Has anybody ever heard of a Pet Market?

Question

there's going to be one in gainesville, fl. on saturday, and i'm gonna go. my question is, Is buying a puppy from one of these markets such a bright idea? Seems to me the only two good options for getting a dog at all are from a breeder who will surely overcharge because it's bred from champion stock, or a shelter where I will be charged mere pennies, but for a puppy that is not anywhere close to what I'm looking for, and I'm so not looking to settle.
We already have a blue and gold macaw that we picked up at the last pet market *which was the only place we knew we could get one, and later found we'd gotten him a couple 100 dollars cheaper than a petstore would offer* earlier this year, and he's awesome. There were puppies there last time, and that is where I fell in love with the breed I want *papillon*. But is it really such a great idea to buy from a Pet Market? I can't find any info, but I know petstores buy their stock from there, cages/toys/anything really. Not all, but some.

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As for the petstores buying stock from here, I know that the birds at least have a higher survival rate than those baught in petstores, and yes I know petshops are the devil and charge too much for everything most of the time, but so do a lot of breeders out there so we should all just shuttup about the over-pricedness. Anyways, I'm not necissarily going to buy, but if the puppy looks good and the seller has pics/pedigree/maybe even parents present, then it'll be a go. I just kind of want to know what the general public thinks or knows that I may not.

So just because a breeder would sell to a petstore it makes the breeder bad? I thought that petstores were bad because they baught from bad breeders, not the other way around.
In other words, there are allways exceptions, not every BYB is irrisponsible *i learned about stereotyping, you should too* and not every pet store buys from puppy mills *which are allways bad, just by the principal of what it is*. If the animals all come from bad places, then why is it that I often run across a family bringing kittens in to be "sold" at our favorite store? *by sold I mean free with a $20/25 purchase of kitten supplies* There are far more cats out there, and I haven't heard a word about that overpopulation of mixed breed cats being born everyday, and at the shelters I've visited, cats greatly outnumber the dogs. But let me get off my high-horse of education and return to my life.

Cheers to all that answered and didn't just call me an idiot! That makes me happy, even though no one supported the idea.
Anyways, I have a couple threads questioning purebreds, and somehow they attracted those who have minds of their own and wonder "Why would a dog cost so much more than another dog of similar size and near identical birth problems?"
It's good reading, and argues the point in the packground that if you were to get two MUTTS checked and cleared for breading, you'd come up with a healthier puppy than most PBs. Read between the lines and acknowledge the fact that the biggest PB argument is that they have the vet records.
There is at least one that argued the point of potential inbreeding, which is valid. Even humans have done it in the past to keep certain royal lines pure *think Hawaii* and in the end, the pure people aren't as healthy.

And if you didn't WANT to waste your time, why DID you honor me with a response that said jacksh!t?

Answer 1

No, I haven't!

Answer 2

So basically you want something that you're not willing to pay the going price for? This sounds like a horrible idea to me. Imagine all those dogs coming from who knows where, and the diseases they may be carrying. Young puppies should be confined to home until they've had all their shots, not congregated with other litters and older dogs. Nobody with the slightest concern about their animals would sell them at a place like this. Therefore, you can guarantee they couldn't care less about the environment in which the puppies were raised, or the condition of the parents. You have absolutely no way of checking where they have come from. Either wait until you can afford a good puppy, or rethink the kind of dog you want. If you don't you'll pay the difference in vet bills and heartache in the first year alone, and may still not have a positive outcome at the end.

Breeders have a reputation to uphold. Puppymillers don't care if they sell anonymously like this.

Answer 3

These puppies are most likely coming from puppy mills and otherwise irresponsible breeders. Reputable breeders, whose puppies come from champion stock, are NOT overcharging. Likely, they aren't even making their money back what with all the medical expenses, care for the puppies and health clearances that the parents have had. All of these things ensure that the puppy you are getting is healthy. And, on top of that, if for WHATEVER reason, you decide you can't care for the dog or it gets sick, if you buy from a reputable breeder, they will take it back. You'll never get that kind of guarantee from a pet market. So, reputable breeders charge what they do because you get what you pay for.

Please think twice before buying a puppy from a pet market or a pet store for that matter. Pet store puppies generally come from puppy mills and backyard breeders.

Answer 4

No, it is a puppy mill & backyard breeder's dream - to have all the gullible 'I want a pet NOW!" people in one place. Please - go to www.akc.org & buy from a breeder that belongs to their breed's national club, & tests & certifies their breeding dogs free from genetic defects. In Papillions, this includes (but is not limited to) subluxated patellas. This is the best way to ensure you are getting a quality, well-bred pup - that is not going to cost you much, much more down the road with chronic health problems.

p.s. Yes, selling at a pet store does make a breeder 'bad' - reputable breeders do proper genetic testing, careful breeding partner selection & interview prospective owners, not just sell to whomever has the money - because they truly care about WHERE their pups go. They support their dogs for life, taking them back if someone has a crisis (sudden transfer, divorce) & are there to answer your questions anytime. NO GOOD BREEDER just brings a pup into the world, sells it to pet shop & forgets about it - this would be like adopting one of their children out to a complete stanger for the right price.

Answer 5

If you purchase a dog, always ask if they sell to pet stores. If they do, don't purchase from them, they are just a puppy mill. If they say no, then ask if they have both parents, and if so you should see them to know they are healthy. Ask what kind of guarantee they give. You should have two guarantees. One that would be for the first few days of ownership, so you can take the puppy to a vet to see if it is healthy. If the vet says the dog is healthy, then good! take him home. You should also have a one year guarantee against any genetic defects that might arise. This guarantee should be to get a full refund for the animal, unless you wish to keep it and take care of it.

Answer 6

i dont think it is a very good idea because they usualyl bring in dogs from random places to try and sell and some may be sick. they probably arent vet checked. u can go but i dont think it is a good idea to buy.

Answer 7

nope, soz