This is a story about an unwise and impulsive puppy purchase which ended disastrously for both the dog and its owners. It is intended to educate the potential dog owner about the pitfalls of buying a pet without properly researching the breed or the retailer or breeder.

Harry and Martha walked into a local pet shop because the weather was turning bad, they were bored, and it was a Saturday. They looked at the birds for a while, then wandered downstairs to see the puppies.

There were at least twenty puppies in open crates, all adorable. One, in particular, caught Martha's fancy. He was JUST a teddy bear! Fuzzy, adorable, lovable beyond description. Martha's daughter had left for her first year in college a few months past, and empty nest syndrome was an issue. Harry liked the pup well enough, but since he was at work most of the time, it wouldn't really be his problem. Martha really really wanted the puppy. Neither of them had thought of purchasing a puppy that day, but there he was, the perfect teddy bear dog. The man in the shop swore to them that the puppy had come from a "breeder" (they had heard about those puppy mills) and had "AKC papers". So, Martha and Harry decided to take the plunge and buy the puppy. The cost of the puppy was $900, but then of course there was the expense of a crate, a bunch of toys, a fluffy bed, food, and a leash and collar. The total came to more than $1200, which they put on their Visa card. After all,! ! they could always "pay it off".

They named the teddy bear "Teddy", of course, and his papers said he was a Chow Chow, 12 weeks old. Teddy had a problem: he went to the bathroom in the crate, covered his thick coat in excrement and needed to be bathed three times daily. Teddy also had a problem with his mouth, he liked to "chew" on Martha and Harry, anything that presented itself.....fingers, shirt tails, pant legs. At first, they thought this was "cute", but when Teddy began to growl while he chewed, they became concerned. They were totally unable to get Teddy to use the outdoors for his "toiletry" needs. Rather, he seemed to prefer their oriental rugs, or the crate. Within two days of purchase, Teddy developed serious diarrhea. He became lethargic, would not eat. The Veterinarian diagnosed him as being infested with whipworm and a bacterial agent, and prescribed medication. The Veterinary visit cost them an addition $110.

A few weeks passed. Teddy grew larger. Martha and Harry could still not get Teddy to eliminate outside on a regular basis. Also, he had begun "humping" them. Harry tried swatting Teddy to stop this behavior, only to see the 16 week old pup show him a full set of teeth. Martha became frightened of Teddy. Harry decided that Teddy needed to be put in the crate most of the day to "teach him a lesson".

About three months after Teddy's purchase, the dog had become a nightmare for Martha and Harry. He began to guard his crate. He growled if they came too close to his food bowl. He eliminated freely wherever he chose in the kitchen where he had been confined when not in his crate. When they let him out of the crate, he was totally wild, a ballistic missile. Also, Teddy would not accept a collar and leash. He bit at the leash, threw himself on his back, growling and snapping. Although his coat was becoming quite dense, he would not tolerate being brushed without growling and snapping.

Martha and Harry decided they could not deal with the dog any longer. They had nowhere to turn for advice, since the pet store refused to help and would not take the dog back without Veterinary proof of serious illness. Martha and Harry took Teddy to their local municipal shelter. It was October. The shelter was filled with "summer" dogs, acquired to entertain the kids during the summer vacation, and then dumped into the shelter when the kids went back to school or, worse, abandoned on the roads. The shelter also had a large number of "runners", dogs and bitches that had responded to their natural tendency to reproduce and, not having been spayed or neutered, escaped from their owners' yards to find the "answer" to the urge. The shelter had no room. Owner turn ins are almost always euthanised (killed) when there is no room. Teddy, six month old intact male Chow Chow, met his death on a sunny October morning.

While this is a particularly distressing scenario, this can be the end result for any dog that is not purchased from a reputable breeder. Purchase a puppy of any breed because you like "the look", or because the puppy is "so cute" can end in disaster. In this case, the Chow Chow a highly independent, intelligent breed required patient, humane training from day ONE. Puppy mill dogs DO soil their crates, simply because they have been born into unclean areas and their mothers have not been able to teach them how to be clean. Additionally, these puppies have not been properly socialized at an early age and are likely to have a harder time fitting into a household routine.

Teddy was not a toy. He required a firm but kind hand, and careful education, which both Martha and Harry did not know. Make certain that you properly educate yourself about the pros and cons of the breed you select and feel confident that it will fit into your household's lifestyle.