This puppy finding malarky

MotherOfChickens

MotherOfChickens

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So I am trying to do the right thing ie researching breeders, getting to know the breeds, going out of my way to see them working, showing, at home etc etc.

I've had two breeders get sniffy when I asked what price the pups would be. One even said that if I had to ask I couldnt afford it. I am not at the point when I can hand over £1K without giving a second thought-I am not sure I will ever be and it doesn't mean I don't have the money!

I contacted one breeder about future litters as their website and dogs looked amazing. They told me about a 6 month old animal they had for rehome (not their breeding). I said that I would chat about it with OH but that we were really waiting for a puppy. They said to not worry about time wasting because they would only let it go to the best home. Next day I told them that indeed we were wanting to wait for a puppy-they then called me a time waster!

And then there are the breeders who are health testing, but not doing anything with it. So they are knowingly breeding in a mutation that narrows the treatment options in a number of conditions/diseases apart from rendering the dog at risk from a range of common drugs. It's not a breed where there aren't options (ie using clear parents), it is a breed almost totally used for showing.

A rescue had a wee 6 month old cross that was rather appealing. Turns out the family, 3 kids under 10, both parents working full time, had been allowed to adopt two litter mates from Spain that they now can't cope with. Still thinking about that one.
 
Have you contacted the breed club? Do you know anyone that is involved in the breed?

I found my oldest on champdogs and got lucky, but became friends with his dad's owner so when we wanted another she helped me find him. Think I'll always get her to source my puppies from now on! Was so nice just knowing the breeder was genuine and the parents were as we would have wanted them.
 
galaxy said:
Have you contacted the breed club? Do you know anyone that is involved in the breed?
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Two different breeds-one of which seems to be a very closed shop up here and no, I don't know anyone personally involved in the working bred dogs. The other, the breed club has been helpful as has one breeder although they are not close to me at all (think 7 hour drive one-way).
 
If you remember, whrn I was looking for a border terrier I emailed all of the breeders registered in NI. Not one reply did I get.. So frustrating. .

Fingers crossed you find the perfect pup very soon x

Fiona
 
MotherOfChickens said:
I've had two breeders get sniffy when I asked what price the pups would be. One even said that if I had to ask I couldnt afford it. I am not at the point when I can hand over £1K without giving a second thought-I am not sure I will ever be and it doesn't mean I don't have the money!
.
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This happened to me. After talking and answering their questions I enquired how much they asked for their puppies and he said if I had to ask I shouldn't have one.

Erm, I need to know so I know how much to pay him and so I know I'm not being ripped off because after doing my research I know how much they should cost roughly.

I told him I wasn't interested in buying from a breeder that I didn't feel comfortable approaching for advice!

Glad it wasn't just me!
 
MotherOfChickens said:
really stupid isn't it!
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Probably means they are asking too much! I wish you well in your puppy search! I have a puppy reserved that is due next week. Just hoping there is enough in the litter as we are nearly last on the list :( I too had trouble getting through to speak to anyone as well. I couldn't phone as I was in the Falklands at the time, so not ideal but if it's your business I would have thought you would check your emails!

Good luck!
 
Maybe it's not the question of "how much?" that is putting the breeders but rather how the question is asked. If you explain you are wanting to know how much to expect to put aside for a potential pup, it sounds better than "how much for a pup like" (not saying that's how you said it btw, just an example).

People who are serious about their breed don't want to sell to someone who's first and perhaps only concern is the price tag. They usually want to sell to someone who asks questions about the breeding, about hip scores etc, who is interested in the temperaments, wants to meet the parents. Or they want to know that you already know the relevant information as you've done some homework.

It's a popular saying amongst breeders that the price of the puppy is the cheap part, as the care and raising a pup is the longer term expense which cannot be measured.

FWIW I waited about 3 or 4 years before my first poodle, and along came Merlin who was 10 months old at the time. He was perfect for me - and he was in fact neutered, house trained, vaccinated, and lead trained. I had the fun of a young dog but without the training and vet visits. And about 1/3 the price of a puppy. I went through a bit of an interview process with the breeder, so I wasn't just getting one cos I had cash ready. She came to see my house, garden, checked me out in various ways. I was reassured by this. The contact was such that if I was to part with him he would go back to her.

