Breeders: How Do you Choose a Puppy Owner? - Page 2

I do pretty much the same as mentioned by others - only thing is - you can not look behind a buyers forehead ! They lie to you, you will never know. As to how much you can help these buyers due course - that also just depends on the buyers willingness to ask for your help. The rest beetree, you know where to find it.
Ulli

Looks like the world is just chock full of big fat liars. Some of them sell dogs. Some of them buy them. And poor Steph will eventually deal with them all.

I don't include you, Ulli or myself in the category of liar, but I'm sure someone else will want to put me there.

And since it is a buyer's beware kind of world in which we live, I'll tell you what, if I've never met a breeder and were considering buying a dog from them, and they don't ask me for a reference, then I would have to think they probably made their decision to sell to me, based only on whether my check clears the bank.
 

I don't have a particular protocol, I guess. It varies based on who the person is, how they heard about the pup or dog I am selling, etc. Most people who have any knowledge of how I operate won't bother contacting me unless they already know they fit my criteria. Honestly, the majority of emails/phone calls I get start out by asking me if I'd consider selling them a dog. That's the God's honest truth; they don't tell me they might want to buy one; they ask me if I'd consider selling them one, or they'll ask what my qualifications entail for puppy buyers.

Perhaps my reputation precedes me, LMAO!!!

I have only bred one litter, but I have sold a decent amount of dogs/pups for others, and/or arranged homes/sales, and I can honestly say that EVERY dog or pup I have sold or placed is still where I put it, except for one that I gave to a relative to keep him close by, then took back recently and may use for breeding.

People don't like to answer too many questions and I don't blame them.
I want to know were they live and what kind of place it is (home, apt., farm, kennels fencing, etc.).
Do they understand the breed and what it requires, what they have planned for the dogs future life.
The rest is as you say a gut feeling about them (lifestyle, intelligence, hygiene, experience and knowledge).
It's not that hard to read someone in person.
Then they must understand that I expect to keep in contact with them and see how the dog progress's.
Thats the biggie, if they don't like that, no sale.    I don't expect to drop in for inspections, just a line once in a while, a phone call, maybe some pictures.
Things can change in anyones life and present problems no one could foresee, thats when a persons character comes into play, on both sides.

Shit still happens sometimes.
You do your best.

Moons.

  You can be as stringent and forceful with your requirements, it does not mean as soon as people leave your property they are going to do the exact opposite that they said they would.

Steph you said "BUT!!!!! I do not adopt out a GSD puppy to someone that has never owned a GSD before...also if they have little under 5 kids, no way...I am sorry, but everyone wants a puppy and when they get a GSD they usually have not done their homework and know what is involved with the training and socialization and the amount of LOTS of WORK, involved with a GSD PUPPY....If they really want a GSD they can get an older, already trained GSD first...a rescue dog..."

If you turn some one down just because they have a small child , they likely will turn from rescue and go right to a BYB and get what they want for $150 , and then decide to breed that dog so they can continue to experience the good feeling of having puppies.      By being so restrictive , instead of being a Mentor and teacher, you will turn people off and they will just go do what they want.

It is so much better to help each person find the right match , even if its not what you have, and make sure they have the information they need to have a lifelong relationship with there dog. ( I am happy to refer to any Good breeder, or even my local GSD rescue several times )

Personality is EVERYTHING. If the dog is drivey , working type , make sure it gets the right home. If its a lazy "Lawn ordainment" , then it may be perfect for a family with children under 5 years old.   
Steph, I kinda take your "no puppy for people with children under 5" as too controlling. I have children under 5 years old.. and I have a litter of 9 puppies that are well cared for, I can still crate them, or walk my older dogs, work with my horses etc... Everyone is a case by case - Just like dogs are.

If old Yeller jumped the fence and got hit by a car , I am not going to hold that against my prospective buyer- BUT I will tell them that they better get a roofed Kennel (ie Better there situation). With as many Variables that dogs can die from suddenly - especially mutts with unknown genetic faults- why hold a recent death against some one ?

Pricing has alot to do with weeding out people that don't care for there dogs. Putting a Value on a dog people are more likely to be careful with there "investment". People who buy cheep dogs let them run loose more often, they are more likely to feed cheep foods, and less likely to do regular Vet visits. People who buy moderately expensive dogs are more likely to protect them from running the streets, more likely to put training into it, more likely to make all Vet visits and buy super premium foods. -- And Rescues who sell there dogs cheep have to work 2xs as hard with there homes to "prove" that they will take care of the dogs- because of the low value that some people will put on a cheep dog.

