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► Stop Puppy Mills 
Description: Puppy mills are nothing new. These mass dog-breeding operations have been around for decades. They continue to thrive because they prey on unwitting consumers who are smitten by too-cute-for-words puppies in pet store windows and on fancy websites. But behind the friendly facade of the local pet shop, the pastoral scenes on a "breeder's" website, or the neighborhood newspaper ad, there often lies a puppy mill. These canine breeding facilities house dogs in shockingly poor conditions. Life is particularly bad for "breeding stock," dogs who live their entire lives in cages and are continually bred for years, without human companionship and with little hope of ever becoming part of a family. These dogs receive little or no veterinary care and never see a bed, a treat or a toy. After their fertility wanes, breeding animals are commonly killed, abandoned or sold to another mill. The annual result of all this breeding is hundreds of thousands of puppies, many with behavior and/or health problems. Read more about puppies and breeding dogs who suffered at puppy mills at the Survivor Stories page »

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Added on: 05-May-2008
Hits: 446
Rating: 10.0 (1 Vote)

► Those "poo-dogs" and designer mutts 
Description: Those "poo-dogs" and designer mutts. ock-a-poos, Snoodles, Sheltipoos, Labradoodles, Maltipoos, Shihpoos, Pooshihs, Bassadoodles, Shihchons, The list goes on... What is a "Poo dog?" Simple, any dog crossed with a poodle and given a funky name they also fall under the heading "Designer Mutt." What is a designer mutt? Any crossbred dogs being sold as if it were purebred or something special. The sole purpose is to sell puppies to the unsuspecting and undereducated buyer. It is not uncommon to find outrageous price tags in the range of $1000 - $2000 on some designer mutts. Whether the puppy is from a mill or from a person just breeding them for the heck of it, there are many sad myths and misconceptions of these dogs. Some people state they are trying to create the "ideal dog for..." However, with over 400 recognized breeds woldwide, there is pretty much a breed for every activity. One argument Designer Mutt Breeders use is that they are breeding for companion dogs. Honestly, there are hundreds of breeds, common and rare, bred solely for companionship. Is there a need to breed more crosses basically just to make money? No. A good breeder of "companion" breeds will place their pet puppies with the same care and concern for health as the pups they intend to use for show and future breeding.

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Added on: 28-Apr-2008
Hits: 158

► What Does AKC Registration Mean? 
Description: We've all seen the pet advertisements in the local classified ads. Most of them read the same, and the majority of them are placed by unethical dog breeders. AKC papers simply mean that the dog is most likely purebred. I say most likely because there are some individuals who buy unused registration papers (or state that they had more puppies in previous litters and re-use papers), and claim that the litter produced goes with those fake papers.

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Added on: 12-Feb-2010
Hits: 84

► What is a Backyard Breeder? 
Description: What is a Backyard Breeder? Probably the best definition I have found so far to answer "What is a back yard breeder (BYB)?" comes from Boxerworld.com: "The average pet owner that breeds their dog(s)." So, why are back yard breeders a problem? Well, they just breed dogs for the sake of it. They may have a sweet pet they want to try and reproduce or they think that their dogs are quality because they have papers and/or are registered with some registry. They think maybe they can make a few dollars selling pups, etc. They just put out dogs without real consideration for the future of not only the breed but the puppies produced. Often, BYBs breed dogs with faults. This perpetuates fault and problems in the breed. They do nothing to prove their dogs are of sound temperament and that they are breeding good representatives of the breed, etc. They just breed. And often, they do not even breed purebreds. Some BYBs "create" neat sounding things and think they are breeds - like Dalimers. This was seen listed in the Washington Post as a rare, German breed. Well, they are mutts - crosses of Dalmatians and Weimeraners, nothing more than a back yarder trying to make a buck But many people who show and breed dogs do so from their homes? How do you know is a breeder is good or not? Through EDUCATION and ASKING questions. These questions will help you out:

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Added on: 28-Apr-2008
Hits: 167

