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When looking for a puppy, it’s easy to fall in love with the cute puppy pictures. What you have to remember, though, is that not all puppy ads are placed by responsible breeders. The majority of ads placed on internet classified cites are backyard breeders or puppy mills. It’s important to learn how to spot a puppy mill so you can avoid paying a big price for a puppy that may end up having health or temperament issues.
So, what are the signs that you are dealing with a puppy mill?
1. They always seem to have available puppies.
Puppy mills are large scale breeders. They typically have dozens to hundreds of dogs. These puppy farms are constantly producing puppies as that is how they make their money. They always have multiple litters that they are trying to sell. Their females are bred on every heat cycle, never giving them a break.
2. They do not want you to visit.
Puppy mills do not want people visiting their puppy farm. They do not want people to see the conditions that their dogs live in and that their puppies are born and raised in. Puppy farms will offer to deliver your puppy to a parking lot to meet you. They do not want you picking your puppy up from their facility.
3. They do not screen puppy buyers.
Puppy mills just want your money. They will sell puppies to whoever has the money without any concern for if the puppy is a good fit for the family or if it’s a good home for the puppy. A puppy mill doesn’t ask questions, if you have the money, you get the puppy. They don’t ask for references and don’t require you to visit them before you get a puppy.
4. They do not provide adequate care for their dogs.
Unfortunately, the dogs at a puppy mill are only there to produce puppies. They are often kept in small cages or inadequate spaces. The dogs are not kept clean or groomed and often have untreated injuries or medical conditions. There are too many dogs to be cared for properly. They are neglected, matted and not provided with the love and attention that they deserve.
5. They do not take puppies back if the new owners can no longer care for them.
Once you get your puppy there is no returning him for any reason. Responsible breeders will take back a dog if you can no longer care for him, puppy mills don’t care if their puppies end up in shelters or rescues. Once the puppy leaves their puppy farm, he is your responsibility. If you can no longer care for him, you must find another home for him yourself or surrender him to a rescue or shelter.
6. They do not provide support to the people who buy their puppies.
Puppy mills do not stay in contact with their puppy owners. They do not give advice or guidance to their puppy buyers. Often, once they have your money, they have very little time to answer any questions that you have. You will not hear from them anymore unless you were to contact them about purchasing another dog.
7. Do not health test their dogs.
Puppy mills do not health test their dogs. They breed for profit and do not put any of the money back in to their breeding program. They often breed dogs that are not structurally sound and that are not healthy specimens of the breed.
8. They do not sell puppies on a non breeding agreement.
Puppy mills don’t care what you do with their puppies once you get them. They sell their puppies with breeding rights, whether they are breeding quality or not. And whether you plan on breeding responsibly or not. They contribute to the pet overpopulation problem by mass producing puppies themselves and by allowing their puppy buyers to breed the dogs that they buy from them.
9. They do not sell their puppies with a contract and guarantee.
When you buy a puppy from a puppy mill you will not receive a contract or a guarantee. If you do, chances are it will not be honored if you ever need it to be. Often, their puppies are not registered or are mixed breeds. They are sold in either pet stores on online classified ads. You may be promised a signed contract but not receive one when you get your puppy.
10. They let their puppies go to new homes before they are 8 weeks old.
Puppy mills will let their puppies go to new homes before they are 8 weeks old. They do not care if the puppies are mentally and physically old enough to leave their mother. These facilities are about making a profit so they sell their puppies as soon as possible so they no longer have to house and feed them.
Part of finding a responsible breeder is knowing the signs of what you should avoid in an irresponsible breeder. Supporting puppy mills only contributes to pet overpopulation and the breeding of unhealthy, uncared for dogs. Well adjusted puppies need a good start to their life. They do not get that good start when they come from a puppy mill. Watch for these signs to avoid buying your puppy from a puppy mill situation.
Related article: Secrets Revealed: How To Find A Responsible Dog Breeder
If you have any other tips for identifying a puppy mill please leave them in the comments below.
