Undercover at a Puppy Mill, Part 1

The Well-Tempered Pet, Madison Pet Gazette, January 1998

By Sharon Savage, M.S.

As a dog behaviorist, I often treat dogs purchased at "puppy mills". Clients usually say that they bought from a particular kennel due to its "huge selection." Sadly, they later end up dealing with numerous temperament and training problems.

A "puppy mill" is a commercial enterprise that breeds large numbers of puppies for profit. There is nothing intrinsically illegal about puppy mills, and many are inspected and licensed. Often, puppy mills do not sell their stock directly, but ship to dealers and pet stores in other states. Puppy mills are only considered newsworthy if multiple puppies have died from disease or neglect.

The term carries a negative connotation, and I'd like to think that most people wouldn't knowingly patronize such an operation. But, surprising as it may seem, without a solid grasp of the particular tactics these establishments use to sell, sell, sell, you may never realize that a place is, in fact, a puppy mill. Before you inadvertently add to a puppy mill's coffers, do some research. If you want to avoid the very real problems associated with puppy mill dogs, learn to recognize them by these warning signs.

Puppies! Puppies! And more puppies!

As modern consumers, we equate a large inventory and broad selection with a satisfactory shopping experience. But with puppies and other pets, just the opposite is true. Breeding healthy and well-adjusted puppies is a time- and energy-intensive endeavor. After testing the parents for genetic problems and providing veterinary care for the puppies, breeding seldom leads to lucrative profits. An ethical breeder breeds to improve his or her "line," and normally uses puppy sales only to offset the costs of showing the parents.

The puppy mill sales strategy, on the other hand, is to make it difficult for prospective customers to go home empty-handed--so they provide a large assortment of breeds. With pets, a big selection is a danger signal! Be wary of any breeder that breeds more than two breeds of dogs or that ever has more than two litters available. In the long run, it's better to resist this appeal to your customary shopping sense.

Learn about which breed or mix is right for you before you actually go to look for your pup. An impulsive choice can lead to a boatload of regrets later! Reserving a quality home-raised puppy of a particular breed can sometimes mean a several month wait, but will pay huge dividends.

For those who want a selection but don't want to support the puppy mill industry, consider one of the wonderful pets available at the any local Humane Society.

Are the puppies in a home environment with plenty of stimulation?

A puppy should have plenty of early experience in its future habitat: the human home. A puppy that has been raised in a cage or barn will be under-socialized to people and to the sights and sounds of a normal household. Puppy mill puppies are so under-stimulated that, as adults, they may tremble upon seeing a falling leaf or hearing a cupboard door click shut. Look for a puppy who has been well-socialized to family and visitors and that lives in an active area of the house. Also, puppies should always have plenty of toys available.

Do the puppies have access to a "potty area"?

Housebreaking is extremely difficult for puppies purchased from puppy mills. Most spend their formative weeks in small cages with wire bottoms that allow wastes to drop through onto a tray. This teaches puppies that 1) it doesn't matter where they eliminate because they never have to step in it, and 2) they can't get far from the smell, so they'd better learn to live with it. The end result is a puppy that can't be housebroken using a crate (cages are self-cleaning!) and that doesn't have any desire to eliminate outside of its home turf (no use trying to escape from that poop smell!). On the other hand, puppies raised in a large pen in a kitchen learn the difference between living areas and elimination areas. This makes it very easy to teach indoor/outdoor discrimination later.

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