You've heard that your neighbor down the road is selling purebred puppies. A friend recently purchased one and has been boasting about the deal that she received. But, you can't figure out how the neighbor is raising the puppies, since you know there isn't adequate space to do so. Should you visit the neighbor and purchase a dog, too? You may need to visit the neighbor, but don't plan on walking away with a pooch. If anything, you can view the facility and take necessary steps to protect the puppies.
If you know that a person is not a reputable breeder, then you should take caution when considering adopting a pup. The term "backyard breeder" is a negative term; it is not used to describe a legitimate breeding operation. Backyard breeders are, in fact, small scale puppy mills. They breed dogs for money, but do not provide the care that a reputable breeder would. The living conditions are poor, and the puppies or the mothers are not well taken care of. The mothers are often forced to mate during every heat cycle, slowly degrading the health of the subsequent litter. Legitimate breeders normally specialize in one or two breeds; although, sometimes, they may offer more, while backyard breeders will offer a multitude of breeds.
Whether or not you plan on purchasing a pooch right away, you should schedule a visit to check out the facilities. Determining whether or not a person is a backyard breeder is fairly easy. The first telltale sign is if the breeder refuses to let you see the mother, the puppies, or the facility, or if the breeder offers you a pet without first meeting you. A reputable breeder is proud of his work and cares about his pets. Many legitimate breeders will refuse to let just anyone take home a puppy without first undergoing questioning or providing references. Once you arrive at the facility, then your eyes will tell all. Look around. Are there multiple puppies in one cage? Are the puppies healthy? Have they been taken care of, or is there hair full of mats, tangles, or fleas? Pay attention to the puppies' temperament. A healthy puppy will be happy and playful. The puppies should also not be fat or skinny.
In addition to the poor conditions the dogs are raised in, backyard breeders do not take as much care in breeding the puppies. Since the mothers are forced to continuously breed, the health of the puppies deteriorates. Being winged from their mothers at an early age can lead to malnutrition, which is not combated with the appropriate amount and type of food. Often, the health conditions of the parents are not taken into consideration and are passed onto the offspring. The problems may not become apparent until the puppies are well into adulthood.
If you suspect a backyard breeding operation, or if the dogs are suffering and in poor health, then contact animal control or your local animal shelter. The only way backyard breeding will stop is if people refuse to purchase the animals and seek help from local authorities. The animal shelter may not be able to do anything about it, but they can often talk the breeder into giving up the puppies. Community awareness can be just as beneficial as community action. You can also discourage friends and family members from visiting the breeder. No, it is not the dogs' faults and it is sometimes hard not to walk away with one and provide it a better home; but, buying from the breeder will only allow more dogs to be bred in poor conditions.
Backyard breeders are not places where you should adopt a dog. Often, you see a cute puppy for a cheap price and look passed the poor living conditions. By not purchasing from a backyard breeder, you are helping to stop the person from breeding more puppies into the same conditions. Try to discourage others from purchasing the pup. Often, the puppies inherit medical conditions that do not show up until later in life. If you suspect the puppies and adult dogs are being mistreated, then contact your local animal shelter. The shelter may be able to help with the treatment of the animals.
| This article was written by Brian Spilner and provided by pet-super-store.com a site featuring: dog crates and pet carriers. |
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