question - Page 2

What's the environment like? I've seen indoor dogs with boring lives and improper diet have floppy ears, then get rehomed to the country with lots of sights and smells and eat a better diet have their ears firm up. My mentor had never had a problem with it before and one dog had floppy ears and he investigated and found that the owner was handicapped and lived in a condo. The dog got very little stimulation to use his ears, no bones to chew to strengthen, and very bland sub-par dog food. He took the dog back to replace it and within a couple weeks in his possession they stood. 

An acre of fenced yard, no crating, lives in the house, outside during the day. Offered to buy back full price, no go. Ears were up at seven weeks, were up and down after. Up when stoped, but 'flop when pup runs'. Good thing the pup's eye color turned out pretty:-) smh.

...

Well, there goes that idea then. 

Thin ear leather will flop with extreme motion. Good grief. Are you now supposed to guarantee a certain millimeter thickness of ear leather??? Or stipulate that your guarantee only applies to dogs that are standing still? That's asinine. I'd really want the dog back if it were of my breeding. A person like that is more trouble than they're worth and the poor dog has to live with them...smh. 

Joan, you are being very generous!

I'd tell 'em to piss off!  It's a PET for heaven's sake, and I certainly wouldn't refund her money before the dog was a year old. A friend of mine had a Shiloh shepherd (they're mostly GSD) and one of his ears didn't stand properly until he was over a year. She used moleskin and Breathe Right strips to help it along, and eventually it stiffened up. She even bred him several times after that, and I don't recall any of the pups having ear issues.

Ok, floppy ALL the time ears I can understand a pet home being upset with. The iconic image of a GSD is both ears up and most pet homes want that look. However, ears that stand when still and only flop at a run ... I don't see the issue for a pet? That said, I would probably do a partial refund, too, if it kept the client happy. 

Ramage, I agree with you, what percentage refund? Half purchase price for a pup purchased with plan to spay and not breed, a pup that the owner says is a great dog with their three yr old child, sound temperment and structure ? People on forums always say give half back for HD or ed, is soft ears equal to unsoundness? BTW, full dentition, excellent occlusion, strong nerves, could easily have been a working dog in a working home, but is filling the place for family dog because in a family setting. Also, I offered to buy the pup back full purchase price because the owner said he gets 'so angry when he looks at her when her ears flop', I know the pup is feeling the animosity from the owner. Also, they came here twice, and chose this pup.

GD'it I forgot to hit submit.

 

What I wrote was this;  if you want to keep this person as a client, how about l/2 off on next puppy or dog.  Believe me the dog does not know if his/her ears flop.  I would not refund anything on a floppy ear and really he's a bit young to worry.  My boys were a little weak until he was about 14/15 months, maybe a bit younger but "really"...  Yep I like them to stand strong also but does not affect his health or working abilities in the least.  Maybe $100.00.  JHC what if you had a major problem with these people, how would they handle that.  Probably end up in court.  Ugh...  Good luck  Nan

 

So when they neuter/spay this dog have the vet put in a stay or something to keep ears erect...that will solve the problem...

Good grief! He gets angry looking at her? That's just a shame and very sad for the dog. I wish they would just sell her back to you. Honestly, I think half back is a bit excessive considering the ears do stand a good part of the time. I think 1/4 back would be fair, but of course no matter how much you refund them, if they're not happy with the amount they still will grumble and complain for the rest of their lives. Half back, in my opinion, would only be warranted if the ears never stood (or full refund if they return the dog, which they refused). Its a really tough situation and just another thing to probably add to future contracts. If everything isn't black and white in writing, it seems like no one is ever happy with the resolutions. 

People seem to think that puppies are widgets that roll off an assembly line. "I want my puppy to be x, y, and z and if it's not then whine to the breeder since he/she cheated me." I wonder if "guarantees" and contracts set up false expectations.