Then for Alice I waited another two years once I'd decided. Her litter was produced and I did tentatively ask the question of price (but had already committed to buying, but the question was, so I know how much to put aside for my budget). THe breeders were not put off by this, as I already had committed to their breeding.
 
^^ PS, just to reiterate, I'm not suggesting that you're being crass about asking about pricing but I imagine that many good breeders get put off by MoP who really ARE in fact just wanting to know price and no more.

It's a bit like me with grooming. If someone rings up and the first (and maybe only) question is "how much to get a dug groomed hen" I usually put them off pretty quickly as i'm not interested in shopper arounders who only base their opinion of a groomer on the price. Plus, I know that I can't compete on the basis of price along as I'm more expensive than most in my area. If someone asks other intelligent questions I'm happy to spend time chatting and explaining my experience etc. But I should hope that a breeder would still be happy to discuss pricing if you're doing all that too.
 
no I realise that PP, and I have only asked price after discussion of health testing, our experience as dog owners, sort of lifestyle I can offer, if/when I can meet parents etc etc (and there have been a couple of breeders who didnt want to answer those questions whereby I thanked them for their time and finished the conversation. I am looking to get a pup in the next 6 months or so but for the right one, we're prepared to wait longer.). I do not ever expect animals or services for cheap.

However, I do believe in being up front and not wasting someone's time. So if they are going to ask way over the average price then I want to know up front frankly-its not as if I am going to argue with them, they'll name a price and I'll decide if I want to pay it. I am careful with my savings, its hard-earned! A few of the breeders have been great, the majority though have not been.
 
Took us a little while to find puppies (but that's because there aren't a huge number of our breed around) but we joined the breed club and had a chat, mentioned we wanted to give showing a go and wanted a dog. All if that helped us get recommended to two breeders, one of whom had a litter due at perfect timing for us. We visited them quite a lot, became good friends with both them and pretty much everyone else in the breed club. When it came to choosing puppy we were about half way down the list, but knowing we wanted to show and being showers themselves they held back one dog they thought was second best in the litter (best was going to owner of mum to show!) which was absolutely wonderful of them.
Dog is 3 now, no longer show but did for abiut 18 months, got a few 1sts lots of 2nds and 3rds and ended up in lots of classes where he and his brother were top two. We all said if we could but his brothers back end on our dogs front end we'd have an unstoppable winner! He's in the studbook now and has had full health check and her score (very good!).

I think in our case it was the fact that we were going to stay in contact, stay in the breed club and go to lots of the club meets that really helped. Breeders put a lot into their pups and like them to go to good homes. In regards to the cost, maybe mention it at the end as a sort of how much do I need to set aside to cover it, rather than how much does dog cost.
 
As PP says it may not be so much the question rather than how it is worded. If the first question someone asked when enquiring about puppies was "how much", I have to admit I probably would be less than willing to let them have one of my pups. If there were lots of questions about my dogs, their temperament, health tests etc and then the price was enquired then fine. It may sound a bit perverse but I put many hours into planning my litters and rearing my pups, cost was certainly not the first consideration to me and I would rather it wasn't that of a future owner. Having said that I was getting a little concerned when the family who had one of my last litter had booked a pup and visited several times without asking a price, but when they did eventually ask they thought the pup was cheap!
If you have done your research on the breed, you should be able to get any idea of what is the average price from a pup from a decent breeder. In my experience its mainly the dodgy ones who are either cheap or really expensive

On another matter, with regard to meeting parents, don't let the fact the breeders don't have the sire put you off, in fact if they do have the sire there I would consider it a negative. Most breeders travel far and wide to use dogs, they should be happy to give you contact details of the sires owners, but be prepared for them to not be local. In GSDs many people take their bitches to Germany to be mated, so a bit of a trek to go and visit .
 
