And I agree with this too!

By the way, does the CKC actually claim that they do routine unanounced inspections, I have not found this claim on their website.

:thumbup: You bring up a really good point, Nancy. Everyone should check the AKC suspension list as part of their breeder research.

They do it with those who are in their preferred breeder program...not sure about those who don't though. (Much more than just a 'claim'.) You can bank on getting one every year, you may be given notice and allowed to schedule it, you may not. (Likewise, the PBP also required microchipping, DNA tests, proof of health screenings, etc)

:thumbup::thumbup: I would also add to that checking to see if the breeder is USDA certified.

Well, as far as USDA certified, I like this for my steaks, but not my dogs. :D

Seriously, a breeder doesn't have to be certified, unless they are selling to pet stores, I don't think that having USDA status is necessarily a good or bad thing, but it does mean they are a large operation, and the buyer should see kennel conditions in person. I recommend a buyer always doing this anyway.

Absolutely!

And check Rip Off Report and the local Better Business Bureau, too.

It's always a good idea to Google the breeder or kennel name and see if anyone has reviewed them, too.

If you have an address, you can use Google maps and Street View (if available) to see the facility. Sometimes that's a shock when you see outbuildings and barns that the supposedly "home raised" puppies are actually living in.

Oooh...that is so sneaky. I like it! :D

I would either want an AKC or CKC reg. dog but of couse "Canadian Kennel Club" It is the same as AKC but in Canada which is where I live. There is a CKC in the states which is Continnental Kennel Club I think? Anyways I know I've heard they aren't too good. I had an APRI dog and those are mostly puppymill dogs!

I had an APRI dog and those are mostly puppymill dogs!


not all of them!! :)

APRI was founded by the commercial breeders, and all APRI dogs can be linked back to what people call puppy mills. While it's true someone can buy an APRI dog and then go ahead and breed it, they wouldn't be considered a miller, but you can be certain that they aren't a very knowledgeable breeder, and didn't read much before purchasing breeding stock.

I know not all thats why I said most, like Nancy says it was the millers who came up with this registry and they don't care what they register. I would never ever trust a dog with APRI just because of my own experience with them, someone could just have an APRI like I did and breed the dog and have pups, it is still considered a puppymill dog since the parents are probably from a place like that.

commercial breeder does not automatically mean it's a "puppy mill" but then again your definition of a puppy mill and mine might be different!

Nothing is ever black and white, and I have seen a video the Hunte Corporation made showing the facilities of one of their commercial breeders, and it is state of the art. So at least there was one nice place, at one time, and the 4H kids who saw it were really impressed. However, we try to educate people on what to look for in a breeder and a registration with APRI, is a huge red flag! I want to warn people that if you aren't actively searching for a good breeder, you are rewarding a bad breeder, and you are condoning the suffering of millions of dogs. Unfortunately, too many people are too busy to take the time out of the lives to check up on kennel conditions, and want to believe that not all commercial breeders are bad. Please don't encourage people to ignore these red flags. If you have had experience checking out a facility that you believe was good, feel free to share it, but just saying that they're not all bad leads people to an assumption that some/many are good. They should always check out the specific breeder in person, and make sure that they are not rewarding a miller. We will never stop the miller unless people get involved with this.

Actually, that is the definition of puppy mill, a large scale commercial breeder.

The term has come to be associated with filthy, substandard conditions, but not all puppy mills are like that. Some are quite clean with state-of-the-art facilities.

It's the volume of puppies produced that earns a kennel the term puppy mill as they crank out puppies like factories. :thumbdown

AMEN SISTER!!!! :thumbup::thumbup: