Its not just puppy farms but also 'reputable' breeders.A friend breeds on a very small scale, the dogs are most definately pets and stay with Her after having a couple of litters into old age and She is very strict as to who has the pups but the horror stories about the dig breeders is terrible.And these are kennel club reg. Crufts standard etc.Kept in immaculate kennels but little human contact and rehomed as soon as they have finished their puppy rearing days.Pups are assessed as to show quality, some sold immediately others kept in kennels just to see how they develop ie ideal height, colour etc.It is all such big business , the dogs are commodities bought and sold all over the world.I find it all very sad.Rosie was from a very small scale breeder with house full of dogs of all ages wandering in and out but as a rookie dog owner it was luck finding someone who I felt I could trust.Sonetimes feel its a horrible world We live in.
I think it's a bit unfair implying that all breeders who rehome puppies they've initially kept on as showing prospects, or bitches who have had litters, are bad or disreputable. I've known several people who have taken on such dogs from breeders who show and they've been lovely, well socialised and well cared for dogs. If someone has only limited space at home and wants to continue showing and breeding a few litters it makes sense to find good homes for young dogs that haven't turned out to be show ring prospects, and bitches that have retired from breeding. It's not what I would want to do personally, because my dogs are my pets and companions, but it doesn't make those breeders bad.
Neither is keeping dogs in outside kennels necessarily bad, providing the facilities and care are of a high standard and that the dogs have dog and human company, mental stimulation and exercise. Again, it's not what I would do with my pet dogs, but working and breeding dogs all over the country live in kennels and it's not automatically a bad environment.
My first 2 Cockers came from a lady who showed and bred Cockers. She usually had about 8 or so adult dogs and bitches, most of whom lived in kennels and runs in her garden and had exercise and human and dog company every day. We went to see a litter but also to see a lovely 10 month old pup that she'd kept to show but he wasn't quite good enough. He was confident, friendly and happy, but we decided on a puppy in the end. he was a delight too, so when we decided to get a second dog a couple of years later we went back to the same breeder.