Buying a dog

[jetur]

We went to buy a dog that we saw for sale online. It is a 2 year old maltese and he looked fine but there were no vet papers. Is there a way to tell if a dog is healthy before buying?

[Ghilly]

After I went back and re-read it, you are right.  It IS about vet records, but in this country, I don't know of any puppymillers who sell their puppies with health papers, at least not honest ones.  Maybe in Canada things are different, but here in the States you are really buying a pig in a poke when it comes to whether or not you are getting a healthy puppy from a pet store.  

Ghilly

[Misfits4Me]

Maybe I read this all wrong! I understood the original post to ask about VET records or receipts, NOT Registration papers ....As in, had the dog ever been vaccinated, any wellness checks, health concerns or even seen a Vet!  Karla

[Ghilly]

I have to agree with Margot.  The average non-dog-person (meaning pet owner, not someone who shows/breeds) for the most part thinks that American Kennel Club papers are somehow a prestigious thing, denoting that their dog is a registered whatever-the-breed.  All the AKC represents is that both of the parents of any dog registered with them are of the SAME breed.  It speaks NOTHING of the quality, temperament or health of the dog itself.  It is a registry.  Plain and simple.  That's all ANY dog registry is.  That's why you will find puppymill dogs and dogs from show breeders in their files, because it's simply a registry.  There are some that REALLY represent nothing at all, like the Continental Kennel Club and American Pet Registry, and there are the more well-known ones like the American Kennel Club, Canadian Kennel Club and United Kennel Club.  Now while the AKC, CKC (CANADIAN Kennel Club, not Continental Kennel Club) and UKC don't mean anything special, at LEAST you are getting the guarantee that the dog is a purebred, meaning both parents were of the same breed.  The CKC (CONTINENTAL Kennel Club) and APR (American Pet Registry) don't even mean that, since they allow mixed breeds to be registered, and are chock full of the ubiquitous "-Poo" crosses (****-A-Poos, Malti-Poos, Yorki-Poos, Shih-A-Poos, etc) and any other cutesy name that money hungry sharks came up with to cajole people into buying a "new breed" that is simply a mix of two other breeds (like the Puggle - a Pug/Beagle cross).

Sorry for the rant again.  This is just something that bothers me.  Fly-by-night breeders rely on the fact that most people are not educated as to the particulars of these registries and use that lack of knowledge to their advantage to charge ridiculous sums of money for what amounts to dogs that are ADORABLE, but still what we used to call "All-American" or "mutts".

Ghilly

[Margot49]

Glad that worked out for you.  Canada does have stricter laws then the US in regards to our AKC.  However, cannot stress enough that the fact a puppy has papers means next to nothing!  You should always go on the reputation and ethics of the person or organization you get a dog from.

[TattooGurl]

I got both my dogs online off a website called Kijiji I guess it's like the Canadian Craig's list they both came with vet records and my Eskie even came with full Kennel Club purebred registration papers. Maybe it's just in Canada we Canadians love our pets mostly. Cant lie we have had the odd puppy mill but even puppy mill dogs come with papers.  

[Misfits4Me]

Of course there are NO papers....These dogs have never seen a Vet in their life!!!!....Cost too much in these idiot's opinion!!

Buying a dog online is dangerous! Craig'sList is the worst!!!! These people are usually back yard breeders and care nothing about their dogs! They are only in it for the money, not the health of their parents or off spring......

Craig's List will be the ones with rehoming fees, because policy is they are not allowed to sell an animal on their sight....SO, they say rehoming fee and it makes it OK.....This is the worst place to purchase a pet! Criminal behavior deluxe!!

The new trend on CL is "Pet Flipping"....It is alarming and getting worse by the day!!!  Stolen Pets are being sold all over the country for a small profit....Even if it's just a rehoming fee! These dogs have been stolen out of other's backyards to make a few bucks for whatever.....Meth, Pot, drugs, Alcohol....

For a few dollars, you can buy a dog to use for "Bait" in a fighting rings, or sell for $15 to a experimental lab!

ALL Reputable Rescues will have Vet records for any dog they adopt out! That's how it works.....Vaccines, Wellness checks, worming, Spays or Neuters, Heartworm checks, any other medical issues that need addressed, etc. Plus ALL paperwork to prove this for EACH dog! We make copies for each new owner and keep the originals ourselves....

The breeders on CL prey on good hearted people and they also know it will work!  The puppies listed have not seen a Vet nor have the parents of these puppies, EVER!!!!   Be Very Very cautious!!!!     Karla

[Maddies_Mom16]

You said "buy a dog"... Were they asking for a rehoming fee? I've noticed a lot of rescue agency's doing that online lately. That could also explain why no vet papers.

[Ellen038]

Usually a breeder will have a certification of health, vaccine records and working records on a puppy but your mentioning purchasing a 2 year old dog. I would ask the vet to have a health certification done on the dog or give you a few days to have your vet clear it's health and is current on it's vaccinations. If the dog doesn't pass the health inspection you would be able to get your money back. I would get this in writing for sure in case for some reason you end up having problems returning the dog.

[Margot49]

No!  A reputable breeder has all health records.  Pup should be wormed and have shots and possibly a Vet check.  You should be offered a guarantee, in writing, fir health and possible genetic problems and the pup can be returned with proof. You should be given time to have the pup checked by your Vet.  The fact a dog is AKC registered means nothing.  I could go on!
If you want that breed, go to the AKC web site or the National Maltese Club web sites and look for reputable breeders in your area, please.