What happens to puppies that doesn't get sold?

For those that think it is a business a parallel:
I can get PAID contingency fees and prize money for winning races on my motorcycle, just like selling a dog. There are professionals that get paid a salary and make a living at it, I have been on the track racing with some of them. However in my case it is a very expensive hobby. On a great weekend placing first in all my classes and running 4 races I could maybe get $600. Sounds great but when you figure I will burn at least one set of 400 tires up doing it, plus entry of another 200, plus 150 in gas, plus 40 gate fee then you start to see the hobby vs business. Add in bike and gear.... ooops good thing I am getting rich....

I don't have first hand knowledge but suspect in most cases you have puppy shots, puppy food, vet fees for mom, extra space at the house, extra cleaning and supplies. Then of course there is all the money spent trying to show so that mom and dad have all the awards to brag on.... Puppy mills might make money but most breeders I suspect lose money. Sca's breeder commented that she could stop working if she quit showing, she grinned and I could tell that was not going to happen as she enjoyed every moment.
 
SheepOfBlue said:
I don't have first hand knowledge but suspect in most cases you have puppy shots, puppy food, vet fees for mom, extra space at the house, extra cleaning and supplies. Then of course there is all the money spent trying to show so that mom and dad have all the awards to brag on.... Puppy mills might make money but most breeders I suspect lose money. Sca's breeder commented that she could stop working if she quit showing, she grinned and I could tell that was not going to happen as she enjoyed every moment.
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I think that is the sentiment of Emma's and Liam's breeder. It is very expensive to raise, breed, show dogs. She was considering retiring at one point because of the expense, but has decided to continue in a limited fashion because of her love for the breed.
 
The little I make off of the one litter I usually have a year is merely a drop in the hat compared to the rest of the expenses. I probably spend $5000 alone in entry fees for my dogs each year, not to mention the travel expenses ($200 in hotels per month), gas ($120 just for travel), dog food ($50-75 per month), shots, vet expenses (varies, but be assured it isn't cheap), and health testing (upward of $500 to do all of the testing for each dog).
I had one boy puppy here until 8 months old. He simply couldn't find the right person for him. Therefor he stayed.
Now, while those of us here wouldn't throw away puppies who didn't sell, I do know that it does sometimes happen :/ I know a girl who does Border Collie rescue who just got two very cute 6 month old BC pups in just because the breeder couldn't sell them and was going to send them to the pound otherwise. Sad.
 
Jason,

I'm not sure if you did this, but it's something to think about or do when you talk to breeders. When I went looking for my first one, interne was just getting big. So, I had to go to an ASSA meeting. I met some people, told them I was interested in a puppy (pet quality) and asked for their information if they thought they'd be breeding later, or if I could call them later. A few months later, when I started making calls, like you, no one had puppies or wasn't planning any litters anytime soon. BUT, I asked them if they knew of any breeders who may have puppies or puppies on the way. I got a handful of phone numbers that way and started calling around again.

I am assuming that you are in fact telling the breeders that you're looking for pet quality. And since I typically look for males, I can't comment on the higher fee for females, seems strange to me too, especially if you're not breeding.

In the end, I found one breeder that had 2 puppies remaining from 2 different breedings. They were the last ones of their respective litters and the owner decided to put the puppies together (same father, different mom's). So, when I went to go see the pups, I basically had a choice of 2 of the last ones remaining. I cant' recall how old the other one was, but mine at the time was about 11 weeks.

I visited, but didn't buy. I went back later to purchase and take home of the of the pups. No clue if he was show quality, but I know he had a kink in his tail (and still does). I'm sure the other pup got a home eventually too. They were good dogs, but maybe not for the people who came to see them. The one I took home was the pup for me.

And when I called the breeder 10 years later she told me she wasn't breeding anymore and neither was her co-breeder. I got a call a couple months later asking if I was still interested. They decided not to keep one of their show prospects (can't recall why).

So, now I have one "runt" or "reject" of a litter. And one show prospect that didn't make it. Both are wonderful pups and obviously, someone (that'd be me), took home the last one. And if I hadn't, I know for a fact that they'd keep them if no one took them home.

Lastly, I will say this much. Knowing what I know now about dogs and ages, I'd be willing to take an older puppy. My second was 8 weeks old and was a handful and it was really hard for me. I think I'd rather let them mature a bit more at home with "mom".

Good luck on your search. Don't give up. I know you want a dog NOW, but IMHO, get a dog from a reputable breeder when they have them. Versus getting anything now. I know I had started my first search almost 6 months prior to when I was ready. And when I was ready, it still took another 2-3 months. With my second, it was just luck of the draw.
 
