Know the Puppy Mill Score—Puppy Source Check List

There are many places to find your dream puppy, and some are clearly better options than others. Avoid puppy mills at all cost. Of course, your heart can overrule logic if you are smitten by a needy baby, but purchasing puppy mill dogs just encourages the horrible industry. A puppy mill cares nothing for their furry charges, and simply breeds and breeds and breeds, producing baby dogs in poor health with little to no care for the parents. They may never leave the wire cage—and pups might not know how to potty on grass! 

How do you avoid puppy mill puppies? Take a moment to ask the shelter staff, breeder, or other source these questions. That will give you an idea of the potential risk involved in adopting or buying from that establishment. For each question below, a yes answer receives one point, and a no response gets zero points. Tally the score when you finish to see how the puppy source rates—the higher the score, the better.

10 Questions to Ask Puppy Sellers (and Avoid Puppy Mills)

1. Can you tell me about the temperament of at least one parent (the mother)?
2. Can you tell me about the temperament of my puppy?
3. Have they handled the puppy, so she’s socialized to people?
4. May I visit the facilities to see where my puppy grew up? Are facilities clean?
5. If she’s a purebred, were health screens done on parent dogs? Is registration and pedigree information available?
6. Will you provide a medical history of to-date vaccinations or other care given?
7. Does the purchase price/adoption fee include health guarantees?
8. Do you provide a list of references/testimonials from satisfied adopters/purchasers?
9. Have you ever turn down a potential purchase/adopter?
10. Will you be available to offer help and advice as my puppy grows?

SCORES of 8 to 10 = IDEAL

SCORES of 5 to 7 = FAIR to GOOD

SCORES of 4 or less = PROCEED WITH CAUTION

Get all the must-know puppy-licious information to choose, care for, and bring up your puppy right in COMPLETE PUPPY CARE!

Refer to these tips for adopting your next puppy.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book giveaways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE!

Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and sign up for Pets Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book giveaways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE!