Are You Sure You Want to Buy a Puppy From a Pet Store?

When you visit the pet store at the local mall, you see adorable puppies for sale. You ask to hold one and the puppy is so cute, you think about buying it. Is this a good idea?

How many of us have been walking around the local mall and decided to stop in the pet store to look at the puppies? They are so cute and we feel sad that they are stuck in those little wire cages. You may be tempted to bring one home. Unfortunately, the puppies in pet stores may燾ome from unlicensed kennels, unscrupulous breeders, puppy brokers or even a puppy mill.

If you choose to buy from a pet store, you are most likely buying from a store clerk with minimal or no knowledge about the breed. There will be爉inimal information on the pup's parents and no information on health testing.燩et stores燼re not concerned with the health of the sire or dam. There is no thought to possible genetic problems that will make the puppy sick as it gets older. Close line breeding or inbreeding is common since the main objective for pet stores is quantity and爏ales.

If you bring home a puppy from a pet store, there is a good chance he will not be feeling well爁rom intestinal parasites and probably爐he vaccination records are not correct or missing altogether.燭he pet store may offer you a health guarantee but it usually means that if you bring the puppy back, they will replace it with another one.燳ou should be aware that爏ome states have a "Puppy Lemon Law", which provides you with some leverage and protection when dealing with corporate owned pet stores.燭he pet stores are counting on the fact that by the time you realize the problem, you will have already become attached to the pup and not want to return it. If you do take your sick puppy back to the store, they will probably resell the puppy to some other family or return爐he pup爐o the facility that it came from. There is no way they will spend money to make it healthy.

If your new puppy doesn't have serious health problems, you may find there are behavioral problems. You have to remember that these puppies have had no socialization. Many times they are taken from their mother well before they are 8 weeks old. They have lived their entire lives in small cages. The adjustment to a family home and all that entails can be too much for the puppy. Your pup won't be used to something as simple as walking on grass or carpet. Housebreaking can be extremely difficult because the puppy doesn't know anything but his cage. This is especially difficult if the puppy you bring home is a little older. Often the puppies in a pet store are 12-16 weeks old by the time they are bought.

You may want to save a puppy from that small wire cage, but, although your intentions may be good when you buy from a pet store, it is very likely you will have to return爐he puppy or even give it爑p to a shelter because of the behavioral problems. The best thing you can do is buy from a reputable breeder. This will take a good bit of research on your part, but it will be worth your time. An even better option is to adopt a puppy from a shelter or rescue. Spread the word to your friends and family so they can save themselves the heartbreak of a pet store puppy.

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