Comments on: How many of you would pay for a pup sight unseen?

By: Blue Violet

Blue Violet — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:35:59 +0000

I would have to say that yes, I would pay for a pup sight unseen. Although only from a registered, responsible breeder. There is logic to this – I am planning on getting a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling retriever (Duck Toller), which is a fairly rare breed, and there just aren’t enough breeders to wait until the litter is born before I pick a pup. So, I would pay a deposit to the breeder and hope that they can pick the right kind of puppy for me! I also agree that I would have to meet the puppy before bringing him/her home, and if they aren’t right for us then I wouldn’t bring him/her home.
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By: BYBs are selfish morons!

BYBs are selfish morons! — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:50:59 +0000

I don’t understand all this "practice what they preach". There are only a few ways to buy a dog responsibly.

1. From a shelter or breed rescue. You will meet the dog and see if it fits your needs. A good rescue group will even give a trial period to ensure the dog meshes with your home.

2. From a responsible breeder involved with showing, the breed, and the breed clubs (national and local). When buying from this type of breeder, you will either put a deposit down on a puppy from a future litter or on one recently born. Either way, the breeder will only give you a puppy that suits your needs. If no pup from that litter will work with your life, then a good breeder will either refund the deposit or apply it to their next litter.

Do I "practice what I preach"? Absolutely. We met my rescue dog before we took her home. The other rescue dog we considered didn’t work out because when we met her, she was too much for our current dog to handle. The breeder we considered breeds only top quality dogs and shows & competes them regularly. We would have put a deposit down based on her responsibility and past history. But, we would have met the puppy before taking it home.

A good breeder makes sure you match. A bad breeder will just take your money and send you whatever sickly junk they’ve bred.
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By: Lisa B

Lisa B — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:38:59 +0000

This is an interesting question. My initial response would be no. I would want to see the puppies, spend some time with them, see the parents, etc. But then I actually thought about it, and I'm not sure how much it matters. I've known my husky since the second he was born, but there was nothing about his behavior in the first week, or eighth week that would have told me how he would be now. In fact, he was a bratty little pup, picking on his litter-mates, but at a 1 1/2 he might be the calmest husky alive. On the other hand, my rescue was found on the street. The vet guessed he was 13 weeks. When I picked him up I didn't know his history, his health, his stock, nothing. And he has grown into an extremely happy and healthy 6 month old. So I guess ideally, I would like to see what I was getting, especially if I was paying big money; but when it comes down to it, so much of what a dog becomes depends on you and the time that they are with you.
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By: PhotoMama

PhotoMama — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:55:59 +0000

I paid for my dog before he was even conceived. I met his mother and father. I knew that they were planning to breed them soon (they were waiting for the timing to be right on Mama- she’d had a litter less than a year before, so they wanted to give her time to get healthy again). I stayed in constant communication with the breeder, and was placed on a waiting list. I was put sixth on the list. She had five puppies, which means I would have probably had to wait an entire year or even more for my puppy had the person who originally purchased my dog decided against keeping him.

This shows breeder responsibility. I wouldn’t have done it any other way.
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By: Here and There

Here and There — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:14:59 +0000

I am pretty sure that i would as long as i know the breed of the dog, size of the breed and i would be able to choose the sex ( because i already have 2 other dogs, male and female). I'm the type of person that will go for the dog or pup that seems to be in the shelter the longest or is less likeley to be bought or adopted. Everyone always wants a cute, healthy puppy- but what about all the other dogs that need homes? As far as buying from a breeder i would not do that but if you know what the parents looks like then i don't see why anyone wouldn't take a pup without seeing it. I mean you know the breed of the dog isn't going to change.
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By: Serenity

Serenity — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:58:59 +0000

Depends on the breed. Some breeds you can't go wrong because they all look the same like Labs and can't be ugly. But, some breeds the coloring and markings are crucial to if they're goin to be cute or not. Papillons you have to be picky with. At least, I was anyways. Another thing that it is how common or uncommon the breed is and of course the lineage. My parents have two Havanese. The first one they stumbled across and the second one they were first on the waiting list. Pick of two litters. $1200. Remarkably good considering that she was show quality and her mother was the first of the breed to go to the Westminster Kennel Club.
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By: Cindy F

