Puppy Factory vs. Responsible Breeder

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Ok, so you've seen some videos. Yes, there are more videos and pictures. Just search the web, or ask around. Yes, these are in the United States of America, but it doesn't mean that there are none here, in your own country. The only reason you don't find videos of puppy factories in your own country, is because nobody has videoed it. No press has been notified. No groups or bodies have made strong enough hoo-hah over it.

In Malaysia, these puppy factories are located in shabby communities, in abandoned houses, in shop lots that have no neighbors. Or even in small warehouses where their neighbors are car workshops or bulk printers, with machines running continuously and garbage all over the place to drown out the barking and stench.

So how do puppy factories affect you & your dog directly?

Well, for starters, your puppy was removed from its parents at 4 weeks, maybe even earlier. A puppy begins its socialization lessons at 6 weeks. By then, the puppy is sitting in a lonely cubical at some pet shop with other blur puppies as neighbors.

Socialization and behavior ethics are learnt in the pack, where there are pack leaders. The mother dog, acts as the pack leader, and the puppy’s siblings are its pack members. Here, they learn about boundaries. Boundaries like acceptable play area and where they can roam, and where is too far. When they play with each other, they learn their strength, and learn what is considered ‘playing too rough’ and what is acceptable. They learn how to read another dog’s body language. Certain body language calls for play, some body language says ‘stop playing’, body language that says ‘bad mood’, ‘going to pick a fight’ etc, etc. With their mom, they will learn the acceptable way of greeting each other. Dining etiquette like who eats first, what’s the acceptable way to approach food, the acceptable way to share food, the acceptable way to behave, when food is around etc, etc, etc. It is at this age that they also learn how to ‘fall into’ the hierarchy system. Humans at the top, mother dog, other dominant dogs, your pup, and other submissive dogs. Yes, this may surprise you… These behaviors do not come naturally. They are taught, or conditioned.

Similar with humans, we need to be toilet trained, we are taught that when someone is working, don’t disturb. We learn certain body language that says ‘hostility’, or ‘friendly’,’ approachable’, ‘upset’ etc. We are also conditioned to dining and behaviors. How to greet a peer, and older person, a younger person or a stranger. What’s considered rude, and what’s acceptable.

You might have gotten your pup at a considerably low financial price. The process of purchasing the puppy might have been easy. No appointments were made, nobody questioned you, nobody assessed your answers and told you to go home and think about it. No complicated documents, and name transfers. And, after bringing your pup home, no spot checks, or phone calls asking how the pup is doing, yada, yada, yada. All you had to do was walk into any pet shop, pickup a pup, pay money and it’s all yours to do with as you please. Come to think of it, it’s easier to buy a breathing, loving dog with feelings than to buy a car.

What a lot of people have to discover many months later, is going to cost them a lot. Lots of money in medical bills, and lots of energy/stress, with behavior problems.

Health Problems

Skin problems, very common recently in breeds like Schnauzer, Miniature Pinscher, Doberman etc. Bald spots. skin is flaky, like dandruff. Crusts froms on the skin, all over the back.

Recurring eye problems, very common in Shih Tzu, and now beginning to surface in breeds like the Pug.

Neurological and/or sudden aggression problems, aggression without reason, used to be common in the American Cocker Spaniel. Note: This problem has now decreased drastically, since the breed had gone out of trend. Puppy factory/mills don’t produce this breed anymore, and only by sheer diligence of responsible breeders, the genes that caused this ugly behavior have been weeded out.

Dogs with wrinkles like Shar Pei and Bulldog, have to get surgery, costing thousands, to remove excess skin. This was created when irresponsible breeders discovered that the more wrinkles a dog has, the more expensive they could sell it for. What happens is that as the pup grows, the wrinkles increase even more in the wrong places like the eye areas, pubic regions & paw pads. The excess wrinkles in these sensitive areas gather dirt and is very difficult to clean, causing skin problems, some lead to skin rotting.

Breathing problems in short snout breeds that were irresponsibly breed, like Shih Tzus, Pekingese, Pug. There are breed standards for short snout dogs where there’s a minimum length for a dog’s nose, any shorter than the approved length and the dog will frequently have breathing difficulties.

Behavior Problems

Unsocialized or badly socialized pups will have learning disabilities, psychological problems, emotional problems and others…

Seen a dog or puppy pee and poop in its sleeping quarters? Or has no worries walking over or stepping on pee and poop? That’s because it was conditioned/trained that way. Growing up in confined cages or cubicles, they don’t really have space to pee in one area, poop in another area, play in a different area, and sleep in a different area far away from the smell.

What about a dog that is constantly overexcited, 24/7? Doesn’t know how to relax, just always bouncing off walls, jumping all over the place, on to tables, onto people, banging and throwing themselves onto people… just won’t sit still and can’t control itself.

The total opposite of that, is extreme fear. It’s always running and hiding, the slightest sound or pat on its back will cause it to yelp and jump in fear. When you are able to corner or get hold of it, it will freeze stiff, or react aggressively.

Other conditions may be the inability to be around with other dogs. Always getting into fights… either starting the fights, or somehow drawing fights to them.

Excessive howling or yelping at certain times of the day. It just won’t stop, no matter what you do, as though it’s deeply programmed into your pup’s system and you can’t uninstall that program

How do responsible breeders weed out negative health problems?

Responsible breeders only mate the best dog (male) with the best bitch (female). They are assessed based on bone structure, teeth or jaw alignment, skin condition, fur condition, behavior or attitude, learning ability, health conditions and a few others.

They look out for what are called faults. Muzzle too long/short. Ears and eyes too big/small, long/short. Legs length, width apart, toes pointing in or out, distance between fore and hind legs, etc. Backbone curved or straight. If there are any genetically caused skin conditions the dog should not be mated. Fur density, texture, length. Is the dog overly aggressive or docile for its breed type? Is the dog overly lazy or hyperactive? Level of confidence. Learning ability, attention span and energy level. Genetically inherited internal health issues like kidney problems, early age joint problems, liver problems etc.

If any dog doesn’t meet the acceptable standard, or shows signs of ill health, that dog will not, and should not be allowed to mate.

Responsible breeders will almost always have their dogs extensively checked by a vet before mating it. Throughout a bitch’s pregnancy, she should be regularly checked by a vet. The puppies, once born, should also be given a clean bill of health by a vet.

Only irresponsible breeders will ‘simply’/’chin-chai’ mate one dog with another. It’s that ‘chin-chai’, ‘tidak apa’ attitude that eventually builds up to the many problems we now face.

Note: Those that I have listed above are just some of the problems, and will vary depending on breed. The best way for you to find out, is do some research on the particular breed you’re interested in. Buy some books specifically on that breed, search the internet and join online forums, find out the next dog show in your area, and speak to the breeders there. 90% of the participants there are responsible breeders. Talk to them, ask questions, get their contacts, and take pictures of their dogs. Understand that there is a lot to learn about each and every breed. A fan of the German Shepherd Dog may have no clue of the Doberman. A Shih Tzu breeder may be clueless about the Pekingese.