Any dog breeders? I need to discuss something, and need a suggestion! Any help is appreciated! Thanks!?

Question

We purchased a dog from a guy a couple of weeks ago. He is a breeder, he breeds dobermans, min-pins, and german shepards. We were told that the puppy we purchased was 12 weeks old, and was considered a family pet, and was wonderful for children. Being new at the dog buying experience, we really thought that a breeder would give us honest information, and being he had been doing this for over 30 years, we chose to believe him. Well, I feel completely mislead. We got the dog home, and she was "okay" with the family the first 2 days. After that, she seemed really skiddish, and she would growl and snarl at my husband and me anytime we'd go near her. We tried and tried to gain this dog's trust, and she starts SNAPPING at us! My daughter was on the couch with me one night, she came up to my daughter, growled, and bit her on the cheek, and my daughter didn't even touch the dog. I will continue below, I am out of room! Please read the rest of the story!

We got the papers in from AKC and the breeder apparently lied to us about her age. This dog is 5 months old, not 12 weeks like we were told. He told us she was fed only IAMS or Eukanuba dog food. We have tried several different kinds - IAMS puppy, IAMS toy dog food, Eukanuba puppy, Eukanuba toy dog food, she won't eat it. She'll eat treats, but not the dog food. But when we eat, she sits under the table sniffing like he gave her table food and just didn't tell us? Yesterday, my husband finally was able to get the dog to come up to him. When he went to pick her up, she bit him, and took off to a corner and growled everytime we'd walk within 10 feet of the corner. We wanted a family dog. This dog is not a family dog. We contacted the breeder tonight, and he cursed my husband out on the phone! My husband told him everything I just described to you all, and the guy started saying maybe we just didn't know how to take care of a dog, did we think maybe she had a toothache, outta room again!

We were like, no we took her to the vet when we were actually able to CATCH her, and she checked out fine. Then he started saying it was probably because she needed her heartgard and rabies shot. Okay, um, I thought the pup was 12 weeks, right? So I told the vet she was 12 weeks. They told me they don't give heartgard and the rabies shot until pups are around 4-5 months. He said that was Bullsh*t, we were F*cking liars, we didn't even take her to the vet, yadda yadda. Why would I lie about what the vet said?! All we wanted to know was why did he tell us she was 2 months younger than she actually ended up being on the papers, and why the dog would be acting so skiddish around us and biting us when he said what a wonderful family dog she was. We were going to see if he'd give us a partial refund like some breeders offer. The phone call ended with him telling my husband to shove his phone up his @ss. VERY unprofessional. What should I do? Can you report breeders to someone?

A couple of you have asked about which breed - My apologies for not mentioning, I thought I had that in there. We ended up getting a min-pin. I was scared to get anything bigger from him, and I am glad that I didn't!

About the backyard breeder thing: What exactly does that mean? This guy no lie had around 20 dobermans in a fenced in area on the side of his property, they were all going nuts when we walked up to the porch. And then on the other side, he had a ton of puppies, I am guessing they were dobermans? (They still had floppy ears and tails, and looked to be a few months, so I am not sure) The pup we got, well I never did see any other min-pins. We wanted a female, and he claimed that his daughter fell in love with the others, so that was the only female for sale. I never saw the parents, but he told me he got them from Europe. We thought she'd be a nice little family dog because he was saying how they were the #1 house pets in Europe and things like that. Probably all BS!

Answer 1

Sounds like a typical irresponsible backyard breeder.

Good breeders specialize in one breed.

Answer 2

He is a very bad breeder. He SAYS he has been doing that for 30 years but who knows. And it really doesn't matter. Many people can be breeders but it take more to be a good and true breeder. Dogs breed themselves. It sounds like he's in it to make money and doesn't care too much about the condition of the dog. Whenever you buy from someone or a breeder, always get something on paper-some type of agreement. I breed papillons and I do rescue. EVERY dog that goes out goes out under a contract to protect me, the dog, AND the purchaser/adopter. Also, don't be afraid to ask for references. I understand that you were new to this but just take it as a learning experience. It's sad that this guy is so irresponsible and calls himself a breeder. Also, one thing about Min Pins, is they are somewhat skiddish dogs, esp. in the beginning. However, the fact that the dog growls, bites, and only seems to want human food is a sign that the dog may have been abused, neglected, and fed a bad diet. I am also a pet nutrition specialist and that dog needs to be on GOOD dog food. I think it's crazy that he would say that maybe the dog is acting up because it may have a toothache. What's even more ridiculous is that he said maybe it just needs his shots and heartworm prevention. All those things have NOTHING to do with how the puppy acts. That makes no sense. He is just a bad uneducated breeder. Also, if the dog is 5 months instead of 3 months and he gave you papers, that means that those papers really didnt belong to that dog in the first place. He can really get into some big trouble with AKC. If you think it's worth it, you can always take him to a small claims court. I don't know how much you paid for the dog, but I hope not much. You can always try to adopt the dog out and claim at least some of your money, but be sure to be honest with the people who will adopt it. By all means, don't return the dog to him! Some dogs don't do well in families. I rescued a dog recently that did better when I adopted her out to only 1 person. If you need anymore advice, feel free to contact me.

