Choosing a new puppy to join your home is an exciting time. However, where to purchase your puppy from can be confusing, especially as you wouldn’t want to accidentally buy a puppy from one of the many backyard breeders that sadly still operate.
Many breeders are ethical and responsible, and take great care in breeding healthy, socialized, and happy puppies, so you should know how to differentiate between a responsible and an unscrupulous backyard breeder.
In this article, we look at what are, how to identify, how to stop and how to report backyard breeders while at the same time how to find a responsible puppy breeder with their dog's welfare at heart.
You might be wondering what backyard breeders are. A backyard breeder is a person who produces puppies without a license, often purely for financial gain, with no commitment to animal welfare. They do not consider ethical or professional standards, temperament, health, or genetics of the offspring. They are often bred in poor conditions, often unsanitary, with inadequate veterinary care.
Backyard breeders can operate in various places, even in an innercity apartment. The puppies produced by backyard breeders likely suffer from health and behavioral issues later in life due to inadequate early care, hygiene and good socialization.
Identifying backyard breeders can be challenging, as they can seem like reasonable businesspeople, but they are clever at concealing their questionable operations. They attract customers often through lower prices and polished adverts.
They can also be very charismatic, but they can also be pushy, looking to make a quick sale. Some buyers are tempted by the cheap price of the puppies, ready to go, or that the sellers are nearby.
But you should not purchase from a backyard breeder, even if you feel sorry for the puppies. It’s important not to fund or support these businesses, as it adds to the suffering and neglect of the dogs and puppies. We will go through how to report backyard breeders further on.
When choosing a puppy, you will want to know what to look out for, so you can hopefully avoid backyard breeders. One clear red flag is that they won’t let you see the mother or other puppies. They often have one puppy to show you, and you will be shown it away from others, in their lounge, for example.
A responsible puppy breeder will show you the kennel set up and whelping area. The kennels will be clean and hygienic, and the puppies should be with the mother until they are at least 8 weeks old. If a puppy is any younger, the breeder is likely to be a backyard breeder.
Backyard breeders are unlikely to answer your questions, they will be very evasive when you ask about health tests, vaccinations and socialization. They rarely provide a care sheet or puppy pack to take home. They will also have no paperwork or documentation for you, like pedigree registration or vaccination certificates.
Backyard breeders are also unlikely to ask you any questions. Being vetted by the breeder is critical because they should also check that you’ll be a suitable owner. The care of their puppies in their new home should be a higher priority than making a profit.
Be wary of a breeder who advertises too often; if they have many litters, they are likely to be backyard breeders. Responsible and professional breeders will only breed so many litters because the welfare of their dogs is important to them. They will also be following license guidelines.
You will find backyard breeders advertising in various places - online marketing places that don’t have a vetting process, social media, and local community boards. They’re also unlikely to provide many photos or information in their ads.
When considering how to stop backyard breeders, the simplest thing you can do is not purchase from them. If you are a responsible breeder, you can educate people who come to meet your puppies on your best practices. You can actively promote your good ethics and support other breeders as well.
If you are looking for a new puppy, you might want to consider adopting from your local shelter.
You should also report suspicious behavior to the local authorities. You can also contact local animal welfare charities if you suspect a puppy is the product of a backyard breeder.
If you suspect a backyard breeder, you might want to know how to report them. There are numerous ways you can make a report if you suspect neglect or unethical practices. You can report them to animal welfare organizations like the ASPCA, your local county or city animal control or law enforcement. They may ask for details or any evidence you have.
Writing reviews online detailing what you noticed can be disuade people. For example, if you went to view a puppy and it was kept in a dirty pen, you should mention this. If you can take any evidence, such as photos, do so carefully. Ensure your safety first.
Reviews can be placed on Google and Facebook, where they will get the most attention.
When choosing a puppy, select one from a responsible and ethical business, not a backyard breeder. You can choose a good breeder by looking for certification and accreditation. They’ll appear professional with a website and be transparent with lots of information about health testing, etc. They will produce puppies for good health, genetics, temperament and breed standards, and put animal welfare before profits.
If you know the signs of backyard breeders, you will hopefully avoid them. Then you can find a reputable breeder and choose a puppy to join your family that has already had a great start in life. Puppy Hero, the AKC puppy register, local vets, and family/friend recommendations are all great ways to find a good puppy breeder.
09 May, 2025