Liz, if it's from a local supplier chances are that they are a backyard breeder who pumps out as many pups as possible regardless of the mother's welfare or the welfare of the puppies. I don't think that any reputable breeder would sell their pups through a pet store.

If you buy a purebred puppy from a reputable registered breeder most of them will offer you support and advice for the lifetime of the puppy - this extends to helping you rehome them if nessescary.

One of the main reasons that our pounds are overflowing is the ease with which people can buy undesexed animals from pet shops. Most of the registered breeders will get potential buyers to sign a desexing contract and increasingly they are refusing to sell undesexed animals because of the danger that they will become involved in puppy farming or backyard breeding.