What puts you off potential buyers of puppies?

[SusieT]

how much is important...it tells you whether the breeder is deluded (too high) or backyard (too low). It's just a question.

 

[ChesnutsRoasting]

I have been inundated with enquiries for my litter of puppies but have so far only allowed three people to view, all of whom have left a deposit and I am in no doubt whatsoever, will provide a good home for the pup they have chosen. But I am in a constant state of anxiety whilst I am going through the process of vetting potential buyers. I know I owe it to the pups to ensure they have the best homes possible, especially as this was an accidental breeding, never to be repeated as am having both parents neutered after the pups have gone.

However, I could have sold them all twice over by now. But if the slightest thing bugs me about a potential buyer I put them off. Maybe I'm too harsh? For example, a man emailed me on Saturday. All he said was 'do you have any puppies still available? I am only interested in a dog, and not a bitch'. I emailed back telling him I had one dog left and asking him to telephone to discuss a possible viewing. He did not email back until the following morning. This made me think he wasn't that interested, and I started to feel really put off him. He asked for more up to date pictures and said he would phone later in the day. I sent the picyires, but I didn't like the way he offered no info about himself. Maybe I was wrong. He did not phone, just emailed at 6 pm saying sorry he hadn't phoned as he was busy with Father's day and that he would call the following day to discuss. I emailed back, saying no worries, but I had sold the dog puppy (not true). My reasoning? I felt that he was deliberately delaying contact because he wanted to appear as if he could take it or leave it. I want buyers to be really keen, as if they are not keen to start with, and don't have time to call when they say they will, that they don't have time or enthusiam enough for a pup! Is this too harsh?

What things would put you off a potential buyer?[/QUOTE

Whatever my intuition told me. Thankfully, I don't breed from my dogs, but if your gut is telling you something, listen to it.

 

[Llanali]

Lucky you- I have a litter here, out of a champion home bred by an international champion. An excellent globally renowned line- these pups are half brothers to the top winning saluki of 2012, and the sire was top winner 2010, and I cannot sell the last one! Ok, yes I've had the ******, but not much real interest- there just isn't the money at the moment.

A freind has an equally quality litter, and loads of interest but not real solid interest.

I wouldn't ever let a pup go without seeing the home and the condition of any other dogs the people own. I don't get offended about email as typing is not everyone's forte, and I don't give out my personal info over email straight away either.....at the end of the day, they don't know you are 'wierd' either

Good luck with them- like you, ours stay here as long a necessary to find the perfect home.

 

[Dobiegirl]

I have seen a litter of puppies advertised but there is no price, I would have to ask how much for the simple reason they may be outside my budget.

Any dog/puppy I take on has a home for life(Im home most of the day) can look and care for a dog as well as anybody,they would be Insured and I take my responsabilities very seriously.

So given this response from me I take it none of you would sell a puppy to me.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Nope wouldn't sell you one, it would be a terrible home. I probably worded it wrong, obviously people have to know the price, but what puts me off is the phone call which goes "hello, I'm phoning about the pups, how much are they?". When we bought Pickle I asked quite a few questions before I asked the price, I had a fair idea what was the going price for a heeler, but wanted to know about health tests etc first.
Wagtail, you ask why people don't ask the price, bizarrely on the ABS listings you are not allowed to say how much the pups are.

 

[Kitty B]

I would think an e-mail to inquire as to whether there were any pups left would be acceptable, however I would expect a phone call to talk to the person before arranging any viewing. I would want to know absolutely everything relevant before they came to look at the litter, otherwise it would be a waste of everybody's time. Actually speaking to someone on the phone at length, I think, gives you a better idea of who they are and if they are potentially the right kind of person for the puppy. Several years ago I was helping my mother with a litter, and had been assisting at viewings as well. I oversaw the viewing for the final pup myself, and did not make any friends of the first people to turn up, I can tell you! The couple who called about the pup turned up three hours late, asked some very odd questions, knew nothing about the breed, and then swore at me when I told them I wasn't selling them the dog. That really sealed the decision! Another couple inquired shortly after the previous couple left. I spoke to them for a while, and they came around within an hour. They were lovely people, knew the breed, and I was very comfortable selling them the pup. I think if I were ever to have pups in the future, I would be quite picky about who the pups went with. I have heard people ask why they should choose one of our pups, but at the end of the day I don't want to convince them as much as I want them to convince me. The welfare of the dogs comes first, and if that means being picky and turning people away, so be it. Personally, I'd rather have them a bit longer and be certain and confident I was sending them to the right home.

 

[Wagtail]

Nope wouldn't sell you one, it would be a terrible home. I probably worded it wrong, obviously people have to know the price, but what puts me off is the phone call which goes "hello, I'm phoning about the pups, how much are they?". When we bought Pickle I asked quite a few questions before I asked the price, I had a fair idea what was the going price for a heeler, but wanted to know about health tests etc first.
Wagtail, you ask why people don't ask the price, bizarrely on the ABS listings you are not allowed to say how much the pups are.

That is so odd. I think it puts a lot of people off enquiring as many people do not like to ask 'that question'. Though I suppose everyone is in the same boat.

 

[Mypinkpony]

I've only breed once (and will never ever again as AMAZING as it was couldn't go through that stress ever again, and we had the smoothest time of it ever...easy birth, healthy mum, 8 healthy pups, god knows if something had actually gone wrong!) The main thing that put me off was lack of knowledge of the breed, mine are very very active and need a lot os exercise, i'm quite happy for them to be left alone and just let out at lunch but its the routine and the before and after work exercise thats inportant to me, some people i felt were just saying yes we will to shut me up....i said no to one guy (just had that bad feeling) and he called back asking if he could buy 2....and at a discount!! Honestly! as if i would let him have 2 highly active lil puppies when i said no to one! I turned quite a few away as i felt they just thought they 'looked pretty' and had no idea of the stress they can be. Anyway i was incredibly lucky, we had 7 pups we were selling and they sold to the most lovely 7 homes i could of wished for, all found within 5 days of advertising! All still in touch now sending me photos.... I was very very lucky and pups are all very spolit and lucky too