There is only one reason a Puppy mills exist and that’s money!

Puppy mills are hideous and that’s being polite. Yet they are found the world over and, yes they are prevalent throughout the United States despite an ever growing movement to shut them down.

Puppy mills often consist of as many as 30 different breeds with up to 800 or more breeding animals. Female are breed with every heat and kept pregnant, this includes their first heat when they are only 6 - 10 months old; at a point in their lives when they themselves are still a puppies.

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A reputable breeder on the other hand interests is usually focused on one or perhaps two breeds. The motivation of any good breeding program is to constantly work to maintain the bloodline that best represents the standards of the breed.

Legitimate breeders expend great effort, time and money training their dogs and showing their dogs. Breeders also spend a good deal time socializing their dogs, as well as, testing them for genetic defects. Arguably the most important difference between a reputable breeder and a puppy mill owner is that the breeder is very careful to place their puppies in permanent, loving homes.

Reputable breeders make sure that the offspring go to loving homes but provided their own loving home when necessary; and will at any time and for any reason, personally taking any of the puppies they’ve bred back into their home for the lifetime of the animal, taking full responsibility for the dogs that they have produced.

Quality breeders want to know about you and know that it’s important to develop a relationship with you. Almost like parents or grandparents, they want to know about the puppies as they grow up and enjoy photos and other updates about the pups. Caring breeders are available to help those who adopt the puppies with any questions or concerns about their newest family member.

One of the most important things that separate reputable breeders from puppy millers is that they have nothing to hide. The legitimate breeder wants you to see where the puppies were raised, see the environment they were raised in and get to know the parents of the puppies.

While we know that there are many loving, reputable breeders out there, doing a wonderful job of raising healthy and sound puppies, it’s still up to you, the buyer, to do your due diligence. National Breed Clubs are a great place to start to discover who the reputable breeders are.

Don’t simply rely on assurances given on the internet or over the phone; go there and meet the breeder, meet the parents of the puppies and check out the environment the puppies were raised in. It’s important to ask lots of questions and trust your instincts, if you feel like someone is hiding something, they probably are, and you’ll be better off if you select a different breeder.