Define Ethical Breeder ???'s - Page 2

Bob-O, I definitely agree with you also. I've kept some of those! peggy

I look at the definition that some of you have for backyard breeder or not an ethical breeder and all I will say is if any of you either have imported dogs or have imported dogs, then you are HYPOCRITES!! Because the majority of German breeders do not abide by any of these standards once you get the dog in your possesion! So why would you want a dog or breed to a dog from unethical breeders by YOUR definition? I just don't get it Now if none of you would deal with import breeders because many of them don't abide by YOUR standards then my hat is off to you. But oh the double standard.

Gutav, I am laughing so hard right now, Oh my gosh Very well done my friend !! I don't ship... and will not again buy sight unseen, So don't know what that makes me but certainly don't fall into the hypocrite catagory, LOLOLOL. You definately get the point being made here !! :-) My hats off to you.

Why do any of you require that a buyer returns the dog before you will honor the guarantee?

I don't require a return of the dog, but I will take back any dog if that is what the owner wants. They can keep it (spayed or neutered) in addition to the refund, or replacement pup - or they can return the dog if they wish, I honor the guarantee either way. I know I wouldn't want to give up a dog I had bonded with, and they have a right to the contract being honored if there is something wrong with the pup they bought. I do know of some breeders who require return of the pup before they will honor the contract - there is only one reason for this IMO - to avoid honoring the contract. The breeder knows that the owner loves their dog and will probably opt to keep the dog and not get the refund or replacement. Especially when the breeder tells the owner that their loved dog would be euthanized if it is returned. So, the breeder is "free and clear" of giving anything to the owner. Works great for the breeder who doesn't care about honoring their contractual obligation of selling a healthy sound puppy.

Echo: ALl of what you listed and more. Also what Molly says. I am always available to help my puppy buyers with whatever they need, for the life of the dog. That's my responsibility for having brought the dogs lives into the world and I take it very seriously. I am eager to do anything I can to insure that the people who own my dogs have the best, most rewarding experience possible. I do ship puppies to people I don't know very well, but I ask for references from vets, trainers, etc. Tattooing and micro-chipping all pups/dogs before they leave my care, with myself as the primary contact (pre-paid option) is the best I can do as regards to their future after they leave me. Its not perfect, but I feel much better for having taken the time, expense & trouble to do it, and I will ALWAYS ake back/rescue one of my dogs, no matter how old, where they end up, and in what condition. There's no perfect solution, no perfect answer to questions regarding breeder's ethics, but I sleep pretty well at night with my own. Shelley Strohl

ohhh, NO you misunderstood, for me to honor my guarantee on health and hips they DO NOT have to return the dog. I totally agree with Molly and therefore we do not require the return on the guarantee. My contract states if they can no longer keep the dog for any reason that they are not allowed to sell, give away, or adopt my dog to anyone, that it MUST come back to me for rehome. I do honor my guarantee, I even have a lady going through divorce returning a perfectly healthy dog, (per the contract), I don't have to offer her a new dog, However I have done so, I told her in the future when her life is put back together again to let us know, and we will see to it that is able to get another pup, It's not something I had to do per contract, But something I feel good about doing, and feel is only way to be right by this buyer. Molly and Shelly agree with both 100%

Oh, yes I did misunderstand. I know there are some who require that and agree with what Molly said regarding their motives. Given that is a requirement for making good on a guarantee, then a breeder could guarantee almost anything even something as absurd as the dog will be able to shop for groceries and drive the family SUV. Few are going to give back their dogs and those who do may not deserve another dog anyway. I also love the contracts that contain the loophole that a gurantee will not be honored unless the dog is raised under certain conditions and/or fed specific food or supplements. That is impossible to control, so why bother other than to give the breeder another way out of a committment. I would like to add to this discussion that ethical breeders never fail to provide all the required information need to identify the dog - AKC registration or a written contract if that registration is not yet available. I know of several buyers who are still waiting on papers on the dogs they have had in their possession for months and months and there is clearly no problem of a delay with AKC. One of these dogs is already registered in the breeder's name and the other breederws seesm to make a habit out of making buyers wait for registration although she cashes the check promptly. That's not very ethical either. To read their websites and posts to this board one would think they are the best of the best.

Can someone explain to me then, how is it a "breeder" that advertises her litters here on this site, has her webpage's homepage header that reads "From an Honest Breeder with Ethics!" but then offers pups with a major reduction in price on a pup if you agree to buy with No Guarantee at all on your pup? If you want a guarantee then you pay $1,000.00-$1,200.00 more automatically. Is this an Ethical Breeder? Or one just not willing to stand behind the countless litters they produce? Are all pups in a litter worth the same price? or only the healthy and stronger pups worth the higher price tag and a guarantee along with them? Any comments?

That's odd.