Some breeding methods continue to raise serious welfare concerns, even as public awareness improves and responsible breeders work hard to do things right. Behind closed doors, certain practices place convenience, appearance, or profit above the health and wellbeing of the dogs involved.
These issues often remain hidden from buyers, which makes understanding them an important step toward encouraging safer, more ethical standards in the industry. Many of these practices persist because they are difficult to detect without research, veterinary insight, or transparent breeder communication.
They often involve choices that affect a dog’s long-term health, quality of life, and behaviour, rather than visible harm in the moment. Learning about these concerns helps future owners make informed decisions and supports the breeders who follow evidence-based, humane approaches to raising dogs.
This article is for general knowledge only and is based on information from online sources. Dog welfare standards vary by region, and anyone considering a breeder should consult reputable animal-care professionals. Photos are for illustrative purposes only.
1. Puppy Mills Operating In Plain Sight
Large-scale breeding operations often prioritize profit over animal welfare, keeping dogs in cramped, unsanitary conditions. These facilities may house hundreds of dogs in wire cages with little access to veterinary care or proper nutrition. Female dogs are bred repeatedly without adequate recovery time between litters, leading to exhaustion and health complications.
Puppies from these environments often arrive at pet stores or online marketplaces with hidden health issues and behavioural problems. Supporting local, transparent breeders who welcome facility visits can help reduce demand for these operations.
2. Breeding Dogs Too Young Or Too Old
Some breeders mate female dogs before their bodies have fully matured, which can lead to complications during pregnancy and birth. A dog’s first heat cycle doesn’t mean she’s ready for motherhood, as her bones and organs are still developing. Similarly, breeding older dogs past their prime years puts unnecessary strain on their bodies and increases the risk of birth defects.
Responsible breeders wait until dogs reach at least two years old and retire them after a reasonable number of litters. This approach prioritizes the mother’s health and produces stronger, healthier puppies for families.
3. Inbreeding To Maintain Specific Traits
Mating closely related dogs, such as siblings or parents with offspring, concentrates certain physical characteristics but also doubles down on genetic diseases. This practice creates puppies with increased risks of hip dysplasia, heart conditions, and immune system disorders. Breeders may justify inbreeding by claiming it preserves breed standards, but the health consequences can be severe.
Genetic diversity strengthens a breed’s overall health and resilience. Ethical breeders conduct health screenings and carefully select unrelated dogs to minimize inherited diseases while still maintaining desirable breed characteristics for future generations.
4. Ignoring Genetic Health Testing
Skipping DNA tests and health screenings before breeding can pass serious hereditary conditions to puppies. Many breeds carry genes for specific diseases that may not show symptoms in parents but will affect their offspring. Testing for conditions like progressive retinal atrophy, von Willebrand disease, or degenerative myelopathy helps identify carriers.
When breeders avoid these tests to save money, they gamble with the health of future puppies and the heartbreak of families who adopt them. Asking for proof of health clearances from organizations like the Orthopaedic Foundation for Animals protects your investment and supports better breeding practices.
5. Separating Puppies From Mothers Too Early
Removing puppies from their mother and littermates before eight weeks old deprives them of crucial socialization and learning. During those early weeks, puppies learn bite inhibition, communication skills, and how to interact with other dogs. Mother dogs teach important lessons about boundaries and appropriate behaviour that humans cannot replicate.
Early separation often results in dogs with anxiety, aggression, or difficulty adjusting to new environments. Reputable breeders keep puppies with their families for at least eight weeks, with many waiting until ten or twelve weeks for toy breeds that need extra development time.
6. Breeding Dogs With Known Temperament Issues
Passing aggressive or fearful behaviour patterns to the next generation creates dogs that may bite, panic, or struggle to adapt to family life. Temperament has a genetic component, and breeding dogs with anxiety or aggression problems increases the likelihood these traits will appear in puppies. Some breeders ignore these red flags because the dog has desirable physical characteristics.
Good breeders evaluate temperament as carefully as physical health, selecting only stable, confident dogs for breeding programs. Meeting both parent dogs and observing their behaviour gives insight into what personality traits your future puppy might inherit from their lineage.
7. Keeping Breeding Dogs In Isolation
Dogs confined to kennels or cages without human interaction or environmental enrichment develop severe psychological problems. Social animals by nature, dogs need companionship, mental stimulation, and physical exercise to maintain emotional health. Breeders who treat dogs like production machines rather than living beings create animals that are fearful, depressed, or unable to form bonds.
These conditions affect not only the parent dogs but also their puppies, who may inherit stress responses or struggle with socialization. Visiting a breeder’s facility and seeing dogs living as family members rather than isolated producers indicates a healthier, more ethical operation worth supporting.
8. Breeding For Extreme Physical Features
Exaggerating traits like flattened faces, excessive skin folds, or extremely short legs may look cute but causes serious health problems. Brachycephalic breeds with pushed-in noses struggle to breathe, overheat easily, and may require surgery just to function normally. Dogs with excessive wrinkles suffer from chronic skin infections, while extremely long backs lead to painful spinal issues.
Fashion-driven breeding that prioritizes appearance over function leaves dogs suffering throughout their lives. Supporting breeders who select for moderate features and prioritize breathing, movement, and overall health helps shift the industry toward producing dogs that can live comfortably and actively.
9. Selling Puppies Without Proper Veterinary Care
Sending puppies to new homes without vaccinations, deworming, or health examinations puts both the puppy and other animals at risk. Parvovirus, distemper, and parasites spread easily among unvaccinated dogs and can be fatal to young puppies. Some breeders skip veterinary care to reduce costs, leaving buyers with expensive medical bills or heartbreaking losses shortly after adoption.
Responsible breeders provide documentation of all veterinary visits, vaccinations, and health checks before puppies leave. They also offer health guarantees and remain available for support throughout the dog’s life, demonstrating genuine commitment to their puppies’ wellbeing beyond the initial sale.
10. Misrepresenting Breed Or Health Status
Dishonest sellers may claim puppies are purebred when they’re mixed, or hide known health problems to make a sale. Online marketplaces make it easy for unethical breeders to post misleading photos and false information without accountability. Buyers may discover their expensive purebred is actually a mix, or that genetic conditions will require thousands in veterinary care.
Requesting registration papers, meeting parent dogs in person, and asking for references from previous buyers helps verify claims. Legitimate breeders welcome questions and provide transparent information about their dogs’ backgrounds, health testing results, and any potential concerns families should know about before committing.
