| Why should I pay more then some of the other breeders are asking for this breed right now? Be sure to check out the breeders in the area. Maybe you can get someone willing to charge less and it may turn out well for you. However, It has been my experience that you are going to pay for your puppy either when you buy him/her or in a few days after your purchase and you take him/her to the vet. When a dog becomes popular as the chihuahua has in the past few years either greedy puppy mill owners or just inexperienced dog breeders get these dogs and breed them thinking they have found an easy way to make money. However, breeding dogs the humane and responsible way is not easy or cheap. I have known people who bought a $200 puppy from an irresponsible dog breeder only to pay hundreds of dollars in vet bills for problems that sometimes last the entire life of the dog. So you most likely will spend more on a puppy in the long run if you try to buy a "bargain puppy" now. There is no end to the cruelty I have seen in this business. Please check out the home or kennel your puppy comes from. Research your breed before buying one and make sure the person you buy a puppy from knows at least as much as you do on their breed. Do they have a goal to improve the lives of their breed? What do they feed them. How long have they done this? Whose their veterinarian(s)? How much do they know about their breed. These can be hard questions for an irresponsible breeder. If the seller can not answer them, you may want to look elsewhere for a puppy. By the way. Never buy a chihuahua from someone who spells it chiwawa. Really, how much could they have read about them if they cant even spell it properly. A person who breeds dogs should first love dogs. A good thing is for them to be in animal care in some other way such as vet tech , groomer or trainer. Their reason for breeding should be for a love of the breed and/or a desire to improve something about the breed such as health or temperament. But all these things can be faked. The real test is someone who is willing to show you how they care for their dogs. Don't be shy in asking. You have a right and a responsibility to yourself and other dogs to see where your dog comes from and thus who it is you are giving money to. The dogs may bark when you enter a room and it may get loud,. But it will only take a few minuets for you to smell the air for ammonia and look at the ground for manure. I'm not talking about dog smell but ammonia smell in the air comes from unwashed blankets, floor walls or the dogs themselves. Do the dogs have an outside play area? Are their main living areas roomy or are they cramped cages or crates? How long do the parent dogs have to spend in the living area? How often do they get let outside. Is the fur matted and dirty? Or are they groomed and clean. Do they look healthy and well fed. Is there clean water bowls in every living area? Is there missing hair? It only takes a couple minuets to look around a room and see if a person is responsible or not so responsible. So if you can stand the noise for a few minuets, please check out the living conditions of the adult dogs and ask a few questions about anything you see that does not look right to you. What food is fed. What type of cleaner do they use. Why this particular dog looks a bit thin. (sometimes there is a reason for it like age or illness). Then if you feel this breeder is responsible, then buy their puppy. Be willing to pay a little more then $200 because you can be sure that responsible breeder has at least that much in each puppy being offered for sale. If you do this (I know its asking a lot) then you can help fight the abuse that goes on every day in this business. The breeder themselves may or may not have the best looking house on the block but those dogs should have the best care possible. |
| Never buy a puppy from someone who is unwilling to show you where they keep the adult dogs no matter what excuse they give you. |