dogs dogs dogs

[seperis]

One of the first rules I learned on the internetz is that if there is not a price on an item for sale, there's a pretty good chance I can't afford it. This seems triply true for dogs.

...considering what they are listing the price as, that is. I--I understand, on some level, that the AKC etc dogs are an expensive enterprise. That does not change

Comments

[hauntfox]

Speaking as a Canadian - dogs registered with the AKC aren't worth the paper their pedigree is printed on (the last I heard, even *puppy mills* can get their dogs registered with them ). You may want to try a Rescue Society (not sure if one exists for Maltese) or even the pound, in a pinch. If you really want a dog with papers, I would suggest a Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) registered pup.

I would also suggest looking up the Dogs in Canada Annual (not sure if a similar one exists for the US). It contains a listing of all registered breeders in Canada, and they may be able to help you locate a Maltese breeder of repute in/around your area.

[seperis]

No, it's not the papers I care about, and I have the rescue organizations bookmarked that I check pretty much weekly for updates. It's just hard to find a healthy Maltese (or Maltese-cross). Honestly, I'd avoid going the breeder/purebred route if I could go through the shelter or rescue (that's how we got my dad's dog), but they tend to generally get dogs with health issues or behavior issues (ie, no kids, no other dogs), and my mom's in her fifties. I really want to get her a small dog that's (relatively) guaranteed of health. The other I was looking at was maltipoos, but same thing. Gah.

[seperis]

Pretty much how I feel. If it wasn't so specific for her, I'd go the shelter route, but she's loved this particular type of dog for years.

Anyone who's selling crossbreeds (ie Maltipoos) isn't someone you can trust to be breeding sound, healthy dogs. Nothing wrong with rescuing one if it pops up, but the "designer dog" breeders aren't starting with the best, soundest, healthiest, best-temperered dogs; they can't prove their dogs' abilities, soundness, or temperament in competition (nor do they, as a general rule), and the dogs don't breed true, such that the predictability of a purebred is lost.

I've been reading on that (as in, today when I was surfing sites). I'm kind of awed by the number of designer crossbreeds that are popping up. I didn't realize it was becoming that popular.

[ratcreature]

That is so true about the web design. The page of the breeder I got my currents rats from made me twitch as well.

Also I boogle at how much of a luxury item that kind of dog is. I mean I knew purebred dogs were expensive, something like several hundred euro at least, but this much? wow. I think I stick with non-exotic rodents...

[seperis]

God, I had no idea. I've never had a purebred dog, so i keep getting jolted by the prices for their *pet class*. The breed and show class just freak me out. I can't imagine that.

[maleficently]

Breeder pages are... atrocious. They make my eyes BLEED. Also, the above advice is really sound, and the more a breeder makes you feel like they're about to ask for fingerprints and your first born, the more likely they are to be a very good, responsible breeder.

My Mom fell in love with the Bichon Frise and oh my gods, the prices on such LITTLE dogs constantly makes me headdesk.

[justascream]

Have you tried craigslist? I ask because the other day one of my classmates and her family used craigslist to give away three pure bred great dane puppies when they had to move immediately and couldn't take the pups with them. I took a gander and saw a lot of pets being given away for such reasons, or sold fairly cheap. My guess is that most of the time the ones being sold cheap aren't perfect purebred show quality or something, so I'd be careful of those, since often that means a disease (purebred dogs are so prone to hip problems and all, yanno).

[seperis]

Honestly, if I could be guaranteed health, I really just want a plain pet quality with a decent temperament (since babies and children abound here, along with a friendly, but large, German Shepherd).

[beyondallreason]

It's still high $$$$ but Petland up in Georgetown has 2 Maltese right now. I'd normally never buy from a petshop but the internet frightens me for buying a dog. The web pages (the musical web pages!!!) and they all look like puppy mills. Petland has a no mill policy and health certs I think for congenital stuff. I haven't bought a dog from them yet I've seen their holiday pictures from the UK in 1988.

They have one very sad looking girl right now and one much more bouncy boy. Each 2000 - and the price drops as they get older if the don't sell

I don't know if I should believe them about where they get the dogs from but they talk a good talk

[prim_rose_etta]

A year ago I got my Lola (Bull Terrier) via puppyfind.com. You don't have to pay and you get access to nearly all doggies for sale (some are only if you are a member big whup)

[seperis]

I havne't looked at the pet shops yet; all those exposes on puppy mills totally freaked me out! Hmm.

[beyondallreason]

Puppy mills are just frightening things but I can't tell the puppy mills on the net either.

I don't know. When I bought my two cats from breeders the first I spent hours with her before buying, the second I found her breeder several months before and spent a lot of time with her before buying. Even my last 2 who were rescue I spent a lot of time with

Just buying off the net and having one shipped freaks me out too. I want to meet the puppy spend a lot of time with it. Especially a dog as I am a cat person.

Good luck in the search!

[beyondallreason]

Grin - the comment is only useful if I am remembering right that we both live in austin :)