Puppy farming - the intensive commercial breeding of dogs in poor conditions - causes severe welfare harm to breeding dogs and puppies, with long-term consequences for purchased pets.
Puppy farm welfare failures occur at multiple levels simultaneously. Breeding bitches are kept in barren kennels, bred from every season, and denied normal social and physical enrichment. The psychological and physical toll on breeding dogs results in significant health problems and early death. Puppies removed before 8 weeks miss critical socialisation periods, increasing the likelihood of behavioural problems throughout life. Purchasers who buy puppy farm dogs believing they are helping the individual puppy actually fund the system that creates welfare suffering at scale. Lucy's Law has reduced one pathway for puppy farm distribution but online sales continue to enable the trade.