“Raised with love”? Or just a comforting narrative wrapped around a large-scale puppy operation?
On its website, the owner of the Balihara Ranch kennel presents an idyllic picture: all dogs live on a ranch in constant contact with the family. Puppies are said to be raised right inside the home—in the bedroom, kitchen, and throughout the house—until they’re old enough to eat on their own and play with adult dogs.
The tone suggests an environment full of care and affection. But what if that picture-perfect image doesn’t match reality?
What do people who actually brought a puppy home from this kennel have to say?
Words vs. the Reality of Picking Up a Puppy
One family recalls the puppy handover as a rushed, impersonal experience—almost transactional.
“We showed up to pick up our puppy, and ten minutes later we were already on our way home. We weren’t allowed inside the premises; we didn’t see any other dogs—not even the puppy’s parents,” a buyer recounts.
With no opportunity to see the breeding conditions or even meet the littermates, the whole process felt more like collecting a product than welcoming a new family member.
And they’re not alone.
What the Puppies Themselves Reveal
Another puppy owner noticed alarming behavior once they brought their pup home:
“Our puppy was terrified of every sound and every person. It was clear he had never experienced normal household life—or even a gentle human touch,” she shared, visibly disappointed.
She received no information about how the puppy had been socialized—or if it had been socialized at all.
And Again — A Familiar Pattern
Another buyer described the handover process as cold and impersonal, with the breeder showing little genuine interest in either the new owner or the puppy itself.
“The whole thing felt like a quick business transaction—no conversation about the puppy, no future care advice. We simply paid at the gate and left,” they said.
That warm, family-oriented approach one might expect from a small-scale breeder simply wasn’t there.
No Guidance, No Follow-Up
New puppy owners often report receiving no support or guidance in those crucial first days and weeks after bringing the puppy home. With so many litters passing through her hands, the owner of the Balihara Ranch kennel simply doesn’t have the capacity to follow up on each puppy’s wellbeing, offer behavioral advice, or check that the animals are thriving in their new environments.
We have documented these testimonies and are publishing them anonymously. For privacy reasons, names and dates have been withheld.
And really—should we even be surprised?
In a kennel housing dozens upon dozens of adult dogs and puppies, all confined to a handful of enclosures no larger than 15 square meters, there simply isn’t space for individual socialization.
We broke it down in detail in the article: https://balihararanch.review/why-15-square-meters-for-6-dogs-is-not-enough-the-harsh-reality-of-balihara-ranch-kennel/
It’s Not Illegal. But Is It Right?
From a legal standpoint, Balihara Ranch appears to operate within the bounds of the law. The puppies are vaccinated and come with pedigree certificates.
But laws cover only the bare minimum. Ethics begin where legislation ends.
Just because something is legal doesn’t mean it’s right.
Love—or a Well-Oiled Business?
So the question remains: Is Balihara Ranch kennel truly driven by love for dogs—or by profit? When we look beyond the romanticized narrative and examine the numbers, the rose-tinted image starts to fade.
The owner of the Balihara Ranch kennel proudly cites 30 years of experience—yet remains silent about the staggering number of puppies bred under her name: more than 2,500 Swiss Mountain Dogs now living across the globe. In a single year, as many as 141 puppies were produced, generating an estimated revenue of over €230,000 (read more in our article: https://balihararanch.review/a-love-for-dogs-or-just-a-brilliantly-disguised-business/ )
At what point does individual care give way to mass production? When over a hundred puppies are born annually, can we still talk about a personal touch—or are we looking at a high-volume puppy operation?
Has love been replaced by quantity?
Prestige or Profit?
Despite these concerns, the owner of Balihara Ranch continues to present herself as a respected breeder of Swiss Mountain Dogs—a kennel “known for champions,” backed by polished marketing and photo-friendly storylines. To many prospective buyers, it may feel like they’re purchasing a puppy from an elite, reputable breeder.
But unless they look deeper, they may end up as just another line item in a spreadsheet.
Why does this keep happening? And what is the true motivation behind it all?
It’s clear this isn’t about noble love for the breed. It’s not about pure passion for dogs.
It’s about this: Puppies have become a product. And products generate revenue.
A Slogan with Cracks
The idyllic image that Balihara Ranch carefully cultivates—of dogs raised in the warmth of a loving home—begins to unravel under the weight of these testimonies.
The experiences of owners and the facts uncovered point to a sobering truth: behind the curtain lies a commercial-scale operation, where love and personalized care are sacrificed for volume and profit.
Let’s face it—these puppies weren’t raised with love.
They were produced. Quickly. Quietly. Without bond.
Love isn’t handed over at the gate in ten minutes.
It doesn’t live behind a fence. And it doesn’t start with a fearful, wide-eyed puppy.
Because a dog is not a commodity.
Even if it’s treated like one.