What if your dog didn't come from a rebutable breeder

[Jane Smith]

Apparently when I got my girls (a year apart) I didn't know much about breeders, or what questions to ask, if any.  I am now thinking that I got my girls from puppy mills, and I just feel sick.  I mean I love them, and they are healthy, but to think I contributed to that makes me sick.

 

The reason I suspect this, is I e-mailed the guy that set it up (both dogs were flown in from different states), and told him that I had someone that was interested in a dog from Ethel's breeder, and if he could get me the name of the breeder.  I have not gotten a response and this was a few days ago.  When I told the interested party that I believed I went through a breeder broker type thing, she informed me that it definitely was a puppy mill then and not a rebutable breeder.   Yikes! 

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Karen, very well said and I couldn't agree more.

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

Karen, I totally agree that anyone mentioning "p.m's" on D.K. is downright BRAVE!  After I first joined this

site I asked a question and was lambasted for having gotten my doodle from a pet shop, even though

she was 6 months old, a clearance sale puppy,  and crying her heart out.  Al l was looking for was a possible connection to her line to know if there were any health issues we might have to deal with in the future.   The mean spirited comments that came to me almost made me quit D.K., but I am glad I stayed with it because I have met a lot of wonderful people, and gained a lot of valuable information into dog care. 

[Jaime and Barley Barker]

I'm sorry you had that experience. Please don't allow anyone to make you feel bad. I do not agree with puppy mills at all, but I also got Barley from a store. (ssshhh!) I do not believe the puppies from this store come from puppy mills as my mother and I have met one of the breeders, and our two puppies that came from there were well-socialized and extremely laid back. This store deals with home breeders who have had difficulty selling all of their puppies. I cringe telling people that because I'm afraid of being lambasted, but I don't think all stores equal puppy mills. The place I got Barley is not a typical "pet store" as the puppies are in little rooms with wood shavings (not cages) with litter mates or similary sized puppies. This place is immaculate. I was given the breeder's contact info and told a little about Barley's parents. It is clear that whoever bred Barley had worked with him. He had few potty accidents, knew "sit", would wait quietly for me to feed him, and clearly had been accustomed to a collar and leash. (I got him when he was 12-weeks old.) In contrast to my mom's goldendoodle that she got directly from the breeder at 8-weeks old, Barley's temperament is much more laid back, sweet, and easier to train. So, your puppy is not necessarily a pm dog.

 

However, both my mom and I have said any future dogs we get will be from a breeder which we can visit, or from a shelter. I feel strongly that Barley did not come from a pm, but rather from a breeder who spent time working with her "leftover" puppies. But in the future, I'm not willing to take that chance should I ever get another puppy. Learning more about pms has made me extremely cautious.

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Don't feel bad!  You are a great mom to those girls.  Just share your experiences and help others!  I got Bexter from a breeder and they are very nice people & their dogs seem great (temperament & everything), but they just don't do the health testing.  I didn't know anything about health testing before I got on his waiting list & put down a deposit.  So far, he's an awesome dog (and the best looking dog in the world IMO) & I couldn't be happier.  They are definitely NOT a puppy mill, but just don't do the health testing.  In the back of my mind, I just pray his health will be good.  Now I know, so I'll be getting Bexter's sister from a breeder who does all the tests to be on the safe side.  DK taught me a bunch about this stuff AND about healthy foods.  Just pass on your knowledge!

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

We got Luna from a similar breeder.  She has about 15 dogs (of various types) on a beautiful, big hobby farm and Luna's parents were extremely sweet, friendly dogs in good condition.    Luna went home with us with a little puppy collar, a picture of both her parents and a couple toys.  She also gave us a 1 year health guarantee in writing, which we felt was a good way to show that she meant well.

 

My fiance and I had a discussion about this topic about 2 months ago, after we were looking things up and saw all the things we missed by not getting her from a breeder who does more testing etc.  In the end we love her and so far she has been very healthy and friendly, and is growing up into a fine young lady.

Someone had to give her a good home, why not us? :)

[Leslie and Halas]

Thanks for sharing your story. Don't feel bad about what you didn't know then. Now you do know, and by posting this, you're helping to educate others.

[Kate]

Jane, I have recently started the process of finding a reputable, responsible, loving (hope that's not too pie in the sky!) breeder. It is like a full time job so far!!! One site looks good, until you investigate and, zoink! It's a puppy mill/questionable breeder! Please don't feel bad. It's disgusting how much trickery and deceit these puppy mills will go to.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

As much as it sickens you to think of having supported these puppy mills, I look at it as you having rescued them from very unhappy and uncertain lives!!!  Heck, I got mine from a reputable breeder and sometimes I feel guilty that I didn;t rescue 2 dogs who were more in need of a good home. You did good Jane. Please have no regrets, just love them girls!!

[Bryce P]

I am not sure about Huffs breeder, but I don't really care as long as he is healthy and happy.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I'm really glad that you brought this subject up as there are lots of people here I suspect who did the same as you.  Do not feel bad about this.  I did know about puppy mills but I didn't know about dog foods or safe toys and chews and a myriad of other pieces of first class information before coming onto DK.  You have two gorgeous girls and you are a great Doodle Mom.  Once we are open to learn we are on the right path...

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

We're guilty also, Chloe was at a petstore in our area and when we went in there we took her home. Didn't know what a goldendoodle was but I just loved her, her brother was sold the 1st day there. We got Chloe in her 2nd. It's a family run store and people are always posting on craigslist to boycot this place and all their dogs are sick, etc. Chloe was healthy except an ear infrction when we got her at 8weeks old. I won't step foot back on that place now that I know all this. I feel we rescued Chloe from that dumpy store-too bad they made money off of us-I really do feel bad a lot of the times that I have to tell people that she came from a petstore.

They have you now and now we all have the knowledge!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Where do I begin? Yes, Samantha is.from a pet store. I had no clue about PMs before joining DK. I alsqo got blasted in public but after meeting and speaking with this person did I begin to understand the depth of her passion about doodles and the life that PM dogs live. Did I 'rescue' Samantha? In some.ways I do believe I did. I rescued her from the idiot that would not have spent the time training and learning about life with a doodle and all that entails. I thank G-d everyday that I was the one who found her! BUT to think about the life her parents live makes me.nauseous and.I did my part in keeping.them in that life. For each puppy that is sold from a pet store more females are forced to have another litter to fillthat space left by the one sold from the store.
There is nothing I can do to change that except to stand on my platform and attempt to educate others on where pet store dogs come from and what their adorable puppy's parents endure on a daily basis for years.
I learned and now dedicate my life to doodle rescue. There are many DK families that found their doodlesmom via rescue. Many DK families Foster for the Doodle Rescue Collective to help a doodle learn that life can be the wonderful one that we here in DK give to our doodles.
If you don't get your doodle from a.breeder.that does testing or one.that does not give you 2or3 year guarantee them IMHO it is a puppy mill or back yard breeder. There are those that will disagree with me on that statement but in the 2years I have worked with the DRC that is what I have seen and heard.
Don't beat yourself up over this _ that wont change anything but if you share what you have learned you may stop the next family from going to a pet store or getting their dog over the internet.
I apologize if there are typos _ I am writing this on my cell since i am backing up my laptop.