Vetting Potential Owners

[Sheridan]

I was asked if I'd had experience with the Irish terrier breeds before when my wheatens' breeder was interviewing me.

[cowanbree]

I start the process with a questionnaire which has about 20 questions on it. The most important questionnaire is what other pets have you had and what happened to them. That question alone tells you quite a lot about the home. I just adore the ones that say they are going to train their dogs t stay within the property without fences and then they state their last dog got run over. The questionnaire questions also have options which will immediately eliminate them from a puppy eg, what type of fencing do you have, one of the options is none but the dog will be confined by way of a running chain.

After I get that back if I think they are suitable (this eliminates about 80%) I will ring them and informally chat to them and get a feel for them. I ask for references and yes I do check them in some cases. If they are local at this stage I let them visit or I visit them with a couple of puppies. If they are not local I arrange a home check

[Wags]

........... Firstly, it's none of their business, and secondly in some cases, it's an immediate dismissal.

and in some cases there is a damn good reason for it being an immediate dismissal.

Actually, GayleK, it is very much the business of the people rehoming a rescue or homing a puppy. Some dogs are simply not suited to being left home alone for long periods and some dogs will take to it with not a problem at all. It is essential that rehomers/homers know their dogs so they can put their dogs where all parties' needs will be met.

About 5 years ago, I was visiting a prospective foster carer with a view to adopting and discovered that she had an unfenced above ground swimming pool with steps up to the surrounding decking as well as great big holes in her fence. She said in the 30 years she'd had the pool she hadn't had anything go wrong and then proceded to tell me of all the things that had happened !!! She did not get the dog.

Here's our (always evolving) questionnaire.

I wouldn't put this on an open forum :D . However, if a home visit is part of the homing/rehoming process anyone telling porkies should be sprung to a certain degree.

Can't see why not. But hey, we're all different. It's the answers I'm interested in and they're not displayed. What a prospective owner thinks I want to hear may not be what I'm wanting to hear. And, the way the answer has a lot to do with the next step being taken.

Making a home visit is not always possible because of distance, but I encourage visits to my establishment and the behaviour and interaction during that visit can influence visitor's procurement of a puppy from us. Funnily enough the dogs and puppies' reactions to the visitors does tell a story in itself.

[cowanbree]

[

About 5 years ago, I was visiting a prospective foster carer with a view to adopting and discovered that she had an unfenced above ground swimming pool with steps up to the surrounding decking as well as great big holes in her fence. She said in the 30 years she'd had the pool she hadn't had anything go wrong and then proceded to tell me of all the things that had happened !!! She did not get the dog.

I have had this one too. They swore that the area the unfenced pool was in wasnt used and the dogs wouldn't be in it yet it was the mained fenced area off from the family room and pictures made it quite clear it was a well used area. No puppy for them

[Wazzat Xolo]

When I applied to purchase my dogs I had a four page q and answer booklet, and from talking to the breeder many were knocked back and they answered all questions perfectly, the breeder just didnt wanta 100% show hoe and win at all costs owner.

I have a very long questionaire which I believe covers everything and asks for references of vets, landlords ( if applicable) fencing and the usual questions asked I gather.

A lot of people are just nosey ( IMO) and cant be bothered filling out the questionaire, so in my view if you cant be bothered in answering a few questions then you certainly dont have the right to have one of my puppies!

I have a lovely couple who are travelling over from Queensland to have a look at the puppies when the are here.

I think every breeder is different in their approach and obviously breeds dictate this, BUT one thing renains constant ALL ethical breeders care about where their puppies go.

:D

[ravenau1]

I start the process with a questionnaire which has about 20 questions on it. The most important questionnaire is what other pets have you had and what happened to them. That question alone tells you quite a lot about the home. I just adore the ones that say they are going to train their dogs t stay within the property without fences and then they state their last dog got run over. The questionnaire questions also have options which will immediately eliminate them from a puppy eg, what type of fencing do you have, one of the options is none but the dog will be confined by way of a running chain.

