I am thinking of buying a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel from a pet store. Any feedback??

Answer 1

Don't get the dog!!

I got a dog from a pet store did not know any better just a cute puppy. Well when Teddy was 5 years he jumped off of my mom's bed. Broke a disc in is back and we had to take him to the vet. When we got to the 2nd vet an 1 and 1/2 away from us. He then said Teddy is really bad will never walk again. You see the peralisis was running up his back very rare the vet only read about this.

He did manige to stop it from running up the back and Teddy went on to live for 7 more years after. This was a gentic defect from a bad breeder.

I don't want you to have to go though what we did.

Answer 2

Been there, done that.

If you are at a pet store, and the dog is "labeled" a Cavalier, chances are it's a fake Cavalier. It very well may have two parents who have Cavalier backgrounds. But no self-respecting Cavalier breeder would be caught dead in a pet store, except to rescue all the puppies there.

Cavvies are special dogs and require a special understanding. Go to www.akc.com and seek a breeder in your area. You might want to consider letting the breeder know about these puppies being listed as Cavvies. AKC breeders do police themselves.

You won't be "rescuing" that puppy at a pet store. You will be encouraging the owner to go buy a replacement puppy mill substitute. Put them out of business....

Answer 3

Very nice dogs, but 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

Find a good breeder referral by going to www.akc.org or talking to people at dog shows.
http://www.akc.org/breeds/cavalier_king_charles_spaniel/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.

Answer 4

Type "puppy mills" in you search bar - if you still want to buy from a pet store after seeing what background it would come from, I would be shocked. The parent dogs suffer lives of misery driven only by profit, and anytime someone purchases from pets stores, they perpetuate the cycle by keeping these horrid places in business. Realize no good breeder would EVER sell through a pet store because it would be like handing over one of their children to a stranger, no questions asked - as long as the check cleared! Please, go to www.akc.org, find your closest chapter of the Cavalier club, and contact breeders in the club. Cavalier parents should be screened for health problems (every breed has specific ones that reputable breeders screen to eliminate unfit dogs from the gene pool) which include (in this breed) heart & knee defects. A reputable breeder will want you to be matched the pup that suits your lifestyle & personality best, so don't be put off by their many questions. The benefit is: you will get a healthy, well adjusted pup from the start. And the breeder will be there to talk to about any questions or concerns you have through the life of your pet. Good luck!

Answer 5

Absolutely never buy a dog from a pet store. NO reputable breeder would ever let their puppies go to a pet store where they have no idea of the home they're going to. Breeders approve people before they buy a puppy - a pet store will sell to anybody with money. Their stock comes from puppy mills or back yard breeders and you will not be getting a quality dog, and very likely, not a healthy one either. Don't waste your money. A good breeder will sell you a good dog with a health guarantee and will be available to you for advice on training, grooming, anything you need to ask.

Answer 6

Yes, here is your feedback: DON'T DO IT! As other people have indicated, there are many reasons for not buying from a pet store--but to look at the positive: if you have the money, buy from a reputable breeder (you'll be pleased in the long run); if you don't have the money, buy a similar pet through a local pound or humane society (you will have saved a life--and will also be pleased in the long run).

DON'T SUPPORT THE SALE OF ANIMALS AT PET STORES!

Answer 7

NEVER NEVER buy a pup (or kitten) from a pet store - you will pay too much for a low quality pet.... pet stores are there to make profits they have little regard to the quality of animal they sell.. they support cruel industry of puppy mills.

think of this - if you were a breeder and had good quality pups kept in nice area, why would you hide behind a pet store and get less money for your pups than you could if you sold them yourself? (pet stores mark animals up as much as 300% from what they pay for them)

pet stores sell the lowest quality pups for the highest price - please end the cycle of cruelty by refusing to support the industry of breeding dogs only for profit

you should look for a breeder or go to your local humane society or SPCA or contact a breed rescue group

NEVER NEVER buy from pet stores.....

Answer 8

Why support puppy mills? Either go to a shelter and save a life or find a reputable breeder.
not a breeder that just sticks two dogs together. Find one that has their dogs tested for genetic problems, one that is educated on how to breed for the beterment of the species. Personaly, I would go to a shelter, those dogs are dying for a home.

Answer 9

Don't buy dogs from a pet store. They usually come from puppy mills, who overbreed, ignore dog's emotional well-being, and often keep the dogs in unsanitary conditions. This is not the type of establishment anyone should support. Please go to a good breeder, who will guarentee the health of your dog and help you understand any special needs of the breed.

Answer 10

Yes, and thats why the H&LL would you buy a dog from a pet store? They come from puppy mills are treated like crap and have all sorts of things wrong with them. Save a life and adopt!!