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Handling Inquiries


SkySoaringMagpie
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Had an odd experience recently and interested in some views.

When you get an inquiry from someone you don't know personally, but you do know is in dog world, do you ask someone who you trust who would know them what they are like? Or do you talk to them yourself for a while and then do the background check if the inquiry seems viable. Is your answer different for domestic and overseas sales?

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I would cover all bases, I'd ask several people to get a variety opinions (you know how it works, some people will say good stuff and some people may not!) and I'd talk to them myself as well...I'd also try to get opinions from people not within the breed being considered.

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I would cover all bases, I'd ask several people to get a variety opinions (you know how it works, some people will say good stuff and some people may not!) and I'd talk to them myself as well...I'd also try to get opinions from people not within the breed being considered.

Thanks Aziah. When you consult with others, do you ask them to keep your inquiry confidential as a matter of course or only if the inquirier has asked that you keep their expression of interest confidential?

Background: I got an inquiry from overseas, from an area where a guy who is a major issue for the breed often uses third parties to obtain dogs because no-one will sell him one. So I am wary. Initial inquiry says nothing about confidentiality concerns. I email a person in the region who I trust, and ask her view. She gives a positive view of the person's dog ownership credentials. I then get an email from the inquirer saying please to keep her interest completely confidential. I agree but tell her I have already consulted with a friend and tell her the friend's name. She appears fine with that, she knows friend as well. Then after a bit of exchanging of email, I get an email saying that means she is no longer interested because rumours have started about her interest in a pup from Australia. I am not worried by her not taking a pup - plenty more fish in the sea - but I have always expected that if I make an inquiry people will get on the phone/email to their friends in Australia and say "who is this SSM person, is she OK?" and I expect the doggie grapevine to then work overtime.

So I guess I'm just interested in the unwritten rules - basically I am really loathe to spend a lot of time with someone if it turns out I am wasting my time with a third party or broker. Can/should a buyer expect complete confidentiality about their inquiry?

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I think people have to expect you'll do a background check via someone else at some point, no one in their right mind is going to send a puppy/dog to another country without checking out the purchaser!

However there are (as you've mentioned above) plenty of people who attempt (and some sadly succeed) to get particular pedigrees in through the back door and that shits me to tears.

In reality, I dont' think anyone wants every tom, dick and harry to know they might be importing a dog however everyone would almost certainly have someone to tell, whether that person be a a reference for the breeder or just someone to go through the entire process with.

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I have always done background checks on every intersted person after they can clarify why they want the breed ( most dont) and the buying for a third party theme comes through time and time again, sad isnt it, one would think in an honest and upfront world people would just ask outright and be prepared for a truthful answer!

J

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In reality, I dont' think anyone wants every tom, dick and harry to know they might be importing a dog however everyone would almost certainly have someone to tell, whether that person be a a reference for the breeder or just someone to go through the entire process with.

I agree with this wholeheartedly, when I imported a dog I kept my mouth firmly closed and told no-one except OH. Plus there are risks for the seller in chattering - other breeders in their breed interfering in their overseas sales for example, behaviour which I'm sure is not restricted to my breed. So I understand the lower key the better.

This is the second time this year tho' that I have encountered trickiness around vetting homes. The other occasion was someone losing a sale after asking about a buyer and having the person they asked whisk the sale out from under them. In a hard to place breed that can be annoying.

Ultimately it's que cera cera, but it seems there is a tension between vetting and avoiding drama/being interfered with.

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I have offered O/S dog breeders from whom I am getting semen referee's here in Aus if they wanted (people we both would know and people I know won't spread hotfire gossip) but they weren't interested. More interested in our dogs health records etc etc But I totally agree with confidentiality - no-one here will know who the dog is until the bitch is confirmed in whelp and the puppies are on the way. Too much can go wrong in the process.

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If asked for decorum, then ok fair enough, but of course you are going to check them out and ask questions about them. I would be doing that too.

I must admit I have never understood the 'must keep it an absolute secret until the dog hits the ground' thing. If a few rumours are going to stop them buying a dog from overseas that they want....do they really want the dog?

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Rule #1 in the dog world:

Do your homework

Rule #2: People lie to get what they want. The number of stories you hear where someone has screwed a breeder over to get a particular line.

Rule #3: Do your homework. This may involve reference checks.

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I would cover all bases, I'd ask several people to get a variety opinions (you know how it works, some people will say good stuff and some people may not!) and I'd talk to them myself as well...I'd also try to get opinions from people not within the breed being considered.

Years ago I did exactly this and everywhere I went and everyone I spoke with told me the person was a good dog person and I shouldnt have any worries in selling him 2 female puppies which he said were for his grandaughters. He was a very successful exhibitor and breeder.

Turned out he was an agent for an overseas puppy farm and stung me and several others at the same time.

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If i want to know what Im doing in my breeding, i just ask one particular person.

she seems to know what im doing faster than i do!

apptly i already have another dog from overseas here.

wish shed offer to buy it for me too! i wonder how on earth i afforded it, but I must have!

she does ask me every so often what im up too etc, and then goes and tells everyone else.. INCLUDING the names i wanted to name my next litter, that have suddendly been used via another breeder. funnily enough, she doesnt talk to that one, but the one she did tell must have told that other one, dont worry it confuses me too!

You will hear good things and bad things bout anyone, depending on who you ask.

go with your gut instinct... and take anything with a grain of salt

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If i want to know what Im doing in my breeding, i just ask one particular person.

she seems to know what im doing faster than i do!

apptly i already have another dog from overseas here.

wish shed offer to buy it for me too! i wonder how on earth i afforded it, but I must have!

she does ask me every so often what im up too etc, and then goes and tells everyone else.. INCLUDING the names i wanted to name my next litter, that have suddendly been used via another breeder. funnily enough, she doesnt talk to that one, but the one she did tell must have told that other one, dont worry it confuses me too!

You will hear good things and bad things bout anyone, depending on who you ask.

go with your gut instinct... and take anything with a grain of salt

lol in the dog world I am afraid its a sack of salt!!

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