Folks, I live in Kansas where puppies and kittens are produced here as plentiful as the wheat. It is shameful to live in a state with that kind of reputation. My research shows that in one year out of Kansas alone over 25,000 puppies were born here and placed with puppy mills, pet shops, back yard breeders, or in uneducated pet homes with people who believed that they were rescuing a puppy from awful conditions by giving that breeder what they wanted in the first place...MONEY. I can't imagine why our shelter and yours is over crowded! Most families put more thought into their new computer system than they do the next family pet.
Here are some examples of ads in our Topeka paper everyday (truely, I got these from the paper). This is how back yard breeders and puppy mills sell their puppies to unsuspecting individuals who "just don't know" any better:
AKC BOXER PUPPIES
6 weeks old. $350.00 OBO
Call ----------------------
OBJECTION: Puppies are not ready to be introduced into new companion homes at 6 weeks of age. These are puppies who may end up timid and shy as they have missed out on learning experiences from the other puppies in their litter that humans cannot offer them. Also, what does this mean OBO? Or Best Offer? This is what you say when you are getting rid of an old car. Prices may be negotionable, but if a person is advertising this right there in black and white, this is probably not a responsible breeder who will be available to answer your questions and stand behind their "product". I say "product" because that is how they are offering their puppies to the public.
ADVICE: STAY AWAY! Save your money for another day.
CHIRSTMAS PUPPIES
ACA registered Shih Tzu puppies
Very Loveable. All Shots and wormed.
$200.00 OBO
Call ---------------------
OBJECTION: Puppies ARE NOT Christmas gifts! Socks are a Christmas gift. A radio is a Christmas gift. A puppy is a living, breathing oganisim with feelings and needs. Please do not give puppies as gifts.
I have put a list of Canine Registries at the bottom of this page. I urge you to take a look at what ACA stands for and I'll allow you to make your own advice choice here.
AKC BLACK LAB PUPS
Bred To Do Everything
Christmas Specials
Shots and Papers
$350.00
$450.00 Pick Of The Litter
Call --------------------
OBJECTION: Again with the gift thing and this time they are giving Christmas specials. Well hot damn, this might be an offer that you can't refuse!! Seriously, "Bred To Do Everything", what does this mean exactly? Are they really expecting the public to believe that every pup in that litter can do field trials, agility, companion, conformation shows, therapy, rescue, guarding, etc, etc, etc? Well, they're wormed and vaccinated, that's in their favor. Let's look at the price - $350.00 (for dogs that can do everything that's a steal) and $450.00 for pick of the litter. Pick of the litter...do they even know what this means? How have they determined which puppy is pick of the litter? Is he/she the biggest? Is he/she the sweetest? Unless they did an 8 week old evaluation going by the American Kennel Club standard for that breed and show their dogs in conformation shows, how do they have any clue about what "pick of the litter" even is? This is a classic BACK YARD breeder ad.
ADVICE: These people are dangerous. They are certain that they know what they are doing when it comes to breeding black labs. Maybe they do know how to put two dogs in the back yard and let nature take it's course when their girl comes into season, but they have no idea how to be a responsible, ethical breeder. Put your money back in your pocket and get away fast!
I would like to back up a notch here and give you some starting information for when you are in the process of thinking about getting a dog. (Obviously you've already considered this or you wouldn't be in my akita site) There are six steps to learn before bringing home a cute new puppy.
FIRST: Decide what breed of dog you would like to bring into your home. Dog breeds are as unique as you are as an individual. Think about what life style you have. Think about what you're wanting this dog for. Think about your home and the size of dog that you can accommodate. A breed of dog should never be chosen because it is "CUTE".
SECOND: After you and your family have decided on a breed that will fit your lives, then begin researching and reading every bit of information there is on the breed. Buy or check out books about the breed. Look on the internet. Talk to friends or family. Check out AKC's website and research the standard and what the ideal dog of that breed should look like. You can compile a notebook with your information if you are debating over several different breeds. Let the kids research their pick, etc.
THIRD: Okay, I'm assuming that you've all decided on a breed by now. Now it is time to begin researching breeders. You're armed with your information and you know what your dog should look like and act like. You know about their specific breed health issues and other general knowledge. It is time to contact breeders. To find a responsible breeder there are many resources available: dog magazines, vets offices, internet, and local kennel clubs. Also, there are breed clubs available for every breed of dog. Get on the internet and find yours. There should also be a list of breeders there.
