Perfume

I'm on two minds on the matter of reincarnation….I do and I don't. I won't rule it out as, quite often, truth is stranger than fiction but then….. I do believe that what may appear to be a coincidence is often meant to be, shame your OH has different ideas. 2 big dogs isn't considered too many but each to their own. Why do men always have to have the last say?

I agree 100% Stressmagnet, there are more dogs than there are homes available for them, it's such an unfortunate reality BUT if there's a better method of ensuring your pup does not end up in the hands of unscrupulous puppy farmers….I'm all for it.

If you're going to introduce the lamb flaps, make sure you do so slowly. Give your pooch only a small amount at a time and increase a little every day otherwise you're going to end up doing more harm than good….your dog will have a severe case of the runs.

Ditto.

I've always agreed in desexing pups at 8 weeks to diminish the overpopulation of dogs needing homes and also to prevent them ending up in the dirty hands of puppy farmers. Lately, quite by coincidence, I have come to the realisation that although it is a good idea for those reasons already mentioned, it may not be such a great idea for the health of the pup. Not all vets advocate early desexing due to ongoing health issues as a direct result of this. What are you thoughts?

I've always found that long hair is far easier to remove from furniture and clothing than short coated breeds. :)

LisaCC, how would you describe your Aussie Shepherd? I wonder how they compare to a Border collie.

If I had several lifetimes I would love a Bernese Mountain Dog, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd Dog, Border Collie, Rottweiler, Boxer.

Damned if I do, damned if I don't. Can't win. I just wish that this saga would end. We've all had our say, enough already. Breeder rang me, we discussed a few issues, my concern was addressed and all is good.

If jumping hoops consists of having to travel interstate…well, I simply cannot; I have responsibilities and cannot just drop everything and leave. I appreciate that for some it isn't a problem and Kudos to them. I don't know how much more open I can be….I offered to friend her via FB so she could get a pretty clear idea on what I'm all about besides which I talked about myself anyway, out of my own volition. By the end of the phone call she knew almost everything about me from what I did for a living to how I spend my time nowadays. Yes, I was surprised when I received the email, it did feel like I was being interrogated for the simple reason that I had ALREADY talked at length about myself…..

Well, you know it would be nice if you actually responded to those posts. You certainly ignored mine, which was from the perspective of someone who did get through an interrogation and ended up with two amazing dogs. How about responding to those sorts of posts of which there have been several instead of just complaining that people are picking on you? Did you think that people would just agree with you and sympathise? Here's a tip: this is DOL and that never happens. It's up to you if you respond to a breeder's request. I pointed out that if you did it could be brilliant. I'm sorry if that doesn't agree with your set view but you know? It could. It's down to you. I would love to be able to respond to each and everyone of those posters but that's an impossibility for me, as much as I'd like, I just don't have all day at my disposal hence why I thanked them as I did. x0x

I agree. So you reward the breeder for doing something dodgy. And now you complain? Unfortunately - this just means they will probably do it to someone else. So you advocate doing no research at all and accepting puppies that are not as advertised. What if you'd paid money for an Amstaff and got sent a JRT. Would you still accept it? Really? I know there are several breeders in SA that I'd call puppy farmers. I can't believe their dogs can live out in sheds in paddocks and get enough human time when they have so many of them. They might even comply with RSPCA hygiene requirements and SACA and ANKC ethics - but I can't believe when one breeder is listing more than 100 puppies a year that they're not a puppy farm. Doesn't take a lot of research to find these out. All you'd have to do is ask anyone here who is a SACA member to check their journals for that breeder and how many puppies they have listed. Some of them even have photos of their puppy shelters on their websites and you can see for yourself it's a puppy farm. And did you write a formal complaint to SACA about what this breeder did? No? Then you allow the problem to continue. This horrifies and disgusts me. I won't bother going into the "how can people do this" because nothing shocks me any more. I just hope Karma catches up with them.

Buying from interstate is always fraught with risk. Australian consumer law still applies - he didn't get what he paid for - he could send the puppy back and ask for his money back. If he'd gone there to pick the puppy up - he could have looked at it and left it there. It does cut both ways, the breeder has to do their research and the buyer has to do their research. Just because the breeder has a pretty website with FIGJAM testimonials on it - doesn't mean they're responsible. Same with the buyer - you have to find a way to verify what they say from some other source. This really struck a chord with me. I was talking to a breeder recently who said that she was very proud that her lines had been health tested for 4 generations, but when I asked her what health tests she suddenly became very vague, and I never did find out what they'd been tested for, or if they'd been found clear because she ceased contact with me. Talk's cheap. Same thing happened to me, I think I've already mentioned this in a previous post. The breeder was bragging about the health tests but when I questioned her further, it turned out that only the sire had been health checked, the dam wasn't and the pup was a carrier. She then changed the wording on the ad the next morning. There was no further mention of any health checks whatsoever.

Beautifully spoken, Steve. I was quite touched by your post.

I want to thank those that have shown me support and understanding, thank you….your kind words have meant so much, I cannot tell you. I came here with the best of intentions, didn't have any idea I would be crucified. I've said my piece and have nothing further to add, no matter what I say, I will be lynched regardless. Through all of this, I haven't lost faith in all breeders, there's always the exception to every rule, it's unfortunate that some spoil it for the others.