Answer 3

There is nowhere that you can report breeders since there is no regulation for breeders. The akc may restrict them from registering more dogs, but that doesn't stop many people. They will just register them under another name. You were ripped off by getting a dog that was older than stated, so you can file a police report, which even if the police don't do much, it might scare this guy enough to give you your money back. You could also hire an attorney just to write him a letter stating that you want your money back or will seek legal action against him.
What breed of dog did you get? I have had Dobermans and German Shepherds all my life and all have been gentle family dogs. It sounds like your little guy was either badly bred, or abused before you got him. You might want to try consulting an animal behaviorist. They may be able to help you if his problems are emotional. If it is just bad breeding, there isn't a whole lot you can do.

Answer 4

Well, it certainly sounds as though you have your hands full and that man is no breeder. He is a GREEDER! He lied and took your money. Clearly, something is very wrong here and you don't mention what breed this dog is. Always be leery when someone breeds more than two breeds. While that doesn't necessarily mean it's not a good breeder, it is a red flag. Being in business for a lot of years doesn't necessarily mean it's a good breeder either - as you now know.

Just so you know, not everyone is like that awful man. Some of us really do love our dogs and want only the very best for them. We are very careful who gets a puppy and we try hard to ensure that no dog we breed ever ends up in rescue or in a shelter. And we stand behind our dogs too. If one of mine had problems like that, I would insist that she be brought back and that man should have done the same. Shame on him!

At this point, I would have her vet checked to rule out any physical problems. If everthing checks out, I would get in touch with an obedience trainer and see what can be done. She sounds frightened and seems to have an issue with children so I wonder just what went on before you got her? Could something have happened at your home to frighten or hurt her? How many children do you have and what are their ages?

Some breeders claim the feed a particular brand of dog food and, technically, they do because they buy some of it. Then they mix it with crap like Ole Roy or Tractor Supply. The don't tell you that part though. Sadly, Iams and Eukanuba are not what they once were but Iams is probably better than most of the grocery store brands.

I wish you lived near me as I would love to work with your problem child. Clearly something is very wrong and I think you will need professional help to get things straightened out.

Answer 5

I am very sorry you got mixed up with such a horrible breeder. There are many reputable breeders around, so don't give up!

I agree with many of the other answers - try to return the puppy and if the breeder refuses to take her see if you can rehome her or surrender her to a breed specific rescue organization. The breeder should be willing to take the puppy back, but based on your description, he sounds like a very dishonest person, so don't be surprised if he declines. You should also report him to the AKC because he misrepresented himself by lying about the pup's age - AKC needs to know this!

If you pursue a different AKC puppy from a different breeder, ask lots of questions and the breeder should have just as many for you or more. Also, it is good to have a placement agreement in place (provided by breeder), because it protects you and should give you some recourse in case the puppy does not fit in with your family. For future reference, AKC registration applications (which is what you received with your puppy) show the date the litter was born. Make sure this date corresponds with the breeder information.

I wish you all the best - please be careful with this puppy. It sounds like she was not socialized at all, which does not surprise me if the breeder raises several different breeds. It could also be a temperament problem - perhaps the sire and/or dam of your pup have the same problems. You certainly don't want your daughter to get seriously hurt because of an irresponsible breeder !

Answer 6

HI, Wow, first off i feel you got your dog from a PUPPYMILL not even a back yard breeder.. 2 I always tell people go out and look with no intention of buying that cute puppy in the window! You should of gone there, and if the dobermans (if thats what they wre ) were that bad, i would have walked away right then and there.. it should have told you alittle about the temperament of his dogs.. that should have been a red flag..
This dog obviously is not children friendly.. Myself being a breeder, do not sell dogs like this, so I have never had to take one back that is a problem like this, but.. If it came down to it, I would of taken it back and either replaced it or give money back.. Sounds like this guy just gave you a story and wanted to just get rid of this dog that was probably biting his own child.. But I would call and ask him how he will resolve this matter..

You can file a complaint with AKC but i do not know how far it will go , but you can explain what has happened. what they will do? i am not sure of either but here is their phone number 919-233-9767 and you can find out what your next step is... Since what he said and what the papers say , (did you have a contract stating the puppies age?) contact akc and let them know this. Because if he is falsifying papers they will stop him from being able to register and from there do an investigation.. And they sure would have ALOT to look at. The chances of all his stuff up to date from what he sounds like, is not possible..

