Puppy Mill? - Page 2

The term puppy mill could be implied to any breeder that does not have a goal in mind when they breed their dogs.  traditional puppy mills include having females breed every season, spending ALL if their lives in the same crate, having the pups in that crate, having pups taken away at 4-5 weeks and sent to pet shops or brokers to sell.  Often they breed more than one breed of dog or designer dogs like the doodles.  Dogs are feed a really bad diet, often as little as possible.   Busted mills often have dogs that cannot walk due to lack of excercise, dogs that are missing limbs, are blind or otherwise disabled.  

 As mentioned above, 20-30 litters in a large kennel is not unheard of.  Many breeders need to breed this much if they are to know what their lines are producing for the show ring.  Extras become "pets".  However, they need to watch it to ensure they do not have too many dogs keep back and wind up with a cowded kennel.  If there are too many good dogs,  you don't need to breed anymore or sacrifice that great sog to someone else to win in the ring!

Where it gets to be a problem with these large breeders is when it is the sole income for people.  It has to be a business where capital is earned, costs are contained and supply and demand have a role.  This can be balanced with as much in house vet care as possible or being indepentenly wealthy (there are those out there, tax write off, maybe).  But, when the ecomony fails and there are no people that can afford to feed a GSD let alone pay $4000 for one, these people lower prices and increase puppies to maintain their living, slowly creeping down the puppy mill slope.

Tony, imagine some of these folks having to get a real job???  Think they can make it to the office on time??  If you have been at a show we all know they drive gas guzzling Humvees !

I find it interesting that the "rules" of the game involve convincing the public to buy from large breeders when the hobby breeder with possibly untitled dogs are producting better puppies for the average buyer.  Instead we call these folks kitchen breeders or hobby breeders.  I am not talking about the backyard breeder that buys a male and female and lets them have at it every 6 months either.  I am tallking about the show or sch enthuziast with one or two well cared for dogs that seeks out a good male to compliment the bitch and raises the litter in the home with warmth, love and care.   You know these puppies when you meet them. 



 

Ok...what's this?

Breeder owns male and female. Neither are titled, but both are from titled parents, and both are over 24 months old.
Breeder has 1 litter every other year. Puppy buyers are screened and usually become friends and keep in contact with breeder from then on. Puppies are sold having been wormed and immunized and socialized, and are sold with unconditional guarantee.
Is this a puppy mill?