When people call me I like to know first what they are looking for. Do you want a show dog ? Do you want to work with your dog in SCH ( better call some one else) ? Is this going to be a pet/ breeding .. you tell me I want to know exactly what your plans are.    
To me , some one who is not in a rush to get a puppy is the best.. some one who is willing to leave a deposit and learn right from the start how hard it is to raise a litter of puppies.. some one who watches the litter grow and See's the puppies personality's develop.. these are my Ideal buyers. They are more attached to the litter, more likely to treat there dog as close family, and some will keep in contact with other litter mate buyers.     I like people who ask questions. I am ready to give lots of informat

( WOW was not expecting to be cut off !!)  
To me , some one who is not in a rush to get a puppy is the best.. some one who is willing to leave a deposit and learn right from the start how hard it is to raise a litter of puppies.. some one who watches the litter grow and See's the puppies personality's develop.. these are my Ideal buyers. They are more attached to the litter, more likely to treat there dog as close family, and some will keep in contact with other litter mate buyers.     I like people who ask questions. I am ready to give lots of information from potty training, to OFA's and what they mean, what to do with the puppy while they are at work, when they can start going for walks.. or whatever the conversation leads too.. I have been known to go on and on and on...

BUT As much as you tell people , it will not sink in the first time , and that brings me back to buyers that leave deposits on not yet born litters - you have 8 weeks to teach people what you know about there soon to be family member.

Have I turned people down ? YES , some people are rude and pushy, or just don't click with my personality. They can tell me they want to breed , or this or that and I may not have the energy to Mentor one more person. I had to get a new Cell phone plan with T-mobile as I talk way over 4000 Min's a month with dog people, past buyers, and other breeders I help. I also will pass on people that are too busy to visit. I live 1 hour from San Francisco.. if they live there and are too busy to spend 3 hours of one day in a week to drive over and see the parents, and look over pedigrees and talk about dogs with me - then you don't have time for a dog.    I HATE it that people complain about driving 1-2 hours to visit. We have buyers drive from AZ, CO, UT - over 10 hours to come get thier puppy.      I personaly don't think GSDs do well in Appartments, and I don't want my dogs living on concrete flooring.

I also have a 8 year Guarantee, and a seperate 2 year temperment Guarantee that is conditional on feeding super premium foods, and training and socializing. Because of this its very important for me to teach each person about what I expect of them and why . If some one just is unteachable .. let them buy from some one else.

Kimmelot, I agree w/you mostly. Case by case is the only fair way to be, both for buyer and puppy.

Amanda, you're right, too. Caleb came home to an apartment- lived there about 6 mos., then in a townhouse for another year. It's not what people have, it's how dedicated they are to providing the best environment for the dog. Sometimes people w/out the "ideal" situation make up for it and their dogs are way better off than the people w/a mansion and fenced 5 acres- who do nothing w/the dog but leave him outside by himself so he doesn't get the carpeting dirty.

Kimmelot,
I said I don't adopt puppies out to people that have never owned a GSD before and especially people with kids under 5....I do try to educate them on a GSD, Puppies bite, we all know that, from 8 weeks to sometimes 5-6 months especially when they are teething, do you want a little kid, hitting that puppy when it bites, in its fearful 9-12 week stage?,  People don't usually supervise their kids, let alone a puppy...or the kid getting hurt from those sharp teeth. People that haven't had a GSD before don't understand what is involved, you can try to preach and teach all you want, I do talk with the people extensively. When there have been litters here, the people come back for several weeks while the pups are growing from 4 weeks on and I see how they interact with the pups and give them pointers while they are here, it is also a way for me to evaluate if that person is going to be able to adopt a pup from me...

Kimmelot,. people who have owned a GSD before with kids under 5 ""Usually" know how to deal with a puppy, that is my "BUT"...then I would consider it if all else came together. Meeting etc...

I am picky about who gets my rescue dogs too, they have to fill out an application and if they don't want to, and they will know that I check up on them, like Moons said, if they don't agree to that they don't get a dog.

Like Jenni, most people ask if I will adopt a dog to them, they know my rescue and others, are tougher on people, the humane society here in Missoula is one of the toughest to get a dog from, they are getting applications and checking references too...so they rarely get any dogs back...

"It is so much better to help each person find the right match , even if its not what you have, and make sure they have the information they need to have a lifelong relationship with there dog. ( I am happy to refer to any Good breeder, or even my local GSD rescue several times )"     I do this constantly, I do refer breeders, just not the ones that don't follow up with their dogs or ones that won't take a dog back...I also refer other rescues if I don't have anything that fits them or try to find something that fits them I try by best to match the dogs personality with the peoples and their lifestyle...

Kimmelot; You sound like a very responsible breeder and I appreciate that...
If someone won't take the time and drive the distance to come and look at the pups or a rescue dog they don't get one. I have had people drive anywhere from 8-15 hours, one way, to get one of my rescues...that to me is a responsible dog owner, one that is going to care about the dog.

My rescue fees are higher than most other rescues also, but I still move them out fairly quickly. It weeds out the ones that won't properly care for a dog too,  It all goes back into the rescue, most people don't realize how much time and expenses go into a rescue. I also drive sometimes 13 to 24 hours to rescue a dog from a neighboring state. I try to use transports when possible, but that doesn't always work, and most people can't handle the GSD's in transport...

Steph