What is a Puppy Broker and Commercial Breeder?
This blog is to learn more about,"what is a puppy broker and a commercial broker?"
Along with how to determine if the breeder you are contacting falls under one or both of these categories. If they do, please do not support them. Find a reputable breeder. A breeder who is trying their best to better the breed and bring healthy, happy puppies to this world.
Puppy Broker:
A puppy broker is someone who buys an entire litter from a breeder to resell them to a pet store or sell the pups themselves. Years ago, this term was only for those who sold them to a pet store. However, lately, there are breeders who are seeing this option as a way to make a profit. How do they make a profit?
The following is an example:
Let's say a breeder (let's refer to this breeder as"Breeder A") sells their pups at $1,500 each. S/he finds a breeder (let's refer to this breeder as"Breeder B") who is selling her/his pups at $600
each. "Breeder A" will contact "Breeder B" and state they will pay $700 for each pup and they no longer need to worry about selling the pups. They simply need to have litters and sell them to "Breeder A".
"Breeder B" will agree since they are going to win $100 more on each pup and not spend time on finding them homes. Where "Breeder A" will sell them as "their own" at $1,500.
"Breeder A" will receive $800 per puppy.
These breeders (who are also puppy brokers), do not care about improving the breed. Since the breeders they are contacting are not selling their pups at a low price with health-tested exams. Nor are they investigating if the pups are not incest.
They are simply finding breeders who sell their puppies much cheaper than they are. If they can make a profit off the pups, they do not care about the rest. In conclusion, these breeders are only interested in making money.
How do I know if the breeder I am contacting is a puppy broker?
There is only one way to find out. Ask to see the AKC papers of the parents. The breeder will blackout the delicate information.
However, the mailing address on the form will be there. Before you ask for this information, ask the breeder the pickup address. The pickup address and the mailing address on the form must be the same. If they are not, then the puppies are not theirs. They bought them.
Commercial Breeder:
In order to become a commercial breeder, you must have at least 30 breeding dogs. Being a commercial breeder is just a "fancier" way of being a puppy mill. These breeders will be checked once by the animal control every year. Where the dogs just need to be in living conditions. This means, being in a crate with food and water is enough to pass.
Commercial breeders are establishments of large-scale facilities where dogs are confined in extremely small kennels with little to no exercise or positive human contact. The purpose of a commercial breeder (puppy mill) is to sell the pups for profit through retail pet stores, brokers, or to any individual.
How do I know if the breeder I am contacting
is a commercial breeder?
1. Some will state they are commercial breeders on their website.
2. They have more than 30 dogs breeding. Typically will also state this on their website.
USDA License:
You might have seen some breeders stating they are USDA license. One will believe this is great.
This means they [the breeder] are breeding and having the dogs and pups in a spacious environment! WRONG!
To be able to obtain a USDA license, the dogs must be in "living condition". This means they can be in small confined crates with food and water and still fall under the USDA standards.
This means this license, does not indicate they are terrible or great breeders. Simply something that is required by law by some states. You can be a puppy mill and have this license. Or you can be the best breeder in the nation and have this license.
DISCLAIMER: Some states require a breeder to have this license. Therefore if you see a breeder stating they have a USDA license, this does not mean they are terrible breeders.
The following is a link to learn about a puppy mill with a USDA license. Please be aware, the pictures and the story will break your heart.
USDA LICENSE PUPPY MILL EXAMPLE:
https://www.dogingtonpost.com/undercover-footage-reveals-horrors-at-usda-licensed-puppy-mills-that-supply-puppies-to-pet-stores/
Questions you need to ask before you purchase your puppy:
1. Ask to see parents on-site, it can be through FaceTime.
2. Ask if the parents are genetically tested and have had a health check by a veterinarian.
3. Ask if they are a puppy broker and if they offer a guardianship contract.
4. How many guardianship contracts do they have?
5. Research guardianship offered by breeders and what it means.
6. Ask questions and if they can’t answer, move on.
7. Speak to the owner and ask to facetime.
8. Do your research!!! Your puppy is worth it.
Conclusion:
I hope this blog helps you better understand these terms and find a good breeder.