How Much is that Doggy in the Window? Likely More Than You Bargained For.

Writer: Amanda Frey

Walking down the street, the likelihood of passing an onslaught of adorable puppies in the window of a pet shop used to be pretty high. However, with recent legislation in New York, this scene has become outlawed and is now a thing one of the past. New York State has taken a stance against puppy mills, a term that “generally refers to a large-scale commercial dog-breeding facility where the emphasis is on profits over the welfare of the dogs” (Animal Legal Defense Fund, n.d.). The Puppy Mill Pipeline Act was signed into law in December of 2022, but it didn’t take effect until December of 2024 (Office of the Governor of New York, 2022). The passing of this act led many people to question why, p. Particularly those who saw these puppy stores as accessible and affordable ways to get a purebred dog as a puppy. So why was this such an essential piece of legislation? And why does the government care about dog breeding practices? This article intends to explore the benefits of proper breeding for both dog and owner, as well as how welfare can affect everything from the psychological to the physiological when it comes to the breeding of animals.

New York State has joined five other states and 400 communities across the US in passing legislation to stop the puppy-mill-to-store pipeline. However, understanding how these standards affect the animals' welfare and those adopting these pets will likely create a more substantial discourse toward abolishing lousy breeding practices (Stop Online Puppy Mills, N.D.). This remains important because, as legislation against puppy mills progresses, there is growing concern about the rise of black market breeding and backyard breeders. Backyard breeding is “the irresponsible breeding of animals in inadequate conditions with insufficient care, often by people with little experience or knowledge” (RSPCA Australia, 2024). Often, backyard breeders do not understand what they are doing, possibly adding to a bigger problem of behavior and physiology within dogs. Many do it out of the joy of being around puppies and an interest in gaining funds – it is often not an act of ill will. This is another critical reason why understanding how specific breeding practices must be selective to be humane. 

The importance of a happy pregnancy is commonly known among those who have experienced having a baby. So, it comes as no surprise that “Animal models have provided evidence that the experience of an early traumatic event such as maternal stress or illness, as well as postnatal neglect, abuse, or serious medical illness, can alter behavioral and neuroendocrine responsiveness, brain morphology, central levels of gene expression, and neurochemical markers, as well as normal developmental processes that have been implicated in the etiology of psychiatric disorders” (Sanchez et al., 2001). The application of the research on these facts has primarily focused on farm animals and humans, neglecting to ensure the same for our furry companions, Canis lupus familiaris, also known as our pet dogs. A good comparison to help the reader understand how commercial breeding establishments (CBE) are run is by thinking of it as a feedlot. Within CBEs, dogs are treated similarly to livestock. While conditions between CBEs do vary, there are similar characteristics throughout: “large numbers of dogs; maximally efficient use of space by housing dogs in or near the minimum space permitted by law; housing breeding dogs for their entire reproductive lives – in most cases, years – in their cages or runs; dogs rarely if ever permitted out of their primary enclosures for exercise or play; absence of toys or other forms of enrichment; minimal to no positive human interaction or companionship; and minimal to no health care” (McMillan et al., 2011). While this taken by itself is an example of extremely poor welfare, the biggest problem with CBEs and backyard breeding has to do with the “product” they produce – puppies.

The number one reason dogs are rehomed and often euthanized is due to behavioral problems (Croney, 2019). It can, therefore, be debated that breeding dogs in stressful situations that lead to these behavioral problems is not only inhumane but unethical to both the dogs and the people who will be adopting them. The stressors within the CBEs can psychologically affect the puppies they produce in two developmental stages. The first is the stage discussed above – the pre-natal period. It is well known that “prenatal stress […] may manifest later in life as an impaired ability to cope with stress, abnormal social behavior, and increased emotionality and fear-related behavior” (McMillan et al., 2013). In a 2013 study by McMillan et al., the increased levels of these behaviors were seen in dogs sourced from CBEs versus those from non-commercial breeders (NCB). The second developmental stage is the first eight weeks after the puppy is born. During this period, dogs are “hypersensitive” to their environment, and even “a single unpleasant experience could result in long-term aversive or abnormal effects” (McMillan et al., 2013). In addition to the stressful environment the puppies are likely to experience within the first few weeks of life at a CBE, there is often a lack of socialization and enrichment, which can cause further emotional damage. These behavioral problems can create not only an emotional burden on their human adopters but also a financial one, as training and maintenance of these behaviors can be expensive. 

Finally, I want to touch on the physiological effects poor breeding practices can have on the puppies they produce. One of the most costly items of having a pet is vet bills. Often these can be somewhat predictable with younger dogs. But when they come from less-than-ideal conditions, health problems increase, and the trips to the vet add up quickly. The first issue I want to address is that of genetic predisposition. CBEs generally primarily focus on aesthetics over heritable considerations. Both physical and behavioral characteristics are passed on through their genetics. In addition to not being screened for genetic disorders or relatedness, many CBEs do not have an established age for breeding. This alone can cause physical ailments to both the mother dog and her puppies bitch and the litter (Croney, 2019). The Humane Veterinary Medical Alliance put together a list of “Husbandry and Medical Concerns in Puppy Mills” in 2009. Other than the hereditary and socialization issues previously discussed, “poor grooming practices, severe parasitism, and severe periodontal disease” were also listed as concerns (Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, 2009). These problems, while treatable, can be costly both in a material and physical sense.

Choosing a pet for your family is a serious and difficult decision. While the work toward a more humane breeding standard for dogs has begun, they are still far from eliminating harm it is far from being where no harm is done to either the puppies, the breeding “stock”, and the humans purchasing the puppies from these CBEs. While NCBs hold their practices to a much higher standard through genetic testing and behavioral considerations, without hard restrictions and regulations regarding the welfare for this vulnerable population, it’s hard to truly know how much is that doggy in the window?