Letter to Someone Looking for a Cheap, Quick Purebred Puppy

Do you want a purebred puppy? Is your dream to get one of the trendy breeds? On top of that, are you looking for it cheap, or even better, free? It's normal for us dog lovers to feel a preference for one or several breeds.

It's understandable, but it's no excuse to close our eyes to the reality behind every puppy. Our desire shouldn't come before the more than 100,000 dogs abandoned every year, or the serious problem of exploitation at breeding facilities or in the hands of non-professionals.

Do You Want to Have a Dog?

It never hurts to remember that dogs aren't objects, but individuals with needs we're obligated to meet if we intend to live with one. Dogs grow and live an average of 10-15 years. Also, they need to be trained to relieve themselves outside the home, not destroy things, not bark, and definitely not bite.

They need to learn basic commands for good coexistence. They need physical and mental stimulation. You need to walk them at least a couple of times every day, whether it rains, is cold, or is hot. Of course, dogs come with expenses. Not just food, internal and external deworming, annual vaccines, a microchip, or sterilization.

On top of that, they can get sick, even at night, and we'll need to pay for an emergency vet visit. Having a dog means committing to caring for it its whole life. If you're not willing, or aren't sure you can meet these demands, buy yourself a stuffed animal instead. Pounds are full of animals that were once puppies someone wanted.

Can I Have a Puppy?

Puppies are adorable, and you want one to train from a young age, get it used to you, and have it live for many years. But they also require more dedication and a bigger financial investment than adult dogs. They need a specific diet, and more frequent deworming and vaccines, not to mention you'll need to teach them everything.

They'll relieve themselves inside the house and destroy everything within reach. Also, if you get one before 8-12 weeks old, you're interrupting a crucial developmental stage where it should still be with its mother and siblings. This isn't a minor detail.

Early separation can have psychological effects that translate into behavioral issues. On another note, a puppy is no guarantee of a long life. They're more prone to catching serious, potentially fatal illnesses, and will be even more susceptible if not born in ideal conditions.

I Want a Purebred Puppy

Every so often, a breed becomes trendy. For about a decade, you see tons of Cocker Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, or French Bulldogs on the street. These kinds of trends make people want a certain dog, without being aware of each breed's needs. In other words, the dog likely won't fit their lifestyle.

The result is the pound. Also, demand for a specific breed causes its breeding to skyrocket under more than questionable conditions in many cases. We also shouldn't forget that many of these breeds, selected for a certain look, suffer health problems.

A clear example is the French Bulldog, prone to allergy, respiratory, eye, reproductive issues, and so on. These conditions come with vet expenses that lead many to end up at the pound too, once they stop being a cute photo-worthy puppy.

I Want a Cheap, Quick Puppy

Purebred puppies can't be cheap. Raising a litter means caring for the mother's health from before pregnancy. This includes quality food, internal and external deworming, vaccines, and tests.

Once pregnancy starts, veterinary monitoring also costs money, which can include labor complications and even a C-section. Newborn puppies also need deworming, vaccination, and a specific diet once they start eating solids.

Ask at a vet clinic what all these treatments cost. Add up food, vaccines, dewormers, ultrasounds, and so on, and you'll understand something's off if the purebred puppy is very cheap.

Where Do the Puppies Being Sold Come From?

Purebred puppies should come from professional breeders, people with training, knowledge, and the proper license to conduct this business activity. These dogs are handed over with every guarantee and, of course, at a high price. But the reality is that looking for a puppy usually leads to the internet.

There, you'll find puppies from illegal breeding facilities in unsanitary conditions that enter the country with fake paperwork, with no health guarantees at all. Every so often, these kinds of breeding facilities are discovered, where female dogs are exploited and live in cages with no hygiene or concern for their wellbeing. A cheap purebred puppy fuels this.

But these puppies can also come from individuals who breed dogs with no knowledge to make some money under the table. These dogs are usually mixed breeds, and it's unlikely they've received even basic care, since the only goal is making quick cash with minimal investment.

Where Do I Buy a Purebred Puppy?

Now that you have this information, if you love dogs and want to live with a puppy while being aware of all the obligations and expenses involved, don't forget the roughly 200,000 animals abandoned every year that end up in pounds or on the roadside.

It's not hard to find a puppy at the pound or a shelter organization. You save its life, and that's worth more than showing off a purebred dog. If you're still set on getting the breed you want, only go to professional breeders and be prepared to pay what breeding that guarantees animal welfare truly costs.