A reputable breeder wants to cover expenses—not make her living selling dogs. Do not deal with anyone who breeds more than two breeds or specializes in rare colors, sizes, etc. Eliminate from your list any breeder who only accepts cash or credit cards. Cross a breeder off your list if you find dirty conditions.
Frightened, antisocial or unhealthy looking dogs on the premises are serious deal breakers. Never buy a dog from anyone who does not want you to visit their home and spend some time with their dogs. Make sure you meet at least one parent of the litter. If you want an older dog that is already trained, housebroken, and socialized, the breeder might have one available that you can get to know on a visit before any decision is made.
While you are with the breeder, take a look at available background documentation—for example, health records and litter registration. Ask for referrals from a vet, local breed club, or satisfied puppy buyers. Question the breeder about her experience and breeding plan.
A good breeder will often have a puppy waiting list and always interrogates potential buyers about their ability to care for the dog. Questions the breeder will probably ask include:. Good breeders deserve to be compensated for the time and resources they put into producing sound pups. Keep in mind, however, that some pups in a litter will match the breed standard more than others. Pups identified as potentially competitive in conformation shows are considered show quality; others are pet quality; and some pups may take the breeder longer than the first few weeks to evaluate.
Other pet stores like my local PetCo only stock dogs and cats from local rescues. But many puppy mills are licensed. The repercussions for not being licensed or violating terms are modest at best. That said, you can still report a puppy mill to the Humane Society of the United States. You can also contact local law enforcement or shelters to see what resources they have to get involved. Again, unfortunately, many puppy mills and large-scale breeding operations are legal.
If your dog came to you from a mysterious background, you may now find yourself wondering — do I have a puppy mill dog myself? How can one identify a puppy mill dog? Many neglected dogs, dogs from hoarding cases, or undersocialized dogs show very similar behavior patterns to puppy mill dogs. Some puppy mill dogs are also relatively well-adjusted. In general, however, you might have a puppy mill dog in your home if you see many of the following traits:.
Small, white, fluffy dogs seem particularly common. Almost all puppies are universally cute. But being critical and alert will do you and all the dogs of the world far more good than if you purchase a puppy mill puppy. If you remember one thing about identifying puppy mills, remember this: a good breeder will always be happy to answer your questions about the breed and their dogs honestly and in-depth.
While they may ship puppies or want to meet you away from their home, this is a far cry from the shady sales tactics and empty promises deployed by puppy mills. If something feels off, trust your gut.
This only supports an incredibly dark and damaging industry. Cat breeding occurs under similar conditions to supply pet stores with kittens. Backyard breeders are also motivated by profit. Ads from these unscrupulous breeders fill the classifieds. Backyard breeders may appear to be the nice neighbor next door-in fact, even seemingly good-intentioned breeders may treat their breeding pairs as family pets.
Some backyard breeders may only breed their family dog once in awhile, but they often are not knowledgeable on how to breed responsibly, such as screening for genetic defects. Responsible, proper breeding entails much more than simply putting two dogs together. Because puppy mills and backyard breeders choose profit over animal welfare, their animals typically do not receive proper veterinary care. Animals may seem healthy at first but later show issues like congenital eye and hip defects, parasites or even the deadly Parvovirus.
When puppy mills and backyard breeders flood the market with animals, they reduce homes available for animals from reputable establishments, shelters and rescue groups. Common terms include an agreement to neuter or spay, to train the dog, and most important, that the dog must be returned to the breeder if you can no longer care for him for any reason. A professional breeder wants their dogs back and does not allow them to be turned in to shelters. They should also make it easy for the buyer to return the animal if necessary.
Unfortunately, puppy mills have tainted the reputation of the professional breeding industry as the mills are very cleverly disguising themselves as reputable breeders. They create gorgeous websites to trick you into believing that they are professional breeders. Sadly, some of them even advertise on their websites that they are not a puppy mill! Puppy mills prey on the fact that consumers do not know what questions to ask and what information to validate when they are shopping for their new puppy.
It is up to you to validate whether the breeder is professional breeder or a puppy mill or one of their agents in disguise.
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