In the Company of Dog

I was at the dog park today when the discussion of puppy mills came up. Apparently there was an article is some magazine recently about it. What fascinated me was that everyone in the conversation (about 8 people) excluding myself, admitted they had purchased one of their dogs from a pet store. Almost all of them had no idea that puppies in stores come from puppy mills. The few that did felt that they had “saved” the puppies they had purchased from the pet store. All of this struck me.
The group discussed the cruel conditions and poor health of the animals, but when I brought up over breeding they had no idea how often a dog should even be bred. They talked about the huge mills in Missouri, and “in the south”, but none could actually tell me how many dogs is too many. One argued that their dog came with “papers” and therefore was not a mill dog. The misinformation was truly shocking. People seem to be sickened by puppy mills but have no idea what is really going on. This discussion and the ignorance lacing it inspired me to explain what is really going on and explain the best ways to properly procure a puppy.

#1. Puppy Mills - Why they are bad
I know this point seems self explanatory but the truth needs to be understood so misinformation stops flowing.
Puppy mills are large breeding operations in various states throughout the US. They can be found in Pennsylvania, Missouri, Ohio, Iowa, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, etc. There are believed to be as many as 4,000 puppy mills in the United States. These operations usually breed upwards of 6-10 breeds of dog in site. They usually breed dogs every time they come into heat and keep the mother and puppies in cramped, dirty conditions until the puppies are shipped to stores. Some puppy mills also sell their dogs online. Puppy mills never consider the genetic health of the dogs then choosing which dogs to breed. Puppies are taken away from their their mothers as young as 6 weeks and shipped to pet stores where they never learn proper behavior and social cues from little mates and parents. Many develop serious temperament and health issues once they leave the mill. Dogs from puppy mills can come with papers from also any kennel club. These papers guarantee nothing about the health, temperament or conditions the dog was bred under. Puppies with papers from APRI- America’s Pet Registry, CKC-Continental Kennel Club, ACR-American Canine Registry are probably from a puppy mill and should be avoided.

#2. Backyard Breeders
Backyard breeders are a little harder to spot but in many ways, are no different from puppy mills. The only real difference is the size of the operation. Backyard breeders may breed anywhere from one breed to three or four. Like puppy mills, the mothers are heavily bred. Puppies are many times removed from the mother early just like at the large mills. Backyard breeders rarely test from genetic defects, but a few do. Some backyard breeders will allow you to come and see their facility. It may be a large kennel or just a room in there home. Some are very clean and the people seem very nice. This does not mean they are still not ethical breeders. A huge red flag is that the breeder always has puppies available. Be careful not to be tricked into buying a puppy from a backyard breeder.

Proper Puppy Procurement
Now that puppy mills and backyard breeders are properly explained I can focus on how to properly find a puppy.
First research the breed of dog you are interested in adding to your family. Even “designer” breeds have information and books out their explaining the characteristics of the breed. If you are looking for a mixed breed that is not specifically defined, research the breeds that make up the mix. Be prepared for all the quirks of the breed you like. All of them!
Next contact the breed club of your chosen breed. If you are looking for a mix, a breed club of one of the breeds will probably be able to point you in the direction of a breed rescue that has mixes. Breed clubs usually have a wealth of information about the breed and usually has a list of ethical breeders you can contact. Contact the breeders and see if they fit the following criteria:
*NEVER pick out a breeder based on how nice a website they have. Anyone can create a nice website and some breeders don’t have nice websites because they have a bigger priority - their dogs!

Criteria for screening a breeder:
Does the breeder always have puppies available? (Huge red flag! Breeders should be breeding for a reason other then to sell puppies.)
Proper testing - Do the parents have OFA (eye) and CERF (hips and knees) tests? (These tests are very important in determining genetic defects.)
Can you meet one or more of the parents? (You want to be able to see the temperament of that parents as well as size and overall health.)
Does the breeder belong to any clubs or organisations related to the breed? (Breeds who belong to breed clubs, kennel clubs, obedience clubs etc, care about dogs and about their breed. Also you can contact these organizations and see if they are in good standing.)
How old are the puppies when they leve the mother (no puppy should be younger then 8 weeks)
How often does the breeder breed the mother? (Dogs should never be bred every heat cycle. It is not healthy for the mother or the puppies. This means dogs should wait a year before being bred again.)
Does the breeder have a contract that requests the dog back if you cannot keep it? (Good breeders love their puppies and only want the best for them. They will want the puppy back to place in another wonderful home if you cannot keep it.)

This is a basic guide. When all else fails, go with your gut.
Remember - puppies sold in pet stores ALWAYS come from backyard breeders and puppy mills.

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