What Is a Puppy Mill? The term “puppy mill” is used to describe a large-scale commercial dog breeding enterprise. Sometimes called puppy farms, these businesses tend to house their dogs and puppies in terrible conditions and focus on profit over the health and well-being of the animals. Puppy mill proprietors mass-produce puppies by over-breeding dogs, often regardless of health or genetic defects. The breeding dogs spend their lives being bred repeatedly until no longer deemed useful, then destroyed.
- Communication
Your contact with the breeder / puppy mill will begin with a telephone conversation. It is important to pay attention to how he communicates. Does he answer the questions in detail, is he polite, does not try to “sell” the puppy to you by all means? The breeder will become almost a relative to you. You will ask him for advice, he will help you with the dog both in word and deed.
Breeder: will be willing to talk long and thoughtfully, asking you about family, housing, work and experience with dogs.
Puppy mill: agree to give the animal “over the phone”, does not ask questions.
- Price
If a person sells a thoroughbred animal well below market value, this should be alarming. A low price for a puppy means that the cost is either minimal or nonexistent. This means that his food is of poor quality, vaccinations may not be available, there are no vitamins, toys, veterinary services, or socialization, which takes time.
Breeder: appreciates his work and is confident in the qualities of his babies, the price is market price (an exception may be in the case of a grown-up, “overdue” animal).
Puppy mill: bargains willingly, the price is well below the market.
- Keeping dogs
Be sure to evaluate the place of residence of the Animals and the seller.
Breeder: lives in a private house or large apartment. Puppies have large, clean enclosures or rooms, lawns for walking. The bowls contain clean water. Fresh air is indoors, it does not smell of excrement or “chemistry”.
Puppy mill: will offer to meet somewhere. If invited to the apartment, he will show the puppy in a separate room, designed to show the “product by the face”. He will refuse to show the habitat of the puppies.
- Condition of dogs
Assess the animal’s appearance. Puppies should under no circumstances look sickly and lethargic. They should be active, strong, well-nourished, and with healthy mucous membranes, without secretions. They should not have wounds, ulcers, bald spots in the fur. Puppies should not smell like excrement or urine.
- Veterans or older dogs
Having older dogs can tell a lot about a breeder. Firstly, the presence of retirees suggests that dogs are evidently living up to retirement, they do not have fatal pathologies, due to which they live for 2-3 years, and there are no health problems. And, secondly, this says a lot about the kennel, which does not get rid of dogs of non reproductive age, from which there is no practical benefit. Therefore, older dogs in the kennel are definitely a plus.
Also a big plus is the willingness to show parents of puppy. And if the dog can be from another kennel, then the bitch must be at home and ready to meet you.
- Maintenance, reputation, consistency
– A good breeder does not part with the puppy’s family on the day of purchase. He never leaves her. I am ready to help, prompt, communicate – and inform you about this when we meet.
– A good breeder values his reputation. He does not have the task of selling “by all means”. There are no “smelly” stories around him, but there are families happily living with his animals, which can be found on social networks or whose contacts the breeder is ready to provide.
– Finally, the Breeder does not come across as a starving person. His bread and butter should not depend on whether he sells a puppy today or not. He should be free in his decisions and also “weigh” you – are you good enough for his baby or not.