Do you ever buy a puppy unseen?

Never, could be puppy farm. Always meet the bitch and see how they are kept. Don't do it! (Unless you could get someone local to it to go and see it? I would if it was Essex, for instance).
There are couriers who transport animals.
 
Clodagh said:
Never, could be puppy farm. Always meet the bitch and see how they are kept. Don't do it! (Unless you could get someone local to it to go and see it? I would if it was Essex, for instance).
There are couriers who transport animals.
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That's my gut reaction too.
 
If it was a breeder I had met and had a dog from previously I would consider it but I would probably still want to see the litter to pick the right personality.
 
Yes, I have.

I would NEVER buy a pup unseen from someone I didn't know however.

I got a pup from someone in Scotland that I knew through shooting; I knew the bitch and sire, had seen pics and videos of the pups and trusted the breeder would pick a suitable pup for me...I wasn't disappointed either.

I met the breeder at a shoot in Yorkshire (sort of half way house) when he handed the pup over.
 
No. Perhaps if I was aware of the parents and had seen copious videos, but even then. I did buy a pup that lived a long distance away....five or six hours, he was brought to me by a greyhound courier.

People I know would fly to the continent to pick a pup and then drive over and collect it when old enough.
I do know of others who have bought unseen from both here and the continent, and unsurprisingly enough the dogs have always been moved on.
 
Yes I have done - a extremely well respected breeder recommended the puppy to me, so I paid for her then went to collect at 8 weeks old

Personally I would never get a puppy paid for and delivered unseen
 
Yes and no. We bought our 2nd ESS form the same breeder as springer 1. We let her know what we wanted, she chose the most suitable based on her knowledge of the litter and we drove up to collect him. So, we had agreed in principal to have him but drove up to collect and pay for him and at that point we could have chosen a different pup from the same litter had we wished to. I have to say, both of them have been an absolute delight and are exactly what we wanted. I would say if it is someone you know and respect, have had previous dealings with or comes extremely well recommended through trusted friends, then a deal in principal is fine. I would still want to collect and pay in person though.
 
I considered it and would have, if home circumstances had been right at the time. A good friend was driving to Sweden to collect a pup and offered to bring an extra one back. I trust their judgement and have seen the dogs working many times. In any other circumstance, absolutely not.
 
I would never do it here as any form of breeding leaves a lot to be desired , in France most breeders advertise their pups/kitttens on line almost as soon as they are born. You then have to choose one and pay up to 50% to reserve it and pick up or have it delivered when they reach 21/2 months. It is non refundable except in extreme circumstances. They also still sell puppies and kittens in ' salons de vent ' and shops. The breeders who sell to' salons ' and 'animaleries' are meant to be vetted but i know for a fact that they are not and there are huge puppy farms here.
 
No people were buying from breeders from Ireland and these puppies had parvo. It was on a watchdog type program a few years ago. The puppies were exhausted and too young to be away from their mothers.
 
I have reserved a puppy from a picture before, however I did go over - to Ireland - to collect and pay for her. There were two pups to choose from, but I did settle on the puppy that I originally wanted.

I was in contact with the breeder before the litter were born.
 
Bought unseen? Of course I have, but I've researched the parentage, very carefully and showed the same attention to the breeders. Mostly, I've 'known-of' the parents too. In the days when we were coursing greyhounds, I don't suppose that I bought one puppy 'seen'!

Not that my views are of any real value, but I would strongly suggest that unless the buyer is certain of what they're looking 'at', then they either seek out knowledgable advice, or visit the breeder.

The problem with 8 week old pups is that no one can look at the pup and predict how it will turn out. Mostly, our dogs are what we make of them.

Alec.
 
Yes, but as with the other posters - they've working gundogs from lines I know inside out and breeders I trust implicitly
 
Alec Swan said:
Bought unseen? Of course I have, but I've researched the parentage, very carefully and showed the same attention to the breeders. Mostly, I've 'known-of' the parents too. In the days when we were coursing greyhounds, I don't suppose that I bought one puppy 'seen'!

Not that my views are of any real value, but I would strongly suggest that unless the buyer is certain of what they're looking 'at', then they either seek out knowledgable advice, or visit the breeder.

The problem with 8 week old pups is that no one can look at the pup and predict how it will turn out. Mostly, our dogs are what we make of them.

Alec.
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Very interesting comment - thank you.
 
I've bought horses and ponies unseen but then I always feel I can always sell them if it doesn't work out-I don't feel that I can regime dogs in the same way. saying that, if I knew the breeder then yes I would.
 
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