OK, I am totally not trying to start anything here - just playing the devil's advocate. First, none of us lives in Hong Kong, so we can't really speak to the puppy-buying experience there. It's another country entirely and they go by another set of rules. Their norm is not ours. Just because WE advocate the purchase of puppies from reputable breeders we can meet and speak with doesn't mean that's how it's done there. This may be the way they do things, and those puppies might be perfectly healthy and come from good lines. Second, while I agree that the dog appears to have low pasterns (although it could also just be that the puppy is scared or was in mid-sitting motion), that isn't necessarily an indication of poor health. There are many things you can do to strengthen weak pasterns - feeding a good diet, giving supplements, and providing proper exercise all help in that area. Can you show the dog? No, but they still make for great pets. Third, and again I am in no way advocating for the continuation of puppy mills, but what exactly do we think happens to those dogs in shops? I've said it before and I will say it again, I would much rather have someone who knows the potential ramifications of purchasing a pet from a pet store do it than someone who is completely unaware of the issues. Would it be better for someone unfamiliar with the breed and without access to this site and other resources to purchase the dog, struggle with it for a couple of years, and then give it up to a rescue? Or worse, just have it put down? I'm not sure that a couple of years of suffering on both ends is good for either party - dog or human. Someone going into the situation with eyes wide open and in a financial situation where they're able to give the dog proper care is the ideal situation for a dog born under these circumstances. Wishing for puppy mills to go away isn't going to magically make it happen, and someone needs to take care of those dogs that are there through no fault of their own.
So, [MENTION=1567]Sandral45[/MENTION], if you are going into this with your eyes wide open and completely and totally understand that you could be getting a puppy that has many expensive issues to deal with - and you have the financial resources to do so - it's your decision. Trust your gut. Is there a way you can speak to anyone who's bought a dog or other animal from this place before? Even past Frenchie purchasers? You can see from the food brand on the shelves that the place is at least decent. It's not like there's Beneful or Ol' Roy they're selling.
Good luck, and keep us posted!
