I am still waiting to see one of these videos where the dog comes out on top.
Posts Tagged Puppy
Dog and Cat Kung Foo
Feb 9
Another Cat vs Dog
Feb 8
Why do dogs get such a bad reputation for chasing cats?
Dog vs Cat
Feb 2
This little guy won’t give up even though he is outmatched. I think he has little man’s syndrome!
Dogs seem to get a burst of energy when it snows…they are like kids in the snow!
The dogs have the cat surrounded, but he doesn’t seem to care too much…
Author: Joseph Sabol
There are approximately 3,500 pet stores in this country that sell puppies. They sell nearly 500,000 puppies a year and they can advertise the pups as AKC registered. AKC papers only signify that the puppy comes from 2 pure breed parents. It does not guarantee quality or health.
The majority of these puppies come from puppy mills. A puppy mill is a large, commercial operation that sells large quantities of puppies, often several different pure breeds. The breeding business is usually located on a farm. The majority of puppy mills are located in just seven states, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is known as the “puppy mill capital of the East”.
To these commercial breeders, the dogs they breed are considered livestock, no different from cows or pigs. Often, the breeders are farmers who cannot make if financially on their crops so they supplement their income by breeding dogs. The dogs are often kenneled in barns or other out buildings with no heating or cooling. There can be hundreds of dogs and puppies. The females are bred at their first heat and every cycle thereafter, until they no longer produce pups. Then they are killed because they no longer provide any income. These bitches are sometimes as young as 5 years old.
Because the dogs and puppies in a large commercial breeding business are used only as a form of income, the farmers or breeders don’t bother with veterinary care. The food they are given has practically no nutritional value, which causes many health problems especially in the pregnant females. One of the more horrible abuses inflicted on dogs and puppies is a procedure known as de-barking. This is done by destroying the vocal cords.
Because of the way these puppy mill pups are born and raised, they almost always have health problems. There is a lot of inbreeding, which leads to genetic health issues. These health issues may not even become evident until the puppy is older, if it lives long enough. Even if a puppy survives the physical health issues, the pup is likely to have behavioral problems from lack of socialization.
There are many groups who are constantly fighting to change legislation to protect these animals, or to eliminate large commercial breeding completely. One of the biggest movements is to educate people to stop buying puppies from pet stores because they represent the major buyer of puppy mill puppies. If you want to get involved, or see how you can help, you can find an organization on the internet, or contact the United States Humane Society or your local SPCA.
About the Author:
Joseph M. Sabol is a world class Doberman breeder. Please go to http://petvitamins4u.com or to http://theroadhousedobes.com for further information.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Puppy Mills and Health of your Puppy
Author: Joseph Sabol
If you choose to buy from a pet store, you are most likely buying from a store clerk with minimal or no knowledge about the breed. There will be minimal information on the pup’s parents and no information on health testing. Pet stores are not concerned with the health of the sire or dam. There is no thought to possible genetic problems that will make the puppy sick as it gets older. Close line breeding or inbreeding is common since the main objective for pet stores is quantity and sales.
If you bring home a puppy from a pet store, there is a good chance he will not be feeling well from intestinal parasites and probably the vaccination records are not correct or missing altogether. The pet store may offer you a health guarantee but it usually means that if you bring the puppy back, they will replace it with another one. You should be aware that some states have a “Puppy Lemon Law”, which provides you with some leverage and protection when dealing with corporate owned pet stores. The pet stores are counting on the fact that by the time you realize the problem, you will have already become attached to the pup and not want to return it. If you do take your sick puppy back to the store, they will probably resell the puppy to some other family or return the pup to the facility that it came from. There is no way they will spend money to make it healthy.
If your new puppy doesn’t have serious health problems, you may find there are behavioral problems. You have to remember that these puppies have had no socialization. Many times they are taken from their mother well before they are 8 weeks old. They have lived their entire lives in small cages. The adjustment to a family home and all that entails can be too much for the puppy. Your pup won’t be used to something as simple as walking on grass or carpet. Housebreaking can be extremely difficult because the puppy doesn’t know anything but his cage. This is especially difficult if the puppy you bring home is a little older. Often the puppies in a pet store are 12-16 weeks old by the time they are bought.
You may want to save a puppy from that small wire cage, but, although your intentions may be good when you buy from a pet store, it is very likely you will have to return the puppy or even give it up to a shelter because of the behavioral problems. The best thing you can do is buy from a reputable breeder. This will take a good bit of research on your part, but it will be worth your time. An even better option is to adopt a puppy from a shelter or rescue. Spread the word to your friends and family so they can save themselves the heartbreak of a pet store puppy.
About the Author:
Joseph M. Sabol is a world class Doberman breeder. Please go to http://petvitamins4u.com or to http://theroadhousedobes.com for further information.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Are You Sure You Want to Buy a Puppy From a Pet Store
