Puppy Farming

Since the rise in demand for designer dog breeds there has been an increase in large scale puppy farms.  Puppies are produced in factory farms in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales and Eastern Europe and smuggled into England to fuel the consumer demand for puppies. 

Breeding (brood) bitches and stud dogs are kept in large sheds with no access to the outside. The bitches are usually bred from their first season but are spent once their fertility and litter yield drops which is usually between 3 and 5 years of age. As they have had no primary socialisation this affects the socialisation for their puppies to and puppy farmed dogs have a much higher risk of displaying aggression and behavioural problems throughout their lives. 

In addition to this puppy farmed dogs tend to have a higher risk of health problems. As many are taken away from their mothers before they are weaned, they do not build up a healthy immunity. Most puppies are mixed with puppies from other litters prior to being sold so the risk of zoonotic diseases and cross infection is high.   Many puppies die in their first 6 months of life. 

As for the breeding bitches and stud dogs, only a very small percentage are rehomed once they are spent. Many die at a young age due to the conditions they are kept in and the rest are killed by the farmer once their productivity drops. 

Puppy farms are detrimental to both dogs and their owners. Here are several reasons why you should never knowingly buy from a puppy farm:

• Wellbeing: All pets should be happy and healthy. Puppy farmers do not prioritize the wellbeing of their dogs. Both the breeding dogs and puppies are often kept in poor conditions, confined to small spaces, and deprived of proper care such as veterinary visits, vaccinations, and treatments for fleas and worms.
  

• Overbreeding: Puppy farms focus solely on profit, breeding female dogs until they can no longer produce. These dogs are bred every time they come into season, without any rest. Legally, a dog can only have six litters, and the Kennel Club will only register the first four. Unfortunately, puppy farm dogs are often forced to breed far beyond this limit, leaving them exhausted and strained.
  

• Inbreeding: Inbreeding can cause serious health problems in dogs. Puppy farmers do not consider the genetic closeness of the breeding pair, increasing the likelihood of the puppies developing health issues.
  

• Socialization: Puppies from puppy farms are not properly socialized, making it difficult for them to become well-adjusted pets. They have not experienced a normal home environment or interacted with different types of people. This lack of socialization can lead to behavioral issues, including phobias. These puppies are often taken from their mothers too early, missing out on crucial early interactions.
  

• Ethics: Those running puppy farms do not value the lives of the dogs they breed or the puppies produced. Many mother dogs are abandoned once they are no longer useful for breeding. Puppies often die from poor health and conditions. Unhealthy puppies are frequently sold as healthy ones.

For these reasons, it is crucial to avoid supporting puppy farms by never knowingly purchasing from them.