[jkendall]

I am looking to purchase a pomeranian puppy from a breeder that breeds indoors and not in cages. I was given her name by someone who has a pomeranian from her. I was looking online at pictures of her 10 week old pomeranian who weighs 1 pound, and noticed that her eyes did not look in the same directions. I don't know if this is just puppy stage or what? I do know the hereditary traits of pomeranians, having one myself for 17 years. There is a problem with the eyes called entropion, but it doesn't have the same characteristics? She is giving me a guarantee on her, but you know how that goes, once you have her, you know you'll never give her back!
Thanks for any replies in advance
J-

 

[Pepper]

The breeder may not be a good breeder.

Just because someone breeds inside and not in cages doesn't make them a good breeder.

They MUST health test there dogs, and that doesn't mean just giving them their vaccines.

 

[Freekshow]

Post the pictures here and I think we could help you better

 

[Dogstar]

That is absolutely NOT normal.

May I recommend looking at GeeBears poms in NM or Dreamweaver Poms in TX? They're both reputable breeders. CR Poms, Island Poms, and Risen Shine are the other three I'd recommend off the top of my head.

 

[nikelodeon79]

Do you have a link to the breeder's website?

Unfortunately, there are a ton of irresponsible breeders out there. People on this forum will be able to help steer you away from them! Poms are prone to a lot of health issues, so it is an absolute MUST that you get from a responsible breeder. It will cost more, but you will save heartache and $$$ in vet bills later on...

If you do not want to pay for a pup from a responsible breeder, adopt a pup or adult dog from a shelter or rescue. You will have similar risks as far as health/temperament is concerned, but you will save a dog rather than supporting an irresponsible breeder.

 

[jkendall]

I have looked at the websites of the very kind person who responded to my post. I called and looked at the pricing on some of them ranging from 2,000 - 5,000 for puppy, and older adults ranging from 1,200 on up.

 

[nikelodeon79]

I have looked at the websites of the very kind person who responded to my post. I called and looked at the pricing on some of them ranging from 2,000 - 5,000 for puppy, and older adults ranging from 1,200 on up. honestly, I've been searching for a puppy for four months, from shelters locally in a 75 mile radius and have had no luck. I looked for young adults too, but nothing in my area. Pomeranians are not the most popular breed turned in at shelters and yes I am unwilling to settle for another type of dog. When I searched on petfinder.com, I came across puppyfind.com and that's where the dog is. If you search Pomeranian, then in Virginia, you will see the puppy "sosmallhold"

I checked it out and when I clicked on "view all ads from the seller" I noticed that the same woman's also selling Yorkie puppies. This would be a HUGE red flag for me. Most responsible breeders will ONLY concentrate on ONE breed.

Actually, I don't know that I've ever found a reputable breeder on puppyfind. It seems to be a haven for BYBs and puppy mills. I would steer clear of it.

$800 is an awful lot of money to spend for a BYB pup. Why not just save up a couple hundred more and buy from a reputable breeder? Many of them do not list their prices and are willing to work with you in reaching a number you can afford, but keep in mind that responsible breeding costs a lot of money (and small breed litters tend to be small) so a purebred Pom is going to be expensive.

My advice would be to save up your money and buy from a reputable breeder, or be patient and wait for a Pom to arrive at the shelter. Chances are, if you buy a puppy from a BYB, you could end up paying thousands of dollars in VET bills, for the health issues badly bred Poms are prone to having. I'd much rather invest that money into the purchase price.

Also, check Craigslist.com for your area. There are people who are looking to rehome their dogs on there (there is no selling of dogs allowed on Craigslist, though they might ask for a small rehoming fee).

 

[jkendall]

I have looked on craigslist and just my opinion, what an awful place to find a dog...They may say a "rehoming" fee but the two I called on were 375 & 400, and they were older poms. I cannot even read half the things that go on there, fighting all the time so I stopped looking. Here's the thing, I know that by asking the questions, I already knew the answers in my own mind right! Thanks for all you responses...........

 

[Dogstar]

Any of the names I gave would be around $800-1200 for a pet pup. Gee Bears has a REALLY handsome show prospect boy that didn't turn out that I think was lower, even, and she's very reputable. Google the names, they'll come up.

 

[jkendall]

I would never have a dog shipped, my sister did that and it was absolutely an awful experience. I would never be able to go to New Mexico. Thanks anyway. That's why I've been looking in my radius here in Virginia. I really appreciate it though

 

[nikelodeon79]

Here's the thing, I know that by asking the questions, I already knew the answers in my own mind right! Thanks for all you responses...........

Meaning what? That you had already decided to get the BYB/Puppy Mill puppy regardless of what anyone said?

I would never have a dog shipped, my sister did that and it was absolutely an awful experience. I would never be able to go to New Mexico. Thanks anyway. That's why I've been looking in my radius here in Virginia. I really appreciate it though

A good breeder knows how to ship a dog. Just because you had one bad experience doesn't mean all of them will be.

IMO, you'd be WAY better off taking a chance with shipping than you would taking a chance on a BYB pup that already looks like it has issues....

 

[Dog Tracks]

It looks like this organization will help you find a reputable breeder in your area:

http://www.americanpomeranianclub.org/breeder_referral.htm

I agree with the previous poster who recommended that you explain your situation/requirements to a breeder. They will work with you. They often have pups that are not "show quality" but are perfectly good family pets (temprament, health, etc) that they can sell for less. You might have to wait a few months more than walking out the door with a pup, but you seem responsible enough to deal with that.

Also expect that they'll require the pup to be neuter/spayed. As a reputable breeder they don't want you (or anyone else) breeding non-show quality dogs, especially from their line.

