“Puppy Mill”… any conscious family will do their best to never buy a pup from such a place. But what exactly is a “puppy mill”? An ethical breeder is someone who cares deeply for their adults and their pups. The defining characteristic is that they are diligent in protecting their breed and making sure that not only they take care of their pups, but also the buyers. While there are some absolute ideals that we believe every breeder should adhere to, there are some things that are a matter of preference or context. In the list below, we outline the 10 signs that a pup is from a Puppy Mill and should be avoided at all costs:
1. Adult Dogs have no health clearances
An ethical breeder aims to produce healthy puppies and limit common breed-related health issues. Each breed has its own health strengths and weaknesses. Although several health tests can be conducted on dogs, it’s impractical to test for all of them. Even if a parent passes all health clearances, it doesn’t guarantee that the puppy won’t get sick. The ethical breeder’s goal is to reduce the chances of illnesses. They cannot guarantee that their dogs will not have hip dysplasia, heart murmurs, cancer or other diseases. Some tests can be done while others cannot. For example, we can test for elbow dysplasia but not for cancer. Potential buyers should be aware that no breeder can promise anything. We suggest checking the American Kennel Club’s breed-specific health recommendations as a good standard. For Golden Retrievers, they should have CHIC certification for hips, elbows, eyes, and heart clearances. Most ethical breeders will not breed Golden Retrievers without these “Big 4” clearances. There are additional clearances like ichthyosis, thyroid, and other genetic tests that can be performed but not required. Puppy mills rarely test the parents’ health. Any ethical breeder who invests in health testing will gladly show the clearances and not just say “Cleared by parentage” or “Health Cleared.” Verify the parents’ health clearances as many puppy mills lie about them. There are reliable registries like OFA, PennHip, BVA, KC, FCI, and AVA. Double-check the names and dates and verify anything that looks suspicious.
There are many doodle breeds that lack a clear list of recommended health clearances, but it’s best to examine each breed individually and choose the necessary health clearances, particularly if it’s a concern for both parent breeds. For example, for an F1 generation (such as a Goldendoodle), one should examine health clearances for both Golden Retrievers and Poodles and compare the parents. For an F1b generation (like an F1B Goldendoodle with one GoldenDoodle parent and one Poodle parent), it’s best to stick to the same health clearances. As the generations progress beyond F1b, more poodle health clearances will be required. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but ethical breeders will perform necessary health clearances, while puppy mills ignore them completely. If a breeder can show evidence of clear health testing, there’s a high probability that they are not a puppy mill.
2. Pups and Adults are raised in unsanitary and/or unsafe conditions
Ensuring a healthy and sanitary environment for dogs is a subjective matter and can vary from one breeder to another. While dogs may not be naturally clean animals and can get dirty, ethical breeders make sure to maintain a clean environment for their dogs and puppies. They clean their facility regularly and do not allow their animals to remain dirty. Here are some signs that a breeder may not be maintaining a healthy and sanitary environment for their dogs:
If a breeder is not cleaning their entire inside facility every day, it can become unsanitary very quickly. For example, if there is a whelping box or puppy playroom, it needs to be fully cleaned every day. Depending on the size of the room and the number of puppies, it may need to be cleaned twice a day. However, at a minimum, it needs to be fully sanitized once a day to maintain a healthy and sanitary environment for the dogs.
The use of disinfectants is a must. While it’s important for dogs to be clean, continuous baths may not be necessary for all breeds. The frequency of baths depends on the individual breed, the dog’s coat type, and how often the dog gets dirty. Some breeds have coats that are easy to clean, while others may need more attention to prevent matting and odor buildup. It’s up to the breeder to assess each dog’s individual needs and keep them clean as necessary. However, if a dog is visibly dirty or smells bad, it’s important to give them a bath to maintain their hygiene. Ultimately, it’s the breeder’s responsibility to ensure that their dogs are kept clean and healthy, which may require regular baths for some breeds.
3. Buyers are not pre-screened at all
An ethical breeder should prioritize the well-being of their puppies and aim to prevent them from ending up in the hands of a puppy mill, a backyard breeder, or an unsuitable home. To achieve this, a thorough application process should be in place to screen potential buyers. A breeder who simply has a “BUY HERE” button without any pre-screening is not demonstrating a commitment to the welfare of their puppies. It is important to note that any breeder who does not prioritize the welfare of the breed is akin to a puppy mill.
4. Pups are allowed to be sold with breeding rights to anyone or simply for some extra money
The job of an ethical breeder is to protect the breed from stagnation. Even if a breeder is not operating a puppy mill or a “backyard breeding” operation, they must still make every effort to prevent their puppies from being sold to such establishments. This means that ethical breeders should not only screen potential clients, but also restrict breeding rights to only those individuals who meet certain criteria. While some breeders may charge an additional fee for breeding rights, this practice is not inherently unethical. However, if a breeder fails to screen potential buyers to ensure they are not operating a puppy mill, then they are not fulfilling their duty as an ethical breeder to protect the breed. To this end, a contract must be signed and an ethical breeder will follow up with the client to ensure compliance, and will be prepared to take necessary legal action.
