General Pet is your source for advice and information for a happy and healthy pet.
Author: Tracy Pridemore Article source: http://www.articlealley.com/. Used with author's permission.
Buying purebred puppies and kittens online has become a very big business for breeders of these potential pets for consumers. The pros of buying your new pet online are pretty obvious while on the other hand the cons have become a very negative drawback to doing so. Of course the big question is do the pros outweigh the cons of buying a puppy online.
Pros: Large selection of breeds and individual puppies - this ensures you get the exact dog you are looking for from breed, to color, to sex.
Shop around for a better price - This one is pretty straightforward, the more breeders you have available the more competitive the cost will be.
Ease - You can easily find the dog you have been looking for without getting out of your pajamas!
Cons: Puppy mills and illegitimate breeders - Unfortunately there are those looking only to make money and you need to be aware of these individuals.
Can't meet the puppy or the parents - To some this is not a big deal as puppies are pretty much blank pages, but sometimes it is nice to meet your new friend to see if there is a connection.
For true dog lovers one of the saddest parts of the industry are the unethical puppy mills. So can you have the pros of buying your new purebred puppy online without the fear of purchasing from the biggest cons of the business? The answer is, yes you can, by doing a little research on any potential breeder you consider buying a puppy from.
The first thing to look for on any breeder is their contact information. Find a phone number and make sure it works! If possible confirm an address for the breeder with a reverse phone number search.
Look into testimonials of past puppy buyers. Get a list of past buyers from the kennel, confirm their names and numbers, and if possible talk to them regarding their experience with the breeder. Was it a smooth transition? Were they delivered a healthy puppy as represented by the breeder?
Check with the Better Business Bureau for complaints on the seller as well as the kennel. This is a step many people overlook, but the BBB can be a wealth of information on potential dishonest puppy breeders.
Get the contact information of the veterinarian which cares for the dogs in the kennel as well as the new puppies. Any legitimate breeder will not mind giving this contact information if they have nothing to hide and truly care for the dogs. Take the time to ensure this is a legitimate vet and they do actually have the kennel as clients. Also ask if they have given the puppy you are looking at a physical ask if any deficiencies were found. Most vets will not mind helping you in this matter to help curb the success of undesirable breeders.
If you still question whether you should purchase a puppy online from a website or a pet classified ad site, look into sites which allow you to search for purebred dog breeders within a certain distance from your home. Select the breed you are searching for and the distance you are willing to travel. This will help you find breeders where you can visit the kennel, meet the parents, and choose your puppy directly and take him home with you right away to spend many happy years together!
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