Nanny's Zoo

[Christen]

In my attempt to gather information from various breeders I came across www.nannyszoo.com and sent some questions to them. Her response was rude and I can only guess that she didn't answer because she doesn't know the proper responses and is not an ethical or responsible breeder.

My email:

Hello,

My name is Christen Prochaska, I have some questions I hope you won't mind answering. My husband and I are looking for a (male) playmate for our puppy (a boy chihuahua born 9.9.06). I want to make sure when we get him a friend we make the right decision which is why I have typed out this (sorry to say fairly long) questionnaire. I would appreciate it if you would fill out the attached form and send it back to me. We're not in any hurry so please don't feel rushed to get this back to me today, but it will take a few days to fill it out I would appreciate a reply just to say you got it and will get back to me with the answers.

Thank you very much,

Christen

Her response:

Hi Christen,

I have neither the time nor the patience to answer your questionnaire.

My time is spent raising healthy, happy, puppies and then finding loving responsible homes for them.

I would advise you to buy a puppy from the same people that you got your little boy from.

Obviously they filled out your questionnaire satisfactorily and passed your scrutiny.

Millie www.nannyszoo.com

I am aware that the form I sent was quite long, but I think any responsible breeder would be more than happy to answer questions for a prospective buyer.

[metalhead39]

can you post the questionare? Perhaps it would have been better to try multiple times of correspondece through either phone or email to get your answers after all you said that you weren't in a hurry.

[DragonLady]

I would also like to see your questionnaire! I am a breeder and send out one of my own to prospective owners. I have had folks tell me they do not have the time to fill out my questionnaire, and I let them know that they most likely would not have the time to feed water or care for any baby they got from me.

[Christen]

I never got a message saying anybody had replied to this...but here's the questionnaire i sent...


What are the most common/possible congenital defects that occur among Chihuahuas?

Please list all health problems that have occurred in any of your puppies or their parents.

What steps have you taken to decrease defects in all of your dogs? Would you be willing to provide proof on any tests or procedures?

What are your terms if the puppy develops genetic problems?

Do you have the parents of all your puppies on site?

If you have used a stud-service to father the puppies how did you choose the particular male? Has he gone through a thorough health examination? Was his temperament taken into consideration?

What are the good and bad aspects of the parents? Do they have any health problems, anxiety, aggression, temperaments, personalities, etc?

What criteria do you require in choosing your breeders: health, temperament, accomplishments, etc? How do you judge them?

Do you actively show any of your dogs? If so, in what competitions and what were the results? Did they receive any titles or awards?

What goals do you have with your breeding program? What steps are you going through to ensure the success of your program?

What are the weaknesses and strengths in your program currently? What were they in the past and how were they resolved or changed to make better?

Are you a member of any Chihuahua clubs or dog organizations?

If so, how strictly do you follow the Code of Ethics associated with the club or organization?

Where do you raise the puppies? In a basement, barn, kennel, living room, etc?

How do you socialize them? And at what age do you start?

What guarantees do you provide as stated in the purchasing contract?

Are there any limitations regarding registration stated in the contract? What are the terms of the contract?

Are there any requirements on the part of the buyer? Is a vet examination during a specific time-frame required, do you require the puppy to be spayed or neutered?

Do you ship your puppies overseas? If so, what are the conditions and guarantees?

How do you determine the price of a puppy? What would cause a difference in price from puppies within a litter and from those puppies to other litters?

What do you feed the puppies?

What type of healthcare will be provided before the puppy leaves the mother: vaccinations, tests, etc?

Are you willing to give references of previous buyers? Not just testimonials, but will you request permission for me to communicate via email with previous buyers?

How many different breeds of dogs do you breed? Why did you choose to breed them?

Approximately how many litters of each breed do you have in a year?

At what age do you begin to breed your dogs?

At what age do you remove the dog from his mother and litter-mates and place him in his new home?

When is your next litter due/planned? How do you determine the schedule for litters?

What are your requirements of someone interested in receiving a puppy? Do you do background checks, call landlords, talk to veterinarians, etc?

If someone receives a dog from you and in the future is unable to care for the dog are you willing to take the dog back? What happens to the dog in cases such as this?

[metalhead39]

this seems no different then questions that someone would ask who was shopping in person...they're turds

[Rocky's Mom]

Any good, responsible breeder would want a great home for their pups & I think would respond to any questions you may/might have.
Keep looking, the right is out there for you.

[Quinnchilla]

Mmm, those questions seem totally normal. If I was a breeder I would be happier if somebody took the time to ask- it shows they really care, and are knowledgeable and attempting to find a responsible breeder.
I wouldn't get a pup from her anyways as she just seems to be breeding many breeds of small dog as well as "hybrids" (I saw Pappypoms and yorkiepoos. She also mentioned cockapoos were coming and I thought I saw pics of other mixies). Personally I don't think she's a responsible breeder. I'm sure you'll find the right breeder and pup soon!
Good Luck, Quinn

[suzes]

Hello Everyone

I am new to this forum and have jumped in to answer a tough question.

Your questions were all very good and definitely needed to be answered.
When it is written up the way you submitted them, it does looks like alot.
But in reality they are all questions that a breeder needs to answer.


I am a breeder and have a few litters of chihuahuas a year and those
questions in no way would have been offensive to me. They tell me
that the new puppy buyer is trying to be responsible and wants a
breeder that is also just as responsible.