► What is a Puppy broker? 
Description: What is a Puppy broker? A broker is the "middle man." They are the ones who buy a puppy from a miller and sell the pup to the pet store, another broker, or directly to the public. A broker will buy a puppy for say $120 from a miller (why millers breed so many puppies - they get little from the pup). Then the broker will sell the pup to a pet shop for a profit. Then the pet shop will sell the puppy to the public for even more. Say a pet shop sells a Shetland Sheepdog pup for $800.00. The miller gets $120 from the broker for every Sheltie sold. In order to make $800.00, the miller has to sell to the broker 7 - 8 Sheltie pups. Brokers may frequent Auctions to find puppies to sell as well as breeding stock to sell back to millers. How can you tell a broker? Well, look for puppies being sold that were not bred by them. This is the first cue. However, some good breeders will work in conjunction with other breeders and may take puppies as stud fee and if the pup does not grow out as hoped, it will be sold as a pet. But brokers regularly sell puppies they do not breed. Use the same questions and guide you would use for helping determine if a breeder is a miller or not.

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Added on: 28-Apr-2008
Hits: 146
Rating: 10.0 (1 Vote)

► What is a Puppy Mill? 
Description: What is a Puppy Mill? The "Puppy Mill" often evokes horrific mental images of waste filled cages, dogs stacked like boxes at a warehouse, disease, and even death. But not all Puppy Mills are what we see in the media: some appear quite clean and even lovely. But puppy mills all have the same thing in common: the desire for PROFIT. How can you tell a miller? Look for a few things: 1) Multiple breeds being bred and sold. Good breeders stick to one or two breeds. 2) Cutsie prefixes such as "Teacup." 3) They take credit card. 4) The website looks good but upon closer inspection is lacking vital information such as: titled dogs, health screenings, etc.

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Added on: 28-Apr-2008
Hits: 122

► Where to find a Dog/Puppy 
Description: Where to find a Dog/Puppy There are only TWO places you should consider getting a dog from: a good, reputable breeder and a rescue. You forgot to list pet stores. Why? A pet store is the WORST place to go. Yes, they are convenient and yes, they will sell to anyone, but there is no quality control. Also, a pet store will tell you exactly what you want to hear to make the sale and not what you should hear. Puppies at pet stores come from puppy mills or back yard breeders. These facilities mass produce puppies with little consideration for the health and well-being of the breeding animals and offspring. Puppies are often raised in nasty conditions and not socialized. Health care is limited to what is needed for shipping. Parents are not tested for hereditary problems - it is not cost effective for the miller. There is a greater chance you will get a pup that has hereditary problems and even behavioral ones from lack of socialization. Being kept in a cage for the formative weeks is not proper socialization. Millers are concerned only with how much money they can get from their dogs. Pet Stores are concerned about the bottom line as well. Think, is it easier to sell $800 worth of pet products in one day or one $800 puppy? Pet Stores will insist their dogs are from breeders. Technically, they are, anyone who lets dogs breed can be called a breeder. But a reputable breeder does far more than sell dogs and you will NEVER find a pup from a reputable breeder in a store. (However, some Back Yard Breeders - see the next section - will also sell to pet stores and many people think BYBs are good breeders.) Some pet stores will even say the pups are from rescue groups. Well, no reputable rescue will send puppies to pet stores for sale. What about a newspaper ad? Many back yard breeders just breed purebred dogs – many just breed dogs, crosses or not. Some BYBs like to create breeds out of ignorance or the desire to make money from a sucker who knows no better. How many times do ads run for Sheltie-Poos?

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Added on: 28-Apr-2008
Hits: 149

► Why 8 Weeks? -Why you should never purchase a puppy under 8 weeks old. 
Description: Sadly, many breeders you will run across on the internet will offer their puppies to be picked up anytime after 5 weeks of age. These breeders are not looking out for you, not looking out for the puppy, they are just tired of putting time and money into the puppy, and want it "gone".

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Added on: 12-Feb-2010
Hits: 91