The Science Behind Saying, “No” to a Pet Store Puppy by Nancy Kay, DVM ©
Approximately one year ago I told you about animal welfare advocate, Dr. Frank McMillan’s study documenting the increased incidence of behavioral abnormalities in adult dogs rescued from puppymills. This important research provided scientific documentation that these animals come part and parcel with a plethora of negative behaviors.
Dr. McMillan has done it
again. This time, his research focuses on puppies purchased from pet stores, the
vast majority of which are born in commercial breeding facilities (aka, puppy
mills). The most recent edition of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical
Association features Dr. McMillan’s research documenting the behavioral differences
between puppies obtained from pet stores and those obtained from noncommercial
(non-puppy mill) breeders.
As Dr. McMillan
states,
It has long been an
article of faith among veterinarians and canine professionals that dogs obtained
as puppies from pet stores have a higher prevalence of health and behavioral
problems. However there has been a dearth of empirical studies to support this
notion.
Research results
Dr. McMillan and his
fellow researchers found that pet store dogs received less favorable scores than
breeder-obtained dogs for almost every behavior variable measured. In no
behavioral category did the pet store group achieve a more desirable score than
the breeder group.
Pet store dogs were
significantly more likely to exhibit aggression towards human family members,
unfamiliar people, and other dogs. They were also more likely to have separation
anxiety and touch sensitivity. Additionally, dogs originating from pet stores
were more excitable, energetic, and attention seeking and generally less
trainable. Lastly, they exhibited higher frequencies of negative behaviors such
as escaping from the home, mounting of people and objects, and urinating and
defecating in the house.
The authors theorize
that stress experienced in a commercial breeding/puppy mill environment during
the formative stages of a pet store puppy’s life negatively impacts brain
development. There is also evidence that prenatal stress (stress experienced by
the pregnant female) can alter normal behavioral development of her offspring.
Specifically mentioned stressors include confinement to a small space, extreme
temperatures, negative interactions with kennel staff, inability to regulate
exposure to negative stimuli, and limited access to positive interactions with
humans.
The researchers
acknowledged that those who purchase puppies from pet stores might use different
methods of training compared to those who purchase from noncommercial breeders.
The current study did not investigate this variable.
I wholeheartedly applaud
this terrific research. The more scientific substantiation we have to underscore
the insanity of purchasing puppies from pet stores the better.
Have you lived with
and/or trained a pet store pup? If so, how did it go?
Nancy Kay,
DVM
Diplomate, American
College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your
Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Author
of Your Dog's Best
Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your
Vet
Recipient, Leo K. Bustad Companion Animal
Veterinarian of the Year Award
Recipient, American Animal Hospital
Association Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award
Recipient, Dog Writers
Association of America Award for Best Blog
Recipient, Eukanuba Canine Health
Award
Recipient, AKC Club Publication Excellence Award
