How to Spot a Puppy Mill

      First, we want to thank you for caring enough to visit this page. There are many puppy buyers who are unaware of the conditions some breeders keep their dogs in. In a recent adventure to add new healthy bloodlines to our breeding program, we uncovered some startling statistics and disturbing sights. We would like to help you, the puppy buyer, to be able to detect a few of the warning signs when looking for your new best friend.

*Proper ventilation, clean air, natural light and obviously clean living space are just a few things you want to see when visiting your new puppy's breeder. Dogs living in a basement in 'runs' or crates does not constitute a healthy living environment. Many puppy mill owners keep their breeding dogs in the basements of their homes or garages in order to avoid being detected. It is thought by them that if they keep the dogs hidden, that nobody will see them, therefore allowing them to continue to breed their animals frivilously.

* It is important to see the living conditions of ALL of the animals at your chosen breeders home. Many times breeders will seperate the parents of a puppy in order to show them to the potential buyers while being able to keep the other animals isolated. If upon arrival at your breeders home, you only see the parents of your puppy and your visit seems more like a well planned vacation than a visit to a friend's home, there is probably a problem.

*Exercise areas are extremely important to the health of a dog, especially a breed such as the border collie. Dogs need to be dogs. They need to be able to stretch and run and socialize at their own free will. There is nothing wrong with crating a dog here and there during the day. But, living in a crate all day and night is unexcusable.

*Do your research and take notes! A person who is seeking a new pet soley for the purpose of owning a happy, healthy pet may not be aware of some of the things which exhibitors and show people may be. For instance, did you know that in Asia (just one of many countries) the number of animals is so excessive that there is a limit on how many puppies a female dog may give birth to? That means that if a female gives birth to 7 babies, and the limit is 2, the other puppies are killed while still less than a few weeks old? This is just one of the points that you must be aware of when purchasing a new puppy from a breeder. If a breeder is willing to sell their dogs to these horrible countries, dooming the future innocent lives born there, what else are they willing to do? Do you really want to sell your soul, just to own a puppy from a breeder who claimes to own valuable dogs? You need to do your homework. Ask around and most importantly, trust your instincts.

Every breeder is different and will house their dogs in different manners. Some breeders have kennels, some keep their dogs in their homes. Regardless of what a breeder tell you or how many titled dogs that breeder may own, knowing all of the facts before you purchase your puppy is of utmost importance.

If you find that you are going to be purchasing a puppy and are unable to visit beforehand, that's OK. Some breeders have groups of past puppy buyers who are willing to talk with you. Here at Peach Keen, we have a Yahoo Group set up for just this purpose. We welcome inquiries and are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about us and our pets.

We don't own show dogs here, Our dogs are our family, and they just so happen to compete in AKC competition events.

Our dogs live in our homes during the inclimate weather and are allowed to run with each other and with their human families during the day. We are both fortunate that all of the Peachy Keen breeders are home during the day, ensuring that our dogs are always safe, happy and healthy.

All of the pictures on this page were taken by animal lovers during various raids across the country. As you can see in many of the pics, overcrowding, as well as unsanitary living environments are present.