Why Buy From a Breeder?

The little dog in the photo above was purchased by Australian Terrier Rescue, Inc. from an Arkansas puppy mill through a Missouri dog auction. She is registered with the American Kennel Club as an Australian terrier. She has been bred multiple times, and her puppies sold through pet stores as Australian terriers, or as breeding stock for other puppy mills. Pet stores, of course, will tell you that their puppies come from breeders (translate - puppy mills), and brokers, people who buy from puppy mills to sell to pet shops. As you can see, she bears little resemblance to the champions featured on my pages, or on the pages of other breeders you may have seen. She has not been tested for health issues that may affect our breed, if indeed she is an Australian terrier, and the lack of early socialization has left her fearful and tense. So while a pet store purchase may provide an "instant puppy", the wait for a puppy from a reputable breeder will provide a high quality, healthy, well socialized family member who will give many years of joy. And, too, the purchase of a puppy from a pet store fuels the demand for more such puppies, and dooms dogs like this to a loveless lifetime of poor care.

Next:  Selecting a Breeder