This dog needs professional help but, I don't think it will b good with children anyways, especially not at this point..
Gee hope you didn't get this dog from Lamberts kennel In KY.. he is another breeder like that, and I have them on my site so people wil know and hopefully not purchase from him.. Anyways, I would go again back to the breeder, if he is not willing to do anything, find the dog a new home or try a PROFESSIONAL trainer to help with him.. Sounds like this breeder is just out for money!!
Let me know how it goes

Answer 7

If the breeder is worth spit he'll take the dog back and give you a refund. Try that. In fact, he *should* have given you a contract to sign that says that. I personally give full refunds for the first two weeks, no matter why the dog needs to come back. If the breeder didn't give you a contract, you have been bilked by a irresponsible breeder. All that time he's supposedly been breeding just means he's spent 30 years being irresponsible. But in any case, try to negotiate with the breeder, and if that doesn't work, I would consider placing the dog elsewhere. If you must rehome her, be honest. I recommend turning the pup over to an experienced breed-specific rescue. If you want to ask more questions as I haven't covered all the details here, just e-mail me. It's in my profile.

Whew! Just read teh last installment. It wasn't there when I started to answer. I'd cut my losses and place the dog in a breed-specific rescue. This dude is NO way reputable. I'm so sorry you experienced this. It paints us all in a bad light. Please believe me, we aren't ALL like that. As for this guy, you could report him to the BBB. I would also report him to my local police, animal control, and the Dept of Ag. Somehow, I doubt he has the legal documentation and licensing he is required to have. I doubt he had his rabies vaccinations in order even.

And if after all this horror, you still want a dog, try your local rescues and shelters. Also look at www.petfinder.com If you want a well-bred pure bred, go to www.akc.org to find reputable breeders. Here's a link to a list of questions you should ask a breeder to determine if they are responsible.
http://www.qualitydogs.com/choosingbreeder.asp?ret=BA&BN=DCHS

I am so sorry this happened to you.

Answer 8

If he is a quality breeder, he will take the dog back. This kind of shy behavior indicates a dog that hasn't been handled much at a younger age and has a shy temperament and tendency toward fear biting. Though this kind of problem can be addressed by training, it does take time and the breeder should have told you and as first-time dog owners with kids, I think you should try and return the dog. Also, most good breeders focus on one breed, and at most two. I am skeptical of anyone who can manage to specialize in three different breeds.

Just read the rest. If the breeder won't take it back, try and find a breed-specific rescue to take the dog. Go to www.akc.org and look up the breed and find the national rescue organization. They will help you find the rescue closest to you. You can also look under "shelters and rescues" at www.petfinder.com. Most general shelters, including no-kill shelters, will either not accept it or euthanize it due to bite history, so the rescue route is the way to go if you can. Obviously this breeder is a jerk and not reputable. But the main thing is to get the dog out of your home to someone who can handle it and then find another dog more suited to your family. Don't give up on dogs because of one bad person and one bad experience.

If he gave you AKC papers and the dog does not match up with the age on the papers, report him to AKC. He potentially gave you papers for another dog and it is fraud. They may investigate.

Answer 9

Wow and wow again. I am so sorry you fell into such a pit of lies and dishonesty with this unrepeatable person.
NO really reputable breeder would do the things you have written about here.
This dog is genetically tainted and not worth the money you paid for it. The kind of agression can only come from very bad breeding and possible even abuse and undersoclization. Holy cow I'm quite stunned!
He sold you a really good line of lies and then a really bad dog to boot.
I cant say much more than what the others have already said but that I'm so very sorry your first dog experience was so horrid!

Answer 10

OMG!What a nightmare you have experienced!I am so sorry for this to happen to you.This fella gives the rest of us a bad rep...I raise chihuahuas and I let evryone meet ALL my dogs...both parents included.Friendly critters at my house.Sounds like your best bet is sueing him in small claims court...may cost you a little up front,but you should recoup EVERY penney you put in and then some from this guy.He lied about the dogs age,he lied about the dogs disposition.At 5 months old,the dog has pretty much made up his mind how he's going to act.GOOD LUCK!! PS,I'd go for a FULL REFUND and he can have the dog,you've obviously not bonded with anyways!!

Answer 11

There is bad people all over the place. Even in the AKC dog clubs. You need to get that dog to a vet. Did the dog brake skin if he did get him into the vet in the morning or tonight.
I do not want to scare you. But with want you are saying. You do need to know. Do not leave your child see this. Be calm. Please be calm. You need to find out.