May as well make a new thread for this, can be quite a heated topic.
Some material to get it started.
http://fuglydotd.blogspot.com/Chihuahua x chinese crested 2 Now these are very fuggin' ugly dogs with horrible horrible heath problems that won't live till they are 3. But I have more of a beef with bad breeders and have some advice, I have over *cough* never you mind, years of experience with breeding working border collies, and pre-children I worked with the blue cross/PDSA as a foster carer for certain types of dogs that needed work pre-assessment. They "never put a healthy dog down" but (back then, although I doubt it has changed) that does not include dogs that are deemed dangerous or unmanageable.
1. Never ever get a dog out of the paper.
There are three types of people who sell in papers
a. People who don't know any other way selling, could be ok, could be a disaster.
b. People who are full of it. That nice lady probably didn't worm them, has no idea who the daddy is and the bitch wasn't fed the correct (very expensive) food. A pup from these kinds of people will die in a few weeks if they have heart worm/parvo or at around 8 because of bad early development, either way it will break your heart.
c. Chav breeds. For the love of all thing good and fluffy in this world Do Not buy a staffy/pitbull/rottweiler/any primitive breed from a paper, these dogs have had aggression bred into them by idiots and good breeders have had to do a hell of a lot of work over the years to get the breeds back on track. Pitbull is still dodgy (even the best examples need to be in a one dog household) but progress is being made with cross breeding in America. Kevin and Shaz want £450, they don't give a shit. If you want one of those then the best breeders have a waiting list and sometimes even go so far as to do home visits, you
want one of those pups.
In conclusion, it's pot luck, put down the paper and go to a shelter which is also pot luck but at least you are aware of it and doing some good.
2. So you have been thinking about getting a pup and a friend has a litter.
Fine to get a puppy from someone you know if you trust them and know the bitch and sire. If it's a breed known for it's good temperament like a lab then you are probably safe so long as the medical side has been taken care of. Don't feel obliged to get it if you have any doubts, for example if you know the bitch is a nippy fucker.
You are the one who has to deal with this animal for the next 18 years, not them. If they have problems re-homing then they will end up having to give the pups away or send them to the RSPCA. This is not your fault and it will prevent them from breeding again.
3. Primitive breeds are bastards.
They laugh at the idea that you are in charge of the pack the second they hit puberty, obviously males in particular are a problem here. I actually lost count of the amount of primal dogs I had come through the house, every single one of them was 9 month old, best estimate would be that it's about 30 - I came home to 8 Japanese akita x Alsations tied up at my front door covered in blood one time and had to call the van out there and then. Out of all those dogs 3 were re-homed and they were huskies. They are wonderful dogs but you
need to know your stuff when it comes to training and managing them or they will destroy your house, attack other dogs and wee in your bed.
Here is a list of primitive breeds:
Afghan Hound
Akita
Alaskan Malamute
Basenji
Chow Chow
Dingo
Lhasa Apso
New Guinea Singing Dog
Pekingese
Samoyed
Siberian Husky
Shar-Pei
Shiba Inu
Shih Tsu
Spitz
Tibetan Terrier
4.