FOURTH: If you've used the internet as a resource, you've had the opportunity to look at the dogs and puppies each breeder produces. Do the pictures show their dogs in clean environments? Are there pictures of their dogs at conformation shows? Are their pups in a show stance in the pictures? Are the puppies parents champions? You will know if they are champions by the CH in front of their names. Dogs that show in conformation need 15 points to earn their championship. It gets pretty confusing so I'll leave the point system at that. If puppies or dogs are in questionable situations in any of their pictures, then let your gut guide you.
FIFTH: The phone call... When you contact a breeder, it is best to be as informed as you can. Never, never, never begin a conversation with "How much are your puppies?" To a breeder, you may as well be nonexsistant if that is all you are interested in. Please remember that puppies to a good breeder are like family members. They have a lot of time, effort, money, love, etc. invested into each and every puppy and when you begin a conversation like that, you're showing how uneducated and uncaring you are. Another choice for opening the conversation would be "Please tell me a little about your puppies." This leaves the field wide open. Most breeders love to talk about their puppies as they are prides and joys of the kennel. If a breeder is tight lipped, then that might be your signal to end the conversation. Remember to ask about guarantees, what kind of health checks the parents had before breeding, do they belong to their breeds club, contracts, what age they will place a puppy, what kind of socializing they have done with their puppies and those kinds of responsible questions. Never act like you know everything about the breed just because you have done a little research on them. A breeder will take that as an insult and you probably won't be getting a puppy from them. If their primary talk is of money then that is also a sign to leave them alone.
SIXTH: When you have settled with a breeder and you go to look at the puppies, be forwarned, a good breeder will never just let you "pick out" a pup. They will ask questions and decide which one of their puppies best suits your lifestyle. Remember that a breeders job is to make sure that the puppy that they helped produce needs to be in a loving home for the rest of it's life and if the puppy is too high strung, or laid back for your family, you will not want to keep that animal for the rest of it's life. This can become a breeder's nightmare. If you have a breeder who does not pick out the pup for you, then it is your job to make a decision based on education and not how cute he/she is. Puppies change and that cute pup in three months may not be the cutest in the litter any longer. Be careful to watch the puppies interact, make noise as this is their enviornment they should be very relaxed and noise should not spook them. When you interact with the puppies they should come a bouncin' to you. They should never be shy or fearful of you. If this is the case, this can be one of two things; either the breeder has not socialized these puppies well or their fearful actions are genetic which you cannot take out of the dog no matter how hard you try. Try to choose a puppy who is not a biter as a puppy who is more aggressive than the others can have the tendency to become aggressive as an adult and may refuse authority from you and your family. If a breeder does not want to accept your decline of taking one of her/his puppies willingly, then this also is a sign of a breeder who only is interested in making the buck. They have a product and they will go to great lengths to sell it.
Signs of a Back Yard Breeder: They know nothing of their breeds breed standard. Typically their dogs are kept on chains or make shift dog pens. The puppies are generally born outside if they are big dogs and sometimes without the owner even knowing that there are puppies. The puppies are sold without contracts or expectations, but they do have their AKC papers don't forget. They cannot supply a puppy adopter with any health checks or health records on any of their dogs including the breeding pair. Typically they advertise in the local newspaper and are only "into" dogs for a quick buck. Remember that pet shop puppies and lab/test puppies sometimes come from these circumstances where a "BROKER" will go into a home and buy and entire litter of puppies. These "BROKERS" will pose as families wanting a puppy for everyone. A back yard breeder will sell an entire litter of puppies because of lack of education (remember the quick buck and easy lift burden of 6-8 extra mouths to feed). They will also advertise their puppies as "Show Potential/Quality" even when there is NO titled dogs within the puppies pedigree. The truth is that they have no idea what "Show Potential/Quality" even means, it's just a way of luring in uneducated buyers. The breeding pair have often come from a Puppy Mill, Pet Shop or Puppy Producer (see below) and are only occassionally registered with a respected registry like AKC (American Kennel Club)..
