Would you buy a dog with a cosmetic “fault”

[Anonymous]

I purchased an AKC Pekingese puppy from a breeder ($3k) and recently learned that the dog is considered albino. She has blue eyes and a pink nose/mouth. This is considered a fault. I have no intention of returning the dog but was it right for them to sell this dog and not disclose or discount the price? According to AKC she could never compete due to her albinism (automatic disqualification) and she is at a higher risk of cancer.

[Anonymous]

No you don't get a refund and keep the dog.

[Anonymous]

I would buy a dog with a fault but I would expect the brewder to be very transparent about this. Our breeder disclosed even minor things like teeth not being perfectly aligned that would have no impact on quality of life but made them unlikely to be show or breeding level. Thus breeder sounds sketch.

[Anonymous]

The breeder should have mentioned this, in the context of whether you wanted a show or pet animal. The price might be the same regardless! But he or she cannot sell you a dog you plan to show if they have such a fault without disclosing it.

[Anonymous]

I dont think a breeder would actually get away with selling a "faulty" animal at the same price as their AKC registered siblings. Are you sure you didnt already get a discount? These are expensive animals, so I could see them going for more than $3k, and $3k still being a "discount".

You also dont appear to be very experienced, as someone experienced with this breed would know right away and have said something. So really, if you love the dog as is, didnt know the difference, why the fuss now?

I googled this breed of albino - boy does it look like Falcor.

[Anonymous]

If you saw the dog before purchase, there doesn't seem to be cause for complaint. If you use sunscreen on the non furry portions of the dog's body the pink nose and lack of pigment is unlikely to cause any issue. It doesn't sound as if the dog was sold as anything other than a pet, so AKC disqualifying fault doesn't mean much. For what it is worth, my mixed breed has a partially pink nose and pale skin, aside from random people calling him cute, it doesn't really affect his life. A health/quality of life issue (blindness, bad hips, bad knees, dwarfism).would of course be a no from a breeder, but cosmetic flaws are often why dogs are sold as pet home only, so I'd expect there to be something. I do think there should be a discussion, but with something as obvious as color/pigment, the breederay have just assumed you knew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No you don't get a refund and keep the dog.

This is not what the OP asked.

[Anonymous]

I would only expect a breeder to point out a conformation ring fault if you expressed interest in buying a dog for conformation shows. If that were the case, I’m quite sure you’d have paid more than $3k. So, it is likely you paid pet price for a pet quality dog. You saw the dog’s color before you bought it, right? If it was shipped to you and was a different color than advertised when you picked it up at the airport , then you’d have a case.

[Anonymous]

Did you pick the one you wanted, or did the breeder match personalities to your application?

TBH, sounds like a BYB if it was never mentioned.

[Anonymous]

The breeder definitely should have told you. When we purchased a dog, he disclosed that the dog had a hernia and offered a discount.

[Anonymous]

Well, what was the expectation when you bought her? What does your contract say? Are you required to neuter the dog? If you are required to neuter the dog per your contract, you are buying a pet dog, not a show dog, and such a "fault" doesn't matter because you won't be showing or breeding her.

But the albinism definitely should have been disclosed. How are homes for puppies in the litter decided? Does the breeder choose which dog goes to which home? Or are buyers choosing which dog they want? FWIW, buyers choosing which dog they want is a red flag that points toward a puppy mill. Just because the dogs are registered with the AKC doesn't mean you aren't dealing with a puppy mill.

Just love your dog. And don't recommend that breeder to anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The breeder definitely should have told you. When we purchased a dog, he disclosed that the dog had a hernia and offered a discount.

I was given a dog with a hernia -- and it was not disclosed in advance. I actually hadn't picked the dog up yet -- she had gone to a board and train program before she was to come home, and the trainer told me. I was very upset (much more so about feeling a lack of trust because of the breeder's failure to disclose it as opposed to concern about the hernia) and consulted with my vet who told me to return the dog and demand my money back. It got ugly and emotional, but eventually I got my money back. It wasn't about the money at all, and a hernia isn't necessarily a big deal at all either -- it was about lack of trust and my vet figuring out that this was a puppy mill and, upon her advice, not supporting it. It was hard. Not a good time at all.

But yeah, any little fault should be disclosed in advance by a reputable breeder.

[Anonymous]

To me the point of paying for AKC papers is to ensure you’re getting the breed you want without a mix and that the dog conforms to AKC standards. If it doesn’t you shouldn’t pay for the dog like they have a pedigree because it has issues.

[Anonymous]

I think there is an assumption that any dog that is sold as a pet has a fault that means it couldn't be shown in the ring. If the fault is just cosmetic, then I think that's expected at the pet price. I once looked at a dog whose markings weren't symmetrical in a breed where the standard is symmetry. That's a purely cosmetic fault.

But a fault that puts the dog at increased risk of cancer isn't purely cosmetic. They should have told you, although I think it's possible that they thought you were familiar with the breed standard. It sounds as though the fault was obvious, and most people looking to purchase a purebreed dog would have familiarized themselves with the breed standard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, what was the expectation when you bought her? What does your contract say? Are you required to neuter the dog? If you are required to neuter the dog per your contract, you are buying a pet dog, not a show dog, and such a "fault" doesn't matter because you won't be showing or breeding her.

But the albinism definitely should have been disclosed. How are homes for puppies in the litter decided? Does the breeder choose which dog goes to which home? Or are buyers choosing which dog they want? FWIW, buyers choosing which dog they want is a red flag that points toward a puppy mill. Just because the dogs are registered with the AKC doesn't mean you aren't dealing with a puppy mill.

Just love your dog. And don't recommend that breeder to anyone.

Op here. The breeder matched me with the puppy and I was provided puppy pictures of the dog at 4 weeks and picked them up at 3 months old. In that time their nose coloring changed from brownish to pink.