Best of luck.

 

[jkendall]

"OR", that I've made up my mind not to get it. WOW, please read your response over again. Assuming what another is going to do is not something one should do. That said, you could have stopped at "meaning what?" By the way what is "IMO"? In my opnion? Are you a Vet? When you looked at the dog on the three pictures, you made another assumption "again" that it has issues. I'm the one who initiated the potential eye problem from other photos that were sent because the ones listed that you saw were not that clear. Thanks everyone, I'm done here.

 

[Lolas_Dad]

Meaning what? That you had already decided to get the BYB/Puppy Mill puppy regardless of what anyone said?


A good breeder knows how to ship a dog. Just because you had one bad experience doesn't mean all of them will be.

IMO, you'd be WAY better off taking a chance with shipping than you would taking a chance on a BYB pup that already looks like it has issues....

I disagree. How can you check out the living conditions to make sure it is not a puppy mill, how can you check out the parents, how can you interact with the prospective puppy and how can you as a buyer make the selection.

A reputable breeder will not ship their puppies. They would have you come to them and then if you wanted to ship as a buyer that would be up to you. However I think that just about any puppy 8 weeks or there abouts would be able to fly in the cabin as they would be small enough to fit in a crate that would fit uner the seat.

 

[FilleBelle]

What I am about to say is intended to call your attention to something you may not have noticed. It is not intended to be critical.

You don't want anything but a Pom. You don't want an older dog. You don't want to ship a dog. You don't want to pay a lot of money for a dog. You don't want to search Craigslist or the newspaper. You don't want a dog with health problems.

I don't think you are going to find this dog that you want. I think you are going to HAVE to change one of your criteria in order to get a dog. I hope you don't change the last one.

ETA: Everyone was posting at the same time! Reputable breeders do ship, but you're right...a young, small breed puppy could definitely fit under the seat in the cabin, which seems like it would solve the shipping problem. Not the money problem, though, as a plane ticket isn't cheap! To the OP, you got one response you didn't like. Sometimes that happens online. Take a chill pill and look at all the good answers you've been getting.

 

[nikelodeon79]

"OR", that I've made up my mind not to get it. WOW, please read your response over again. Assuming what another is going to do is not something one should do. That said, you could have stopped at "meaning what?"

I apologize. I did not mean to be rude, I was merely asking a question. So... if I would have instead "assumed" that you were not going to get the puppy, would that have been okay?

Your other posts made it sound like you had NO other option besides this one puppy, so I don't think I was off base in assuming you had decided to get it. And... to be honest, it gets a little tiresome to read "nope, won't do that" "nope, can't do that" in response to nearly every suggestion given.

By the way what is "IMO"? In my opnion?

Yes.

Are you a Vet? When you looked at the dog on the three pictures, you made another assumption "again" that it has issues. I'm the one who initiated the potential eye problem from other photos that were sent because the ones listed that you saw were not that clear.

No, I am not a vet. I wasn't aware that I had to be one in order to reply. ;-)
I was not going by what I saw (or didn't see) in the photos. I did not make an assumption. I was going by the fact that you said the pup looks like it has eye problems.

LOL, so I guess you assumed that I made an assumption.

 

[Dogstar]

I disagree. How can you check out the living conditions to make sure it is not a puppy mill, how can you check out the parents, how can you interact with the prospective puppy and how can you as a buyer make the selection.

A reputable breeder will not ship their puppies. They would have you come to them and then if you wanted to ship as a buyer that would be up to you. However I think that just about any puppy 8 weeks or there abouts would be able to fly in the cabin as they would be small enough to fit in a crate that would fit uner the seat.

I'm sorry, but this just plain isn't true. There are many, many, many reputable breeders who ship. There are many BYBs who do- and many who won't.

 

[2malts4me]

Just wanted to add that there are some flight attendants who will fly with your puppy in the cabin for a fee. Most of the reputable breeders that I know (not pom breeders though) are familiar with them and can help with the arrangements.

 

[georgygirl]

In answer to your original question, it sounds like the pup has wall eyes. This is what my boston has. From what I understand the muscles controlling the eyes are weak. I'm told that you can do exercises with your puppy which may help strengthen the muscles. Some puppies do grow out of it though. It's considered a defect in the breed standard. Though not life threatening. I would have to agree with others that this probably isn't the best breeder. I know my pup didn't come from the best breeder.

Joey doesn't have problems seeing, but he does have problems catching treats. That may not have anything to do with his eyes.

 

[Lolas_Dad]

I'm sorry, but this just plain isn't true. There are many, many, many reputable breeders who ship. There are many BYBs who do- and many who won't.

That may be the case but again how can I check out that it is not a puppy mill without actually going there. How can I check out the parents?. How can I interact with the puppy I want. How can I select the puppy I want if the puppy has to be shipped?.

Many reputable breeders will also not ship their puppies but will allow you to buy one if you come in person. Reputable breeders will also make sure that the breed is the right fit for a person's lifestyle. The one breeder I was going to go to who is local about 3 towns away wanted to know who would take care of the dog when I was at work. What was the intended purpose of the dog Show, agility, pet etc. Also they asked about vet references and personal references. I did not wind up buying from the breeder because I opted to adopt Lola instead even though in the long run she cost just as much because she was not yet spayed or micro-chipped and did not have her adult shots yet as she just turned a year old. In the long run people are better off adopting from a rescue or shelter because all the medical stuff is done already.

There are rescue groups for every breed out there

Here is a Pomeranian rescue group

http://adopt-a-pomeranian.adoptapet.com/