Puppy mills and backyard breeders vs. responsible breeders.

 Does it really matter where you get a puppy, as long as you find the breed you want? The answer is yes, it does matter. Even if you are not planning to breed your dog to produce winning show dogs or dependable working dogs, it is essential to seek out a breeder who strives to improve the breed with each litter. Ignoring this concern can lead to sad times in your home. A puppy mill is a breeding operation where dogs are produced for profit, and the animals are at risk. These operations often provide only the minimum requirements to keep a dog alive and able to breed. Dogs often live their lives in cages, rather than with human companionship. Puppies produced in this situation miss vital experiences they need during their early weeks, and they are exposed to experiences that harm their emotional stability for later. Leaving the mother and littermates too early can result in biting problems, since the pup missed early bite inhibition that needs to happen in the litter.

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Here's why:

Behavior problems you may experience with a puppy from this source include housetraining issues because the puppy has been confined too close to feces and urine. This causes damage to the pup's natural instincts to keep the den area clean. A frightened mother dog can transmit her fears to her pups.

Responsible breeders make their breeding choices based on producing puppies with the genetics for both good health and good temperament. Responsible breeders will be there for you later if there are problems. A responsible breeder will place each pup personally, not through a third party such as a pet shop or broker.

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Another kind of breeder is the "backyard breeder". This term is used to describe people who breed dogs without knowing what they are doing. They do not know their dog's health issues, pedigrees, etc. The motive is profit, and some make a tidy profit from turning out puppies without spending the money to provide them with good care. The backyard-bred puppy may make an all-right companion dog, but genetic health and temperament problems may be waiting to emerge as the pup matures. It is a complete gamble as to how things will turn out with a puppy you acquire from this type of breeder.

If we were to discuss what is best for the dogs, it is certainly for them to be bred only by people who will take excellent care of parents and pups. Great suffering in dogs is alleviated when breeders refrain from reproducing genetic problems. Only breeders who put the welfare of the dogs ahead of profit make these difficult decisions. To learn how to make the right decisions, responsible breeders work with experienced mentors and do a great deal of study and spend a great deal of money on health testing and AKC championships.