Signs of a Puppy Mill: They are knowledgable about dogs in general. Usually they have many breeds that they are breeding at ALL given times. A dog that can no longer produce is of no use and usually put to death. They sometimes have commercial type names for their kennels (i.e. Puppy Haven, L.L.C.). The puppies are sometimes registered with registries other than AKC (American Kennel Club). The facility to which the puppies are born are substandard (to put it mildly). The dogs are unhealthy and ungroomed. Sometimes they will entice vicitims with contracts to make them think that they are responsible for the lives they are creating. Pet shops keep these facilities open. A puppy mill can, if run "properly" be a multi million dollar a year business. Puppy Mills can and do scamble their paperwork so that your new puppy may not be out of the mom and dad you were shown at all. The puppies are not available with pedigrees and the surroundings are less than sanitary. But keep in mind that they have their USDA license so that makes all okay!
Signs of a Puppy Producer: A puppy producer has very beautiful dogs with sometimes impressive pedigrees in many times very nice kennels. They know their breed that they are selling very well and usually dabble in more than one breed. They sell many, many puppies with a contract that is very minimal (if any) in their expectations and their own responsiblities regarding the puppies they have produced. See, they have produced so many that it is impossible to be responsible for all of them. A Puppy Producer only asks a few questions and is very helpful in the beginning of the transaction. Ususally there are little if any requirements to taking a puppy home and the focus is on the money. Puppies are sold with full registration which means they can be bred and many times fall into the hands of irresponsible owners (backyard breeders) and sometimes puppy mills. A Puppy Producer can and many times does show their dogs to their championships simply to make more money off of the puppies and then those champions are bred and bred and bred until they either lay down and die or can breed no more and then they are given or sold into a pet home and "retired".
Signs of a Responsible Breeder: Someone who loves to talk about their dogs. They have written extensive contracts and health expectations for every puppy that leaves their kennel. Their facility is clean and the dogs are usually in kennels or in the home. They are open to all questions regarding the health of all their dogs. They can provide health records on their puppies as well as the breeding pair. A Responsible Breeder is responsible for every one of their puppies for life. Most do show their dogs in AKC events and they may or may not be titled.. A Responsible Breeder is there for the entire life of everything they produce from their kennel and plan breedings so extensively that only one or two litters are produced a year and sometimes none are produced for years. Responsible Breeders have a waiting list and Adopters sometimes have to wait for a puppy, but the wait is well worth it.
AKC = American Kennel Club They are a responsible registry. But they do not evaluate breeding stock.
UKC = United Kennel Club They are a responsible registry.
CKC = Canadian Kennel Club They are a responsible registry.
This is where it gets confusing:
CKC = Continental Kennel Club NO - Puppy mills get discounts. The more dogs you breed the cheaper it is to use them.
ACA = American Canine Association NO - Endorsed by Pet Shops.Commercail breeders use them.
APRI = American Pet Registry, INC NO - Lobbying force for puppy mills
UKCI = Universal Kennel Club International NO - Hides puppy mills, breeders and brokers who don't want to own up to unhappy buyers.
NAPDR = North American Purebred Dog Registry NOOOO - You don't need papers to register your mutt with them. If you know what breed your dog is then just fill out the application with what you know about your dog and wow...registerd!
APR = American Purebred Registry NO - Same policy as NAPDR
WKC = World Kennel Club NO - Same policy as NAPDR, APR
WWKC = World Wide Kennel Club NO - Will register any dog from any other registry in the world.
DRA = Dog Registry of America NO - AKA U.S. Kennel Club. Instant championship for dogs without any showing so they can confuse consumers with well bred puppies.
ARU = Animal Registry Unlimited NO - Same policy as NAPDR
GKC = Global Kennel Club NO - Same as WWKC
FIC = Federation of International Canines NO - Breed as many dogs as you can for profit.
UABR = United All Breed Registry NO - Commercial pet industry registry with a good "reputation". Again supports big discounts for puppy mills.
CRCS = Canine Registration and Certification Services NO - Same policy as UABR
USDA = Very large commercial breeders work with USDA. There are currently 11,000 USDA licensed facilities.
This one is new:UCA = United Canine Association - NO - This registry reinstates those breeders who have been banned from reputable registries.
Before you buy a dog, please read between those "puppy ad" lines and do your research. This is a 10 - 20 year commitment and if you make the wrong choice it may seem like a lifetime of unhappiness for you and the dog. Youhave the choice to make - they don't.
