Standards Over Scale: Our Approach to Ethical Breeding

Unpopular Opinion in the Breeding World But One That Needs to Be Said

I will never buy a drop-down cage, and our puppies will never feel the bottom of a cold, hard metal floor.

That statement alone might ruffle feathers in the breeding world, but I stand by it wholeheartedly.

Dogs Deserve More Than Convenience

If a breeder needs a drop-down cage so waste can fall through the floor, that tells me one thing: those dogs are being confined for far too long. Dogs should not be spending so much time in a cage that they have no choice but to use the bathroom there. Period.

Dogs deserve to go outside. They deserve fresh air, movement, freedom, and time to just be dogs. They deserve playtime, interaction, and mental stimulation, not hours upon hours of confinement because it’s more convenient.

Clean Cages Don’t Equal Good Care

Lately, all I see are “big name” breeders with stacked cages. Mothers whelping in cages. Young puppies in cages. No blankets. No toys. No softness. No warmth.

And to me, that also means no meaningful human interaction and no real socialization.

Yes, the cages may be clean. Yes, the setups may look organized. But cleanliness alone does not equal quality of life.

And while we’re at it, keeping dogs outside full-time is no better. Dogs are not livestock. They are social animals that crave human connection. Leaving them outside, separated from people, comfort, and stimulation, shows a lack of care for their emotional and mental well-being.

I don’t care how nice the outdoor kennel looks or how often it’s cleaned, that is not a happy or fulfilled life for a dog.

These Dogs Deserve Love, Not Just Profit

Dogs thrive on connection, love, and attention. The love of a dog is pure, and denying them the ability to bond with humans is honestly mind-blowing to me.

These dogs are making people a lot of money, yet they can’t be given time, comfort, or affection?

I’m so tired of hearing:

Is that really the bare minimum we’re okay with?

“You’re Just Not Big Enough Yet”

I’ve already heard the comments:

That’s fine, because I never want to be “big enough” that my dogs have to live like that.

And yes, you can have dogs living in your home, being loved on daily, and still have a clean house. It’s called cleaning and not being lazy.

My dogs are not here just to make money. They are part of our family. They bring joy to our lives, and they deserve to enjoy theirs too.

This Is What Gives Ethical Breeders a Bad Name

This is the part that really needs to be said:

These are the breeders that give those of us doing things right a bad name.

And it’s not okay.

When people continue to support breeders who cut corners and normalize this type of care, it allows it to continue. If buyers stop supporting it, it stops being profitable.

This post was sparked by seeing far too many things come to light lately, including about breeders we once considered working with in the future, but no longer will. If someone doesn’t share our values, ethics, and standards for animal care, we will not do business with them. Period.

What You Can Expect From Us

If you get a puppy from us, know this:

• The parents are loved, socialized, and are our pets

• They are all part of our family and will never live in cages 24/7

• Yes, they are crate trained, and no, that is not the same thing

• They are loved on daily, very well socialized with all ages, and have received above and beyond care their entire lives before going home with you

Our puppies are whelped on blankets, with dog beds, in proper whelping pens, with their mothers, often right in our bedroom so we can keep a close eye on them.

They receive proper vet care, vaccinations, and health checks.

Do we do laundry every day?

Yep.

Does it matter?

No, because that’s part of doing this right.

Please Ask Questions When Choosing a Breeder

Even if you never buy a puppy from us, please ask questions:

• Ask to see the parents

• Ask to see where the dogs live

• Ask where puppies are whelped

• Ask about health testing and vet checks

• Ask about health guarantees

If you’re local, ask to visit. If not, ask to FaceTime. We always allow visits to our home to meet our puppies and their parents. We have nothing to hide, and a good breeder won’t either.

If someone refuses home visits without a legitimate reason, that’s a red flag.

It’s actually very easy to tell who to support:

Watch. Ask questions. Trust what you see.

Also, be cautious of extremely low prices. More often than not, that “deal” comes with a cost later - health issues, poor socialization, and dogs that weren’t raised with human interaction.

This is how we run our program, and I want our buyers, future buyers, and anyone following our page to know exactly where we stand.

We will never be a greeder.

Our dogs’ health, happiness, and well-being will always come first.

Every dog and puppy in our home is loved, fully, intentionally, and always.

If you made it this far, thank you for reading and for your support.

Pictured is Puddin getting a well-deserved break in the comfort of our bed while her babies nap, because she absolutely deserves it.