In today’s world, dogs are no longer just pets but cherished family members. From celebrating birthdays to curating special diets, many pet parents go above and beyond to give their dogs the best life possible. And yet, surprisingly, many remain unaware or, worse, indifferent to the life their dog had before joining their home.
As the demand for specific breeds continues to soar, so does the darker side of the canine world: careless pairings, overbreeding, and puppies raised in poor, often inhumane conditions for the sake of profit. It’s a thriving underground industry powered by unethical breeders and unsuspecting buyers who don’t know what questions to ask.
At Hello Fitness Magazine, we’ve always believed that pet wellness starts long before the first walk or bowl of food — it begins at birth. And that’s why we’re turning the spotlight on ethical breeding.
To help us understand what ethical breeding really means and why it’s the need of the hour, we spoke to Aakash Chopra, a passionate dog enthusiast and the mind behind Woof Cruise. Aakash doesn’t like being boxed into titles like ‘breeder’ or ‘behaviourist.’ Instead, he sees himself as someone devoted to raising emotionally balanced, healthy dogs through structure, nutrition, discipline, and love.
In our conversation, Aakash unpacks the misconceptions around breeding, highlights the red flags every dog lover should watch out for, and shares how each of us can play a role in creating a more humane, informed world for our four-legged companions.
What is Ethical Breeding?
The term breeding often conjures up images of two dogs paired together to produce puppies. However, ethical breeding is not done for monetary profits; it's a deeply responsible and intentional practice that requires love, knowledge, and long-term care.
Aakash says, “During ethical breeding, a breeder puts the dog’s health, happiness and future first, not their looks or profits.” This is what distinguishes ethical from any other type of breeding. Ethical breeders don’t just create dogs; they nurture lives.
What are Ethical breeding practices?
For Aakash, there are several parameters that set ethical breeding apart:
Health comes first
An ethical breeder always ensures that both parent dogs are physically sound, free from any genetic disorders, joint issues, or hereditary conditions.
Purposeful pairing
Dogs are paired based on compatibility, not trends or appearances. An ethical breeder focuses on qualities like temperament, structure, and overall balance to improve the breed.
Limited litter, mindful timing
The right way is to engage or breed a female dog only after she’s physically and emotionally mature. This happens usually after her third heat or around 1.8 years of age. The longer gaps between litters and the total number of litters are limited to safeguard the mother.
Puppy Care
Unethical breeders keep pups away from their mothers in cages and try to sell them off to cut food expenses. The right way is to raise puppies in clean, loving environments, socialise them early, and only place them in homes after they’ve been weaned, vaccinated, and emotionally ready—typically after 60 days.
Lifelong Responsibility
Ethical breeders stay involved long after the pup leaves. They guide new families, take responsibility if rehoming is needed, and remain a point of support throughout the dog’s life.
Aakash believes, “Ethical breeders don’t just create dogs — they raise them right and ensure they go to homes where they’ll be respected and loved.”
Red Flags in Breeders: How to identify an unethical dog breeder?
Knowing ethical breeding practices is not enough. As pet parents, you are responsible for identifying the wrongdoers as well — to ensure that you don’t accidentally end up supporting them in any way. Here’s how you can identify the red flags:
The biggest red flag is that the unethical breeds don’t ask you questions. They will be keen on selling off the dog without asking about your lifestyle or home. On the contrary, ethical ones would want to know where their puppies are going.
Another red flag is receiving a puppy too early. Ethically, puppies should not leave their mother before 60 days. If someone offers pups at 30–40 days, walk away.
Often, the unethical breeds don’t allow you to know anything about the parent. If a breeder is keeping the parents hidden by saying, ‘Oh, the mother’s not here’ or ‘We don’t show the father.’ You should take it as a cue to remember that transparency is key to trust.
A lack of vaccination and deworming records clearly indicates poor breeding standards. As is the promise of selling rare colours or designing mixes for such pups, they are often genetic gambles used as flashy sales tricks.
A breeder who has multiple puppies from the same mother within a year is a clear red flag. So is the one who tries to create FOMO about the limited number of pups left.
According to Aakash, these are “sales talk by irresponsible breeders. An ethical breeder is patient and focused on fit, not fast sales.” The bottom line is, “If a breeder makes you feel like you’re buying a product, not welcoming a life, walk away.”
Importance of Ethical breeding
Having understood what unethical breeding looks like, the next obvious step is to understand why ethical breeding is important. For Aakash, choosing a puppy is not just about getting a good dog. It’s about building a strong, healthy, and lifelong relationship with the right foundation.
Only ethical breeding can provide you that, because “it ensures that puppy has a healthy physical and emotional start. The breeders have screened their parents for genetic disorders, avoid inbreeding, and only breed when the dogs are fit.” This automatically lowers the chances of long-term health issues.
Your dog’s temperament is the next important thing that matters, and only the right breeder will take the effort to select dogs with calm, stable personalities and raise puppies in a nurturing, structured environment. This early care and socialization help shape a confident, well-adjusted pet, minimizing the chances of aggression or anxiety later in life.
When you get a dog from the right breeders, “you get guidance, reassurance, and backup, someone who cares even after the sale,” says Aakash. They will be there to guide you and your family throughout the dog’s life and offer help or even take the dog back if things go wrong.
The most impactful aspect of choosing ethical breeders is that it breaks the cycle of cruelty and sends a clear message that “dogs are not products—they are lives that deserve respect and care.”
Why is Unethical breeding thriving?
The market for unethical breeding continues to flourish, and the biggest reason is the uninformed demand. Aakash believes, “In India, the way most people buy or adopt dogs needs a serious mindset shift.”
Many people getting a pet for the first time don’t know what they want. They unknowingly fuel this cycle by prioritising price, appearance, or trendiness over responsibility.
Impulsive buying is another big culprit. People are least interested in learning about a puppy’s background, health, or early environment—they ask about color, coat, and cost. By doing so, they ignore the red flags we mentioned earlier and end up supporting breeders who cut corners to maximise profits.
To bring about change, Aakash wants people to start asking the right questions, like, “Where is this puppy coming from? Are the parents healthy? Was it raised in a clean, social environment?” Research both the breed and the breeder. Ask questions. Visit the environment. Demand transparency. Don’t fall for FOMO-driven sales talk or "rare" traits marketed at premium prices.
Most importantly, respect the breeder’s role. Ethical breeding takes effort, time, and care and deserves fair value. When people shift from impulse buyers to informed pet parents, the demand for unethical practices will naturally decline.
Note to Dog lovers
Before you bring a dog home, Aakash offers a simple yet powerful reminder: “Don’t just prepare your home; prepare your mindset.” It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement — the toys, the cute collars, the cosy beds.
But your dog truly needs calm energy, boundaries, and someone ready to lead with love and purpose. So, pause momentarily and ask yourself: “Am I getting a dog for the dog… or myself?” When we choose with intention and heart, we don’t just bring home a pet; we welcome a life companion.
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