A Puppy Farmer generally, is everything a Responsible Breeder is not.
· A Puppy Farmer generally, has a number of different breeds at the establishment.
· A Puppy Farmer generally, cares little for the welfare of the stock, bred or reared at the establishment.
· A Puppy Farmer generally, cares little about the suitability or compatibility of the dog and bitch to be mated.
· A Puppy Farmer generally, cares little about the temperament of the puppies subsequently born.
· A Puppy Farmer generally, cannot, or will not, let you see the true parent(s) of the puppy offered for sale.
· A Puppy Farmer generally, will take, or put the puppies away from their mother, well before they are mature enough to be taken.
· A Puppy Farmer generally, will not let you see how the animals are bred, or the conditions in which the puppies live.
· A Puppy Farmer generally, may claim that the puppy is “Registered”.
· A Puppy Farmer generally, will be unable to offer full “Kennel Club Registration”.
THE PUPPY BUYER SHOULD MAKE THEMSELVES AWARE OF THE DIFFERENCE.
· A Puppy Farmer generally, will be very happy to take your money,
· A Puppy Farmer generally, will be equally unhappy, to offer advice, or take the puppy back, if there are subsequent problems with the puppy.

WAG SAYS - before buying a puppy, please take the time to consider the following points -

When seeing puppies ask to see the parents, particularly the mother
Make sure that the puppies immediately go to the mother. If not, this might not be the mother
If you are given the excuse that the mother is at the Vets or gone for a walk, call back when, or if, the mother is actually going to be there
Always ask for receipts
If you don't need a pedigree dog then go to Dog's Trust or the local dog and cat home
If it must be a pedigree, contact the Kennel Club or Scottish Kennel Club for a list of reputable breeders
If it is a pedigree dog, make sure that it has a Kennel Club registration, as genealogy can be dna proven, others are not as accurate
Make sure that the puppy has had first vaccinations and ask for the record card
If the record card does not look genuine, note the vet's address and contact them
If this is not a local vet to the premises, ask why?
Always get a diet sheet and advice on care
If you are unhappy or not sure about the premises you are in then walk away
Remember most genuine breeders will grill the purchaser to make sure that their puppy is going to a suitable home
Make sure that the breed or puppy you are looking at is appropriate to your home and circumstances, there is no point in buying a St. Bernard to live in a small upper flat!
If you want a puppy as a fashion accessory or to dress up, GET A STUFFED DOG OR DOLL!

Victoria Stilwell Speak Out
Source: www.victoriastilwell.com

Following the recent death of Ellie Lawrenson and other dog attack victims, there have understandably been concerned calls for more to be done to prevent these tragic situations. I am a mother, and nothing in the world comes before the well-being of my child, so I join in the chorus calling for change. My deepest sympathies go out to Ellie’s family as they cope with this unimaginably tragic loss. I am dismayed, however, by many of the‘solutions’ being considered by local and national authorities which are being encouraged by the media.

As has been proven by recent events, the Dangerous Dogs Act is not an effective piece of legislation. It was a hastily written, ill-conceived, kneejerk reaction to a similar spate of dog attacks in the early 1990s, and is misguided in its well-intended efforts to curb dog aggression towards humans. Most aggressive dogs are aggressive because either their owners want them to be aggressive, or because their owners haven’t provided the environment, training and tools necessary to raise and care for a well-adjusted family pet. Therefore, any government legislation regarding dangerous dogs should first target the true root of almost all dog behaviour problems – irresponsible owners.

I’m not a lawmaker, nor do I profess to be familiar with the intricacies of governance, but I do know that certain general aspects of the Dangerous Dogs Act should be drastically revised. The most important change I think needs to be made is that owners of aggressive dogs should be forced to take far greater responsibility for their dogs’ actions, both in public and private. Imposing stiff monetary penalties, mandatory behaviour modification regimens with accredited trainers, and ultimately removing the dog (without euthanasia) from the delinquent owners are just some of the owner-targeted revisions that should be considered. These types of changes would not only serve to modify the behaviour of already aggressive dogs, they would prevent future dogs from becoming aggressive by forcing more responsible dog ownership. More must be done to severely punish those owners responsible by giving any new dog-related legislation ‘teeth’, unlike the Dangerous Dogs Act.

Another major flaw in the Act is that it focuses on breed specific legislation, altogether outlawing four ‘types’ of dogs in Britain. Any breed of dog can bite. Any breed of dog can be a good pet. It is true that over the years certain breeds have been bred for fighting, herding, and hunting, and unfortunately, certain groups of people seek out these dogs as ‘pets’ specifically for this purpose. For a small, sad, and dangerous sliver of society, it has become ‘macho’ to own one of these dogs, as they consider the animals a status symbol and celebrate and encourage the dogs’ aggression. These people should be the target of the Dangerous Dogs Act, not entire breeds of dog. Having dealt with a large number of drug dealers in the South Bronx who owned pit bulls and other ‘fighting’ dogs, I am aware of how big a challenge it is tackling this issue. Therefore, however, I am also firmly of the belief that if you ban certain breeds, these people will simply move further underground and/or choose yet another breed to glorify, rendering breed-specific legislation useless as it spirals towards outlawing more and more breeds. I’ve fostered and trained countless rottweilers and pit bulls in America (where they are not illegal), and have found them to make very good pets, provided (as with any dog) that their owners are responsible. To continue to support breed-specific legislation is not only unfair to owners and dogs who happen to look like a certain breed, it encourages legislation that ultimately does very little towards achieving the goal of reducing the number of dog attacks in our society.

Several local authorities throughout the country are considering an amnes