The Differences Between Puppy Mills and Professional Kennels

You've probably heard the term Puppy Mill and have seen the video footage of dogs in cramped and filthy cages. But, along with inhumane living conditions, there are other differences between puppy mills versus professional kennels. This article explains the many differences between those who run puppy mills and those who are professional, responsible, breeders.

The biggest differences between professional, responsible breeders and owners of puppy mills are attitude and purpose.

Owners of puppy mills are in it to make money. Profit is their priority and one way that puppy mill operators increase their profit is by running the operation cheaply. Dogs are confined to cages or small runs and suffer from overcrowding and/or long-term confinement. Dogs in puppy mills do not receive all the veterinary care they need because vet care is costly, especially for the larger number of dogs a typical mill has, and most veterinarians will report a puppy mill.

Responsible dog breeders, on the other hand, are not just breeding dogs for money. They want to promote positive characteristics in certain dog breeds. They do make money selling the puppies, but it is a much different situation and the attitude is very different from puppy mills.

Breeders spend money on proper veterinary care. They take good care of the dogs because they care about them, and because they know that animals used for breeding must be well cared for if they are to produce the best litters. Breeders do profit from selling the pups but, after veterinary costs, food costs (breeders are selective about food they feed their dogs) and other costs, they don't profit as much as one might think.

Responsible, professional breeders love dogs and, therefore, take good care of them. They provide proper housing and allow visits to their home. Breeders do not keep dogs in unsanitary conditions or cages with bare-wire flooring or other unsuitable flooring that could injure the dog's paws.