After I get that back if I think they are suitable (this eliminates about 80%) I will ring them and informally chat to them and get a feel for them. I ask for references and yes I do check them in some cases. If they are local at this stage I let them visit or I visit them with a couple of puppies. If they are not local I arrange a home check

While I understand the need for many questions and a great deal of communication between a potential buyer and the breeder, the 'home check' part of this process has me a bit concerned. If it isn't the breeder themselves doing the check would it be acceptable for me to ask to see a police clearance or the like before letting someone into my home? Or would it just be the yard they were checking? I have had a bad experience in the past when someone came out to look at something we had for sale (furniture) and was actually 'casing' the house and came back at a later date and broke in (many years ago though). I don't normally allow people I don't know into my house, and any tradesmen have to come from recognised, reputable companies and provide a clearance or reference. Would photographs or video be acceptable if the breeder wasn't able to visit themselves?

[Greytmate]

I start the process with a questionnaire which has about 20 questions on it. The most important questionnaire is what other pets have you had and what happened to them. That question alone tells you quite a lot about the home. I just adore the ones that say they are going to train their dogs t stay within the property without fences and then they state their last dog got run over. The questionnaire questions also have options which will immediately eliminate them from a puppy eg, what type of fencing do you have, one of the options is none but the dog will be confined by way of a running chain.

After I get that back if I think they are suitable (this eliminates about 80%) I will ring them and informally chat to them and get a feel for them. I ask for references and yes I do check them in some cases. If they are local at this stage I let them visit or I visit them with a couple of puppies. If they are not local I arrange a home check

While I understand the need for many questions and a great deal of communication between a potential buyer and the breeder, the 'home check' part of this process has me a bit concerned. If it isn't the breeder themselves doing the check would it be acceptable for me to ask to see a police clearance or the like before letting someone into my home? Or would it just be the yard they were checking? I have had a bad experience in the past when someone came out to look at something we had for sale (furniture) and was actually 'casing' the house and came back at a later date and broke in (many years ago though). I don't normally allow people I don't know into my house, and any tradesmen have to come from recognised, reputable companies and provide a clearance or reference. Would photographs or video be acceptable if the breeder wasn't able to visit themselves?

Go for your life. Check with previous buyers. Hire a PI if you like. If you are prepared to go to that length to get a dog from me, at least that shows you are serious.

But no, I wouldn't sign for anyone to do a police check. It would be easy for you to check to see if I was reputable in a business sense.

Little more to it than that, but again, something I wouldn't put on the internet.

[ravenau1]

I start the process with a questionnaire which has about 20 questions on it. The most important questionnaire is what other pets have you had and what happened to them. That question alone tells you quite a lot about the home. I just adore the ones that say they are going to train their dogs t stay within the property without fences and then they state their last dog got run over. The questionnaire questions also have options which will immediately eliminate them from a puppy eg, what type of fencing do you have, one of the options is none but the dog will be confined by way of a running chain.

After I get that back if I think they are suitable (this eliminates about 80%) I will ring them and informally chat to them and get a feel for them. I ask for references and yes I do check them in some cases. If they are local at this stage I let them visit or I visit them with a couple of puppies. If they are not local I arrange a home check

While I understand the need for many questions and a great deal of communication between a potential buyer and the breeder, the 'home check' part of this process has me a bit concerned. If it isn't the breeder themselves doing the check would it be acceptable for me to ask to see a police clearance or the like before letting someone into my home? Or would it just be the yard they were checking? I have had a bad experience in the past when someone came out to look at something we had for sale (furniture) and was actually 'casing' the house and came back at a later date and broke in (many years ago though). I don't normally allow people I don't know into my house, and any tradesmen have to come from recognised, reputable companies and provide a clearance or reference. Would photographs or video be acceptable if the breeder wasn't able to visit themselves?

Go for your life. Check with previous buyers. Hire a PI if you like. If you are prepared to go to that length to get a dog from me, at least that shows you are serious.

But no, I wouldn't sign for anyone to do a police check. It would be easy for you to check to see if I was reputable in a business sense.

Little more to it than that, but again, something I wouldn't put on the internet.

Thanks for your reply Greytmate.

I if the breeder themselves were doing the check I wouldn't have the problem, I would be be dealing with a reputable, registered breeder who I would also be asking questions of and would be in contact with them regularly and would have to feel comfortable with them before I got pup from them anyway. It was more if the breeder couldn't do the home check, the person they would ask to do it - if in another state etc.

[Greytmate]

I start the process with a questionnaire which has about 20 questions on it. The most important questionnaire is what other pets have you had and what happened to them. That question alone tells you quite a lot about the home. I just adore the ones that say they are going to train their dogs t stay within the property without fences and then they state their last dog got run over. The questionnaire questions also have options which will immediately eliminate them from a puppy eg, what type of fencing do you have, one of the options is none but the dog will be confined by way of a running chain.

