The Cockapoo Club for owners, enthusiasts and ALL recipients of Hearing Dogs
WHERE COCKAPOOS COME FIRST!
WHERE COCKAPOOS COME FIRST!
WHAT IS A PUPPY FARM?
One of the big concerns for people when they decide to buy a pup, is how to find a good breeder.
Dog breeding can be seen as a money making opportunity for people who don't care about the welfare of the dogs, and unfortunately puppy farming is a booming industry.
Not buying from a puppy farmer often isn't as easy as it sounds so here is some information on Puppy farms and what to look out for.
WHAT IS A PUPPY FARM?
Basically a puppy farm is a factory farm for dogs, and are ILLEGAL organisations.
A puppy farmer is someone who breeds puppies with little or no regard for their health or welfare.
The dogs used for breeding are not fed properly, do not have vet checks, flea treatment, grooming or any compassion and care. They are used solely as a breeding machine, churning out a litter every season with little chance to recover from one pregnancy before the next one starts.
They are housed in dirty, cramped conditions. Some will be kept in small crates, with little room to move, others may be kept in outside outhouses or kennels, maybe with no bedding, nothing to sleep on but the floor, and they are surrounded by faeces and urine.
The conditions can be truly horrible.
The pups bred into these circumstances are often taken from their Mums too early, so the puppy farmer can offload them and make more money. They do not get the benefit of the full immunisation from the Mums milk, do not have the time to thrive with their litter mates, do not get socialisation.
Because their Mum is probably malnourished, and unhealthy, the pups do not get the best start in life and are surrounded by dirt, they are more at risk of diseases like Parvo etc, and many develop illnesses after being sold. Unfortunately the chances of them dying from some usually avoidable illness is not unusual.
Because the pups parents have not had the recommended DNA health testing for inherited diseases. thhere is also the chance that puppy farmed pups will develop diseases which will affect them throughout the course of their life - things like kidney, or eye problems.
Puppy farmers often have many dogs, of different breeds, and might advertise more than one litter available at a time, maybe of different breeds.
ARE ALL LARGE SCALE BREEDERS PUPPY FARMERS?
No. Breeders tend to be categorised as small scale home breeders, hobby breeders or licensed breeders.
HOME BREEDERS - tend to have a family pet and decide to let it have a litter. It is often a one off occurrence and the pups are raised in the home environment.
HOBBY BREEDERS - these tend to have more than one breeding dogs, and will have up to 4 litters per year. They may either raise the pups in the home environment or in clean, warm and kennels, depending on how many litters they have at any one time.
LARGE SCALE BREEDERS - these breeders have multiple dogs and breed 5 or more litters per year. They may house their dogs in warm and dry outside kennel areas and ensure that their dogs are well looked after. They are well fed, their accommodation is clean and they are properly exercised and groomed. Bitches are never over bred, and all dogs and puppies are given Vet care when needed.
That is a totally different scenario from the poor dogs in a puppy farm set up.
Following an update in dog breeding regulations ALL breeders, who breed 3 litters per year or more, or any breeder who sells puppies for profit, must be registered with and inspected by their local authority. If they pass inspection they will be given a certificate to show they have been approved, which must be displayed for potential buyers to see. This new law means that even small one off breeders, who are just breeding a single litter now has to be inspected if they sell their litter for profit.
HOW TO AVOID PUPPY FARM PUPS
Puppy farmers often use techniques to fool potential buyers, and there are some things to look out for.
They may -
It is important to remember that regardless of the size of their set up, some breeders will be better than others, so it is always worth visiting a few before deciding which one to choose.
The following page will tell you how to start looking for a reliable breeder, and what you should do before visiting
Dog breeding can be seen as a money making opportunity for people who don't care about the welfare of the dogs, and unfortunately puppy farming is a booming industry.
Not buying from a puppy farmer often isn't as easy as it sounds so here is some information on Puppy farms and what to look out for.
WHAT IS A PUPPY FARM?
Basically a puppy farm is a factory farm for dogs, and are ILLEGAL organisations.
A puppy farmer is someone who breeds puppies with little or no regard for their health or welfare.
The dogs used for breeding are not fed properly, do not have vet checks, flea treatment, grooming or any compassion and care. They are used solely as a breeding machine, churning out a litter every season with little chance to recover from one pregnancy before the next one starts.
They are housed in dirty, cramped conditions. Some will be kept in small crates, with little room to move, others may be kept in outside outhouses or kennels, maybe with no bedding, nothing to sleep on but the floor, and they are surrounded by faeces and urine.
The conditions can be truly horrible.
The pups bred into these circumstances are often taken from their Mums too early, so the puppy farmer can offload them and make more money. They do not get the benefit of the full immunisation from the Mums milk, do not have the time to thrive with their litter mates, do not get socialisation.
Because their Mum is probably malnourished, and unhealthy, the pups do not get the best start in life and are surrounded by dirt, they are more at risk of diseases like Parvo etc, and many develop illnesses after being sold. Unfortunately the chances of them dying from some usually avoidable illness is not unusual.
Because the pups parents have not had the recommended DNA health testing for inherited diseases. thhere is also the chance that puppy farmed pups will develop diseases which will affect them throughout the course of their life - things like kidney, or eye problems.
Puppy farmers often have many dogs, of different breeds, and might advertise more than one litter available at a time, maybe of different breeds.
ARE ALL LARGE SCALE BREEDERS PUPPY FARMERS?
No. Breeders tend to be categorised as small scale home breeders, hobby breeders or licensed breeders.
HOME BREEDERS - tend to have a family pet and decide to let it have a litter. It is often a one off occurrence and the pups are raised in the home environment.
HOBBY BREEDERS - these tend to have more than one breeding dogs, and will have up to 4 litters per year. They may either raise the pups in the home environment or in clean, warm and kennels, depending on how many litters they have at any one time.
LARGE SCALE BREEDERS - these breeders have multiple dogs and breed 5 or more litters per year. They may house their dogs in warm and dry outside kennel areas and ensure that their dogs are well looked after. They are well fed, their accommodation is clean and they are properly exercised and groomed. Bitches are never over bred, and all dogs and puppies are given Vet care when needed.
That is a totally different scenario from the poor dogs in a puppy farm set up.
Following an update in dog breeding regulations ALL breeders, who breed 3 litters per year or more, or any breeder who sells puppies for profit, must be registered with and inspected by their local authority. If they pass inspection they will be given a certificate to show they have been approved, which must be displayed for potential buyers to see. This new law means that even small one off breeders, who are just breeding a single litter now has to be inspected if they sell their litter for profit.
HOW TO AVOID PUPPY FARM PUPS
Puppy farmers often use techniques to fool potential buyers, and there are some things to look out for.
They may -
- Sell pups via a third party - a pet shop or dealer who advertise them on pet pages
- Advertise a lot of different breeds of pups available.
- Offer you a second pup or a different pup if you decide not to have the one you see.
- Have lots of outbuildings, caravans etc which are not open to viewing.
- Show you a pup that has just been washed or is dirty or smells.
- Show a Mum and pups together but they don't seem to interact together.
- Show a Mum and pups but the Mum doesn't seem to interact with its owner.
- Give excuses why pups and Mum not available to be seen together for some reason.
- Arrange to deliver a pup, or meet you somewhere to hand the pup over.
- Not ask you any questions about your experience, lifestyle etc.
It is important to remember that regardless of the size of their set up, some breeders will be better than others, so it is always worth visiting a few before deciding which one to choose.
The following page will tell you how to start looking for a reliable breeder, and what you should do before visiting