buying a 2 yr. old Maltese from breeder

Question
I recently lost my 12 year. old Shih Tzu and am looking to buy a 2 yr. old Maltese registered female from a well known breeder. She wants $1000.00 the girl is about 6 lbs.and has had two litters and now is spayed. Question: I am a pensioner and want to know if this is a good idea to purchase this little girl?

Answer

Hi Audrey,

The price the breeder is asking sound on the high side for an adult dog that's been used for breeding.

The breeder you're considering may be "registered", but she isn't responsible! A reputable dog breeder would NOT have bred a female dog at all before the age of two years!! Anyone under the sun can register their dog, it isn't a mark of quality by any measure, it just means they paid for the paperwork. Registration speaks only to the pedigree or ancestry of a dog or puppy. It says nothing about a particular breeder's business practices,  or the health of the dog. Registration is no guarantee that you are not dealing with a puppy mill or with a disreputable person, and there are MANY registered purebreds that didn't inherit the correct genes to win any shows. The ONLY reason for registration papers is if you are doing dog shows or breeding (and only dogs that have been cleared of genetic diseases should ever be bred!). If you plan on your dog only being a companion, rather than a breeding resource save your money.

If you're set on this particular dog, make an offer of a price you can afford. It would be preferable if the breeder could document that this dog's parents were tested for the many genetic diseases common for the Maltese breed before they were bred (such as  Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), eye infections, weak gums, Portosystemic liver shunt, Patellar luxation, White Dog Shaker Syndrome, Hypoglycemia and deafness). If the breeder won't take less than $1000, walk away from the deal.

You might try browsing available dogs on petfinder.com. You can search by specific breeds, sizes, and age of the dog. You can probably find a young adult,  toy sized mixed breed, which would be healthier than most purebred dogs, and every bit as lovable!

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,

Patti