Things that may point to a "bad" breeder or puppy mill:

• They allow you to purchase a puppy without asking any information about you or your living situation.


• They have multiple breeds of dogs that are used for breeding.


• They have multiple litters at one time.


• They take Visa, MasterCard or Pay Pal. (This may be a sign of a high-volume producer or dealer.)


• They insist on non-refundable deposits before they even speak with you.


• They will not refund your money under any circumstances but will give you a replacement puppy. If you have purchased a puppy with a serious physical defect or illness, do you really want to get another puppy from this same breeder?


• They offer to ship the puppy anywhere in the country.


• They refuse to let you visit their home or see where the puppies are raised. Don’t be misled with excuses such as they don't allow strangers to visit, not wanting to expose puppies to diseases, house isn't tidy etc.


• They offer to meet you somewhere to sell you the puppy. This may seem like they are just being nice, but their real aim is to keep you away from their property so that you cannot see how many dogs they have or how they are housed.


• They sell imported puppies. These pups are bred purely for profit and are at risk for serious illnesses. They are taken from their mothers too young and arrive in this country extremely stressed and often ill or suffering from parasites. For more information, visit www.TheWrongPuppy.org.


• They pressure you to decide quickly to purchase a puppy.

Please Note! The worst way to buy a puppy is to go on the Internet and type in your breed of choice followed by the word "puppy" on the search option. This usually brings up all the broker websites where puppy mills sell their dogs. Avoid these websites. Instead, check out National breed club websites to see if they have a breeder referral program. Or visit The AKC Breeder Referral page.