[conureparrot]

hi guys, im looking to get a dog and have spent hours looking for reliable breeders. the shelters in my area didn't have dogs that would work. the website I found was Puppyspot. does anyone have any experience with them? they were featured on Fox News in a positive light and seem to have a reliable you tube channel but when I was chatting with the man in charge, I found a ton of red flags. he wouldn't give me the information of specific breeders "because in the past people directly purchased dogs from the breeder and bypassed the company." he also wouldn't give me a photo of the breeder facilities. he however was fine with phonecalls. whenever I raised concern, he told that I should't be because they are a multi million dollar company. I told him I was also looking at Lancaster puppies but he was quick to tell me that they had puppy mills. I decided to consult the better business bureau but was even more confused. they had an a plus rating but a 2 out of 5 review average. they have a 10 year health garuntee but people were complaining about the health of the pups. when I confronted him, he told me they were just a minute number. I heard that one should always be able to see the breeder but this company was featured on fox and has partnered with the humane society. does anyone have any experience with Puppyspot?

 

[LeoRose]

They are a broker site, just like Lancaster Puppies, Next Day Pets, and any number of other websites. All of them are just glorified classified ads for commercial breeders (aka puppy mills) and backyard breeders. They typically handle payments and shipping, and take part of the purchase price as a commission.

Looking at your previous posts, you were wanting a Miniature American Shepherd (aka Miniature Australian Shepherd), so why not check out the breeders list on the Miniature American Shepherd Club of the USA? Breeders Directory | MASCUSA You can also read info about the breed, including health issues, and what testing to look for (MDR-1 mutation, hip dysplasia, etc.)

You can also check the National Stock Dog Registry's breeders listing, since they register Miniature and Toy Australian Shepherds. The National Stock Dog Registry-Breeds You still need to verify any health testing on breeding dogs.

 

[pandora]

In my country third party sellers are always viewed as dubious and there are moves to get them outlawed.

You have obviously done some research into finding out what makes a good breeder go with your gut go with what you have learnt. look for somebody who has the mother and father dog, or at least the mother and is willing to let you see the puppies .. Look for a breader with only one nest at a time. Buy your puppy there don't go through a pet shop, don't go through a dealer, you have no idea where those puppies have come from despite what they might tell you, despite the pretty pictures they might show you, the chances are the mother dog will be in some awful prison type puppy mill.

 

[conureparrot]

I just can't find a Cavapoo, Cavachon, cockapoo, or cockachon breeder without an enormous wait list. the guy I was dealing with seemed very fishy but his company's credentials were all over the internet. I probably should stay away if he was illusive about the breeder, right? does anyone know any breeders for these breeds?

 

[pandora]

The problem is all of these dogs are not breeds they are designer mixes aka mongrels so there is a big possibiltiy that anyone you deal with will not be doing the health checks and not making sure that the health and welfare of the parent dogs is paramount. The reason there is a waiting list is because they are fashionable, not necessarily because the breeders are good ones,

A good company doesnt make a good environment for a dog or puppies. It just means the company is run well making a profit.

How to find a responsible dog breeder

If you've checked shelters and rescue groups and still haven't found the right one, here's how to find a responsible dog breeder.

www.humanesociety.org

 

[LeoRose]

I just can't find a Cavapoo, Cavachon, cockapoo, or cockachon breeder without an enormous wait list. the guy I was dealing with seemed very fishy but his company's credentials were all over the internet. I probably should stay away if he was illusive about the breeder, right? does anyone know any breeders for these breeds?

The problem with designer dog mixes like that are that most of them are more interested in the money than the dogs themselves. Think of websites like this as the Amazon of puppies. Yes, you might luck out and get a pup from a decent breeder who treats their dogs like much loved pets, cares for their dogs properly, does the necessary health testing on their breeding dogs, and do their best to socialize puppies. you might also get a person who, while they love their pets, breed them willy-nilly, often not even knowing of any health issues in their breeds, and who doesn't understand the importance or early socialization. You can also get someone with a couple hundred dogs out in filthy kennels with the barest of necessities (if that), and who's only interest in them is how many puppies they can produce for the least amount of investment. The odds of getting the first one are slim. The odds of getting the second two are high.

If you really just have to have one of those crosses, insist on seeing hard copies of any and all health testing. Cavaliers are known to have heart issues. Poodles, Cockers, and Bichons all have things to be tested for. Visit the AKC breed club websites for those breeds, as well as the Orthopedic Foundation For Animals, and see what testing is recommended. If someone claims that "my lines are healthy, so I don't need to test", walk away. If they claim their lines are healthy, then they should be able to prove it.

 

[conureparrot]

hey, that sucks about mixes. what about mini poodles? I found a good breeder for one but am a bit concerned about exercise requirements. the reason I wanted to mix with cavalier was because they are known for their laziness. how much excursive would a mini poodle need?

 

[LeoRose]

I always hesitate to make sweeping generalizations, and call an entire breed "lazy". I know of people who's sport dogs are Cavaliers (rally, obedience, agility, and ANKC tracking, which makes AKC tracking look like child's play). So, while they might not require as much physical exercise as say, a working line Border Collie, they can also be very active little dogs.

Miniature Poodles can be couch potatoes. Miniature Poodles can be hell-on-wheels sport dogs (including hunting). Miniature Poodles can be somewhere in between those two extremes.

The better questions to ask is "how time and effort do I really want to put into exercising, training, and grooming my dog?" and "what health problems would be a deal breaker for me?", and find a breed that fits your general profile. Then you can start contacting breeders and seeing if their lines will meet your expectations.

 

[conureparrot]

sorry, if that was too harsh, I just have a King Charles and she is quite lazy. im sure there are lots of active ones but mine definitely fits the stereotype. that's not to say she slept all day. she sometimes was very active and was pulling me on walks but most of the time, she lay down.

 

[parus]

If you need a guaranteed lazy dog, I'd suggest adopting an adult that's already known to be lazy. Or a basset hound.

 

[conureparrot]

I don't need a lazy dog. moderate exercise is perfect. I just can't keep up with 24/7 playtime

 

[Deacon.dog]

get a basset, bulldog, Japanese chin, Boston, Clumber Spaniel, Bichon, Pekingese, Or even a Shi tzu. yes they can be lazy, but they can also be INSANE little suckers.