Alright, we got into it today about pet stores and breeders. Some only "sort of" agree with me and others say I'm an insane radical anti-pet store and show dog breeder extremist.

I need help better explaining why a reputable breeder would never sell dogs to a pet store, no matter what. No ones buying it from me, and everyone's saying that working line dogs are pointless because most people don't do real work with their dogs, to which I said they need to find a breed that doesn't need work.

I know some, but not enough info to accurately back myself up.

Thoughts please!! Links, studies, anything!

Katie,
I don't mean this as a depressing reply, but I'm reminded of a quote by a popular comedian - "You can't fix stupid".

No matter how many facts you'll use to debate pea brains, you won't change their minds......

 Quote: will rambeau

Katie,
I don't mean this as a depressing reply, but I'm reminded of a quote by a popular comedian - "You can't fix stupid".

No matter how many facts you'll use to debate pea brains, you won't change their minds......

Amen. You could help them if they were just ugly, but stupid and pea-brained, save your oxygen. Deep sigh.

Hahaha, thanks to you both. I'll send my teacher this thread!

I'm not sure if this will help you or not Katie.

The main reason I think/believe pet stores equal more pets in shelters/abusive homes is that not every breed type is suitable for every home and with pet stores the ONLY barrier to entry is dollar amount. A breeder cares that their puppy ends up in a home where they will thrive but a potential owner may or may not understand at this point if a dog/puppy is appropriate for their home. Some people just don't understand until they see it and all the store cares about is moving the product/puppy out their door before the expiration date which is usually about 16 weeks.

A great example of this was when I was sitting in a friend's apartment in Juso, Osaka Japan I looked out the window and saw a very pretty Alaskan Malamute sitting on a balcony on a 5th story. The balcony for this building was maybe 3 feet by 4 feet. The entire apartment was maybe 25 feet by twelve. That dog was on that balcony all day, every day from 7am to 6pm. Do you really think a responsible breeder would have let an A.M. go to a home like this?

 Quote: Melissa Thom

. A breeder cares that their puppy ends up in a home where they will thrive but a potential owner may or may not understand at this point if a dog/puppy is appropriate for their home. .

Do you really think a responsible breeder would have let an A.M. go to a home like this?

I would say that SOME breeders care about the home the pups are going to, but unfortunately, we are still dealing with the back yard breeder who just wants to sell the dogs. I don't know the statistic on BYB's vs professional breeders who truly screen the potential homes...

If a “reputable breeder” sells to a pet store, they are not a reputable breeder.

The person that buys a puppy from a pet store are the people responsible for supporting puppy mills, they create the demand.

I think it's less about stupidity than about people who don't want to think things all the way through, and instead settle on something that makes their world make sense. Kind of like people who walk up to you, ask you for directions, and then walk away before you've finished?

People hate admitting that their way isn't as good as someone else's.

TV shows do a lot of damage too. How many people ran out and got jack russells after Fraser? How many people realize that you can never trust a fox terrier or a JR off leash outside a fence? A good breeder should make that clear to prospective owners, a pet store could care less. I have had two pure bred fox terriers in my home because someone lost them. No tags, no chips, just found on the road. Probably someone who thought they were *cute* and didn't realize they can never be trusted. They were lucky I ended up with them, as I understand terriers! Crazy dogs!

Well, some did want to hear what I had to say. So I don't want to write them off as closed-minded folk. They do care about animals. I think they just don't know better.

All good points though, I knew I could count on you guys!

Edited by Katie Finlay (09/23/2010 10:26 PM)
Edit reason: And to think I passed AP English...