Limiting litter numbers, testing breeding animals, and providing appropriate prenatal and postnatal care are fundamental to the welfare of both breeding dogs and their offspring.
Breeding bitches on puppy farms are often pushed beyond physiological limits - multiple litters per year, inadequate nutrition, no veterinary care - that cause chronic welfare harm. Even well-intentioned breeders can cause harm through insufficient health testing, excessive litter frequency, or inadequate whelping support. Welfare-centred breeding prioritizes the health and experience of breeding animals alongside the welfare of the puppies they produce.