sad, isn't it? You'll find the right puppy for you. Just don't rush it.

I think you did the right thing too. We go so attached, so fast and want to rescue every baby out there. Who knows what kind of health problems they may have if they haven't even been to the vet??? Trust you instincts!

I think you made the right decision. It sounds like there were just too many warning signs. All puppies are cute and while you might rethink your decision realize that a puppy is a lifetime commitment, which can be 15 years. This one sounds like he might have some behavioral or health issues along the way.

You'll find the one that is right for you.

I definatly think you made the right desision, it would not of been good for you to support this type of breeder.

omg im soo sorry to here this we should do something like shut her down!!!

You definitely made the right decision. It's hard to not feel sorry for the puppy, but buying him would have supported their puppymill. Be patient and you'll find a great breeder and the right puppy for you.

I am sure that must have been hard!
I just received my puppy almost a week ago from a YT breeder and she has the sweetest disposition, she came into my home and immediately captured my heart.
She is not shy and loves to play!

You weren't in Cullman (aka Puppymill Central) by chance, were you?:( I am sorry that things did not work out for you, but I think you made a wise choice. It is so hard to walk away from a cute pup sometimes--and they are all cute, even if their breeders are idiots--but not doing so will not take any steps towards thwarting the unethical practices or discouraging the breeder from continuing to do this.

I could recommend a few good breeders here in the state, but non of them are going to be anywhere near the $100 price range.:(

I'm glad you walked away. I'm sure you'll find the right one when the time comes.

You made the right choice, and I think it's great you had the strength to walk away. I would call your local ASPCA and report what you saw. It couldn't hurt to have them come check it out and make sure the dogs are all in good health and a clean environment!

No, but close! Pell City. What price range are the breeders you know about in AL?

pup
 

You were right to not buy the pup...you had to see it with your own eyes to know...
I wish 10 people (I will) would send you $10 and you could get the pup and give it to Yorkie rescue..I fear this shy pup will only wind up being destroyed if it is too shy to sell..

At $100, I got the feeling she wa a high volume breeder...what you lose on one, you make up on others..

Yikes! :eek: PC is just about 20 min down the street from me.:( They are in the $1000.00 range...but hey are not puppy mills! They have fabulous dogs with excellent pedigrees. I can PM you their info if you are interested...not sure if any have pups right now though. :)

I think you made the right decision in the long run......hard not to feel sorry for all those puppies, though!

As hard as the decision to walk was, I think you did the right thing. I am sure with the right research of a breeder, you will find the perfect pup for you. Good luck!!

I'm so sorry for your experience. It's hard not to be haunted by it. But those emotions are what keep puppy mills and bad breeders in business. You did the horribly difficult painful RIGHT thing to help save lots of dogs in the future when we can finally stop this by putting them all out of business.

I will be 2 people and give $20 - to get him out of there and into a Yorkie Resuce. :D :D :D

Just let me know what to do?????

I think you made the right decision.

Maybe the place for you to find a pup would be the National Yorkshire Terrier Rescue. They are reasonable and up to date on shots and usually have teeth cleaning taken care of but I like most is the person fostering them can tell you alot about them and their previous home.

http://www.yorkierescue.com/

Supposedly her pups have pedigrees, too. She said she spent $1500 on the mother and father of this puppy. But, I don't know whether to believe it or not.

Oh, my heart just aches tonight! You don't know how close I come every other minute to deciding to call her tomorrow and tell her I want the puppy. That's what my heart tells me. But my HEAD tells meI did the right thing....for me. But what about the dog? The breeder said she would keep him if no one bought him. They did seem fond of him, and the puppy seemed very attached to the breeder's father.

If anyone wants this puppy, let me know. I will get you a name and number.