Had my Irish Setter pups advertised for a few weeks now, they are 4wks old tomorrow and haven't had one enquiry. They are competitively priced so is it the same for every seller or am I just unlucky at the mo?
Sensible people are aware that Christmas isn't the right time to have a pup, although I do realise yours wouldn't be ready till after, so maybe they are holding off till after Christmas. The only time I foolishly had a litter ready just before Christmas people did buy them but all were happy for me to keep them till after christmas.
I think Irish Setters are quite a specialist breed so maybe there aren't a lot of people out there looking at the moment, the financial situation is making people think twice about taking on a larger dog.
Christmas is a terrible time to get a new pup.
People rushing around, trying to get shopping in, kids, trees, lights, presents, visitord, small chewable edible things...most people with any sense leave getting pups until the New Year.
Also money is tighter than ever this year (as can be seen by the amount of adult dogs now needing homes because of their owner's financial circumstances )
And agree, it's best to have an idea of possible homes before the mating even takes place.
We have rehomed 3 adult dogs this week, all to people with no kids (this is a big decision maker for us leading up to Xmas), and 1 of them had dogs from us before. So people are not put off getting dogs in general I have to say, we have another family who have passed their check and have been told they will have to wait till January and another home check to do this week for a greyhound and a home check for a little staffi we have (again they will have to wait till January) all happy to wait....so all in all thats 6 dogs this week alone. We never rehome puppies before Xmas, but we will reserve them pending a home check.
As mentioned...what happened to the homes you had lined up?
This thread has kind of answered a question I was going to ask about responsible breeding, was going to ask if anyone that bred dogs would considering selling a puppy to someone over the phone.
My friend has a dog (it bugs the life out of me, it's really dominant over the other dogs, but when you see it in the house with the owner it's obvious why), found out that it was bought as a christmas present for her 12yo daughter last year, she drove hundreds of miles to collect it, but the daughter now isn't interested in it, the mother has had labradors in the past, but think this dog is just too much for her and is your classic example of buying a puppy for a kid because it's cute and fluffy and then allowing it to rule the house!!!!
Love red setters, hope they all get lovely homes, the people that wait until after christmas are probably the responsible ones that you would want to have them anyway.
My friend did get a puppy 2 weeks before christmas a few years ago, christmas tree + christmas presents + puppy = mayhem
Most people tend to buy puppies in the summer holidays, because children are off, so the pup can socialize with more diversity of people and get used to there own family. Also because children are off, there is atleast one person keeping an eye on the pup.
In the winter the bad weather discourages the puppies to 'do their business' outside and as people have no heating on in summer, they can leave there back doors open to cool the house and this speeds up the toilet training process.
In winter also, there is the big problem of chewable decorations and presents and worst of all, muddy paw prints everywhere from the mud outside.
People tend to get a puppy in the summer holidays in general rather then the winter ones because of these reasons and also money is tight as people are buying presents- Hope you find homes soon Irish Setters are lovley dogs!
We bought Dylan as a christmas present impulse for my OH on 28th dec. Long story after a lot of prejudice from rescues (young couple, new house, just lost old dog) we went looking to buy, knowing what I know now I would have never have done it never would have looked also have seen two of Dylans in a local rescue of his age and breeding, reckon most defo litter mates. Been an interesting year on the doggie front in this house.
Though the slobbery, snoring, upside down thing keeping my feet warm at this very moment makes me glad I did I now have three upside down things in my living room and couldnt be without them.
I think a lot of people are cutting back so buying a puppy is a big expense.
We have just had a puppy at beginning of December and actually I'm glad-he is used to lots of people now, learnt not to attack xmas tree, havnt got presents down tho. I think if you don't have kids xmas is like any other time of year. As for puppy not wanting to go out to do business i think that's more owners!
Hope you find homes although you still have time-maybe advertise after new year. I agree its sensible to have some homes interested before breeding
Having just bought a labrador puppy I can say that Christmas did not put me off, but I have asked the breeders to keep him until after New Year. In fact, he is not arriving until after the kids are back at school, to give me plenty of quiet time with him. The thought of small puppy, small children, very stroppy cats, christmas presents and decorations all mixed together fills me with horror!
Love Irish Setters - I wouldn't worry too much, just readvertise in the New Year, and let me know if they don't all go!!
Most proper breeders hold puppies back until the holiday madness has passed;actually we always have found a complete slump during the summer holidays,and September picks up on this.January/February is usually good,so your (hopefully) fully health tested parents/first vax done/and ID done can go off to good screened homes complete with all their paperwork/diet and care sheets..and of course the promise that should the dog ever need rehoming it can return to you.And have THAT bit on a signed contract please,so us rescue folk are unemployed.
It was never my intention to have pups around this time of year but my bitch didn't take at the first service so I had to use the return service for winter pups or lose my stud fee. Yes I did have a few people interested when I took my bitch to stud back in Jan last year but they have since found pups, best laid plans and all that.
In reply to one of the posts I wouldn't dream of selling a puppy, horse or any animal to someone over the phone and would need to check them out in person first. It's the first time I've bred pups so cut me a bit of slack guys. I'm rearing them with no expense spared as it's something I've always wanted to do (just the once mind) having bred a few foals and having lambs every spring.
My pups are from KC reg parents with excellent pedigrees/temps/clear health checks etc and are being well socialised with the children and the family cat!
The reason I started the thread was I have felt a bit uncomfortable advertsing them before xmas but obviously they won't be ready to leave mum until mid January at the earliest.
I'll be different to everyone else. I think having pups around at the Christmas period is the nicest time. The whole family and lots of friends are always calling in and in between we're blobbing about so have plenty of time for puppies while allowing them plenty of rest periods. I think it's a super time for socialising them and getting them used to new people coming into their new home. Any pup bought by an irresponsible person can be cast aside regardless of the time of year and I think more energy should be invested by breeders in finding the most responsible buyers whether it's Christmas or not.