Puppy mills (intensive breeding facilities) produce dogs in conditions that cause significant welfare harm to breeding dogs and predispose puppies to health and behavioural problems throughout their lives.
Breeding dogs in puppy mills experience chronic confinement, inadequate social interaction, poor veterinary care and repeated pregnancies that cause physical deterioration. Puppies deprived of mother-sibling interaction in the critical 3-8 week period develop higher rates of anxiety, aggression and other behavioural problems. The welfare costs are borne by both breeding stock and the millions of puppies produced throughout their lives.