Need Help on Breeder advice

[Dog Pal]

We are in the process of looking for a new puppy. We have been to one breeder already and are going to visit another this weekend. One major question that I haven't found an answer to online is: how can we be guaranteed a dog?
All the breeders want a deposit and they want you to name male/female and depending on litter maybe even color. We prefer female but don't care about color - obviously we want health first. The problem is these lists they put you on. One deposit one pick. Most of the breeders only do one or two litters a year. The other litter they will be having is yellow and we just lost our yellow this past year and therefore are looking for black or chocolate that this litter will produce. We have looked alot to find the style dog we want and they have it. How can we guarantee a puppy out of this litter? Any advice is appreciated.

[lynners]

If you're looking at a reputable breeder (which I hope you are) there is no guarantee that you will receive a puppy. A reputable breeder will likely do reference checks, a vet reference check, and home visit before deeming you acceptable to have one of their pups.

Breeders that make applicants go through these processes are most likely to produce high quality pups with fewer health defects (however, do your research!). I'm assuming you're talking about labrador retrievers. Find out what ailments are commonly found in labs (hip and elbow dysplasia, and cancer, to name a few). If your breeder cannot show you a pedigree (with names AND health clearances of ancestors), then the breeder is not reputable. I'm assuming you know this already and won't explain further.

If all the breeder wants is a deposit and a "choice", and doesn't complete so much as a home visit, be very very wary.

[Dog Pal]

We have already checked into the breeder and all questions asked and replies in hand. Everything checks out ok. The heartbreak is waiting for the puppy with no guarantee's. The breeder only breeds twice a year with different dogs. The other being a yellow which we are staying away from due to last dog was yellow. The thought of having to wait another year would be brutal for our family. There are not many breeders that have the quality and size that we want. Are you sure they can't guarantee a dog is the litter is successful?

Thanks

[lynners]

Does the breeder have a wait list? If you're put on to a wait list, then EVENTUALLY you will get a dog. That being said, the breeder has no way to determine how many puppies will be born and of what colour (well, they do have control over colour but I won't get into a discussion of genetcs). So you might be waiting a little longer than if you were open to whatever they had available.

[Deerie me]

They can't guarantee a puppy because they don't know how many they will get, how many will survive, how many dogs or bitches etc. Also it will depend on where you are on the waiting list and how many puppies they decide to keep for themselves.

[Dog Pal]

Well in talking to the breeder there could be chocolate or black or both. On sex we are being pretty open but preffer female. One chocolate female and one black are already spoken for whether one of those is the breeder I have no idea. So after that why can't we just have the next dog on the list be it female/male or any color? I don't get it?

Thanks,

[lynners]

I don't understand what you don't understand.

Breeders don't operate on a first come first serve basis (good ones, anyway). They likely consider all applications for a litter, and select the best. If you didn't get chosen this time, but were still given approval for adoption, you would probably be put on a waitlist.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

I think I understand the OP's question.

She wants to know if she should give a deposit, KNOWING that the wait for the pup she really wants could take more than a year, OR to forgo that route with this very reputable breeder, and select another puppy from a litter that has either been born already, or is due soon. Another consideration is whether or not the deposit is refundable, and what the time constraints on that aspect of the contract would be.

It's about how long she has to wait, with no guarantee of when this contract may be fulfilled, I believe.

If one is not specific about a particular breeder, and has familiarized themselves with other reputable breeders in the area, and waiting is not an option, than I would suggest one purchase a pup from a reputable breeder who has not promised the pups to anyone else.

I am sorry to hear of the loss of your previous dog. I can tell you don't want to wait endlessly for a puppy, which can happen with a deposit on a future litter, especially if colour and/or sex are important. Oliver was supposed to be a tri female, and he's a Blenheim male, but he was available, and I'm very glad. Henry was male, but a tri, and again, I could have waited, but the wait could have lasted forever.

I hope this helps.

[kian]

That makes sense Deb.

