My 3 Totally Different Experiences with Breeders: A Cautionary Tale

The search to bring home a pup has touched my life on three different occasions with each being a wildly different experience. I now have a clearer understanding of the complexity of the world of dog breeders and how it can be a total mixed bag. Every type of breeding and rehoming practice exists out there and the reality of it being an unregulated industry couldn't be more obvious. Let me take you through my journey of pup parenthood with three short stories.

Lady

My first experience with the world of dog adoption was via Kijiji in 2014. The listing had a few adorable pictures and a short and sweet bio about a Bichon dog who needed to be rehomed from an elderly couple who were moving from a condo into a retirement home. My family and I made our way to the meet and greet, and an hour later we knew that she was our dog. Though we felt sad taking her away, we knew we would be her forever home and she would have a family to play with and a backyard to run around in. It seemed like a perfect story, and we were thrilled to welcome Lady into our lives. But soon, we discovered a heart-wrenching truth. Lady had been rehomed three times before us, and was bearing the signs of abuse - a broken tail and jittery anxiety. Discovering the reality that Lady had been through a traumatic past was equally as traumatizing for us!  This was my first experience with the fact that anyone can create a fictional story around the sale of a pup and that there are no checks and balances on a site like Kijiji.

To read more about Bichon Frises check out Paction's Breed Guide.

Ruby

In 2020, I moved out on my own for the first time, and I wanted a furry companion to join me on this venture. However, Covid had significantly limited the opportunities for adoption. Rescues and shelters weren't even taking new applications as the demand for pets had skyrocketed with the new work-from-home lifestyle.

Determined to move into my new place with a pup, I found a breeder who seemed very reasonable. She promised regular Facetimes, promised me updates through pics and videos, and provided lots of reassurances about the rehoming process. The first red flag popped up late in the process, when the exchange location became a Canadian Tire parking lot. Instead of meeting the breeder there in person, an unknown middle-aged man, presumably her partner, showed up. He handed me Ruby, my beautiful new puppy. I was over the moon with my new baby girl, but to my horror, the red flags continued. Next, I was a little perplexed when I was given the paperwork stating Ruby was a male dachshund with a herniated disk. Upon my own vet visit with Ruby, confusion turned into concern (and relief!) when my vet determined Ruby was actually a female and seemed healthy and happy. 

Over time, I noticed Ruby didn’t react to sounds like other dogs - in fact, we discovered that she was deaf. By this time, I was part of a lively Dachshund Facebook group where I slowly discovered these same themes with other members who shared similar experiences with their dachshund dogs. We collectively uncovered that at least three other members had brought home deaf puppies from the same source. Digging into these issues even unveiled the fact that this breeder had named Ruby’s mother, a beautiful black and tan dachshund, “Payday”. I instantly felt heartbroken.

To read more about Duchshunds check out Paction's Breed Guide.

A Sought After Chihuahua

When I was a little kid, I had a totally different encounter with a chihuahua breeder. My older sister spearheaded a campaign to get a family dog and even created an elaborate PowerPoint presentation to persuade our family into getting a chihuahua specifically. After doing some research we found what looked like a reputable breeder, then not long after we piled into the car and drove over an hour away to meet the breeder, and the litter of puppies. To our surprise, the breeder decided that our home wasn’t the best fit for their tiny, fragile pup since we had a cat and a young child (me) in our house. We were a little disappointed at the time, but looking back now, after my most two experiences, I have a different perspective. This breeder was exceptionally responsible. They were carefully screening potential homes to ensure their puppies would be safe and comfortable, and that level of thoughtfulness is something I now deeply respect. 

To read more about Chihuahua check out Paction's Breed Guide.

My Learnings  

These experiences have taught me huge lessons about due diligence when choosing a breeder. I think if you decide to get a dog through a breeder, it’s a good idea to visit their location, ask detailed questions, and ensure their practices are transparent and ethical. However, there are only so many times in life when you go through this process and I’m sharing my story for those of you who have not yet fallen into these pitfalls.

Paction has created a platform where breeders are verified, where their account is held to the reputation that they have fostered over time and also includes a feature to book visits with the breeder to explore their operation and ask more questions. On the breeder’s side, Paction enables screening surveys to help both parties assess if they are a good fit for rehoming. I encourage you to have a look at what Paction has to offer, as settling for anything less in this process has potential repercussions that can be heartbreaking.

Paction x Thotfuldog

I am the proud Founder of Thotfuldog, a Toronto-based greeting card company. This Spring, Paction collaborated with Thotfuldog to put out an exclusive line of greeting cards for Father’s Day. This collection celebrates all that dog dads do for our pups. Check out more of our designs here!