Avoiding Puppy Farms

 

Many dogs are bred purely for profit by so-called "puppy farms" — raised without proper care, then sold on through newspaper adverts, websites or social media. Avoid buying from any of these routes.

 

Confusingly, many "puppies for sale" websites also carry advice on spotting puppy farmers, even though puppy farmers are often most active on those same sites.

 

Don't assume a breeder is responsible just because they seem caring. Check and double-check everything you're told:

• Ask for the registered names of both parents and see their registration papers.

• Check the pedigree, and verify any claims about champion or show-winning dogs in the line.

• Ask how many litters the mother has had, and how frequently.

• Ask how many litters and puppies the breeder has registered with the Kennel Club in total.

• If they're breeding more than four litters a year, check they hold the required local authority licence.

• Be wary of breeders producing several different breeds — high-volume breeders often can't properly socialise every puppy.

• Insist on seeing where the litter actually lives. Refuse breeders who restrict access or use a separate "display area."

• Be cautious of demands for a deposit or cash payment, and check the receipt matches what you actually paid.

• Trust your instincts — if the visit makes you uneasy, walk away. Don't buy a puppy out of pity; it only frees up space for the breeder to breed again. Report welfare concerns to your local authority or the RSPCA.

 

Irish Wolfhounds specifically

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Puppy farming is a genuine problem for the breed, and members and the public alike can help by staying alert to it.

 

Responsible breeders rarely advertise online — the one general exception is www.irishwolfhoundpuppies.co.uk run by breed club members who only list health-tested, well-reared litters from UK club members. Good breeders usually have a waiting list; be prepared to wait, even for a companion rather than a show dog.

 

Irish Wolfhound registrations are relatively low (293 in 2015), and a worrying proportion trace back to puppy farmers.

 

Responsible breeders will readily share health test results, including:

• Parental heart status, tested within 12 months of the litter

• An individual PSS (liver shunt) test for each puppy

(See the Irish Wolfhound Health Group website for detail.)

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You can also view the health of a specific line and breeder on The Irish Wolfhound Database.

 

Puppy farmers don't always look the part. Some keep dogs at home, present both parents, and seem genuinely invested in finding the right home — while still breeding their bitches season after season with no regard for welfare. Always verify independently rather than taking impressions at face value.

 

Checking pedigree claims: ask for registered names and registration papers for both parents, and for any champion dogs claimed in the line — including which shows they won and when. Vague or evasive answers are a red flag. The Club can help verify claims against the Royal Kennel Club's Breeds Record Supplement and its own show archive.

 

On registration papers:  The Royal Kennel Club registration is not a guarantee of a responsible breeder — anyone can register a litter for a modest fee provided the parents were registered at birth. Be suspicious of breeders who:

• Charge substantially more to include registration papers than the papers actually cost

• Charge more to remove standard endorsements (e.g. "progeny not for registration," which marks a dog as a companion rather than for further breeding)

 

Breeding limits — the Club's Code of Conduct:

• Bitches should not be bred before age two or after their 7th birthday

• No more than one litter every twelve months

• No more than three litters in a lifetime

 

Ask to see the mother's registration papers, note her date of birth, and ask how many litters she's had and when. Avoid any breeder who falls outside these limits — it's a strong indicator of a "puppy factory" rather than responsible breeding.

 

The law: the Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999 sets a legal maximum of six litters in a bitch's lifetime — far above what's appropriate for a breed with an average lifespan of only around seven years. Since 2012 the Royal Kennel Club has refused to register litters from a bitch that has already had four. Local authorities also require a breeding licence above a set number of litters per year (typically 4–5) — ask, and check with the local authority for any pending complaints if a breeder seems to be operating at volume.

 

We Can Help

Contact us to verify a breeder's claims, or a bitch's breeding history, against The Royal Kennel Club records and our own archive — fact-checked, not hearsay.

 

Reproduced by kind permission of the Italian Greyhound Club, with amendments to their original article.