Breeders, How Would You Respond To An Email Like This?

[Kajtek]

As a dog adopter, I'd run 10000 miles away from someone who was not prepared to do some major grilling.

I'd expect some serious verification by the breeder/rescue group that I could offer the "right" home to their dog.

Edited January 17, 2010 by Anna

[Teebs]

I have talked to many breeders, and most of them dont care where their pups go... just as long as they go.

Saying that... I also know a few rescues that do that too (not on DOL)

[WreckitWhippet]

Honesty I don't get offended if they ask the price or basic questions but I would at least like you to use your name ( don't even care if it's just your first name ) , drop the :D text speak and maybe pop a please in there somewhere.

[fifi]

I have talked to many breeders, and most of them dont care where their pups go... just as long as they go.

Saying that... I also know a few rescues that do that too (not on DOL)

:D whoah Teebs, you are talking to the wrong breeders ! thankfully I've rarely met any like that.

Just a polite introduction like Rommi's suggestion, basic information & dog owning background, reasons for wanting my breed, location, contact details, name ect.

and agree with Warls, NOOOO text talk !!

Maybe I'm an old fart and come from an age of written letters of introduction - that's my benchmark for first contacts, an email that I can actually read !!

fifi

edited to add stuff..

Edited January 17, 2010 by fifi

[~Anne~]

As a dog adopter, I'd run 10000 miles away from someone who was not prepared to do some major grilling.

I'd expect some serious verification by the breeder/rescue group that I could offer the "right" home to their dog.

Do you realise though that many rescues can recieve in excess of 50 emails a day. Sorry, but there is no way I would spend time and energy on each email enquiry in order to do some 'serious grilling'. We are talking about the initial contact and the response. I always respond, I am always polite regardless of their writing skills, but I do not spend a great deal of time in the response unless I have loads of time ...which I normally don't.

[jess live die]

im a bad one i ask so many questions when im looking into buying a puppy, but 1st i let them know who i'am and a little bit about my self like age and where im located.

then i ask all the questions, i like to know prices if they have puppies available and when there litters are due, i ask if they show there dogs ect ect and some breeders i have had replys from i agree dont care where there pups go and dont ask any question and give you part of your reply's.

i have to admit i like it better when they are questions so i dont feel like a nob asking away.

[Teebs]

I have talked to many breeders, and most of them dont care where their pups go... just as long as they go.

Saying that... I also know a few rescues that do that too (not on DOL)

:D whoah Teebs, you are talking to the wrong breeders ! thankfully I've rarely met any like that.

I also just remembered, I never was asked anything when I got Atlas or Kaos - I rung Ats breeder, realised he knew my parents, so told me I could have a pup, from there, Kaos's breeder told me she knew Ats breeder and was happy with me getting a dog from her.

So no questions, even tho the breeders didnt actually know me, just my parents!

ETA: I dont see any problem with asking price first up - no point wasting someones time if there is no way I could afford one of their dogs!

Edited January 17, 2010 by Teebs

[WreckitWhippet]

From my very first pedigree dog all those years ago to the one's that are here with me today. I've never had one come from a breeder who didn't ask questions or care about where their puppies or adults went.

I walked away from about 2 years ago, who was happy to put everything on the main register and didn't care what you did with the puppy after that.

[Christina]

There is no exact right way to enquire or sell. Here is what happened to me with 1 person, its unbelievable.

Lady phoned enquiring about a puppy, which I did have. Told me she had an accident at work & injured her back badly.

Could not care for her small dog properly & had given it to a family a few doors down, who she & the dog knew, children adored it & they looked after it very well.

A few months after treatment etc she felt she could care for a dog, was off work, financially well off & receiving work cover but did not want to ask for the dog back. They loved it, it loved them.

After some sympathising & questions, I know all about bad backs, I advised she waited longer as she sounded not well enough & refused her the puppy. A long chat, she sounded a good owner, very caring & responsible & asked lots of questions about poodles, could groom etc.

Fast forward 8 months.

She phoned about my next litter in tears. She had got a freebie from a well know puppy farmer, who died last year. Adult dog which she took as she felt sorry for it. Spent over $3,000 on vet fees, home visit for a behaviourist etc & the dog had to be PTS after all this. She had learned a lesson for sure & was just so sorry for the dog. Back a lot better now.

So she visits. Very nice person, asked all the right things & sounded so caring. Paid in full. Puppy not ready for 2 more weeks.

10 days later I get a phone call from her friend. The lady has severe manic depression, while very nice she did silly things & was having treatment again. Could she, the friend, have the puppy. I said NO, I will refund her money, but she had to phone me herself.

