PUPPY MILLS
 
 
Puppy Mill's come in different forms. there are the ones like you have seen on TV that are like "Concentration Camps" for dogs.They are kept in small wire cages stacked one on top of each other, urine and feces falling onto the dogs below;bred season after season, every 6 months, with no health care, little food or water until they either die or can't breed any more. They are then discarded on the side of the road (the lucky ones), shot, drowned or sold at auction onto another Puppy Mill.
 
However, there is an even MORE insidious Puppy Mill out there.
 
These masquerade as "concerned breeders".
They have websites with cute puppy pictures and even "Testimonials" from previous buyers.
 
 
DON'T BE FOOLED
 
They ARE a Puppy Mill almost as bad as the other type. They just go about it more cleverly.
 
HOW DO YOU TELL
 
the difference between one of these types of Puppy Mill's and the legitimate REPUTABLE breeder?
There are a few things to look for:
 
REPUTABLE BREEDER
 
PUPPY MILL
DON'T HAVE PUPS FOR SALE AT ALL TIMES BUT WILL KEEP A WAITING LIST
USUALLY HAVE PUPS FOR SALE WHENEVER YOU INQUIRE
 
DOES NOT ASK FOR LARGE NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT BEFORE LITTER IS BORN
OFTEN REQUIRES LARGE NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT BEFORE LITTER IS BORN
 
DOES NOT ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS OR PAYPAL
ACCEPTS CREDIT CARDS AND PAYPAL
DOES GIVE A GENETIC HEALTH GUARANTEE OF MORE THAN 1 YEAR
DOES NOT GIVE A HEALTH GUARANTEE OF MORE THAN 1 YEAR
DOES NOT BRAG ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY SPEND FEEDING THEIR DOGS
DO BRAG ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY SPEND
FEEDING THEIR DOGS
HAVE PROOF OF ANY HEALTH TESTING DONE SUCH AS CERF TEST PAPERS
JUST SAY THEY HEALTH TEST BUT CANNOT PRODUCE DOCUMENTATION OTHER THAN A VET EXAM
DO NOT HAVE "TESTIMONIALS"
FROM HAPPY BUYERS
DO HAVE "TESTIMONIALS"
 
 
USUALLY WILL NOT BREED MORE THAN 2 BREEDS
MAY HAVE MANY BREEDS
SHOW THEIR DOGS IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THEY CONFORM TO THE STANDARD AND ARE OF BREEDING QUALITY. 
DO NOT SHOW THEIR DOGS.WILL SOMETIMES SAY THEY ARE KEEPING A SHOW PROSPECT BUT NEVER HAVE SHOW PICTURES TO PROVE IT. MAY ALSO SAY THEY ARE JUST INTERESTED IN BREEDING "QUALITY" PETS. MAY ALSO BE VERY NEGATIVE AGAINST SHOW BREEDERS.
BREEDS TO THE OFFICIAL BREED STANDARD.
WILL BREED "RARE AND UNIQUE" COLOURS OR SIZES ALONG WITH TRADITIONAL ONES
NORMALLY HAS ONLY A COUPLE OF LITTERS A
YEAR
USUALLY HAS MORE THAN 5 LITTERS A YEAR. (IN THE US - 7 MEANS INSPECTION FROM AKC)
ALWAYS REGISTERS ALL PUPPIES.
MAY ASK FOR MORE MONEY FOR REGISTRATION PAPERS
 
If you are in doubt, remember that most REPUTABLE breeders will want to spend a lot of time with you, will want information on your previous experience with the breed, your other animals, your family and their routine. They may require a visit to your home and may require you to pick up your puppy from theirs. They may require references from you. They will probably bore you with all the show pictures, ribbons and awards their dogs have won. Their puppies PARENT'S will be CHAMPION'S (at least one if not both) NOT just "coming from Champion Lines".

A lot of Puppy Mill's have been able to get their hands on dog's who have Champion's in their backgrounds but as the Puppy Mill's DON'T show their dogs, the parents themselves will NOT be Champions. As they don't show they have no way of knowing if that dog is of sufficient QUALITY and free from structural defects in order that it SHOULD be bred.
They DON'T ex-ray their breeding dogs so have no way of knowing if those dogs have inherited or will pass on to their puppies some of the KNOWN problems that can happen in the breed.
That is why they only give a ONE YEAR guarantee. They know perfectly well that a lot of these inherited problems will NOT show up until AFTER TWO YEARS of age.
 
PROTECT YOURSELF
 
Ask a lot of questions and make sure that you are getting a healthy dog that will be a member of your family for many years.
Puppy Mill's charge almost as much as a Reputable Breeder does (sometimes more) and while you may have to wait for that SPECIAL puppy from a Reputable breeder at least you will have the peace of mind of knowing that the breeder will be there to help with any problems that you may encounter in the lifetime of your puppy and not just take your money and brush you off.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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