These are my thoughts exactly!! As some of you may know, I lost my 7-1/2 year old Xena several weeks ago from OS, so I'm still mourning her loss, but trying to move on the best I can for now. I made attempts over this weekend to contact several reputable east coast breeders with the intention of talking/meeting with them & their dogs, but no real leads as of yet. I'm not ready for another 'best friend' just yet, but I know there's typically a wait for quality puppies and wanted to get the ball rolling.
Which leads me to this thread:
Yesterday was my Birthday, and when asked what I wanted to do in the afternoon, I suggested playing with puppies! (Gotta' LOVE puppies!!) My girlfriend thought it sounded like fun too, so off we went.
Now, the only place I know of on the Island to commercially purchase a locally-bred Rottweiler is the place where I got Xena originally. I haven't been there in 7-years, but as it turns out, they still 'specialize' in Rottweilers. It's a 'commercial kennel' that's been there for almost 50-years, been breeding Rotties almost 30. It's clean, nice, & friendly........and BUSY!! There were quite a few people out there when we pulled up. And the place in the middle of nowhere, no less. Really quite a ride for most Long Islanders. I guess they advertise well. (Hmmm...?)
They also 'professionally breed' 15-20 other dog breeds on the premises, but none as prolific as their Rotties. (Hmmm.......??)
Anyway, we played with 6-different Rottie-pups out in the play yard they have out back. (After all, it's the
only reason we went there.....to play with puppies!!) It's a lush green lawn area with boarding kennels along one side, and 5-6 different play-pen areas, each of about 20' x 30', each with several pups in them. Out front (Behind a white picket fence) is a row of kennels with about 10-12 adult Rotties in them. This is where they keep their breeding stock, and
most of them are really nice dogs. (A few were flying off the walls with saliva spewing out of their mouths, but most were just excited & wanted to be pet) It was a nice setup. Very professional. Also, the puppies are all microchipped, de-wormed, & vaccinated.
All the puppies we saw happen to have been littermates. And georgeous little puppies, to boot. One in particular was such a little sweetheart, I played with her for a 1/2 hour!! I think my face
still smells like puppy!! LOL..........
Anyway, after we left, my girlfriend said to me, "I can't help feeling like there isn't any good reason NOT buy a puppy from them. After all, Xena was a GREAT dog!" I had to agree with her, to an extent......except of course for the tell-tale signs of a 'mill-type' atmosphere. That, and Xena's elbow dysplaysia............
First of all, they keep the Rottie puppies until they are 4-months old. (Used to be 3-months, back when I got Xena) When asked why, they told me it's for health reasons. (?) This way, they have all their vaccinations before they leave & are a little more mature. (??)
What happened to 7-8 weeks being the ideal time for separating them from their littermates??
Secondly, NO buyer interview what-so-ever, just like last time. I could've been ANYBODY......whichever one I wanted would've been mine......as long as I had the ca$h. They DID successfully assist me in selecting Xena based on what I told them I wanted in a dog, but only after
I suggested it. (???)
Also, the 'breeding stock' out front........who has the time to play with
all these beautiful animals? Do they receive excercise & socilaization?? They very well may, for all I know.........I just think it would be a full-time job to do it right. (Hmmm........) Also, no show or working titles on their 'product line'. A few turned up in Xena's pedigree, but I suppose that's kind of inevitable given a few generations worth of dogs.
They
do have all AKC registered dogs/bitches, and they are all OFA'd for hips, with certificates attached to the pedigrees. But that's it. Nothing further. When I asked them why they don't at least include elbow certifications, I was told that "That's unnecessary. Anyone who does that is just using it for marketing!"
Imagine
that???! Marketing?? It's exactly the people who DO have all the health certifications in place that do NOT 'market' their 'product'. (Jeeezz..........) Which is evident by the fact that they're not exactly the easiest people to track down.
So it was things like this that made me ponder all evening, was this a commercial breeder? Or was it a puppy mill?? Or, as the thread title suggests, is there
even a difference???
Regards,
MK
P.S. When I explained all this to my girlfriend, she now sees the other side of the fence. But of course, being a kind-hearted woman, she said it makes her want to 'rescue' the little guys & give them a good home even more. (Agghhhh!!!) Which is exactly how I think these places stay in business for so long. They make it
sooo easy......just show up with money, and go home with a dog. Just like groceries.
No wonder this is such a problem in this country................
