There are a few Puppy Mills in Saskatchewan. We aren't a puppy mill! We have one dog - Tori - and she's a full family member. Every year or two we have a litter of puppies because we really enjoy seeing puppies born and seeing them grow up. We love placing a Wheaten in a good home and hearing back how he's doing. It's not a business for us - it's a wonderful passion.
Puppy Mill dogs tend to be a few hundred dollars cheaper than the "going rate"
Puppy Mill breeding dogs are kept in horrible inhumane conditions
Puppy Mill dogs are poorly socialized. They have health problems.
Puppies are kept in filthy conditions - this makes them very hard to house train
Puppy Mill pups are either unregistered or are registered as pure-bred dogs using falsified documents.
Supporting a puppy mill encourages animal cruelty
One Saskatchewan based puppy mill is presently advertising puppies in several papers across Canada and has discount Wheaten puppies for sale right now! Puppy mills tend to over-breed their dogs, generally twice a year - just to make a buck. They may have dozens of dogs kept in small kennels and in horrible dirty over-crowded conditions. The dogs don't get out for exercise and are seldom handled or cared for. They just crank out puppies. The dogs always have serious health problems and little concern is paid to testing for genetic defects. The pups often have health problems too and are poorly socialized. This leads to serious problem integrating your new puppy into the family - you end up adopting a wild animal!
Yes, you can usually save a few hundred dollars but by supporting a puppy mill you are encouraging animal cruelty. If someone offers you a discount Wheaten then they are a Puppy Mill - stay clear - and ask your SPCA to investigate them.
Tori, our Wheaten, is a full family member sleeping in our bedroom, going for boat rides and living a great life. She has been tested for genetic defects and her pups are home raised as family members. Tori's pups only go to good homes and are never sold into puppy mills or to stores. Her pups are vet checked twice, have their shots, deworming, micro chip and a health guarantee. Best of all they have wonderful personality from being well socialized.
What can you do? Ask questions! Your best protection is to go and see the puppy before you buy the dog. A Puppy Mill will be very reluctant to allow you in to see the dogs. If you live too far away perhaps you can also ask a friend who lives near the breeder to check them out for you. A reputable breeder will be a member of the CKC and the national Wheaten clubs - make a call and check them out. Do a bit of home work and ask a few questions. There's a world of difference between a puppy mill dog and a properly socialized family member - take the time before you buy and make sure.
Questions to ask:
How many breeding dogs do you have?
How many puppies do you sell in a year?
Have you ever been investigated or charged by the SPCA for mistreating a dog?
Can I come and inspect your facility and see how your dogs are treated?
How often do you take your dogs for a walk?
Have you ever sold your dogs to a pet store or puppy mill?
Are you a member of the Canadian Kennel Club?
Are all your dogs CKC registered? (Warning: AKC registration not CKC may mean puppy mill!)
Are you a member of the national and provincial Wheaten Terrier club?
Of course a Puppy Mill owner will probably lie about a few of those questions but if they won't let you come and see the dogs and how they are cared for then it's a puppy mill. Stay clear! If it smells like a puppy mill then it IS a puppy mill.