RE: Berners in Stores
Hi Radya, I breed Berners and I would never consider loading up my van and taking a pile of puppies to a store carpark to sell. I start the interview process well before the puppies are born and even if at certain times of the year the phone enquiries slow down I do not panic and sell in haste. I make my buyers work for their puppies, if they do not show sustained interest or are unwilling to listen to my advice they don't get one. Any little doubt on my part and they don't get one. PPOs are talked to at length on the phone, invited to meet up with me at dog events and if I'm happy to do so they are invited to my home to meet my dogs and have a nice long chat one on one. I cannot do this if I were to operate out of a store carpark. Dr Ian Dunbar advises breeders to show the adults en masse to potential puppy buyers, let them realise how much dog emerges from those cute fluffy puppies and then educate them about the journey between puppyhood and a well adjusted adult. He also states that when humans are looking at puppies they turn into blabbering fools incapable of absorbing your words of wisdom. It is this very concept that puppy stores rely on to make a quick sale, it's called marketing the product or getting the hook! The puppies at this store's carpark sale are the hook, then the owner is influenced into stepping into the store to buy all the necessary clothing and supplies to start their sporting interests. All this store is requiring from attending breeders is that the puppies are registerable and a seven day health guarantee is given. Proof of parents genetic testings, not all breeders do all the necessary tests and how many PPOs are aware of specific problems reletive to specific breeds to even ask. Instead of selling from the truck we move into an ex-pen, not a whole lot of difference just better presentation of the goods. Welcome to Parvo land where puppies can test their undeveloped immune systems while humans wander from pen to pen to pet and hold the little treasures! No good breeder would take such young puppies to a multi-dog event. Rose T.
Berners in Stores
Dear L'ers, Please don't flame me for asking this. I have only known about puppy mills for about 2 years, when I started research bernese mountain dogs. I think they are terrible and I fully support efforts against them. It sounded from the things that camping store said that they required quite a lot from breeders. So, I was wondering what is it that is so bad about selling pups in this store? I have this gut feeling it is wrong but if someone asked me why I wouldn't know what to say. As I said, I am just learning about this so please don't attack my ignorance. I just want to understand if the issue is bad breeding or bad buyers or what. Thank you, Radha Iyengar __ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com
RE: Berners in Stores
Radha, Excellent question! And I think it's one that a few people have addressed in their emails to Cabela's. I think the biggest problem some of us have with the situation is that stores sell to anyone with money. A pet store is only interested in the sale, they are not motivated by the long term well being of the puppy being sold. Any breeder selling by means of a pet store does not care about where that puppy goes, is not planning to keep track of any health issues for that puppy, is not going to provide any mentoring or support to the buyer, and will not even know if that puppy is no longer wanted. No reputable breeder will knowingly sell their puppies through a pet shop. As for Cabela's, the breeders may be meeting some requirements, but has Cabela's determined what genetic tests are required for which breed? Will the breeders keep in touch with the puppy buyers? Will they provide any support? Would they be contacted in 10 months when the adolescent monster is no longer wanted? I doubt it. The flea market quality of the Puppy Days isn't likely to foster any breeders who are interested in long term welfare of their dogs, and it isn't likely to foster any buyers who are making carefully considered decisions. Keep asking those questions, we all learn more when you do! Pat Long ( Luther) Berwyn PA
