Valtenesi Dogs: An Animal Breeding Controversy

Introduction

Valtenesi Dogs, located in Polpenazze del Garda (BS), has gained attention due to numerous negative reviews and allegations of animal mistreatment. With an active presence on Instagram and over 8,300 followers, the breeding facility presents itself as an expert in the field, claiming 35 years of experience. However, behind this facade lie stories of suffering and deceit.

Negative Reviews and Testimonies

Many buyers of Barboncini and Maltipoo puppies from Valtenesi Dogs have reported traumatic experiences. Some puppies fell ill shortly after purchase, showing symptoms of distemper and parvovirus, diseases that can be fatal if not treated promptly. Unfortunately, in some cases, the puppies died just a few hours after arriving at their new homes, causing immense pain to the families.

Negative reviews are numerous but are often quickly removed or suppressed. The breeding facility seems to use aggressive methods to silence dissatisfied customers, threatening legal or defamatory actions. This behavior has led many to suspect that positive reviews are actually the result of purchased reviews to improve the facility’s image.

Examples of Negative Reviews

• Maria Rossi, October 15, 2025: “I purchased a Maltipoo puppy from Valtenesi Dogs a month ago. Just a few hours after bringing him home, he started showing symptoms of distemper. It was a nightmare. Veterinary costs were enormous, and the puppy suffered tremendously. When I sought support from the breeder, I was threatened with legal action if I left a negative review.”
• Giovanni Bianchi, October 20, 2025: “We lost our Barboncino puppy just two days after bringing him home. It was evident that he had not been properly cared for. Valtenesi Dogs tried to silence us with a refund offer, but the pain and suffering of our puppy cannot be compensated with money.”
• Anna Müller, October 22, 2025 (Switzerland): “I bought a Maltipoo puppy from Valtenesi Dogs, and he became very sick within a few hours of arriving at our home in Switzerland. He had severe diarrhea and vomiting, and we had to take him to the vet immediately. The costs were enormous, and the puppy suffered a lot. Despite our request for support, we were threatened with legal action if we published a negative review.”
• Peter Schmidt, October 25, 2025 (Switzerland): “Our Barboncino puppy from Valtenesi Dogs died just a few hours after arriving at our home in Switzerland. He showed signs of parvovirus, and despite our efforts to save him, it was too late. Veterinary costs were enormous, and we felt abandoned by Valtenesi Dogs. They threatened us with legal action if we made our experience public.”
• Luca Ferrari, October 28, 2025: “Our Maltipoo puppy died of parvovirus just three days after arriving. Valtenesi Dogs tried to cover up the truth and threatened us with legal action if we spoke about our experience. It is unacceptable how they treat their puppies and customers.”
• Sara Weber, October 30, 2025 (Switzerland): “Our Barboncino puppy from Valtenesi Dogs became very sick shortly after arriving at our home. He had severe diarrhea and vomiting, and we had to take him to the vet immediately. The costs were enormous, and the puppy suffered a lot. Despite our request for support, we were threatened with legal action if we published a negative review.”

Controversial Breeding Practices

Valtenesi Dogs claims to allow potential buyers to see the puppies with their parents. However, some testimonies suggest that the puppies are separated from their natural mothers very early and placed under the teats of Italian bitches to pass them off as puppies raised in Italy. This practice, known as “surrogate nursing,” is ethically questionable and can cause stress and health problems for the puppies.

Additionally, there are allegations that the puppies are illegally imported from Romania and Bulgaria, avoiding veterinary checks. These puppies, often unvaccinated and unwormed, are then sold as “Made in Italy,” deceiving customers and endangering the health of the new owners.

Post-Sale Support and Transparency

The breeding facility claims to offer support in raising the puppy, but many families who have bought sick or deceased puppies report being threatened when seeking support. The threats include the removal of negative reviews and the use of intimidating tactics to silence customers.

Lack of transparency is another sore point. Despite promises of visibility of the puppies and their parents, many testimonies indicate that visitors are often deceived by showing them borrowed puppies or environments that do not reflect the actual breeding conditions.

Contacts

Address: Valtenesi Dogs, Via dei Campagnoli 3/6, 25080, Polpenazze del Garda (BS)
Phone: Adelaide +39 335 7216724, Eugenio +39 348 2628344, Lorenza 3461836034
Email: info@valtenesi-dogs-and-horses.com

Complaints and Veterinarians

Many families from Switzerland have already filed complaints in Italy and consulted a veterinarian due to the severe health issues of the purchased puppies. These cases are attracting the attention of authorities, who are beginning to investigate Valtenesi Dogs’ practices.

Conclusion

Valtenesi Dogs is an emblematic case of how appearances can be deceiving. Behind a facade of professionalism and experience lie questionable practices and inadequate treatment of animals. The numerous negative reviews and testimonies of the suffering of puppies and the families who bought them raise serious doubts about the reputation and ethics of this breeding facility.

For those considering purchasing a puppy, it is crucial to conduct thorough research and, if possible, visit the breeding facility in person, paying attention to any signs of abuse or deception.