I screen my potential new puppy owners by asking and answering questions over a period of time using email. After getting a positive response I then set up a few phone calls. Then only with a good feeling in my heart I will then proceed to set a meeting to meet the potential new puppy owner. This meeting doesn't always include them seeing puppies a lot of my meetings are before the puppies are even born.

Finding a home, well the right home, for a puppy is something that should be taken very serious by both the buyer and the breeder. A Chi can live well into the high teens. That is a long time to commit to a animal so being serious and looking for the right match and creating a realtionship with the breeder is something that should not be taken lightly.

The best advise that anyone can give someone that is looking for a puppy is
IF YOU GET A BAD FEELING FROM A BREEDER THEN STEP AWAY AND LOOK ELSE WHERE NO MATTER HOW ATTRATICE THE PRICE MAYBE.


Have you ever heard the saying (you get what you pay for)

In my opinion Breeders that mix breeds and call them designer dogs are just trying to meet the demand of trendy buyers and are truly not breeding to any standards.

Never limit your questions, you deserve to have all you questions answered.
How else can you make an informed decision.

Good Luck in your search for a new puppy

[Nanobb]

That Nanny's Zoo site looks really sketchy to me. They have more than one breed and also sell crossbreeds. Most likely a well-hidden puppy mill IMHO.

[veguroev]

I feel bad for the puppies that they sell because if that breeder doesn't have the time to answer a questionnaire with questions that any responsible owner would ask, she deson't have time to screen the prospect owners.
Christen, have you foound a playpal for your pup yet?

[EquusAmore]

Chiming in agreeance! Although that list is very long, you didn't push her to send it back immidietly! I agree that if I we're a breeder and you asked those questions, I would be very happy to answer and sell you a puppy because obviously you are a very good and knowledgable dog owner. Could it be that since she was selling the "designer" breeds, she probably didn't know the answers to some of those questions and possibly had too many puppies and parents to keep track of to remember ALL the information?

Most likely a well-hidden puppy mill

Well put Nanobb.:)

[Grease1978]

I think you were very professional when going about asking her questions. Most people don't even think of those questions! It may be possible that she runs a puppy mill when she said she doesn't have "time". I'd be suspicious about that....

[Chihuahua4me]

I'm new here but I think your questionaire was good, I especially like to ask breeders about genetics and things like that. I have come across many who breed broken down eared chihuahua's and chi's with curly tails etc. it urks me to say the least and I like you would like to know that the breeder i am getting my puppy from doesn't use these dogs ina gene pool. Who knows maybe this breeder had been scrutinized by someone else and was ont he defense mode and thought that anyone who asked her questions about her kennel were trying to degrade her?:confused:

[miaka]

i asked all those same questions when i got my boys. exchanged about 5 emails then talked on the phone for over and hour and a half before i knew that this breeder was the one. if you get a funny feeling run! i still call/email mine and it is a month later! :)

[Milo 07]

Hey There.....Sounded like a good questionare:) my red flags went off when i saw the many different breeds she was offering.....dashaunds, shiz, chis, poms, i think there was another too but yeah...needless to say i think her responce wasn't very polite! Too bad because it just makes her come across in the wrong manner!

[dki's mom]

I just glanced at nannyszoo site and here are just a couple of red flags for me and I am by no means whatsoever experienced in finding good breeders or knowing all of the proper questions to ask.

First, she made it a point to say that people are not permitted to visit the puppies or the kennel, on the supposed advice of a vet. I researched numerous breeders online and NOT ONE refused to allow prospective owners to visit their home, kennel or puppies.

Second, a lot of the questions that you asked are very good and, I would think, any that a responsible breeder would be happy to answer. As a matter of fact, a lot of the breeder sites that I looked at, answered the majority of your questions within their own policies, contracts, etc. The fact that she does not have the time to answer your questions, coupled with all of the cross breeding and not allowing anyone to visit says...STAY AWAY!! just an opinion.

I will be getting my first Chi at the end of the month. The breeder I am getting my baby from is in MI (I am in OH) and I will be going there to pick him up. All, or most, of the questions in your questionnaire, were answered by her in the contract and throughout her website....I had all the answers without having to figure out what questions to ask. She is in contact with me by e-mail, sending me pictures and is willing to answer any questions I may think of. Her name is Barb and her site is www.freewebs.com/bandhkennels. Good luck in your search for a breeder and new baby!!

[PomMom]

I hate to bump old threads but I felt it very important to bump this thread.

I live in Central Alabama and I bought a Pomeranian from Nanny's Zoo. Less than a year later, Millie and Nanny's Zoo was determined to be a puppy mill!

I can't tell you the emotions that ran through me. The first thing I did was to consult my vet. He told me all we can do is keep a good close eye on her for anything that might creep up. I believe my vet and his office workers were partially responsible for bringing this puppy mill to the light and leading to its bust.

For a little more information on the nanny's zoo puppy mill bust, go to http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/08/nearly_200_dogs_rescued_from.html

For those of you who had reservations about Nanny's Zoo you were absolutely correct. I certainly hope your reservations and the OP of this thread helped dozens of potential adopters NOT choose Nanny's Zoo.

[Unioceect]

you have to be there right when the toys r us truck comes in - and they have a limit on 3 per person here - we got them but it was because someone who works there told me when the trucks come - the are amazing though so fun - we have real ones too and these are too adorable - zhu zhu pets use to be called go go pets so maybe you can find those?