Pet peeves are things that annoy the heck out of me because they hurt dogs.

I have many pet peeves, but the ones below are the ten that tick me off the most.

Puppy millers and large kennel breeders (people that go to dog shows, even champion dogs, but have too many to be able to provide the care every dog and puppy needs and deserves). Anyone who produces puppies as a commodity and sells to everyone who opens his/her wallet, doesn't care about physical, mental and emotional well-being of the dog or owners and their children, who are faced with a sick and behaviorally challenged dog. An envisioned canine companion can turn into a traumatizing nightmare, and the one who suffers most is the one who never had a choice, voice or chance - the dog. That is beyond pet peeve.

I admit, I have met dogs produced at those places that were as healthy and sound as any other dog. But more likely than not, these dogs are damaged for life. The imprinting period, when a young pup is most impressionable is crucial, and every mistake made by the breeder means the owner has to compensate. Financially, the cheap puppy ends up costing a lot of money because of vet care and expert help.

That's not the only pet peeve I have with en-masse puppy producers. Even if the puppy turns out okay, the breeding stock lives in deplorable conditions. Every person who buys from a miller or large kennel breeder supports animal abuse, even if inadvertently.

There are warning signs that indicate that the pup comes from an unscrupulous place. Millers, large kennel breeders and puppy brokers often: Advertise on-line; sell dogs cheap; breed popular dogs; bring the dog to you or meet you at a parking lot; let the puppies join their new families when they are 5 weeks old; have all sizes and colors; have always puppies available. Before you buy, google puppy mills in your area. If you are not sure if your chosen breeder is a caring and responsible one or not, send me an e-mail. I will help you shed more light into it - free of charge.

If unscrupulous breeders is one of your pet peeves also, read more about how to find a canine companion the responsible way.


Pet Stores and Pet Brokers – are pet peeves related to millers. Those are the people who buy dogs cheap and en masse, mark up the price and sell them to the public. The puppies are sometimes, but not always, cheaper than pups from a reputable breeder. Be aware though, that some large kennel breeders do charge as much for their dogs, or more, than caring ones.

Pet store prices are often as high, or higher than a reputable breeder's, but they often have a payment plan.

If you like dogs; if their abuse is a one of your pet peeves, don’t leave your hard earned money there, or you are actively contributing to the suffering of a sentient being. There are pet stores in almost every town, even small communities, that don’t sell pets. By supporting them when you buy dog food, treats and gear, you do your part in eliminating puppy millers and large kennel breeders.


Law Makers – could, through legislative changes, improve the life of dogs, but they don’t. And that pet peeves me out. Paid by the tax payer, they bow to certain lobby groups interests and turn a blind eye to suffering. In my perfect world, legislative changes include a crackdown on puppy mills and pet brokers, outlaw shock collars, dogs used for research, including research for the pet food industry, and a law that prohibits owners to chain their dogs outside – and I am sure I could come up with a few more things that irk me.


Shock collars are abusive! It changes a dog’s personality and creates behavior problems based on fear and stress. It destroys trust and damages the relationship. A dog fitted with a shock collar leads a miserable life, and I don’t care if it’s disguised by a fancy name such as underground fence device, anti-bark collar or distance training tool. It's a huge pet peeve for me and I could never justify using or recommending one.

Proponents argue that they put it on themselves and it didn’t hurt. Except, it is not just the pain that messes the dog up, but more so the unpredictability of the sensation. I challenge every person who fits the pooch with one to also put one on him/herself but give trigger control to ANOTHER person, who then is in charge of intensity and frequency of the zaps. I’d love to volunteer for that: you say a word I don’t like – zap; you walk in the wrong direction – zap; you don’t respond to me fast enough zap-zap-zap. I bet my best leather leash that by the end of the day the person who claims that it doesn’t hurt is a basket case.


Breed Bans – is one of my pet peeves because there will always be a breed that appeals to lowly thugs who try to make the dog aggressive. Ban the thugs, not the dog. Did you know that in the 1940’s the pit bull terrier was America’s most popular family dog?

Nose harnesses – everyone knows these devices that fit around the dog’s nose and are promoted as positive, but stress and irritate almost every dog. Read more about it on my Blog


Daycare Centers – I admit that some dogs benefit, and some daycare centers are run very well and keep the dogs’ interest in mind, but like many training facilities, some are only concerned about the monetary bottom line. If you consider day care for your pooch, do your research, visit and observe the dogs there. If you are satisfied, watch your dog’s behavior for a few weeks after. If there are any behavioral changes, for example if your dog is more charged up, barkier, more reactive and less responsive, likely he isn’t suited to be in daycare and stressing out. A good day care has knowledgeable staff, and will point out if there is a concern, and puts each and every dog first.

Off Leash Parks – I am a huge fan of having dogs off-leash and think that every community should have areas set aside where dogs can enjoy leash freedom. Unfortunately, the purpose of off-leash is misunderstood and misused by some dog owners as a free for all, uncontrolled place to socialize and misbehave - dogs practice being out of control and owners not picking up poop. If your dog has a social or behavior problem; is fearful, reactive, doesn’t listen or is a bully, the off-leash park, like the dog daycare, is the worst place to solve it.

In my perfect world, every park and trail system would be off-leash by default, and people who don’t play by rules be charged and prohibited access. Naturally, off-leash would be optional. For pooches a tad reactive and not suited for multi-use off leash, every community should have enclosed spaces where owners could book time slots to play ball or Frisbee undisturbed.

Daycare and training facilities, and off-leash parks aren't pet-peeves in themselves, but how some are managed is what disturbs me.


Kibble – is a pet peeve because many owners are still made belief that they would hurt the pooch with any other food but that cleverly marketed waste from the human food industry. The truth is that most kibble is over-processed and nutritionally depleted, and many dogs suffered greatly when the kibble was tested on them during the testing period. My tip is to research the different options you have feeding your dog and check the ingredients, rather than taking the word of your breeder or veterinarian. Foremost, pay attention to your dog. The AAFCO stamp means nothing if your pooch is sickly, has a poor coat, low energy or won’t eat.


No kill shelters – dogs not having to be euthanized is not a pet peeve for me at all. I am not opposed to the idea of no kill shelters and rescue groups. If every homeless dog would enjoy a content, meaningful and stress free life, I’d support them with my time and money. But the fact is that many a homeless pooch is shuffled from place to place and foster home to foster home, or exists for months or years in a dog run. I believe that almost every dog can be rehabilitated in theory, but practically there aren’t enough homes equipped to work with severe behavioral problems. The result is that the dog nobody wants spends a lifetime without socially belonging to anyone. That is more inhumane than humane euthanasia. Shelters that euthanize is a pet peeve for the general public, and no kill shelters get the popular votes, and with it donations. What the public doesn't know is that directly they might not euthanize, but indirectly many do, because they refuse entrance to certain breeds, or dogs with certain behavior and/or medical problems. And that's what I'm peeved about.