What are the signs of a puppymill?

[Native New Yorker]

So I drove almost seven hours (roundtrip) to visit what may be a puppy mill.  A few of you may be able to confirm, so please tell me what you think.  I drove miles and miles to visit what online appeared to be a reputable breeder.  She responded to my concerns promptly, sent pictures, and seemed knowledeable about mini and standard goldendoodles.  I explained that I would NOT be purchasing with this visit but I wanted to see her facility and see if I could tolerate the mini's because I have mild/moderate allergies.  Upon my visit, she was not there but told me in advance that she would have someone show me the puppies.  When I arrived the young man had a carrier of two mini's that he took out of his car, which I thought was strange, and put them in a wired fence area so that I could "see them play" - his words.  I picked them up and they both smelled foul - unclean.  I asked how old they were and he said that they were 8 weeks.  I told him that I would like to visit more puppies and then he took me into a large shed that had 5 cages of various mini's, standards and puppies with their mom.  They were barking and the adults were hitting their heads on top of the cage.  I asked if they were allowed out of their cages and he replied that they are out quite often.  Then a lady came to feed the dogs and they went crazy, jumping, barking and running around in their cages.  The young man then told me if I purchased one that day that he was told he could reduce the price by $300.00.  I told him that I was not ready to purchase that day and would get back to the owner. I do not expect all breeders to have a pristine environment and I know that some will have more dogs then others.  Money and experience will determine how their spaces are kept. I'm aware of this, but the shed and the many dogs in a cage did concern me.  Since I have no experience purchasing dogs and this was the first breeder that I visited what do you think?

[Pat & "Tucker"]

I'd walk away for sure! Bad situation.

[BetteB]

Follow your instincts. I agree with many of the other posts.

[Amanda and Quinn]

Hey OM, I'm in NJ and I'm 90% sure I know what you're talking about, and if so, you're smart to trust your instincts. A friend from college has a doodle from this place and he told me that he knew as soon as they got there that it was a puppy mill, but his kids were too excited, etc. Their dog is healthy, knock wood, but completely hyperactive and insane.

[Native New Yorker]

Yes, I thought that the puppies were very hyper. Goldendoodles tend to be very calm when picked up but they were difficult too handle - cute though.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Puppy Mill! Just my opinion.

[Natasha]

Yeah - our breeder had her porch area fully enclosed (professionally and fully framed and sheet-rocked - as if it was another room in the house) and turned into a huge whelping room. The room was through a sliding glass door off the kitchen/family room which they left open so the puppies could experience the sounds and smells of family life but had a gate up so they could roam the room as they wished without getting into anything. When we visited when they were younger, they were in their whelping box in that room that was removed as they got older, replaced by a larger boxed in area that was later replaced by just the gate.

We were asked to remove our shoes and scrub up before visiting the puppies to help ensure that they stayed healthy.

Their 9 year old daughter was constantly working with the puppies (and we got to see her playing with them, handling them, etc., she was so good with them which is why I think Rouser is so good with little children). She would take them out to the yard to potty so Rouser was practically potty trained at 8 weeks. She also had tea parties with them - she would take them into her room in groups of two and have them sit for treats around her tea table - so Rouser already knew sit as well.

Those breeders exist - find one of them.

[Adina P]

That's really cute (the 9 year old's tea parties)!

[Nicole]

OMG I had NO idea about Amish and Puppy Mills. I think I bought Duncan from a Puppy Mill! AUGHHHH! I'm so mad that I supported something like that.

I found an ad in the paper for Goldendoodles... called... they are 14 weeks old.

The lady says she is helping a friend out who is a breeder in MI and going through financial troubles. They actually breed Boxers but are helping her sell some of her puppies (?) Hellloooo.... here's your sign.

I drive to Shipshewana, IN... aka Amish Country. Meet the Amish wife and husband. It was dark and he got a candle to go to the barn to bring the puppies in. I assumed there was no electricity. He brought the puppies into the garage for me to play with them. They were damp b/c he said they'd had a bath that day.

The fact that I didn't see the parents... didn't see where they were living... OMG I totally paid those a-holes and supported their awful business! However, my Duncan Doodle is the sweetest baby ever and I wouldn't trade him for anything... I just feel awful about where he came from!

[Native New Yorker]

I also thought that the Amish would be trustworthy, since they are "green" and supposed to be so religious. They stress the importance of keeping the body pure and spotless and free from the contaminating influences of the worldly aspects of life, so it would never occur to me that they would run puppy mills.That's why it's good that there are forums such as this. Anyway, Duncan is adorable and I'm sure he was meant for you. A woman around the corner from me purchased her 14 month Goldendoodle from what she now believes is an Amish puppy mill. He is doing just fine but if she had more prior knowledge she also would have never supported them.

[Adina P]

The Amish may indeed be trustworthy in many things, just not likely with dog breeding. The issue with dog breeding is that, from what I understand, their view on animals is just really different than ours. They see animals and livestock as product, period. Puppies are inventory to them, rather than creatures they love as we do. Perhaps they are better with their working dogs/farm dogs because it probably benefits them to breed healthy working dogs, but breeds they sell...not so much.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I got samantha from a pet store before I knew better and got my education here in DK. Now you have been educated and will preach what makes a great breeder to what is a PM. Neither of us can or would never want to change our doodles but we will make a better life for the doodles and all other breeds in PMs when we educate those who are were as ignorant as we were about how dogs are treated in PMs.

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

Do not walk- Run

Please contact me private to let me know who this was, I would not want to promote them on the recommended breeders list or in any other relationship.