5. Breeder is a “middle-man” selling pups to pet stores or someone else
An ethical breeder places a high priority on the welfare of their puppies. They strive to ensure that their puppies are placed in homes that will provide them with appropriate care, including necessary shots and dewormings, and will never surrender them to a pet shelter. They are even willing to take a puppy back for any reason. However, these goals cannot be achieved if a breeder chooses to sell their puppies to a pet store. For decades, pet stores were the primary venue for purchasing purebred puppies in America. Unfortunately, the vast majority (95%) of these puppies came from puppy mills. This is why pet stores are going out of business, and why it is a standard rule for almost every breed organization that breeders should not be “middle-men” and should have direct contact with their clients. By doing so, breeders can pre-screen potential buyers and ensure that their puppies are placed in loving, responsible homes.
6. Pups & Parents do not receive adequate health check-ups, shots, dewormings
An ethical breeder places a great emphasis on the physical health of both puppies and adult dogs. This means they ensure that each puppy is up-to-date on all shots, dewormings, and other recommended treatments, which may vary depending on breed and location. Almost every breed and location requires rabies vaccines (at the right age), as well as vaccines for parvo, distemper, and appropriate deworming. Other vaccines, such as those for kennel cough, lepto, and preventative measures for heartworm, fleas, and ticks, may also be recommended. Ethical breeders take great care to maintain the health of their adult dogs and puppies, while puppy mills tend to cut corners in this area. When meeting with a breeder, we recommend asking to see the parents of the puppies and assessing their overall health. You may even consider asking for the name and contact information of the breeder’s veterinarian to verify that the breeder is following their recommendations.
7. Breeders won’t allow visits to see facility or parents
A puppy mill will often go to great lengths to prevent you from seeing their facilities or the parents of the puppies. They may prefer to ship or deliver a puppy to you, or arrange to meet you at a neutral location. If you do visit their premises to pick up a puppy, they will typically only show you the puppy and refuse to allow you to see the rest of their facility. Conversely, an ethical breeder takes great pride in their dogs and facilities. Of course, this doesn’t mean that their premises will be perfect 24/7, and there may be some signs of recent use, such as dog poop that hasn’t yet been cleaned up. However, you should be able to tell whether the breeder has made an effort to maintain a clean and safe environment for their dogs.
8. Pups are allowed to leave too young
Most counties in the US require puppies to be at least 8 weeks old before going to their new homes, with a few allowing it at 6 weeks. It is important to check the regulations in the breeder’s county and ensure that the breeder is following these laws. Picking up a puppy before 6 weeks of age can be dangerous as the puppy may not have been weaned appropriately. Even if picked up between 6-8 weeks, there is still a high risk of health issues such as diarrhea, hypoglycemia, giardia, and coccidia, which can be fatal if not professionally treated. The goal of a puppy mill is to get rid of puppies as early as possible with the least amount of effort and money spent. Puppies that are not yet weaned (4-6 weeks old) require minimal effort, while those over 6 weeks old require more cleaning and care, which is not something a puppy mill wants to invest in.
9. Buyers are not required to sign contract to protect pup
An ethical breeder cares deeply for the welfare of every puppy they produce and the breed. They will pre-screen clients and require a written contract that outlines the minimum requirements and expectations. While not every ethical breeder offers a warranty, about 95% of them do. The contract will ensure that both the breeder and client are in agreement.
- Caring for your dogs in a humane way
- Returning the dog to the breeder if you choose not to keep it
- Not breeding the dog
- Pups and adults are not being socialized properly
10. Pups & Adults are not being socialized properly
Socialization is the ability to get your dog to spend time with people and be introduced to unique situations. An unsocialized dog will have many severe issues, like aggression and extreme fear. An ethical breeder will work to socialize their pups around different people and situations, which can be difficult, especially with young pups. A good breeder will not take a 6-week-old pup to a dog park to socialize it because it is dangerous health-wise. A breeder must balance good physical and emotional health. If a pup leaves the breeder at 8 weeks of age and has only been around the breeder, that’s not a terrible thing. However, if a pup leaves the breeder at 16 weeks of age having only been around the breeder, that could be very bad since the pup needs socialization. FYI – just because a breeder does a great job at socializing their pup doesn’t mean the pup won’t have any behavioral issues in the future. Submissive urination, extreme fear issues like car rides, thunderstorms, etc., can all happen with a dog that has been socialized. Additionally, remember that when considering adding a furry friend to your family, adoption is always an option. Many shelters and rescue organizations have loving puppies and dogs in need of forever homes. Consider adopting a puppy and giving them a second chance at a happy life.
