The Problems with Pet Store Puppies

We've all been there: you are walking down the street and you look into a store window only to see the big, brown eyes of several adorable puppies staring back at you. We stand there and watch them play for a few minutes, the whole time thinking about what it would be like to take one home.

Hold on a minute.

Pet store puppies may be cute, but they will most likely come with a multitude of problems. They are likely from puppy mills, may have poor health, have had little socialization, poor care, and lack of assistance from the seller when a problem arises. It is far more ethical, and in the best interest of your family and your pet's future, to adopt from a shelter or buy from a reputable breeder.

The puppies that come from pet stores frequently come with health problems. The animals used to breed are rarely screened for genetic disorders, which means they will pass their problems on to the many litters they are forced to produce. There are genetic disorders in every breed, and a reputable breeder will have the parent dogs tested before producing a litter. Even if a pet shop guarantees the health of the dog, stay away. The guarantee means that if you discover your beloved new pet is sick, they will offer you an exchange for another pet, which may suffer the same ailments, and euthanize the one you returned. Another common scenario is that they will tell you the pet will grow out of its problems, and when it doesn't, the guarantee will have expired.

Just because the store says the dog is AKC registered doesn't mean it's healthy or of good quality. Certification only means that the puppy is purebred, the offspring of AKC registered dogs. If the AKC-registered parents have a genetic or health problem, the puppy will too, even if it is registered and comes with papers guaranteeing a full pedigree. A responsible breeder will provide AKC papers as well, but they will also ensure that the dog comes from healthy parents and will minimize problems in the future. Adopting from a shelter may mean that you don't know the exact parentage of a dog, but you will know the health. Reputable shelters do complete health and temperament tests on their animals before allowing them to be considered for adoption. This means that every dog you actually see in a shelter has passed these tests.

Frequently the puppies at a pet store will be poorly socialized. It is highly likely that the only interaction they have had with humans is the reaching arm of whoever fills their food bowl. They have probably never seen the inside of a house, and many have never even seen the outdoors. This frequently leads to problems with housebreaking and training. Dogs in quality shelters get walked at least once or twice a day, and reputable breeders allow the puppies to live in their own homes, so from both environments the animals are properly socialized and much easier to train. They will also be much less fearful of new people and situations than pet store puppies because they have had more human interaction.

Once the puppy leaves the shop, the pet store doesn't care what happens to it. They don't care if the puppy is mistreated, sick, or has temperament issues. This will not be true with reputable breeders and shelters. Shelters will rigorously screen prospective adopters, and many will follow up on the pet after adoption. They may also require certification that the dog has been sterilized and received vet care. Responsible breeders are the same way. After selling a puppy, the breeder should keep in touch with the family and be sure that the dog is happy and healthy. Most breeders will require sterilization, or allow for limited breeding if the puppy is show quality. Shelters and breeders will also be available if the new owners have questions or need assistance with training or health questions.

Buying a puppy from a pet store encourages puppy mills. No responsible breeder would sell their puppies to a pet store, thus it is almost certain that any puppy in a store window came from a mill. Puppy mills exist solely to breed dogs for profit. The parent animals are frequently kept in poor, unsanitary conditions and are forced to breed repeatedly. Responsible breeders will only allow a female dog to produce a few litters in her lifetime, with ample time between to rest and recover. Puppy mills force breed mothers at every heat cycle, usually twice a year, to make as much money as possible off her. When the mother is unable to breed any longer she will be euthanized, and not always in a humane manner. Buying a puppy from a pet store encourages the inhumane practices of puppy mills. Buying from a reputable breeder or adopting from a shelter supports healthy, well-cared-for pets.

It is always important to do your research when you are interested in adding a pet to your family. One should never impulse buy a pet. Make sure you know about the breed you are interested in. Research their temperament, size, grooming needs, lifespan, and possible health problems before adopting or buying. Look in shelters. Approximately 25% of all dogs in shelters are purebred. Don't forget mixed breeds, either. Mutts have fewer genetic problems because mixing breeds usually breeds the health issues out. If adoption is not possible, be sure the breeder you find is responsible. They should be very careful in screening potential buyers, so lots of personal questions and even a visit to your home should be viewed as a good thing, not invasive. Shelters and reputable breeders want their animals to go to good homes and be well cared for. Pet stores and puppy mills are only interested in turning a profit, not in securing the well-being of their animals.