Husband and wife team, Owen and Ivy Ann Sim, owners of pet grooming and training centre, Best Friends, ask customers to agree in the sales contract not to breed the dog they buy.

The Sims have done this since they started selling husky puppies about four years ago. Huskies, which come from cold places like Alaska, are difficult to home-breed in Singapore.

Apart from this fact, most pet shop owners say that inexpertly bred puppies often end up with health or temperament problems.

Mr Sim, 40, who has been breeding show-quality huskies from America for five years, said his strict quality control meant he has bred only 14 husky puppies so far. Seven have been sold.

Other pet shops agreed with the spirit of the Sims' sales condition but were sceptical about its effectiveness.

Mr David Gee, 46, owner of Pets Parade, went so far as to say: 'It's a bit ridiculous because when you buy something, you own it.

'Who are the sellers to tell the owners what to do?'

Mrs Sim, 38, admitted: 'We cannot enforce the contract. Instead, we call the owners occasionally to ensure that their dogs are okay.'

The couple also price their dogs at about $5,000 each and will lower the price only after screening potential owners.

Shuli Sudderuddin