She did & told me to keep the money. She did & bought things all the time & had plenty of money. so sorry blah blah. Bloody nutcase & I could not tell at all. Of course I gave her all her money back but did take a little petrol money she offered as I had to drive 150 k's as I did not want her at my home again.

I think she just made everything up. How can you tell anything. One goes on the right signs but they can be wrong too.

[Sandra777]

all puppies are going for 2000.

:D you can have both of mine for that and I'll include postage :D Problem is of course they're not main reg or blue

[casowner]

For that price were they all blue by chance?

i would be concerned that all were offered on main register with no questioning on why you want a pup or what you wanted to do with it

[Dogsfevr]

Honesty I don't get offended if they ask the price or basic questions but I would at least like you to use your name ( don't even care if it's just your first name ) , drop the :D text speak and maybe pop a please in there somewhere.

I so agree with this & sadly the greater majority of enquiries are being sent like this.

In our breed it would also be handy if when they mention the breed its the variety we breed .

So many just say Schnauzer & we dont breed Schnauzers we breed Miniatures ,so when we reply with Schnauzer breeders there like what(especially when they say we have researched the breed thoroughly).

[rastus_froggy]

For that price were they all blue by chance?

i would be concerned that all were offered on main register with no questioning on why you want a pup or what you wanted to do with it

Yes they were blue.

Just incase anyone takes it the wrong way, I was not being genuine with my enquiry, I am not in the market for a pup just wanted to see the reply I would get to that type of email, if any.

[Ceilidh]

RF, is this the Amstaff breeder of blues? If so I think you will all find that when they say 'main pedigree' they mean exactly that, pedigree papers, not 'main register' as in ANKC.

[Mystiqview]

I remember once a upon a time we could sell pups on main registration and those who did not want to breed did the right thing and had their animals desexed. Unfortunately not any more.

Some breeders still sell on main register in my breed and advertise the fact. Some nice dogs here and their in their pedigrees and in many cases, pity the people selling are colour breeders.

Others I have known have changed their stance from all on limit to main when pups are not moving. Nice flashy website, comes on DOL all ethical like, claims to show and other sports, but doesn't but has ethics like a sieve.

Likewise, like puppy buyers, some have come across all proper, asked the questions, answered the questions and later you find out they are the worst scum and you would not even give them a pet rock.

But as far as the email goes.. IF someone asks me the basic questions: What's left, How much and when are they ready. The answer they get is pretty much answers to those questions. If they come back and ask more questions, then I will start the screening process. Why spend hours of time drafting an email screening them, if the person is not serious in the first place. I have better things to do with my time than waste it on window shoppers.

If someone sends me a bit of information about themselves and spends the time composing their email, then I will respond in kind.

I do not believe in jumping down potential buyers throats on their first email contact. To me that is one sure fire way to send them off to a BYB or pet store. Sometimes you have to remember that the email enquiry may be their first dog they are buying, and may not be aware of the protocols/screenings breeders go through. Sometimes you just have to give them the benefit of the doubt.

It becomes fairly clear soon enough who are serious and who aren't.

But the bit about "Phone me ASAP as they are going quick" well, yeah I would run too. In saying this, I have had it where I have had a number of people interested in one puppy, all whom I would not have had an issue selling to (after a screening process). I am honest enough to say there are other interests in XYZ puppy. Generally though I offer it first in first served, to try and be fair to all concerned.

[rastus_froggy]

Maybe I was just having an over judgmental day. Everyone is different and takes things differently.

[arawnhaus]

Maybe I was just having an over judgmental day. Everyone is different and takes things differently.

So basically you emailed the breeder to do what exactly?

If you aren't in the market for a Stafford puppy why email them at all. I would imagine they would be busy with the puppies and looking for real homes etc

Genuine question.

[~Shepherd~]

I dont think rastus meant to cause a problem, but maybe thinking too much in to things as we all do at times. No point going on about it as there are many important points that have come up in this thread that people will learn from both breeders and puppy buyers.

Edited January 17, 2010 by Chewbacca

[Guest Kate_Summer]

"How much are your pups? Do you have any left out of the litter shown on here? And if you do how soon could I pick one up?"

If I sent an email like this to ANY breeder, I would hope I'd get a reply that stated the price and availablilty of their pups. Any screening should come later and no breeder or anyone else, should presume to judge a buyer based on one email consisting of not very many words.

Ditto

[Guest Kate_Summer]

There are some strange Breeders though that expect their potential buyers to know the breed A-Z to be told yes, this is the price you are welcome to pick up a pup or put a deposit on one.

I was asking once about French Bulldog, genuine questions, to see if the breed would suit me to be told by the breeder that obviously I had a lot more research to do that the breed isn't meant for me, I was like what the?? That was someone with a Breeder profile on DOL too.