Puppy mills became more prevalent after World War II. The mom and dad of the puppy in the pet store window are unlikely to make it out of the mill alive-and neither will the many puppies born with overt physical problems that make them unsalable. When, after a few years, they are physically depleted to the point that they no longer can reproduce, breeding females are often killed. In order to maximize profits, female dogs are bred at every opportunity with little to no recovery time between litters. Breeding dogs at mills might spend their entire lives outdoors, exposed to the elements, or crammed inside filthy structures where they never get the chance to feel the sun or breathe fresh air. To minimize waste cleanup, dogs are often kept in cages with wire flooring that injures their paws and legs-and it is not unusual for cages to be stacked up in columns. Puppy mill dogs do not get to experience treats, toys, exercise or basic grooming. Puppy mills usually house dogs in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, without adequate veterinary care, food, water and socialization. Spending that time with their mother and littermates helps prevent puppies from developing problems like extreme shyness, aggression, fear and anxiety. The first months of a puppy’s life are a critical socialization period for puppies. Puppies born in puppy mills are typically removed from their littermates and mothers at just six weeks of age. Fearful behavior and lack of socialization with humans and other animals are typical of puppy mill dogs. These can include:ĭo Puppy Mill Pups Display Behavior Problems? On top of that, puppies often arrive in pet stores and their new homes with diseases or infirmities.
Illness and disease are common in dogs from puppy mills.
What Health Problems Are Common to Puppy Mill Dogs? Other puppy mill puppies are sold directly to the public, including over the Internet, through newspaper ads, and at swap meets and flea markets. The lineage records of puppy mill dogs are often falsified. Some puppy mill puppies are sold to pet shops-usually through a broker, or middleman-and marketed as young as eight weeks of age. This results in generations of dogs with unchecked hereditary defects. Unlike responsible breeders, who place the utmost importance on producing the healthiest puppies possible, breeding at puppy mills is performed without consideration of genetic quality. Here is what we found.A puppy mill is a large-scale commercial dog breeding operation where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs. We asked some Animal Breeders a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like.
May require knowledge of artificial insemination techniques and equipment use. Animal Breeders select and breed animals according to their genealogy, characteristics, and offspring.