Puppy for Sale, Dog for Sale: Buyer Beware!

Are you interested in finding a puppy for sale or a dog for sale? If so, there are an abundance of places to search, including local pet shops, newspaper ads, flyers on bulletin boards and even websites of local puppy breeders that may make it overwhelming in deciding exactly what type of pet to purchase. You may also be considering adopting a pet from the local animal shelter or dog pound.

Keep in mind that often times, advertisements in papers or on flyers are placed by individual who have a dog that has been allowed to have puppies. Often times these are extremely healthy, happy dogs that can be purchased at much more affordable prices than the average purebred, but for the most part these will not be purebred puppies.

Puppy mills are becoming more common as a form of offering puppies for sale. If at all possible it is best to avoid this type of purchase, puppy disease is prevalent in these animals. It is heartbreaking to purchase a cute little ball of fur only to have the youngster die or become extremely ill within weeks due to poor initial care.

Puppy mills are basically dog factories in which the owners are only interested in producing as many puppies as possible for a monetary investment. These operations house many female canines, often in cramped cages, allowing males to impregnate them each time they come into heat. Some mills allow little time for exercise, a crucial element for canine health. This leads to an abundance of dog disease, which in turn leads to puppy disease as well.

Keep in mind that not all puppy breeders are mills though. There are an abundance of dog breeders that simply love canines and want to produce quality pets for others to enjoy. More often than not, the puppies born and bred in these environments are given the best of conditions until they are sold. Many times there is even a waiting list for the upcoming litter, as the breeders will only allow for the females to reproduce once a year, reducing the chances of complications or disease.

No matter where you decide to purchase your puppy from, it is essential to look for signs of health in the pet you select. Their eyes should be bright and shiny and the fur should be thick and healthy-looking. Depending on the personality of the puppy, they may be scared or nervous to approach, but they should still be comfortable in the kennel and with their litter mates and happy to see the breeder or kennel owner. It is also extremely important that puppies for sale are updated on initial vaccinations. The kennel owner or breeder should be willing to provide proof of these vaccinations, such as veterinary records.

Remember that when you see a sign that says puppy for sale, it is important to keep in mind the responsibility that goes along with being a pet owner. All too often, parents are convinced to get a pet for their children, without understanding the enormous responsibility it takes to train and care for a dog its entire life!