Contacting breeders when not actively looking for a puppy

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Annette4

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I'm starting to do a bit of forward planning as Jack isn't getting any younger (13!) and I really don't think Fizz will manage as an only dog. We will try to rescue first but being realistic, the chances of what we want being in a rescue (provided I would pass a home check) is slim to none.

I reached out to a couple of breeders that I'm aware of locally and just explained the situation and asked if they kept waiting lists for prospective homes for future litters and I've not heard back from any and I wasn't sure if that's normal?! I'm. It expecting a massive response but just a yes/no and what they want from those on waiting lists really. I'm happy to go to meet people and be 'vetted' who've I've popped in my message.

I'm going to get in touch with some racing/working breeding folk as well as we would prefer working bred to show bred but I'm expecting they won't either.
 
in my experience most of them wont answer you unless they have a mating definitely planned, taken place or they know pups are definitely on the way. even when you do speak to them and they say they will let you know, most of them won't. thats not to say they wouldnt sell you a pup, they just arent that organaised/they get a lot of time wasters.

I am sure these mythical breeders exist that have per vetted waiting lists of propsective owners but I've yet to talk to one! nice breeders will point you in the direction of others they know have bred recently which is how I got both my two last year.
 
I did wonder if that was the case, the only people I've known have a puppy of late we're in such a mystical waiting list but it was for a Toller which I assume is because they're a relatively rare breed. Will just keep y own list until the time comes I think.
 
I feel for you Annette, I also like to think ahead and I don't like having a period with an only dog. But I echo MOC, it's extremely difficult.
I have been on two breeders lists since last August with a promise of matings early this year. None of it has happened yet. One has now told me it will be next year, this is a vulnerable breed though, so not that many puppies.
You should be able to get a whippet breeder to keep you in mind, I have no knowledge of corgis.
Yesterday , I reverted to my usual breed and will have a new pup in five weeks, closely related to my girls. It does mean three dogs for a while but I prefer that to one being left alone.
 
We're picking up a cairn puppy in 2 weeks - to get this far I contacted about a dozen breeders, plus a breed society, back in January. Only two breeders were planning litters this year, and of those two, one bitch didn't come into season when expected. So far as I know she still hasn't - they didn't update us. We're in North Yorkshire and I looked from at anyone (seemingly reputable!) between South Yorkshire and the Scottish borders. So I think I would agree - most people were very friendly and more than happy to discuss their breed, its suitability for us, etc., but no one seemed to start waiting lists until they were planning a mating.

Chiffy mentioned corgis - before deciding on a cairn (because we know more about what they're like) I did look for corgi breeders in the hope of having a chat, meeting some, finding out what they were like, etc. but had no joy at all. There seems to be hardly anyone breeding them anymore, at least in this neck of the woods. I would start by contacting breed societies and doing some telephone networking to get an idea of who's around and what their plans are for this year.

I did also find that telephone works far better than email!
 
When people used to contact me I would reply saying when I had a litter planned and was always happy to keep a waiting list if it wasnt too far in the future. I still get people emailing me sometimes and I always reply and explain I am no longer breeding but offer to try and point them in the direction of a breeder I can recommend .
 
Annette4 said:
Good point re:calling, I'll give some a buzz. We haven't decided which breed we want to go for but leaning towards another whippet.
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My recent experiences suggest that whippets are 10-a-Penny at the moment! There were dozens of litters on the usual websites, if you aren't looking for a particular thing then you should find one easily :)
 
Lévrier;13574770 said:
My recent experiences suggest that whippets are 10-a-Penny at the moment! There were dozens of litters on the usual websites, if you aren't looking for a particular thing then you should find one easily :)
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Yup, I found mine 15 miles away last year and I wanted something incredibly specific breeding wise and then I wanted a big but refined blue and white dog which narrowed it down even more.

Would you like him? Hes a horrid knows best about everything teenager and right now its too hot for his nonsense and I would happily parcel him up and post him off to you :lol:
 
Why dont you join a breed group, Lancashire Heelers are a rare breed on the KC vulnerable list but our fb page is excellent and we have people on there who dont have one but would like one in the future. They are a very friendly group though and very supportive of everyone and they talk openly of when they have a planned litter due, only people who health test their dogs are on there.
 
joosie said:
There's a constant stream of perfectly decent young dogs going through rescue centres...
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And we will rescue if we can but being realistic I have only been allowed to foster/adopt from one charity in the past as I don't meet the requirements for most so if they have something suitable adoption is always my first port of call but the likelihood is they won't.
 
Leo Walker said:
Yup, I found mine 15 miles away last year and I wanted something incredibly specific breeding wise and then I wanted a big but refined blue and white dog which narrowed it down even more.

Would you like him? Hes a horrid knows best about everything teenager and right now its too hot for his nonsense and I would happily parcel him up and post him off to you :lol:
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Happy to :lol:
 
joosie said:
There's a constant stream of perfectly decent young dogs going through rescue centres...
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And quite often they won't rehome to people who don't fit their exact set of requirements, which many people do not.

I not that long ago had a discussion with a couple people from different rescues in different countries, and contrary to this belief of "so many dogs in rescue", the demand is outstripping the supply.

As for not hearing from breeders, I reckon as others have said, with no planned mating on the horizon, they perhaps just haven't contacted you. Many breeders just don't have a stock of puppies waiting for homes - some might have a litter a year, some might have less.

I have a bitch that I would like to take a litter from in the future, and already have a queue of people wanting something from her - it would take three litters to fulfil that. But by the time she's had one litter, that list may have disappeared and gone on to something else simply because they don't want to wait.
 
My friend has just had a litter of Corgis (about a month old now). She is planning one last litter from the bitch, next year I think. Maybe I could try to put you in touch if you were interested.
 
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