That ABTC has no philosophical conflict with breeding Belgian Tervuren and charging money for puppies.
Our concern with commercial breeders (a.k.a. "puppy mills") and pet shop sales lies in several related issues:
- Puppy mills tend to scrimp on their care for their dogs in order to minimize costs. This sometimes is carried to extremes that constitute neglect or cruelty. While the U. S. Department of Agriculture is supposed to regulate every kennel with four or more breeding bitches, they have a very small staff and make infrequent inspections.
- Puppy mill operators often lack the time or motivation to provide essential human contact at key phases of puppy development. Tervs do not thrive when continuously confined and deprived of human interaction. They are very social animals, and especially REQUIRE human interaction during their first 14 weeks. Its absence will produce a feral animal, and inadequate socialization is a prime cause of later "temperament" problems.
- Puppy mills tend to act as suppliers to pet shops, which we disapprove of for the reasons below. A member of the ABTC who sells to a pet shop may be expelled from the ABTC.
- Pet shops, as well as puppy mills, often fail to provide essential socialization during the formative weeks of a puppy's development. This is likely to result in what appears to be "temperament problems."
- The Wall Street Journal reports that a very high percentage of puppies obtained from pet shops have some disease or health problem. No matter who you buy a puppy from, be sure to obtain documented assurances that hereditary health risks are low, and that the puppy's current health is sound. The sire and dam should have documented evaluations of their hips and eyes, at a minimum. In addition, reputable sellers usually grant a brief health warranty in the form of a full refund return if diagnosed with any disease by a veterinarian within a short time after purchase.
- Pet shops usually will not screen potential puppy purchasers for their suitability for the Belgian Tervuren breed. Tervs are not a breed that will satisfy all types of dog owners. They have a temperament and activity level that is not suitable for many pet owners -- particularly if they have never owned any dog before. The ultimate result may be an unhappy owner and an unhappy dog. Such purchasers with unrealistic expectations are likely to dispose of the dog in a pound or shelter within the first year.
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