No. I DON"T have to have the dog right now. I am not in a hurry to get one.

I can wait for another months and months, but I don't want to bring in a puppy in time for christmas, you know what I mean? I live in an area that can get 3 feet of snow, and the books have told me not to bring in a new puppy in winter.

I am not one of those people who has to have things right now right then. I can wait. Like I said before, I waited two years researching and combing through all the aspect of owning a dog (without actually having one)

And that, in turn, became a problem for me. I have all these "empty knowledge" that is all brain and no experience. That can be really bad. There is a point in life, that enough is enough and you just have to take the plunge.

I have weeded out several breeders already. I found out that some even had complaints through BBB!!! The ones I am talking to right now, sounds very nice (but they all do) and the timing would work as well... it'll just take 300mile road trip that's all :razz:

This forum is great! I'm getting all these priceless help from here.

I'll keep you posted :)
 
After falling in love with a friends Sheltie, i wanted one. I tried the rescues; but not a lot of Sheltie breeders in Oregon, a very low rescue need. I only found one rescue, but Thru the rescue contact, she told me she did breed; but didn't like to mix her breeding with the rescue side. She had no puppies, but gave me the numbers of some other breeders who had puppies.
I was in the sheltie circle now!
Breeder one had one sheltie left, but when I got a hold of her it was spoken for.( i know where it went, and it had a poor life overall..) :no:
Breeder number 2 had a litter of 6, 3 boys and 3 girls. all had deposit but one. We drove out to her house and saw the puppies. this was my lesson in proper breeders and how the puppy buisnees was run.
She explained that her breeder friends had first pick. they mostly wanted the females (with all the show qualities) then this family had 3rd choise, they wanted a female, then the 4th family wanted.... and we woulkd get what was left over.we fell in love with the runt that day and left our deposit. She showed us a stack of papers; these were names of people who wanted one of her dogs. I asked her what about them? "they don't get a dog" her way of saying she didn't breed to fill orders, and she always had homes for any extra dogs.
We waited and finally got the call, we were given 5th choice not sixth!!! the runt was still there and the Everett came home with us...
We signed a long contract the most impressive thing to me was 'if we could not keep Everett to return him and she would find him a new home as long as he lived' well, that part would be broken for If I had to give up Everett, there is a long line of people who i know that want Everett and would give him a good home. we have that base covered.
when its time for another doggie, ill visit her again and hope for a runt..
 
I had a friend tell me that winter was a good time to get a puppy because they do their stuff and come back in and don't get distracted playing. When we got Meggie it was the beginning of December and that is exactly how she was, went quickly and wanted right back in, she was very easy to train.
 
Being a business major I had to interject here. I think the argument about whether or not breeding dogs is a business is moot. We are arguing semantics.

Here's why. What is the purpose of a business? Ah-ha. There is no correct answer. The most popular answers include "to make a profit" or "to serve customers"...but those are two very different answers.

And they are two very different answers when you apply it to a dog breeder. Instead of arguing whether or not this is a business, the best thing to do is just ask the breeder WHY they're doing what they do. That's not to say that everyone will be honest, but once you compare answers it will become clearer who is doing it for the love of the breed and who isn't.
 
jasonsjwou said:
No. I DON"T have to have the dog right now. I am not in a hurry to get one.

I can wait for another months and months, but I don't want to bring in a puppy in time for christmas, you know what I mean? I live in an area that can get 3 feet of snow, and the books have told me not to bring in a new puppy in winter.

I am not one of those people who has to have things right now right then. I can wait. Like I said before, I waited two years researching and combing through all the aspect of owning a dog (without actually having one)

And that, in turn, became a problem for me. I have all these "empty knowledge" that is all brain and no experience. That can be really bad. There is a point in life, that enough is enough and you just have to take the plunge.

I have weeded out several breeders already. I found out that some even had complaints through BBB!!! The ones I am talking to right now, sounds very nice (but they all do) and the timing would work as well... it'll just take 300mile road trip that's all :razz:

This forum is great! I'm getting all these priceless help from here.

I'll keep you posted :)
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Definitely sounds like you're moving in the right direction, asking all of the right questions, informing yourself and looking for a breeder that you're comfortable with. You should give yourself a huge pat on the back for that alone, I'd be surprised if half of the people who want a puppy do so much.

300 miles is a lot, but it also sounds like it could be a REALLY fun road trip. And think of the amazing out come. :smile2:
 
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