Sorry, but ...

[Whitney168]

The breeder recommendation on the other thread just gives so much opportunity for more ways to teach people how to spot puppy farmers! I don't want either the OP or the person who gave the recommendation to think I am personally attacking them, that is absolutely not my motivation.

We just need people to start recognising the cobblers these people tell prospective purchasers and some of the more accurate reasons behind it. So, from that particular breeder's website, some gems that would ring alarm bells for me.

We offer to keep all our puppies up until 12 weeks of age. We charge £10 per night to keep a puppy after 8 weeks of age

Good grief, what a nice little racket they have going here, dressed up as selflessness and helpfulness. Any decent breeder will have thoroughly vetted their buyers, and once they have agreed to let a puppy go they would certainly not charge to keep it if there were some extentuating circumstances that meant it needed to stay a little longer - let alone at £10 a day!

WE ARE DRIVING PAST CAN WE STOP OFF AND HAVE A LOOK ROUND?
I’m afraid we will say no if you contact us asking this question.
Your appointment slot will be up to 45 minutes long and must not be exceeded.
Should you be early you must not pull up and wait on our premesis and must find somewhere local to stay e.g. a cafe.

Very controlled contact and appointments for this breeder, and restricting people seeing how many buyers are coming and going. A good breeder will not limit your time to ask questions and make sure you have all the info you need about them (and vice versa).

copies of dads KC reg and DNA PRA certificate (we do not give copies of mums paperwork out as we are not selling to breeding homes)
And also presumably because the poor mums are not of any discernible breed, not health tested despite their fine words - plus they don't want anyone to be able to track the number of bitches and how many litters they are having.

Deposits will be taken on a first come first serve basis

In fact, their whole T&Cs demonstrates that these are just business transactions.

Gah, I could go on ... and on ... and on. Suffice it to say that there is nothing wholesome and fluffy about this breeder, or any other like it, despite the lovely website. Their bitches are a factory line, kept in a dark barn in cages.

I say it regularly and will say it again - if you don't take steps to avoid this, you are supporting it!

[Bubble2bubble]

It's a really common misconception that puppy farm is so vile it has to be illegal. It's not. In fact in some places such as the border counties in Northern Ireland it has been actively encouraged as part of a government backed rural diversification programme.

[Bubble2bubble]

And yes, if a breeder has 20 + dogs you can rest assured they are not lying in front of the fire as beloved family pets, no matter how many cute photos of dogs with bows in their hair you might see on the breeder's website.

[LunaFortuna]

Up until five years ago I had no idea that puppy farms existed. When I found out I just thought, well why don't they close them down, they're illegal. I couldn't believe it when I found out they were legal and licensed. I can't think of one good reason for puppy farms, they are purely for profit. I've campaigned, tried to help raise awareness and written to my (useless) MP on more than one occasion but it feels like it's endemic.

And I get it, the puppies are super cute. I see it on FB all the time "soooo cute". But the invisible mums are the opposite of cute, they are dirty, matted, poorly and sad.

Anyway, like I said, 5 years ago I was clueless and who knows I might have unknowingly done the same thing. What can we do except keep talking about it, keep letting people know.

Thanks for the thread Whitney.

[StandardPoodle]

So many wise words on how to recognise a possible puppy farm dog.
Our breeder wanted full details of our family and breed experience. We met our boy with his mum, siblings, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother - all immaculately groomed and the younger ones in full show trim. All the family's show results are on the internet.
He receives a birthday card each year from his breeder - we are still in contact too and get updates and videos of his family, and we send videos and updates too.

[Nannyplumbrocks]

We saw our first pup a few weeks ago and Im glad I realised it was a puppy farm before taking the dog. I walked away. It was very obvious to me from the start. House out in the country, met lady there. She brought us to an outdoor shed where pup was alone. Pup was so timid he barely looked up when we walked in. He looked so sad. Head down. No interaction. I asked to see parents and was brought to an outdoor pen where 2 dogs were pacing and barking at us. Im not surprised. Owner never asked us a single question, was quite presumptuous that we were taking pup there and then. I told her we were going to have a chat and come back. We didn't. Poor pup, he was beautiful. Later through some googling found they were licensed for 50 breeding bitches ( Ireland) sickening

[Wolfiefan]

Bloody hell that is sickening. Poor dogs. Good on you for not funding this business.