After I get that back if I think they are suitable (this eliminates about 80%) I will ring them and informally chat to them and get a feel for them. I ask for references and yes I do check them in some cases. If they are local at this stage I let them visit or I visit them with a couple of puppies. If they are not local I arrange a home check

While I understand the need for many questions and a great deal of communication between a potential buyer and the breeder, the 'home check' part of this process has me a bit concerned. If it isn't the breeder themselves doing the check would it be acceptable for me to ask to see a police clearance or the like before letting someone into my home? Or would it just be the yard they were checking? I have had a bad experience in the past when someone came out to look at something we had for sale (furniture) and was actually 'casing' the house and came back at a later date and broke in (many years ago though). I don't normally allow people I don't know into my house, and any tradesmen have to come from recognised, reputable companies and provide a clearance or reference. Would photographs or video be acceptable if the breeder wasn't able to visit themselves?

Go for your life. Check with previous buyers. Hire a PI if you like. If you are prepared to go to that length to get a dog from me, at least that shows you are serious.

But no, I wouldn't sign for anyone to do a police check. It would be easy for you to check to see if I was reputable in a business sense.

Little more to it than that, but again, something I wouldn't put on the internet.

Thanks for your reply Greytmate.

I if the breeder themselves were doing the check I wouldn't have the problem, I would be be dealing with a reputable, registered breeder who I would also be asking questions of and would be in contact with them regularly and would have to feel comfortable with them before I got pup from them anyway. It was more if the breeder couldn't do the home check, the person they would ask to do it - if in another state etc.

That is a good point.

I had trained Home Visitors, we would never send a random person out. There is privacy legislation that anyone doing Home Visits does need to be aware of too.

[nickojoy]

I was asked questions like from one breeder:

Where would the pup sleep?

What types of fences do i have?

Have i owned this breed before?

What is my work situation?

What is my family situation?

What other pets do I own?

What were my intentions of the pup?

Another breeder said:

When you can place your deposit into our account? That was the only question.

[jesomil]

Wow, so many questions!

I would not feel comfotable having to answer so many personal questions if I were purchasing a puppy. I guess it is different if you are vetting a complete newbie dog owner but really, some of those questions seem over the top. Alot of wonderful homes would miss out due to some peoples criteria.

[Wazzat Xolo]

Wow, so many questions!

I would not feel comfotable having to answer so many personal questions if I were purchasing a puppy. I guess it is different if you are vetting a complete newbie dog owner but really, some of those questions seem over the top. Alot of wonderful homes would miss out due to some peoples criteria.

Just MY opinion but if someone is dead set on a particular breed and want that breed that much and from a certain breeder no amount of questions would put me off ( believe me I have been through it! lol)

[voloclydes]

see imo

what sort of fence do you have?

the only right answer i found was 6' colour bond... which i can't afford. my yard is traditional farm fencing barb on some sections and normal netting on the sides... but the dogs are rarely alone in it any way....

oh the dog that i applied for that needed colour bond was a digger! wtf?

some people do have very set answers in mind when they ask and imo they get a x too bad so sad for the applicant. in the end i started answering yes.... in my mind that was not a huge lie because OH has one side on his yard. if i said colour bond every person who asked the fence question said great! :D

for me you do what ever is necessary, if that includes being arrested then so be it.

i once did almost get arrested due to putting my horse first... durring a flood trying to get past a police road block to save a horse stabled along a flooded creek. others would have backed down and said oh well its only a pony!

[Greytmate]

Wow, so many questions!

I would not feel comfotable having to answer so many personal questions if I were purchasing a puppy. I guess it is different if you are vetting a complete newbie dog owner but really, some of those questions seem over the top. Alot of wonderful homes would miss out due to some peoples criteria.

They would miss out. They would then be forced to buy a dog from somebody not so careful about the dogs they sell. People that don't care about who their dogs go to are probably aiming for quantity not quality, and the dogs they produce are likely to be of lower quality.

Better a good home that understands and respects how much work the breeder/rescuer has put in, than a 'wonderful' home that has no idea why the breeder or rescuer would bother to care so much.

Asking people questions isn't the most funnest thing in the world either, but it is what you have to do if you care about where your dogs end up.

