Breeder, Pet Shop or Private?

Question

We are going to buy two jack Russell pups in the near future. We are wondering whether we should buy from a breeder, pet shop or privately?

Answer 1

go to petfinders com....this is a site for rescue groups....just type in your Zip code, and be AMAZED at how many choices you have !! everything from puppies, to young, to older dogs !! .....i adopted a Great Pyrenees mix from them, and my dog Sylvester is great!!....check it out....try it....do a good deed....adopt a dog!!....good luck to you in your search !! my other dog is a Jack Russell mix, wire-haired terrier, i also rescued, and he has been a joy for 5 yrs !!!! check out petfinder.com....you won't be disappointed !!!!!

Answer 2

Depends on what you want to do with the pups in the future. Will you be breeding them- showing them- or just having them as part of the family? I personally find that breeders are far better then pet shops but only for a serious dog person...a future breeder or show dog. Frankly if it's just a normal pet that you'd like I would try the pound first. There are more than enough animals out there that need loving homes, and the more we use breeders or pet shops the more animals get put down.
Privately is ok for a normal family dog as you can never be too sure about breeding. I try to stay away from pet shops due to the conditions and handling of the animals there.

Answer 3

Are you sure you want even ONE Jack Russell Terrier?? (The AKC now calls them Parson Russell Terriers.) They are cute as hell, but they don't act like Eddie on "Frasier"! JRs are extremely bright, inquisitive and very difficult to train if you're not very experienced and up to the challenge. They will dig up your yard and bark all day if left outside or where they can see the world passing by. They will dash around an apartment, jumping on and off the furniture, until you and your downstairs neighbors are insane. They will hang off your kid's clothes and steal anything just to get you to chase them. They will also torment your cat and kill your kid’s hamsters. If the males are not neutered young, they often lift their legs all over the house. Hell of a lot of fun or frustration - take your pick! I love and own terriers, but this is why I've never recommened a JR to anyone. An awful lot of them end up in the shelters.

Getting two at the same time is going to be a nightmare! Dogs from the same litter or the same age tend to bond very strongly and can become ill and depressed if something happens to one of them. They are much harder to train and housebreak, since they get all the approval and attention that they need from the other pup. If you DO get two, keep them separated most of the day. Make sure they get plenty of exercise and play time with you.

Find a good breeder referral by going to www.akc.org or talking to people at dog shows. This is a breed that can have problems - you should get the best one you can!
http://www.akc.org/breeds/parson_russell_terrier/index.cfm
http://www.akc.org/breederinfo/breeder_search.cfm

You can also find info about the breed clubs on the akc site - they probably have a rescue group where you can get an older dog for less money.
http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm

The best breeders will be members of their breed club, promoting healthy dogs with great temperaments. They should ask you a bunch of questions to make sure their puppy will be getting a good home. If all a "breeder" seems to care about is whether your check will clear, you can be sure he won't care a week later when the pup is dying from distemper or parvo and you want your money back.

Whatever you do, DON'T go to a pet shop, a flea market or buy one sight-unseen off the Internet!!!! You'll pay top dollar for what is usually a poor quality puppy mill dog that is often sick and may have falsified registration papers. And you'll be supporting one of the cruelest industries in the country. http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cruelty_puppymills

Answer 4

Make sure you don't go through a BYB (Back Yard Breeder)
WHAT THEY ARE
The average pet owner that breeds their dog(s).

Most of the general public thinks that just because they have *papers* on their dog, that means their dog is breed material. All papers mean is that the dog(s) parents were registered, and nothing more. It does NOT mean QUALITY! It does NOT mean the dog is CORRECT for the Standards for that breed. Most of the dogs that are registered are NOT breed material, but make fine pets.

WHAT THEY DO (and what they DON’T DO)

1) They breed dogs that are not correct for the Standards for health, temperament, and how they *suppose* to look. This is why many of the back-yard breedings that take place produce puppies which grows into adults that are incorrect.