Cindy F — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:17:59 +0000

Anyone who wants to buy a puppy from a serious breeder with good bloodlines. Most have very long waiting list. With my last litter I had 26 people on my waiting list, there were only 6 puppies in the litter and I was keeping one. So once the pups were born it was a matter of deciding which pup best met which person on the waiting list needs. The only one I had absolutely promised a pup before it was born was a couple with a 12 yr old who had been waiting for months for a puppy. They were nervous that I wouldn’t allow them to send a deposit before the litter was born but as I told them if there was anyway possible I would make sure they got a puppy but that I don’t like promising things before the litter is born because sometimes things go wrong. Personally I don’t let anyone in to see my pups until they have had their first set of shots because they could accidentally carry in germs that could kill the litter. However normally the folks on my waiting list have photos of the pups by the time they are 24 hrs old and get updates at least weekly there after.

As a breeder I’ve purchased pups from other countries without having any contact with the pup before it arrived. Heck I’ve got a reservation on a litter in Holland that won’t be bred until 2009.

If the breeder knows their breed and their lines and you have clearly communicate to the breeder what you want then your best bet is to leave the choice of which pup you get to the breeder. After all they are the ones who have experience with the breed, the mother (maybe they have first hand knowledge of the sire maybe not) and they have lived with the litter and know each ones strengths and weaknesses. If you feel you can’t trust the breeder to send you the right pup then you need to find another breeder. After all the breeder is or should be your first source for information if you have an issue or problem.
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AKC Breeder/exhibitor with 30+ yrs experience

By: nuttyred x

nuttyred x — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:58:59 +0000

Those countless people you speak off are right if you are going to breed you should have homes ready for the new arrivals. It is irresponsible to breed lots of unwanted puppies there are enough of them already.
Personally i would not purchase in full a puppy i had not seen. Before leaving any deposit i would want to see the bi*ch and if possible the dog and any previous off spring.
As for the personalty of the dog you take a risk there whether you buy sight unseen or after you have seen the pup. Humans greatly underestimate the effect that they personally will have on their pup/dog’s personality.
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By: Loki Wolfchild

Loki Wolfchild — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:43:59 +0000

I would never expect one of my puppy buyers to commit to (or pay for) a puppy before it’s born…however, that doesn’t mean that I don’t start taking applications and information prior to the litter’s due date.

I think that’s all we’re talking about when we speak of "lining up homes"…of course things don’t always work out with some people, but if I have 8 people screened, visited with, and on a waiting list, and I end up with 5 puppies to sell, chances are pretty good they will all get good homes.

This is really the correct way to do it, rather than waiting until they’re born and scrambling for people with cash when it’s time to "get rid of" them.

ADD: Answering from the other side of the coin.
I was on a waiting list for a male puppy from a breeder I knew for 6 months, but money never changed hands until I went to see the litter at 10 weeks. There was only 1 male, and I wasn’t taking a puppy unless I took the male…and I wasn’t taking the male unless I liked him. The breeder did not expect me to pay for the dog until he left the house with me.

This is pretty much the way it is with good breeders. We don’t expect anyone to commit to or pay for a puppy until they’ve seen the litter, even if they got on our waiting list a year ago.

You see?
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By: greekman

greekman — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:16:59 +0000

The few times in my life that I have bought puppies as I prefer adult dogs, I bought them before they were even born or shortly thereafter.. That is not the problem! The problem is KNOWING where these puppies are coming from. Knowing and trusting the breeder and be able to SEE the results of their previous breedings.
I was talking to a friend in Europe recently, his male was bred to a female and the puppies are expected around the holidays, but, they were sold months a go. The next breeding he does with his females is also all spoken for and the female has not even bred bred yet!!!
Why? Because of the quality of his dogs and the puppies they produce. I would buy a dog from someone like that with no problem!!
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