Asking questions to determine if I'm a suitable person for her pups is her right and I respect that, asking for photos of myself and the inside of my home is an invasion of privacy. How about if I was to return the favour and start asking breeders to send me photos of their kennels and/or the pups living quarters and given that most of them tell me their dogs are not kennelled, perhaps I should ask for photos of the inside of their house, what do you reckon? I'd love to be a fly on the wall to see the look on their face if I was blatant enough to ask for such photos, lol. As for being concerned with the colour, type and symmetry of markings.….yes, I am and am not ashamed to say so…or is that only a breeder's prerogative? Fair's fair, give me a break, sheeeeesh. You have every right to ask to see photographs of where the dogs are housed. It is a free country and I guess it would be within my right to ask for photos of where the dogs are housed but in reality how often does this happen? How many times have breeders been asked to supply such photos? lol. I can safely say that if I was to ask such a question, that would be the beginning of the end in most cases, lol

Doubt my sincerity? what the heck's that supposed to mean? :confused: Having more than one favourite breed of dog is a sign of insincerity? You wouldn't sell a pup to someone who likes a specific look on a pup? Of course you wouldn't because as I found out, you would either want to keep it yourself or allow a fellow breeder pick of the litter. One thing I've learnt is that some breeders are too high up the pedestal and are ruining it for the decent ones. By all means ask questions but also bear in mind that sometimes it's not what you say but how you say it….and you need to respect a person's privacy as well. One thing some of you have conveniently ignored is my saying that I was an open book when talking to the breeder, I actually volunteered information about my lifestyle, my current situation, my living establishment, my family … amongst other things. I even offered to Facebook friend her, what more do any of you want?

Asking questions to determine if I'm a suitable person for her pups is her right and I respect that, asking for photos of myself and the inside of my home is an invasion of privacy. How about if I was to return the favour and start asking breeders to send me photos of their kennels and/or the pups living quarters and given that most of them tell me their dogs are not kennelled, perhaps I should ask for photos of the inside of their house, what do you reckon? I'd love to be a fly on the wall to see the look on their face if I was blatant enough to ask for such photos, lol. As for being concerned with the colour, type and symmetry of markings.….yes, I am and am not ashamed to say so…or is that only a breeder's prerogative? Fair's fair, give me a break, sheeeeesh.

Ditto.

So now the breeder is willing to sell you this pup, and you are being hesitant about whether you actually now want it? T. What part are you not understanding? It was not until she called me and we spoke again that I posed a particular question to her and she provided me with the answer, had I not asked that question I never would have known…..it certainly did not come up in conversation the first couple of times we spoke on the phone.

This thread started off with my being surprised at the 20 questions I was asked, why was I surprised? Because it never happened before. I have purchased dogs from Registered Breeders before and have not been asked a single thing so there was an element of surprise BUT the thing I found most off-putting wasn't so much the questions being asked but the manner in which they were asked albeit I was taken aback when asked for personal photos of myself, lol. Had I been a regular poster here on DOL I may not have been surprised with the questioning as I would have expected it. One final thing, as a breeder, do ask question but try and adopt the right approach, being abrasive and suspicious is not the way to go about it. If you've been burned before, I genuinely feel for you but don't go tarring everyone with the same dirty brush.

She didn't have an issue with that. In fact I told her that if she was uncomfortable with the idea of homing her pup due to that reason, I'd understand her concerns as it's her pup and therefore her right to decide where her pup ends up. Have you missed the post in which I said the breeder rang me the following day to let me know I could have the pup if I wanted to? Well, I am confused You can have the pup if you want but something has changed? She rang me the following day and we spoke at length, I asked a couple more questions and I am of two minds as to whether I should go ahead with the pup. I am not going into detail about the issue.

Your loss. I'm an avid animal lover and when I take on a pet I take it on for life. A dog is not a disposable commodity or a garden gnome, it becomes part of the family and is treated as such. I don't have children, by choice, my pets have brought immeasurable joy in my life. By the way, ask 100 questions, I don't mind one little bit……but don't display arrogance when doing so as it's often interpreted as rudeness. Having said that, I wouldn't purchase a pup from you either, can do without rude, obnoxious people in my life.

I've spoken to a few breeders, was asked what I was looking for in a pup, explained in detail and received the exact same response from all those breeders. The answer was one of two…..1/ They only breed when they want a pup for themselves therefore they would get the pick of the litter and/or they've mated their dog to a fellow breeder's stud dog and in turn that breeder has pick of the litter in lieu of the stud fee. They weren't even interested when I mentioned going on a waiting list and told me, in no uncertain term, I would have a long wait. Another couple of breeders said they don't bother with waiting lists.

No offence intended but today is not my day for Sarcasm. I came here in good faith and have been completely honest and open. The one who has the holier than thou attitude is you since you're of the opinion that I am not entitled to obtain a pup of my choice. You are not 'entitled to obtain' any pup unless the breeder thinks you will be a suitable owner for the pup she bred. What do you think gives you this sense of entitlement? I beg to differ in that I have every right to be specific about what it is I'm looking for in a pup. Lest we forget it was you who thought I was being too selective, I personally don't see anything wrong with that. We all have specific likes and dislikes and I'm not about to purchase a dog whose looks don't appeal. According to your logic, only breeders have rights and buyers have none. I do agree it's ultimately up to the breeder if he/she is comfortable with the prospective purchasers but buyers also have a right to be specific about what they're wanting in a pup, be it a particular look, temperament, etc etc etc.