2) They breed dogs that have the same faults, which in turn, compounds faults into the puppies.

3) They do not know the breed standards for the breed they are breeding.

4) They do not know what genetic (health) issues are for the breed they are breeding, they say that there are NO problems associated with the breed, or ask, “what problems?”

5) They are not there for you IF you have problems or questions through-out the lifetime of your dog.

6) They do not require spay/neuter contracts, nor do they supply you with a written contract/guarantee, nor do they require the dog be returned to them if you can no longer keep the animal.

7) They think they can make just a little money breeding.

8) Some will screen potential buyers and some won’t. Most really don’t care what happens to the puppy after it leaves their house.

WHY THEY CREATE DAMAGE

1) With them not requiring spay/neuters, when those dogs are eventually bred (as most will do), then it compounds the problems... more and more dogs are being produced in an overly populated world already. Just go to your local shelter and look at all those dogs. They were someone’s pet at some point in their life. Most of them would come from someone just wanting to breed their pets just once or twice.

2) By continued irresponsible breeding(s), more and more dogs end up in rescue, shelters, dumped, research labs, used as bait dogs for dog fighting (YES IT STILL HAPPENS!!!!!) or at the hands of commerical dog breeders (Puppy Mill Breeders) or commerical brokers (Puppy Mill Brokers).
Note: Brokers buy from the commercial dog breeders and sell directly to the PetStores or directly to the Public

Sabrina Jay

Answer 5

Look for a pedigree dog rescue to find a Jack Russel in need of a home.
www.terrier.com/rescue/rescuemenu.php3 *for some reason the complete web address is not being displayed fully so I've split it into 2 lines in the source box; or you can do a search for 'jack russell rescue'

Failing that, find a private breeder who has verifiable proof of the parents' pedigree through the AKC. Check that this really is a small, family type breeder who is not just in it for profit. Many breeders breed their bitches until the poor thing is worn out. Also, dogs in crowded conditions are prone to infections, diseases, worms etc.
Do not take home a puppy that is less than 8 weeks old.

Answer 6

Stay far, far away from a pet store. The pups there are usually from nasty, dirty puppy mills, with unhealthy, unsocialized, mentally unbalanced pups. Sad, but true. Look for a quality breeder, or someone with a healthy litter, that maybe are not AKC, but still good dogs. Maybe you could try the rescue site? I'm sure there are lots of dogs available there.

Answer 7

go to a breeder that specifically breeds the kind of dog you want.ask them if they are willing to let you look around the premises. this way you can see if the pups are healthy,and make sure that the kennels look clean. also check how the mother dog behaves around you. if she gets aggressive while you look at the pups, i would go to a different breeder. the pups could also get aggressive. also buy a book for the breed you are interested in. they are very helpful to have.

Answer 8

PLEASE DONT BUY FROM A PETSHOP!!! Almost all of these dogs come from horrible things called puppymills! IF you do then you are most likely going to get a dog with behavior problems, you will have a super hard time housebreaking it, and it will have tons of health problems and may have birth defects. Also dont buy from private as they may be backyard breeders who are just breeding for the profit. If you are going to get a dog I would rescue from a shelter or from a responsible breeder.

Answer 9

I would go with a breeder. Never but from pet shops. They often get their puppies from puppy mills where they really don't get hands on attention. If you buy privately make sure to see mom and dad.

Answer 10

Your best bet is a breeder if you want a pure bred jack russell
A pet shop normally does not keep pure bred jacks, if you want to buy private make sure the parents have papers, otherwise they can tell you they are pure, but aren't.
But if you are wanting to breed with them please make sure you buy the two from seperate dealers, you don't want deformaties in the dogs puppies. Good Luck in your search

Answer 11

i would look for a shelter dog personally. save a life...whats in a breed anyway. but if you must, go with a reputable breeder. pet shops are notorious for puppy mill dogs who are sickly. private is OK if you check out the home and be sure it is a pleasant environment for a dog to be in. if it is dirty and the parents are in poor health I'd advise against a purchase.