Pet Store Dogs

 I just did an evaluation of an Australian Shepherd. This dog was purchased from popular pet store in Sarasota. They purchased the dog at 3 months. The dog actually spent almost 2 months at the store before being adopted. The biggest problem they were having was the dog had submissive urination. This could be a health issue. Remember that the majority of these dogs do come from Puppy Mills. Puppy Mills do not care about breed standards. They just care about the more puppies they produce the more money the make. 

  As I did the evaluation I notice that the dog was really skittish and insecure. The owners ask me if that was normal? I said it could be just the dogs personality. Training will build his confidence. I think the root of the problem was actually the amount of time the dog spent at the pet store before being adopted.

Puppies should be adopted at 8 weeks of age. Once adopted they needs to be taught boundaries right away. The ages of 8 to 16 weeks are crucial in a puppies development. In that time frame is when they form a lot of opinions about life. When they're confined in a box at the pet store they robbed of that time to get socialized with the hustle and bustle of the outside world.

If you know of anyone that is looking to adopt a dog. Make sure that they go to a reputable breeder. If not there are a lot of great dogs that need homes at your local shelter.

Thanks,

Michael Harvey

Certified Dog Trainer Sarasota/Bradenton/St.Petersburg