• Just went to visit a terrier breeder and a bit bemused by the set-up - three litters of puppies all at once, the litter we have come to see are living in a pen adjoining the grooming room in an outbuilding and she’s reluctant to show us that or the whole litter. Then the other litters (a similar breed) are living in a small pen in the house but again we can’t go in and see them there, I just peered in through a window.

    I can’t see any kind of stimulation the puppies would get where they are currently living and she was a bit vague about that.

    The dogs seem perfectly healthy and lively - although the indoor ones are perhaps a bit timid - but I can’t shake the feeling that these are breeders cashing in on their reputation to do a bit of puppy farming before they retire.

    What does it seem like to any of you?

  • It sounds very grim and a bit cruel. Not someone I'd want to pay and encourage!

  • I can’t shake the feeling that these are breeders cashing in on their reputation to do a bit of puppy farming before they retire.

    What would give you the impression that this isn't what they've always done and will continue to do?

  • Would avoid! Socialisation and care in those early weeks plays a huge part of how the dog will behave through the rest of its life. If you’re getting that vibe already, do you think they’re going to the effort of socialising and desensitising the puppies? Do you think they’ve done health checks or considered the compatibility and temperament of the parents?

  • When we went to buy peanut, the woman at the house had them all running about and like they weren't segregated, we could see the whole litter and ended up with the one who came to us.

    That does seem a bit red flaggy

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