New puppy - Page 1

I have been looking for a puppy and have checked several web sites(alot). On some of the sites they have these puppy questionnaires. I have read through them and find them to be quite funny. example: When you take your pup to the vet how will you take him ie: car, van, truck. Some have up to 50 questions. Could someone who uses them explain why. I know someonw will say if you don't like don't fill them out and I don't. Any comments?

I believe many breeders look to match the right puppy for the right owner as each has different personalities.This to me is a responsible breeder looking to have a lifelong home for each puppy in the litter.As far as asking what kind of transportation you will provide the dog I think sounds like they are going a little too far.If you feel a breeder is making you uncomfortable from the beginning I would suggest finding one you can relate well to as you may want to keep contact with that person throughout your new puppy's life with many questions about your particular dog they should be available for you if you need advice IMO after the sale as well.Make sure you deal with the right people and ask around.Hope this helps.

Regarding transportation, I think it's a roundabout way of finding out if the dog will be safely transported or left to run around in the back of a truck. Way of asking without asking I guess. I personally would rather talk to the person instead of a questionaire which is why I don't use them anymore. I still ask questions but via a real conversation.

I guess its a way to find out how serious a potential puppy buyer is. If they take the time to fill our a form, they are probably more than just window shopping and have hopefully given some issues arising from owning a dog some serious thought. Personally I still prefer the direct conversation. You can cover many times more content in 20 minutes of talking (ok, usually ends up much longer than that ;o)) than 20 minutes of typing. And you can respond much better to questions that come up from both sides, and try to find out what exactly it is that the person is looking for- their goals, their expectations, their actual needs, etc. Almost always the dog or pup of the initial inquiry would not be the best match, so we can either direct the person to another breeder in our network or put them on a waiting list for something we have planned down the road and would be a better fit.

VERY WELL PUT LISAGSDLVR,BUT THAT QUESTIONAIRE STUFF IS COOL WITH SOME,BUT,TALKING WITH THE BUYER VIA PHONE OR IN PERSON IS THE ONLY WAY I'LL EVER SELL A PUP OR DOG TO ANYONE!!!

Hey, Bestdog - the best breeders ask the MOST QUESTIONS! Because they care about where their pups end up. Like folks said - they want to know if they dog will be hanging it's head out of the back of an open truck - or properly secured in a crate !! The questionnaire is probably on the first part - the phone or in person interviews can be even longer - We have talked to people for 2 hours - some got annoyed and went elsewhere --- others thanked us for being so careful and got on a waiting list for the next litter !! If I'm going to breed the best dogs I can and let them go for a fair price, then the buyers better put up with all my questions, and follow-up and have the decency to send me a lousy christmas card of the dog the following year - It's not easy placing pups if you do it right - that's why I took a break after 15 years of listening to horror stories of how puppies "killed themselves" on short ropes, falling of decks - and being "stupid" and run into the road !!! No way those people are getting a dog from me to murder !! If you don't like the questions - go to the petshop - they don't ask anything - except for your credit card - and you can get all kinds of health and behaviour problems for free !! No questions asked.

Pineridge: Those Christmas cards would be nice(with a picture enclosed, of course). More often than not I get the nodding heads, smiles and promises to keep in touch and I only ever hear from about 25% of them after they leave with their puppy. I have to call them to check on the dogs and some of them will not answer the phone or return the messages I leave. If only I had a crystal ball! Stephen

This is so true,SGBH.I just assume if I don't hear from anyone they must have no complaints!Everyone I ever sold a puppy to has been told I would take the dog back for any reason it didn't work out,and I have yet to even get a hello from any of them.I must be doing something right.

BestDog, I see them as funny also, some of them are trying to be politicly correct. I like to see how the family interacts, if the parents have the best children, they could be hard to please with a young puppy. I would take a good look at them. they may expect a lot from a dog. I don't ask how it will get home, I'll take it to their home if they have a small car with children in the seat. it should be a good experience for all.

sgbh -- agreed -- Didn't get nearly as many as I had hoped -- Ask any body on the street with a 16 week old puppy where there got it - they will probably be able to tell you the City -- and remember it was over by the highway with some kennels outside - but they most likely will not remember the breeder's name !!! They figure they've done their time surviving the interview processs, I guess, then they're done with you !! Ah, but then they call back 10 years LATER, asking if they can get another dog just like FIDO !!!