Zhang Week 4 - Getting a Puppy!

 

        I've been asking my parents for a dog since I was a little kid, and this year, my dad became tired of hearing about it almost every day, and he finally relented and said we could get a puppy!

        My family decided to get a Shiba Inu. Don't worry, we're not getting one just for its cute looks! We've done a ton of research on the temperament of Shibas, and we think a Shiba will suit our family really well. That aside, I didn't expect the process of getting a puppy to be quick or easy, but I also didn't expect it to be so complicated. 

Since we have a specific breed in mind, it's important to get the puppy from a reputable breeder, because if the puppy is not purebred, it might have a lot of health issues in the future. My family found a Shiba breeder close to this area. The website seemed promising, and they also listed a bunch of certifications. So in January, we contacted them through email, and they sent us the line-up of available puppies. Strangely enough, they priced the puppies differently based on gender—$3000 for females and $3500 for males. At the time, we didn't think much of this. The available puppies weren't exactly what we were looking for, so we asked them when the next litter of puppies would be available. They told us they would be born in February. Throughout this process we also asked them a few questions about their Shibas regarding things like coat color, eating habits, etc. They never got back to us on these questions and that was the first thing that made my family a bit suspicious of this breeder.

        Within the first few days of this month, we contacted the breeder about the new litter. They sent us an email saying that they've raised the prices by $500 dollars, and also require a $500 dollar deposit IN CASH to claim a puppy. Needless to say, this was a big red flag. Even if the $500 dollar raise might be acceptable due to demands, the deposit was very suspicious. 

        My family decided to look for other breeders, and this time found an AKC certified one near Gettysburg. We had a lengthy conversation over the phone about adopting a Shiba puppy. The breeder said she's stopped breeding for now since COVID-19 might harm newborn pups, and told us to contact her again in April when she reopens business. She warned us that getting a puppy could be up to a 10-month process, and that the prices might rise due to vet costs. But, she also educated us on Shiba Inus and signs of a back-yard breeder. She said it's suspicious if a breeder prices puppies differently for fur color and gender. She also said to be wary of deposits and also look to see if the breeder is breeding other dogs besides Shibas. These were all things the first breeder had done, and we knew right away not to adopt a puppy from there. This new breeder seems to give a lot of care to the puppies, so we're planning on adopting from her business. I hope we can have an adorable puppy in the house by next year!