Dog Welfare in Commercial Breeding Kennels
Since 2012, a major focus of our research has been the welfare of dogs in licensed commercial breeding kennels. Although people often use the terms "commercial dog breeding kennels", and "puppy mills" synonymously, they are not the same. We define a puppy mill as a dog breeding facility that prioritizes profit over the well-being of the dogs. Puppy mills show no interest in or effort toward supporting dog welfare. We do not support them, and we do not work with such operations. We only work with kennels that are USDA inspected and in compliance with state and federal standards for canine welfare.
Our initial research focused on several important areas, including:
- Developing tools for assessing the welfare of dogs on-site in kennels
- Understanding the effects of different flooring surfaces on dog foot health
- Examining the effects of housing, management and stress on dams, studs and their puppies
We continue to expand our research questions to address dogs’ welfare needs, and are currently focused on:
- Rehoming of retired breeding dogs
- Ethical sourcing of dogs
- Welfare implications of transportation for dogs and puppies
Our research increases knowledge about the welfare needs of commercially bred dogs. It also directly informs the standards of care we have created and offer through the Canine Care CertifiedTM program.