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MurphysMinder said:
As PP says it may not be so much the question rather than how it is worded. If the first question someone asked when enquiring about puppies was "how much", I have to admit I probably would be less than willing to let them have one of my pups. If there were lots of questions about my dogs, their temperament, health tests etc and then the price was enquired then fine. It may sound a bit perverse but I put many hours into planning my litters and rearing my pups, cost was certainly not the first consideration to me and I would rather it wasn't that of a future owner.
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as I said in my last post, that's exactly what I have done, purchase price is not the first consideration. I am not ringing up asking the price of a puppy as an opener and am well aware of the average price of a pup of the breeds I am looking into. I've researching one of these breeds for months now.

And I am aware that they probably don't have the stud dog but if they aren't willing to talk about health testing or dodge questions on their interpretation then I am put off. (The most helpful breeder of one of the breeds is using European dogs with an aim to breed out the MDR1 gene for example and is passionate about it). I understand the time and effort put into breeding but people do need to be a bit less precious about discussing money when they are selling, there's no need to be defensive about it if you believe the price is a good one.

I also always start off by saying I am offering an active pet home, not a showing or working home and so if they only want buyers who will show/work they can say so then and there. All of the breeders I have spoken to haven't seemingly had a problem with that when I tell them the type of home I can offer as not all pups will/can work/show. I have zero interest in breed clubs or dog clubs-in the same way I have no interest in horse breed societies or riding clubs. I am the most anti social person you will ever meet!
 
Totally understand the non showing or dog clubs, but I know our breeders were very pleased when we said we'd joined the breed society club. We don't do much with it anymore, except go on one or two annual organised walks that raise money for the club (an excellent rehoming plan so that airdales don't end up in rescues or shelters as they are hard to find suitable homes for!).
But it is a nice thing to be part of, get news and keep in touch with people. Some breeders love keeping in touch.

Ours was actually a bit different in that the mum was a close friend of theirs and one of their studs was being used. Owner of mum not bred before so was all done at stud dogs home (experienced and good set up) and we got to meet mum, Dad, siblings of dad, other offspring from the same lines (showing people and have a fair few!) so really lovely. Not something you see a lot though!
 
I've only known one Airedale and she was a lovely animal-owned by a nutcase of a livery owner I was a groom for. Said owner was Polish and convinced my Dutch livery owner was a Nazi-she also fed her horse a bulb (yep, a bulb, not a clove) of garlic a day-which was fab for mucking out with a hangover ;). Anyway, dog used to come and find me as soon as she was let out of the car, thus letting me escape the Nazi conspiracy theories! Haven't seen one in eons but they are such lovely looking dogs.
 
I always started off by explaining our home situation and what we are looking for, and answered any questions they might have. Asked to go through health information etc and explained we were first time owners so would take and listen to any advice they had. Took them up on the offer to visit before pups were due to meet the dam and go through the paperwork. Then asked "and what is the balance on the pup after the £100 deposit you ask for so I know what to put aside"... Most breeders were absolutely fine and responded and said of course.

The breeder that had a go at me, interestingly his dogs were priced well above the average of the others!
 
MurphysMinder said:
On another matter, with regard to meeting parents, don't let the fact the breeders don't have the sire put you off, in fact if they do have the sire there I would consider it a negative.
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We managed to do it backwards with the cocker, the sire was 10 minutes drive away, the bitch three hours. :p

You have my sympathy OP, I'm planning for late next year and every time I think I've narrowed down the options something crops up, as it is I'm going to be spending this season schmoozing and grovelling to see if I'm good enough to hear about more litter plans. I was offered two dream dogs last year and had to turn both down as we're still renting, I was gutted as one was an import and a last litter so I won't get the opportunity again. I now have to see pictures on Facebook of the handsome little devils growing up with somebody else.
 
I have a litter of Labrador puppies at the moment...I spend ages investigating people on the phone! There are lots of unsuitable homes out there no matter how good their intentions!
 
I feel rather lucky now :O finding my Tamriel was super easy and the breeder was and still is fabulous! She has a forum where she'll answer questions and will email/text with no trouble throughout the dogs life. Genuinely cares about every single pup and is thrilled to see how they're getting on! Her daughter even runs a rescue for the breed and they run a show on their grounds every year.

I can't believe people are upset about you asking for the price! How are you suppose to know? Good luck with your search! Your pup is out there somewhere :)
 
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