posted 08-12-2003 01:50 PM         

[This message has been edited by puttin510 (edited 08-12-2003).]

posted 08-12-2003 04:50 PM         

I did come across the website you gave yesterday, but I am not sure how to diagnose a puppy mill.

The thing that put the breeder I am looking into at the top of my list is that she only has toy poodles, shih-tzu, shih-poos & schnoodles. That being said, I have been shying away from breeders that offer so many dogs that I can't even count.

posted 08-12-2003 08:29 PM         

6 possibly 7 litters in August alone (that is the first clue)
13??? litters in Sept. Oh my gosh. Did i read that right?? A good breeder with good dogs worthy of breeding doesn't need that many dogs. Remember even if the place is kept immaculately clean it can still be a puppy mill.

I'll never understand why a breeder need to breed more than one type of dog. I could accept 2 types if they seldom bred. Most reputable breeders do not breed more than once a year. Do the parents get to live like dogs and grow with human attention and love or are they raised in kennels and crates with minimum attention? There is no way anyone could give enough attention handling and hand raising to that many litters or the parents. Nor could they afford to test the breeding dogs for genetic diseases. Hip & elbow, eye, hearing, thyroid, heart, palette, are just some of the diseases and conditions many of these breeds are affected by. I agree with Puttin, a reputable breeder would put the time and money into screening their dogs to make sure they are not passing on anything. Puppy mills and BYBs do not do care enough to test as it would definitely eat into profits.

One thing most buyers want is to know that the breeder will be there for them if they have questions or concerns. I sincerely doubt this type of breeder will make the time to be there for the life of a family's dog.