[Dog Pal]

Thanks so much for understanding the dilemma. It's not that we are desperate for a dog. It's more like after having a good one for 15 years you understand how they become part of your life and bring you such pleasure. The idea of having to wait as was mentioned "endlessly" is unthinkable. Why postpone such an addition to ones life? It is doubly felt by me as I cannot work and I am home all day. The companionship a dog brings is irreplaceable to those of us in this situation. On the other hand I feel that I have even more to offer a dog being in this situation. After one heartbreak of losing a dog, it is hard to face another situation that could produce a heartbreak of ending up empty handed. I was just wondering if breeders consider this as part of their compasion in placing puppies? I fully understand the business side of things and that a good breeder will choose the recipients, but I have no doubt that our family will pass the test. I just get the feeling that all the cards are stacked in their favour, they litterally are taking no risk of ending up with nothing, actually alot of times the breeder is taking a pup from the litter. But what I don't understand is taking our deposit, with no guarantee's and tying us to this one breeder where the virtual outcome may be waiting another year! If there are no guarantee's why do they take deposits knowing they could end up being returned anyway? If I were rich I would be able to put deposits on several dogs in order to guarantee one. But I am not, so I am at the mercy of the breeder and what god provides.
Once again thank you for your understanding.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Dog Pal...I have been through what you are experiencing.

I would suggest that you only put a deposit on a litter in utero, where you have as much say as you wish, OR, on a puppy you've already met, who isn't ready to come home yet.

For people who are breeders, waiting is an option. They are willing to wait, for as long as it takes, for that one pup.

In your case, you wish a companion animal whose requirements are based more in colour and sex, than confirmation. Obviously health is an issue, so a reputable breeder is what you seek.

I would investigate a little further into breeders in your area (within a 2 hour drive) and see if you can find a pup already born, or about to be born. Call everyone, and talk to these people on the phone. That's what I did, and it worked out beautifully.

If there is a particular person whom you trust, ask them to recommend someone, and so on.

It's time to fill the void. Good luck and keep us posted!

[Dog Pal]

Well another breeder just answered back and she is different again. She only take deposit once the puppies are born and you go for a visit. In other words you are putting money down on an existing product! Imagine that! We will plan to visit this breeder as well, however, judging from the information that was sent these are much smaller dogs. We are keeping our mind open. Our plan is to get the puppy after our visit to the USA to visit the parents who we have not seen in 3 years. This way the puppy has our full attention and we don't have to disrupt the process by shipping the pup to another home while we visit the parents. We have thought long and hard about what our needs are and when is best to have the puppy come. We will be equally diligent when visiting the breeders. Some of them are so very nice indeed!

Thanks all

[Nileska]

Hi Dog pal;..I have over 30 years experience as a breeder of Siberian Huskies.Dog shows are good places to meet serious breeders,thats why they are there, to have the quality of their breeding stock evaluated by a judge.

That said,you seem to have someone now who knows right proceedure for puppy placement. I would not worry about the size of her line as long as they are within the breed standard. It has been customary [in my experience] to request a deposit only after the puppys are on the ground. Usually the breeders will first choose any pups they wish to keep,next they will choose the pups that they want to carry their kennel name into the show ring. These are sold as show/breeding prospects to qualified people. The remainder of the litter is offered as pets. Bear in mind,the whole litter is high quality and is the best combination to improve the breed. [the only valid reason for produceing the litter]. You cant buy a puppy for any amount of money if you are not qualified by the breeder. They have put way more time and money into the breeding/whelping/puppy raising than they will ever get back,so they can afford to be choosey.

Good luck with your quest....Richard

[Dog Pal]

Thanks Richard,

So now I have one breeder that only accepts payment when the puppies are born and they meet you. All the rest want payment even before the litter is even mated. Why such a difference?

Thanks,

[Deerie me]

It sounds like the others want to guarantee they will be able to home all of the puppies as if there is no demand then it would be silly to breed. I can understand that, but to actually ask for a deposit before they exist is asking a bit much. With our breeder we expressed an interest around the time of the mating and then put a deposit down when the pups were about a week old.