[SkySoaringMagpie]

Wow, so many questions!

I would not feel comfotable having to answer so many personal questions if I were purchasing a puppy. I guess it is different if you are vetting a complete newbie dog owner but really, some of those questions seem over the top. Alot of wonderful homes would miss out due to some peoples criteria.

I hear this a lot and wonder what it means. Does it mean that there are a lot of wonderful homes where people aren't prepared to "qualify themselves" for a pup? How do we know these homes are wonderful and that there are a lot of them out there?

Once you understand why the questions are being asked - ie, to protect the future welfare of the pup - I can't think of many questions I'd object to answering. I wouldn't give detailed personal financial information of course, but if they wanted to speak to our vet to see if we routinely pay on time for check ups and necessary medical treatment that would be fine.

Yes there are some breeders and some rescuers who are OTT. I can't think of a breed where every breeder is OTT, and certainly in rescue/shelters you have a range of options. I also agree with others that if you don't get questions about your suitability and you are not already known by the breeder, then you should think carefully about whether it's a good idea to get a dog from that breeder. Easy come, easy go is not a good sign.

[Greytmate]

Wow, so many questions!

I would not feel comfotable having to answer so many personal questions if I were purchasing a puppy. I guess it is different if you are vetting a complete newbie dog owner but really, some of those questions seem over the top. Alot of wonderful homes would miss out due to some peoples criteria.

I hear this a lot and wonder what it means. Does it mean that there are a lot of wonderful homes where people aren't prepared to "qualify themselves" for a pup? How do we know these homes are wonderful and that there are a lot of them out there?

The breeder's business is to find good homes for the limited number of pups they have, not to provide dogs for all the wonderful homes out there.

If the wonderful homes are not willing to provide evidence of their wonderfulness, it is just another unscreened potential application, that cannot be taken into account when the breeder places the pups.

I wonder if those same people would expect to be offered a job without being required to answer questions or attend an interview. Like everyone should just 'know' how good they are.

[jesomil]

I am not saying dont ask questions, that would be plain irresponsible but asking about income and random training questions and needing references seems a bit OTT for me. (My opinion only, dont get defensive!!)

We all have choices though and if the breeder/buyer match doesnt fit, then we move on.

[cowanbree]

I understand you may think it too many question (and I do think the income one is ott, having money is not an indication of a better home) but what you don’t realize is how many of the people that are contacting us are trying to deceive and just give the right answers to get the pup.

I have had what were actually export agents visit and they appeared a lovely home on the surface, many of them in reality want to breed for the pet market and know no reputable breeder will sell to them. They lie about their fences, they lie about where the dog will be living etc etc etc. It is my responsibility to ensure that the puppies I bring into this world have a lovely life and if I lose a few really nice homes along the way so be it.

[Greytmate]

I am not saying dont ask questions, that would be plain irresponsible but asking about income and random training questions and needing references seems a bit OTT for me. (My opinion only, dont get defensive!!)

We all have choices though and if the breeder/buyer match doesnt fit, then we move on.

Yes. It is important that the person asking questions does so with sensitivity and adequate explanation, while protecting the applicant's privacy.

I wouldn't ask about income, but I would ask personal questions about living arrangements and children.

Similar to a job interview, you can and should pull out if you feel that you can't relate to the person well and understand where they are coming from.

It is why I do Home Visits, rather than Home Checks. An education and induction rather than just screening.

It does go both ways and I expect to be asked the hard questions sometimes too. The more questions they ask, sometimes the fewer I will have to ask in return.

Many people buy a dog without ever knowing they have been screened.

[lanabanana]

Awesome information everyone.

I do think the "informal chat" vetting seems a great idea. People DO spill more when they don't think they are being quizzed and without realising will open up a lot anyway.

I personally am a very open person - no question bothers me and I often will offer information people don't want to hear LOL. I am honest too which could work against me I suppose when going for a breeder, i.e. if I was asked "has your dog ever got off the property", I would say yes because they have. That is a silly example but you know what I mean - some of my honest answers may not be ideal to someone trying to assess me LOL.

I am curious about the references idea too....how would one go about getting references for their dogs? I mean, I only know people in NZ (have not managed to make any friends in Oz yet) and th evet has only known us for a year so how would I get a reference? What if I didn't have a reference?

Do you look at current dogs if they already own dogs to see the relationship between owner and pet etc?